Sapa Adventure: Hard Trekking for 6 days 5 nights

Upon early arrival at Lao Cai Station, you'll be greeted and taken on an hour-long shared minivan journey uphill to Sapa. After refreshing and enjoying breakfast at a local restaurant, you'll travel 6 kilometers along the main road to a picturesque starting point for your village trek.

This trail offers stunning vistas of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range's highest peaks, with the possibility of catching sight of Fansipan Peak on clear days. Crossing the river via a suspension bridge, you'll embark on an uphill trek to Y Linh Ho village, engaging with H'mong families and observing their daily routines. Following a picnic lunch, the trail undulates for approximately 2 hours until reaching Lao Chai, a sizeable H'mong village. Continuing along the riverbank, you'll arrive at Ta Van, home to the Zay people. Here, explore local residences, village schools, and immerse yourself in the cultural tapestry of ethnic communities amid the breathtaking backdrop of the Muong Hoa Valley. Spend tonight experiencing a unique homestay in Ta Van Village.

Night 2: Overnight stay at a homestay in Ta Van Village

Departing from Ta Van village post-breakfast, you'll traverse the uphill footpath, unveiling impressive terraced rice fields lining the hill slopes. Progressing through a bamboo forest and past a grand waterfall, you'll reach Giang Ta Chai village, home to the Red Zao people. Stroll through the village, encountering women engrossed in their embroidery work crafting traditional attire. You might catch glimpses of blacksmiths fashioning agricultural tools or crafting hunting rifles. After crossing the Muong Hoa river once more, ascend towards Su Pan village, passing a rock field with enigmatic carvings believed to carry ancient messages. Witness the distinct technique used to construct homes on the steep rocky terrain in Su Pan village. Descend from Su Pan, trekking downhill for an hour until Ban Ho valley unfolds before you. Upon arriving at Ban Ho, inhabited by the Tay people, you'll check in to a spacious stilt house for dinner and your homestay.

Night 3: Overnight stay at a homestay in Ban Ho Village

We dedicate an hour to exploring Ban Ho, an expansive village inhabited by the Tay people residing in capacious wooden houses constructed on stilts, showcasing exceptional organization. Then, we ascend uphill towards Nam Toong village, occupied by the Red Zao community. While the trail in this segment proves steep, the higher you ascend, the more breathtaking the scenery unfolds before you. Perched atop a hill, Nam Toong village remains almost secluded, its rudimentary houses offering a warm welcome from its inhabitants. Beyond Nam Toong, the trail winds up and down hill slopes for an hour, leading to Nam Keng and My Son, two diminutive villages inhabited by the Xa Pho ethnic group, numbering only about 4000 individuals in Vietnam. Predominantly reliant on forest gathering, hunting, and practicing slash-and-burn agriculture, the Xa Pho live a primitive lifestyle. Each family here constructs a small stilt house away from their main dwelling to safeguard their food and valuable possessions from potential fires. Your overnight stay will be in this village.

Night 4: Homestay overnight

Rise early to relish the fresh air and witness the local way of life before Breakfast. An incredible sight here is observing children trekking several kilometers, navigating up and down hills to reach school, seemingly cherishing their school hours! Departing from this humble village, trek downhill toward the river for a crossing, followed by another uphill stretch leading to Thanh Phu, an additional Tay village where you'll have approximately two hours to explore before Lunch. In the afternoon, resume trekking for a few hours along the return route, offering a panoramic view of Ban Ho valley before being picked up for a jeep ride back to Sapa. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel, and the rest of your evening is at leisure.

Night 5: Overnight at a simple hotel in Sapa Town

Today is your day to explore Sapa town at your own pace. We suggest a stroll to Sapa market, a bustling place where tribal ethnic groups like the Black H’mong, Red Zao, and Zay gather daily to sell their produce—vegetables, bamboo shoots, mushrooms—and a variety of handicrafts ideal for souvenirs. Afterward, continue your walk from the market to the church and ascend Ham Rong Mountain's summit. There, you can visit an orchid garden and a small museum that showcases the ethnic peoples of the Northwest.

Later in the afternoon, around 3 PM, you'll be picked up by a minivan and taken to the bus departure point for your journey back to Hanoi, arriving at around 10 PM.