VN14 Best of Bac Ha & Sapa ( 5 days / 4 nights )

Hanoi - Lao Cai - Bac Ha - Sapa - Hanoi

*Monday departure

Day 1 (Mon) Hanoi – Lao Cai by Train

In the evening, board the overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai which is situated on the Vietnam-China border.
Overnight on a train

Day 2 (Tue) Lao Cai – Coc Ly market – Bac Ha

Arrive in Lao Cai and drive to the Coc ly Market where you will see a lively gathering of various ethnic minorities such as the Flower Hmong, Black Zao, the Tay, and the Nung people. Drive to Bac Ha town. In the afternoon, take a walk or a car drive to Pho and Thai Rang Pho to cisit a Hmong village. Return to Bac Ha in the late afternoon.

Overnight in Bac Ha [Breakfast]

Day 3 (Wed) Bac Ha – Sin Cheng Market – Sapa

You will be enthralled by awe-inspiring natural scenery along the way to the Sin Cheng Market which is surrounded by pine forests and villages. This is the place where the ethnic minorities of the Flower Hmong, the Red Dao, the Tay, and the Nung people gather to buy and sell their produce. Drive to Sapa and have the rest of the day at your leisure.

Overnight in Sapa [Breakfast]

Day 4 (Thu) Sapa – Y Linh Ho – Ma Tra – Hanoi

Drive to Y Linh Ho in the morning where your scenic trek will lead you down to the Muong Hoa Valley festooned with lush terraced paddy fields (September - October). Enjoy a 3-hour trek along the Hoang Lien Mountain Range with various photo stops before heading to the Lao Chai Junction for a panoramic view of the Muong Hoa Valley. Return to Sapa by car. In the afternoon, a stroll around Sapa and along dirt trails flanked by serene gardens and lush pine forests will provide interesting insight into the local lifestyle. Proceed to the Black Hmong ethnic minority village of Matra, a very small and isolated village. Continue hiking through rice paddy fields and be immersed in spectacular natural scenery. Proceed to the church of Taphin where your car will take you to the Lao Cai Train Station for your return journey to Hanoi.

Overnight on a train [Breakfast]

Day 5 (Fri) Arrive Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to your hotel.

*Friday departure

Day 1 (Fri) Hanoi – Lao Cai by Train

In the evening, board the overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai which is situated on the Vietnam-China border.
Overnight on a train

Day 2 (Sat) Lao Cai – Can Cau Market – Bac Ha

Arrive in Lao Cai and drive pass the mountain town of Bac Ha on a visit to Can Cau Market where you will mingle with the lively gathering of the ethnic minorities of the Flower Hmong, the Tay, the Nung and the Thai minority groups. Proceed to Bac Ha Town. Afterwards, take a walk (or a car drive) to Pho and Thai Rang Pho to visit a school and a Hmong village.

Overnight in Bac Ha [Breakfast]

Day 3 (Sun) Bac Ha Market – Sapa

Explore the Sunday market of Bac Ha where many ethnic groups such as the Flower Hmong, the Phu La and the Dao Tuyen minorities gather to trade their produce. Proceed to Sapa and have the rest of the day at your leisure.

Overnight in Sapa [Breakfast]

Day 4 (Mon) Sapa – Y Linh Ho – Ma Tra – Hanoi

Drive to Y Linh Ho in the morning where your scenic trek will lead you down to the Muong Hoa Valley festooned with lush terraced paddy fields (September - October). Enjoy a 3-hour trek along the Hoang Lien Mountain Range with various photo stops before heading to the Lao Chai Junction for a panoramic view of the Muong Hoa Valley. Return to Sapa by car. In the afternoon, a stroll around Sapa and along dirt trails flanked by serene gardens and lush pine forests will provide interesting insight into the local lifestyle. Proceed to the Black Hmong ethnic minority village of Matra, a very small and isolated village. Continue hiking through rice paddy fields and be immersed in spectacular natural scenery. During the weekdays, you may also have an opportunity to visit a local school. Proceed to the church of Taphin where your car will take you to the Lao Cai Train Station for your return journey to Hanoi.

Overnight on a train [Breakfast]

Day 5 (Tue) Arrive Hanoi

Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to your hotel.