Travelling by limousine van (09 seats / Hanoi - Sapa & Lao Cai - Hanoi) is a great option to explore Sapa & Bac Ha. This private adventure tour in Sapa takes you through the newly discovered trails to the villages of hill tribes and their wonderful landscapes of world famous rice terraces, majestic mountains and colourful markets.
In the evening, pick up by driver from your hotel (in the Old Quarter) for a short transfer to Hanoi Train Station. Enjoy an overnight traditional train journey from Hanoi to Lao Cai.
Arrive Lao Cai city in the fresh air of the early morning. Have breakfast at train station then transfer directly to Bac Ha Town.
Start to explore Bac Ha, it is possible to visit a colorful, ethnic market ( Bac Ha market is on Sunday. Otherwise we can visit Coc Ly market on Tuesday, Can Cau market on Saturday instead). Enjoy the striking atmosphere with so many goods such as vegetables, poultry, while capturing many minority groups in their best colorful clothing of the week. After visiting the market, take a walk through some idyllic ethnic villages, which is a typical Bac Ha landscape, interspersed with corn fields, cassava hills and clay houses, plum gardens adorned by H'Mong women and their colorful dresses will accompany you throughout the trip.
Have a break for lunch then in the afternoon get a transfer to Sapa via Lao Cai City. Stop in the city for a visit to the Vietnam - China border gate and the mother temple nearby. Drive up - hill to Sapa which has been well-known as the tourism center since the French colonist with the variety of ethnic groups and paradise of rice terraces. Free to explore town in the evening.
8:00 AM: Depart to Sau Chua hamlet to start off the beaten trek of 15km up-downhill that is your challenge but the reward is worth it. Towards a hill-tribe village of Sa Seng where you will be able to see the authentic lifestyle of the Black H’Mong people who originated from China since and have been in Vietnam from the 11th century.
Enjoy a picnic lunch or a meal at a local restaurant before trekking uphill along the side of mountain to get the most wonderful views of the Muong Hoa valley at the elevation of 1,800m. Descend into the valley on a trek to the Hau Thao village, consisting of only a few houses and church scattered on a rocky point. You will get the best scenery in the area with rice terraces, small villages nestled on the huge Hoang Lien mountain range and even the peak of Indochina, Fansipan peak (when the weather permits). Keep trekking down the trail to Muong Hoa valley.
Pick up by driver then transfer back to Sapa.
After breakfast drive to Tram Ton pass with stunning views of the Fansipan Mountain and valley. Continue to the Silver waterfall, which is the biggest one in Sapa. Hike up 200 steps and cross the bridge to get as close as possible to the waterfall, enjoy the views (if the weather permits).
After that, set off the trek to Sin Chai village, which is home of over 60 Black H’mong families. Immerse yourself into the beauty of nature with flowers, vegetables, medicine plant farms and amazing rice terraces. Walk along the path to Sin Chai village and discover the story of the Black H’Mong people who immigrated to these mountains centuries ago. The distinct of cultures, languages and lifestyles that make this group is so fascinating. Visit a primary school and an authentic H’mong house then get a transfer back to the town.
2:30 PM:1:00 - 2:00 PM: Our driver will pick you up from your hotel in the central area of Sapa. Once everyone is on board, we’ll begin our journey back to Hanoi via the Hanoi - Lao Cai Highway. The drive takes around 6 hours, with a few optional stops along the way for coffee or a quick break. We anticipate arriving in Hanoi between 8:00 and 9:00 PM. If your accommodation is in the Old Quarter, the driver will drop you off at your hotel or any location of your choice within the area.