2-Day Sapa Trekking Tour from Hanoi with Ethnic Villages Homestay

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Immerse yourself in the rich culture of local ethnic minority groups in Sapa
• 02 Trek through rice terraces and along the Muong Hoa Stream to Lao Chai
• 03 Enjoy panoramic views over Giang Ta Chai village, home of the Red Dzao people
• 04 Spend the night in a homestay with a local family and learn about their culture
• 05 Explore the beautiful terraced fields and mountains of the Hoang Lien Son range

Immerse yourself in the rich culture of local ethnic minority groups on this 2-day trekking tour from Hanoi to Sapa. Walk through beautiful rice terraces, follow the Muong Hoa Stream, and take in the spectacular landscapes of the Hoang Lien Son range. Visit villages of the Black H'mong, Zay, and Red Dzao people, and spend the night in a homestay with a local family to experience mountain life more closely.

Trek through the bamboo forest and stop for a panoramic view of Giang Ta Chai village, home of the Red Dzao people.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Hanoi, Sa Pa, Lào Cai

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Hanoi to Sapa and Trek to Ta Van Homestay

• 6:00 - 6:30: Welcome at the bus station, board the sleeping bus, and depart for Sapa.
• 7:30 - 11:45: Travel along the highway to Lao Cai City with a comfort break on the way.
• 11:45 - 13:00: Continue by bus on the mountain road approaching Sapa Town. Along the way, enjoy beautiful views of the valley and its terraced fields.
• 13:00: Arrive in Sapa Town, where you can see the colorful traditional costumes of the H'mong, Dzao, and Tay ethnic people.
• Enjoy a welcome drink and an itinerary briefing.
• Have lunch with local Vietnamese dishes and complete the check-in procedures.
• 14:15: Take a short drive to Y Linh Ho, then begin trekking through the rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Stream to the Black H'mong village of Lao Chai, with spectacular views of the Hoang Lien Son Mountain range. In the late afternoon, continue to Ta Van village, where the Zay ethnic people live.
• The trekking distance is about 9 km and lasts around 3.5 hours.
• 17:45: Check in at the homestay and get to know the family of the Dzay people.
• Spend time enjoying mountain life at sunset.
• You may join the family in cooking local dishes and enjoy dinner in a peaceful setting. In the evening, you can also visit a nearby local bar with music and socialize with other tourists before your overnight stay at the homestay.

2

Day 02

Ta Van to Giang Ta Chai Trek and Return to Hanoi

• 8:00: Have breakfast prepared by the family and start a new day with an even more interesting trek.
• 8:45: Continue walking through the rice paddies, where you will have a great opportunity for photos of the amazing surrounding landscapes. Trek through the bamboo forest and stop for a panoramic view of Giang Ta Chai village, home of the Red Dzao people.
• The trekking distance is about 4 km and lasts around 2 hours.
• 11:00: Trek across Giang Ta Chai Bridge to the main road, where the bus will pick you up for the return to Sapa Town.
• 12:00 - 13:00: Shower at the hotel, have lunch, and enjoy some leisure time on your own.
• 13:30: Meet all group members at the hotel and get ready for the journey back to Hanoi.
• 14:00: Board the bus to return to Hanoi with two comfort breaks.
• 20:30 - 21:00: Say goodbye at the bus stop. Trip ends.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Sleeping bus from Hanoi - Sapa and return (tour guide not available on the bus)
• English-speaking tour guide during the trip in Sapa
• Meals: 2 lunches, 1 dinner, and 1 breakfast with local dishes
• All entrance tickets to the indicated sites
• Single basic bed with mosquito net at the homestay
• Insurance during the time using the bus

What's Not Included

• Beverages, travel insurance, VAT, personal expenses, and tips
• Others not clearly mentioned above
• Surcharge for sleeper bus with cabin: single cabin 300.000 VND/pax/2 round trip; sharing cabin 200.000 VND/pax/round trip
• Surcharge for Dcar limousine VIP seat: 500.000 VND/pax/round trip
• Surcharge for Luxury limousine 28-seat Nouble: 400.000 VND/pax/round trip

What to bring

• Comfortable shoes
• Warm clothing
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Hat

Know before you go

• Old people should not attend the long trek (9 km) due to its challenge and danger in case of rain.
• Handicapped people and children under 6 years old should not attend this tour.
• The homestay is totally different from a hotel due to its basic and simple facilities.
• 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 necessary. You should take cash with you in Vietnam Dong because the banking system in Sapa sometimes does not function well. US Dollar, Euro, and Australia Dollar are accepted in Sapa.
• You should take medicine with you, although there are some chemist's shops in Sapa, in case you get sick.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Hanoi, Hà Nội, Việt Nam

Tour start

Giàng Tả Chải - Tả Van, Sa Pa, Lào Cai, Vietnam

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.