Vietnam · Village Tours

3-Day Sa Pa Cultural Trek from Hanoi with Bac Ha Market

3 Days Round trip from Hanoi Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Enjoy shopping at the weekly Bac Ha market among local ethnic communities
02 Visit Hoang A Tuong Palace, built in 1914 with a fusion of French and Viet architecture
03 Trek through the ethnic villages of Sa Pa, including Cat Cat, Lao Chai, and Ta Van
04 Stop for photos by the waterfall and bridge in Cat Cat Village

Go on a 3-day cultural trip through northern Vietnam, starting in Hanoi and travelling to Sa Pa via Lào Cai to visit ethnic villages. Trek to Cat Cat Village and a colonial-era waterfall, then hike through Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, and Ta Van to see traditional rice terraces and enjoy the natural scenery. Continue to Bac Ha market for shopping, walk to Hoang A Tuong Palace to admire its French-Viet architecture, and return to Hanoi at the end of the journey.

Trek down to the valley bottom to the waterfall, where the French built a hydraulic power station.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Premium

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Hanoi, Sa Pa, Lào Cai

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Hanoi to Sa Pa and Cat Cat Village Trek

6.30 - 7.00: Pick up from your hotel or stay, board a large bus, and depart for Sa Pa.
9.30: Follow the highway to Lào Cai city with the first comfort break.
11.00: Enjoy a second comfort break in Lào Cai city before continuing towards Sa Pa.
13.00: Arrive in Sa Pa Town, filled with people wearing the colourful traditional costumes of the H'mong, Dzao, and Tay ethnic groups.
Attend an itinerary briefing session and enjoy a welcome drink.
Try local Vietnamese dishes for lunch.
14.30: Take a short drive to the gate of Cat Cat Village, home to the Black H'mong ethnic people, located near the bottom of a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak. Your local guide will introduce you to the daily life and activities of the local community.
Trek down to the valley bottom to the waterfall, where the French built a hydraulic power station. Stop for photos by the bridge and waterfall, then walk uphill to rejoin the bus back to Sa Pa in the afternoon. The trekking distance is about 2.5 km and lasts around 2 hours.
16.30: Arrive back in Sa Pa Town for dinner and an overnight stay at the hotel, with evening activities.

Meals included - Lunch and dinner.

Day 02

Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, and Ta Van Village Trek

7.00 - 7.45: Have an early breakfast at the hotel and prepare a light pack for the 9 km trek.
8.00: Take a short drive to Y Linh Ho, then trek through the rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Stream to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai. Along the way, enjoy the spectacular landscape of Hoang Lien Son Mountain before continuing to Ta Van Village, home of the Dzay ethnic people. The trekking distance is about 9 km and lasts around 4 hours.
11.30: The bus picks you up at Ta Van Bridge and returns to Sa Pa.
12.00: Have lunch and enjoy free time in the afternoon to discover Sa Pa Town by yourself.

Overnight stay in Sa Pa.

Meals included - Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 03

Bac Ha Market, Hoang A Tuong Palace, and Return to Hanoi

06.15 - 7.00: Have an early breakfast at the hotel and leave for Bac Ha market.
7.00 - 14.00: Take a 2.5-hour drive to Bac Ha Town, home of the Flower H'Mong ethnic people.
Visit Bac Ha market, the most typical weekly market, where many ethnic communities gather.
Have lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant.
Take a short walk to Hoang A Tuong Palace, built in 1914 with a fusion of French and Viet architecture.
Visit

Where this trip takes you

Cat Cat Village waterfall and bridge, Muong Hoa Stream and rice terraces, Fansipan Peak valley, Bac Ha market

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Hanoi 3 cities · 3 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Modern air-conditioned bus with comfortable seats from Hanoi - Sapa and return
Free pick-up and drop-off in Hanoi Old Quarter
Complimentary bottles of water and tissues, 2 ways per person on the bus from Hà Nội - Sapa - Hà Nội
English-speaking tour guide escort from Hanoi - Sapa - Hanoi, with local guides in Sapa and Bac Ha
Meals - 2 dinners, 3 lunches, 2 breakfasts
All entrance tickets to the indicated sites
2 nights in a Superior room in a hotel or similar on a twin-sharing basis
Insurance during the time using the bus

What's Not Included

Beverages
Single supplement
Others not clearly mentioned above

What to bring

Warm clothes, a scarf, hat, and cap, because the weather in Sapa is quite unpredictable. It is normally cold in September, October, November, December, January, February, and March.
Trekking shoes, sunglasses, sun cream, and insect repellent are also necessary. You should carry cash in Vietnam Dong because the banking system in Sapa sometimes does not function well. US Dollar, Euro, and Australian Dollar are accepted in Sapa.
You should bring medicine with you, although there are some drug stores in Sapa in case you get sick.

Know before you go

CHILDREN POLICY:

Free of charge for children under 5 years sharing a bed with their parents.
A surcharge of 75% of the adult rate applies for children aged 5-8 years sharing a bed with their parents.
Children over 8 years are charged at the adult rate.
A couple travelling with 2 children: the 2nd child will be charged 100% of the adult ticket.

SURCHARGE:

The quoted price applies to bookings for groups of 2 or more.
The quoted price does not apply to tours departing on Christmas Day (24-26 Dec), Eva New Year (31 Dec, 1 Jan), Lunar New Year, Liberty Day (30 Apr), Labor Day (1 May), and Independence Day (2 Sep).
A surcharge of US$30 per person applies for departures on the holidays mentioned above.

Logistics