Hill Tribes of Sapa

4 night Sapa tour

The far north of Vietnam is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Tribes from all over Asia found refuge in its rich, green valleys and they have lived here, in virtual isolation, ever since. Untouched by modernity as we know it, they still follow traditional ways of life, wear traditional clothing, and observe ancient custom. During this Sapa tour you'll head into these magical villages on foot with a guide. The villagers will greet you with incredible warmth and hospitality. You'll drop in on the tribes of the Black H’mong and the Red Dzao on a hike through the verdant countryside, surrounded by steep mountain ridges and terraced rice paddies. You'll also visit the famous Love Market and the folkloristic Bac Ha Market, bursting with local colour and energy.

If you start this module on a Friday, day 3 and 4 of your trip will be reversed. 

The longest hike featured in this Sapa tour is 10km, it is suitable for most levels of fitness. If you are looking for more demanding hikes and an overnight stay with a hill tribe for your Sapa tour, then our Vietnam trekking may be more up your street.

uration: 5 days - 4 nights
offered Thursdays & Fridays from Hanoi

Accommodation:

2 nights sleeper train, 2 nights in a comfortable hotel in Sapa
accommodation category 3 Price: from $325 per person - based on 2 people sharing

Includes: return overnight train fare, hotel accommodation with breakfast, transport to Sapa and surroundings, guided hill tribe trek/hike
Transport: air-conditioned overnight train, car/jeep Excludes: all other meals and drinks, excursions

Days 1 and 2: Overnight train - Sapa - Visit to Black H'Mong

You will start this Sapa tour by being collected from your hotel in Hanoi in the late afternoon and taken to the train station. Here, you can stock up on snacks for the overnight journey into the north. The train is air-conditioned and the rhythm of the rails should lull you to sleep in your 4-bedded couchette. These are generally pretty comfortable, although tall people might find that their feet dangle over the edge of the sleeper couches. An Asian train journey is always an experience to be remembered.

The next morning, you'll continue your Sapa tour taking a 2˝-hour road trip to Lao Cai. On the way, you'll see paddy terraces climbing up the mountainsides like giant staircases. When you arrive you'll check into your comfortable hotel. It is full of local charm and lies in the centre of Sapa with wonderful views across the rich, green valley.

After lunch you'll take a guided walk of about 6km to the village of Y linh Ho, home to the striking Black H’mong people. The Black H'mong wear mainly black clothing, as their name suggests. The dye that they use tends to run and, as a result, their hands are also stained a little black. The adults chew betel nut- the seeds of the betel palm rolled up in a leaf. This often stains their teeth dark red. After visiting the village, you'll walk a little further to a cascading mountain waterfall before returning to your hotel for your second night of your Sapa tour.

Day 3: Guided walk to the Red Dzao of Ta Phin

On the third day of this Sapa tour, you'll be driven to Khoang Villlage where you will start trekking to Ta Phin. Today's trek is approximately 10 km, over a leisurely 5 hours- we recommend taking snacks and your own lunch. On the way, you'll cross a couple of bamboo bridges over clear mountain streams. There will be plenty of magnificent views and you'll come across many local women working in the fields. Though they may only speak a few words of English, they are a warm and welcoming people, and will often invite you for tea in their homes. The houses are built mostly of wood and cane and there’s usually a fire in the middle of the room. The headgear worn by these villagers is mostly red. Initially, the villagers might seem rather shy, but if you give them a smile, you'll quickly be rewarded with beaming faces. When you arrive in Ta Phin Village, you can experience the unmixed cultural life of Black H'mong and Red Dzao minorities, the two largest ethnic groups in the area. A transfer will take you back to Sapa where you can relax for the afternoon or wander around the local market.

On Saturday evening from about 7pm, the Love Market takes place in Sapa. Young eligible men and women from the Dzao region meet here, dressed in finery, in the hope of snagging a partner. We can definitely recommend taking a look during your Sapa tour.   

Day 4: Visit to Bac Ha Market – Overnight Train to Hanoi

This morning, it's time to grab your backpack and say farewell to Sapa, but your Sapa tour is not yet over. You'll take a drive to Bac Ha, a small mountain village famous for its busy market. You'll visit this market, where many mountain tribes come to sell their wares, in a group. The market is an amazing trading hub, as people from many different tribes meet here to sell their goods. It is a feast for the senses, with traders dressed in a rainbow of colours displaying fresh vegetables, meats, and other products. It's also a perfect opportunity to pick up a few unique Vietnamese souvenirs made by local people.

After lightening your pockets at the market, you'll drive towards the Chinese border to catch a glimpse of the chaotic jumble of Chinese signs. From here, you can see the bridge and stretch of water that forms the actual boundary between the two countries. In the afternoon, at the end of this Sapa tour, you'll be taken to Lao Cai where you'll have plenty of time to grab an evening meal before boarding the night train back to Hanoi.

Day 5: Arrival in Hanoi

Email: phamtours@yahoo.com