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

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Trek through Sapa's rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Stream
• 02 Visit Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van, Giang Ta Chai, and Cat Cat villages
• 03 Experience the daily life of Black H'Mong, Red Dzao, Dzay, and Tay communities
• 04 Stay overnight in a traditional homestay and enjoy local mountain life
• 05 Take in spectacular views of the Hoang Lien Son mountains and bamboo forests

Explore the stunning landscapes of Sapa on this 3-day trek from Hanoi, discovering ethnic villages such as Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van, Giang Ta Chai, and Cat Cat. Walk through rice terraces, bamboo forests, and mountain valleys while meeting local H'Mong, Dzao, Dzay, and Tay communities. This journey combines scenic trekking, cultural encounters, and time to experience daily life in Sapa. Enjoy a traditional homestay, local Vietnamese meals, and memorable views of the Hoang Lien Son mountains.

Explore the stunning landscapes of Sapa on this 3-day trek from Hanoi, discovering ethnic villages such as Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van, Giang Ta Chai, and Cat Cat.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 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 Village

• 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 Lào Cai city with a comfort break.
• 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 colourful traditional costumes of the H'Mong, Dzao, Tay, and other ethnic people.
• Enjoy a welcome drink and an itinerary briefing.
• Have lunch with local Vietnamese dishes.
• 14:15: Take a short drive to Y Linh Ho, then trek through the rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Stream to the Black H'Mong village of Lao Chai, where you can admire the spectacular landscape of Hoang Lien Son Mountain. Continue toward Ta Van village, inhabited by the Dzay ethnic people, arriving in the late afternoon.
• 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 Dzay family. Spend time enjoying mountain life at sunset. You may join the family in cooking local dishes and then enjoy dinner in a peaceful setting.
• In the evening, you can visit a nearby local bar with music and socialize with other tourists before your overnight stay at the homestay.

2

Day 02

Ta Van, Giang Ta Chai, and Cat Cat Village Trek

• 8:00: Have breakfast prepared by the family and begin a new day with another 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.
• 11:00: Trek across Giang Ta Chai Bridge to the main road, where the bus will pick you up and take you back to Sapa Town.
• The trekking distance is about 4 km and lasts around 2 hours.
• 12:00 - 14:00: Enjoy a welcome drink at the hotel, have lunch with delicious Vietnamese dishes, and complete the check-in procedures.
• 14:30: Take a short walk to the gate of Cat Cat village, home of 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 of the locals. Trek down to the valley bottom to the waterfall, where the French built a hydraulic power station, and stop for photos at the bridge and waterfall. Afterwards, walk uphill to meet the bus for the return to Sapa in the afternoon.
• 16:30: Return to Sapa Town. Have dinner and stay overnight at the hotel, with time for evening activities.

3

Day 03

Free Time in Sapa and Return to Hanoi

• 7:30 - 12:00: Have breakfast at the hotel and enjoy free time to discover Sapa Town by yourself. Check out of the hotel.
• 12:30 - 13:00: Have lunch, followed by leisure time on your own.
• 13:30: Meet the rest of the group at the hotel and get ready for the journey back to Hanoi.
• 14:00: Board the bus and return to Hanoi with two comfort breaks along the way.
• 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

• Bus with comfortable berths from Hanoi to Sapa and return (tour guide not available on the bus)
• Bus in Sapa with experienced drivers
• English-speaking tour guide in Sapa
• Meals: 3 lunches, 2 dinners, and 2 breakfasts
• All entrance tickets to the indicated sites
• 1 night in a double or twin room in a hotel based on twin-sharing, and 1 night at a homestay with a basic single bed (hot water, mosquito net, blanket)
• Insurance during the time on the bus

What's Not Included

• Beverages, travel insurance, VAT, and personal expenses
• Other items not clearly mentioned above
• Sleeper bus cabin surcharge: single cabin 300.000 VND/pax/2 round trip; sharing cabin 200.000 VND/pax/round trip
• Dcar limousine VIP seat surcharge: 500.000 VND/pax/round trip
• Luxury limousine 28-seat Nouble surcharge: 400.000 VND/pax/round trip

Know before you go

• Older people should not join the long trek (9 km) due to its difficulty and the 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 carry cash 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 bring medicine with you, although there are some chemist's shops in Sapa, in case you get sick.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Hanoi, Vietnam

Tour start

Sa Pa, Lao Cai, Vietnam

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.