Sapa – Moutain and people in Bac Ha
When people talk about the mountains of North Vietnam, Sapa is usually the key reference point. Yet we offer you the chance to trade Sapa’s crowds for the wilds and intrigue of a road less traveled by in a magnificent area quite close to Sapa. This tour takes you to a region tucked away in a majestic mountain range lying between Vietnam and China. Let us introduce you to deep valleys, stunningly terraced rice fields, lush forests, weekly markets, remote villages, and the ethnic minority groups with their colorful textiles and personalities, dwelling for centuries in mountains high above the rest of us.
Destination |
Sapa |
Included |
- Accommodation during the tour
- Bac Ha: shared- homestay in a traditional house-on-stilts.
- Meals as specified in the program
- Transfer on the 1st day from Handspan office to the railway station
- Train ticket Hanoi – Lao Cai in air conditioned, 4-berth soft-sleeper cabin
- Bus ticket Lao Cai – Hanoi in comfortable, safe, air-conditioned shuttle bus
- Travel in an appropriate air-conditioned vehicle with an experienced driver
- The services of an experienced, English-speaking guide
- All entrance fees
- VAT and other taxes
|
Excluded |
- Hotel in Hanoi
- Beverages, guide gratuities and personal expenses
- Camera fees (if any)
- Insurance
- Surcharge in peak season (Christmas & New Years)
|
Travel With a private vehicle
|
Highlight
- The splendor of Chino-Vietnamese mountain
- Stunning scenery in wild places you’ve only dreamt about
- Vivid ethnic culture, big smiles, unforgettable memories
What to bring
- Sun & rain gear (including sunscreen and brimmed hat)
- Warm clothes in winter (mid-November to early March)
- Insect repellent
- Walking shoes/sandals
- Daypack for hiking
- Toiletries, towel and flashlight
- Original passport
Discount for larger group is available; please contact our travel consultants at
lam@dcttravel.vn or send us inquiry through the contact form
Details
20:00 - Depart from DCT Responsible Travel (17 Cau Go) to Hanoi Railway Station to catch the night train to Lao Cai (Sleeper cabin with air-conditioning)
Early arrival at the Lao Cai railway station, time for breakfast and refreshments. We then drive to the mountain range of Bac Ha and reach some of its highest peaks on a scenic road. We start hiking from there. It is an easy trek for anyone used to outdoor practices, with no specific difficulty and going mostly down.
We evolve in a region where H’mong is the most represented ethnic culture. This is rough terrain to cultivate and live on. Very few travelers venture there, while those trails offer a great playground for hikers with beautiful views over the valleys. We have an approximate 5-hours walk, with a break en route for lunch. Our car is never too far on the sealed road so we can shorten the trek if you feel tired or if the weather is unbearable.
We arrive in the late afternoon at the house of our hosts in Tay people village located 16 km from Bac Ha center. Time for shower and refreshments before dinner is served.
With ‘Homestay’ experience, your overnight accommodation is provided by a local family in their traditional house-on-stilts. There’s no private room and you’ll sleep on the floor in a large communal area. The sleeping corner is set up with a single mattress (thin, but adequate), blankets (ditto), pillow and mosquito net. The restroom is at international standard and a few steps from the main house.
After breakfast, we take our car for a drive to the hike starting point in Nam Mon Commune. It is a nice and easy walk on a small concrete path in the middle of nowhere. About a 2-hour walk going mostly down to arrive in a small village lying next to the Chay River.
We stroll around the village and enjoy any opportunity to get better acquainted with the locals. Enjoy a leisurely walk to explore the village before having lunch in a local home.
Depart Trung Do and walk along the Chay River for over an hour to visit some of the hamlets of the Black Zao and Hmong of the Cac Cop Village.
Around 15.30 – we head to Lao Cai, in a good time to catch up with an evening bus back to Hanoi. The bus is equipped with large individual seats, A/C, and wifi. There are 2 stops on the way and dinner is at your own cost.
You’ll arrive at Hanoi center around 22:00. The transfer from there to your hotel is not included.
If you wish to extend the trip to Sapa, we can offer an extra transfer from Lao Cai to Sapa without any surcharge. Please advise your return date in advance so that we can issue our bus ticket Sapa – Hanoi properly. Should you need any assistance on hotel/tours booking in Sapa, please feel free to contact our travel consultant anytime.