Vietnam · Trekking

3-Day Sa Pa Cultural Trek from Hanoi with Cat Cat and Tram Ton

3 Days Round trip from Hanoi Easy pace

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The journey

Trip highlights

01 Visit Cat Cat village, home to the Black H'mong ethnic people
02 Interact with local ethnic communities to learn about Vietnamese culture
03 Trek through rice terrace fields with spectacular Hoang Lien Son mountain views
04 Explore Tram Ton and Cong Troi, a beautiful mountain pass in Northern Vietnam
05 See the scenic Thac Bac Waterfall
06 Discover Sa Pa's valleys, villages, and mountain landscapes over 3 days

Embark on this 3-day tour to Sa Pa town, admire the gorgeous views of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, and interact with locals to learn about Vietnam's culture. Explore Cat Cat village and other local communities, trek through rice terrace fields and valleys, and discover natural attractions such as Tram Ton Pass, Cong Troi, and Thac Bac Waterfall. This excursion combines cultural encounters, scenic mountain landscapes, and rewarding walks through Northern Vietnam.

Embark on this 3-day tour to Sa Pa town, admire the gorgeous views of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, and interact with locals to learn about Vietnam's culture.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Hanoi, Sa Pa, Lào Cai

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Hanoi to Sa Pa and Trek to Cat Cat Village

6:30 - 7:00: Pick up from your hotel or stay, board a large bus, and depart for Sapa.
9:30: Follow the highway to Lao Cai city with the first comfort break.
11:00: The second comfort break will be in Lao Cai city before approaching Sapa.
13:00: Arrive in Sapa Town and see the traditional costumes of the H'mong, Dzao, and Tay ethnic people. Enjoy a welcome drink followed by an itinerary briefing. Then, proceed for a special lunch of local Vietnamese dishes after check-in procedures.
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 show you the daily life activities of the locals. Trek down into the valley to see a waterfall, where the French built a Hydraulic Power Station. Stop for photos with the bridge and waterfalls as your backdrop, then continue walking uphill to the point where a bus will pick you up for the return to Sapa in the afternoon. The trekking distance here is about 2.5 km, and it lasts for 2 hours.
16:30: Return to Sapa Town. Dinner will be prepared for you at 18:00. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 02

Sa Pa Trek through Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, and Ta Van

7:00 - 7:45: Have breakfast at the hotel and prepare for the 9 km trek ahead.
8:00: Take a short drive to Y Linh Ho, then trek through rice terrace fields and pass by Muong Hoa stream to reach the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai, where you can enjoy the spectacular landscape of Hoang Lien Son mountain. Continue trekking to Ta Van village, home of the Dzay ethnic people. The trekking distance is about 9 km here, and it lasts for 4 hours.
11:30: A bus will pick you up at Ta Van Bridge and take you back to Sapa.
12:00: Have lunch and enjoy your free time in the afternoon. Discover Sapa town by yourself. Have dinner in the evening and stay overnight at the hotel.

Day 03

Tram Ton, Cong Troi, Thac Bac, and Return to Hanoi

6:00 - 8:00: After breakfast, meet your Vietnamese tour guide.
8:00: Start your day with a 12 km road trip up to Tram Ton and Cong Troi (Heaven Gate), where you can take pictures of one of the most beautiful mountain-pass sceneries in Northern Vietnam. Then, visit Thac Bac Waterfall (Silver Waterfall) and a salmon fish farm.
11:00: Check out, settle your bills, have lunch at the hotel, and spend some leisure time on your own.
15:00: Meet all group members at your hotel to get ready for Hanoi.
15:15: Board the bus for the return journey to Hanoi with one comfort break.
21:00: Arrive in Hanoi. We say goodbye to you at your hotel or stay. The trip ends here.

Where this trip takes you

Cat Cat village, rice terrace fields, Tram Ton, Thac Bac Waterfall

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-conditioning bus with comfortable seats from Hanoi - Sapa - Hanoi
Modern air-conditioning bus from the hotel to local villages with experienced drivers
Complimentary bottles of water, 2 ways per person, on the bus from Ha Noi - Sapa - Ha Noi
English-speaking tour guide escort from Hanoi - Sapa - Hanoi, plus a local guide in Sapa
Meals: 3 lunches, 2 dinners, and 2 breakfasts
All entrance tickets to the indicated sites
2 nights in a hotel room at Sapa Lodge Hotel or similar on a twin-sharing basis
Insurance during the time using the bus

What's Not Included

Beverages, travel insurance, VAT, and personal expenses
Other services not clearly mentioned in the above itinerary

What to bring

Bring warm clothes, a scarf, a hat, and a cap because the weather in Sapa is quite unpredictable. It is normally cold in September, October, November, December, January, February, and March.
Due to the altitude of Sapa, it is sometimes foggy in December, January, February, and March.
Trekking shoes, sunglasses, sun cream, and insect repellent are also necessary.
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 chemist shops in Sapa if you get sick.

Know before you go

Note:

Single supplement: 60 USD.
For Sapa Lodge Hotel (3 stars) or a similar hotel, the single supplement is 60 USD for 2 nights.
For Sunny Mountain Hotel (4 stars) or a similar hotel, the single supplement is 80 USD for 2 nights.

Logistics