Sapa Northern Highlands
3
Day Itinerary •
Vietnam
Three days in Sapa and the northern highlands gives you the most extraordinary mountain landscape in Vietnam, the remarkable rice terrace valleys of the Hoang Lien Son range where H'mong, Dao and Tay ethnic minority communities have farmed the spectacular terraced hillsides for generations. This route covers the essential Sapa. The extraordinary Muong Hoa Valley trek with its remarkable terraced rice fields and ethnic minority villages, the Fansipan summit cable car to the highest peak in Indochina, the extraordinary Bac Ha Sunday Market with the finest ethnic minority market in northern Vietnam and the Cat Cat H'mong village with its remarkable waterfall.
Best Time To Visit
September to October or March to May
Getting There
Overnight train or bus from Hanoi
Getting Around
Walk, trekking guides and taxi
Budget Per Day
Approx 35 to 70 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate; trekking on uneven terrain
DAY 1
SAPA ARRIVAL
MORNING
FANSIPAN SUMMIT, THE ROOF OF INDOCHINA
The Fansipan cable car takes 20 minutes to climb 3,143 metres to the summit of the highest peak in Indochina, the extraordinary three-cable gondola system giving progressively more extraordinary views over the Hoang Lien Son range, the Muong Hoa Valley below Sapa and on clear days the extraordinary panorama over multiple mountain ranges stretching to China. The summit area has remarkable Buddhist temples and the extraordinary view changes constantly with the cloud movement. Cable car approx 750,000 VND. Transfer: 30 min walk
MIDDAY
CAT CAT H'MONG VILLAGE AND WATERFALL
The Cat Cat village below Sapa is the finest H'mong minority village accessible from the town, its extraordinary cascade of traditional houses down the mountain valley with the silver embroidery workshops, the waterfall and the remarkable traditional dress of the Black H'mong people giving the finest introduction to ethnic minority culture in northern Vietnam. The walk down to Cat Cat takes 20 minutes from Sapa centre. Entry approx 70,000 VND. Transfer: 20 min walk back
AFTERNOON
SAPA MARKET AND EVENING TOWN
The Sapa central market is the finest daily ethnic minority market in northern Vietnam, the remarkable diversity of H'mong, Red Dao, Tay, Giay and Black H'mong people bringing their extraordinary traditional dress, handicrafts and local produce to the market. The Sapa evening is the finest in northern Vietnam, the town filling with trekkers and ethnic minority traders as the mist descends on the mountain and the remarkable views from the town edge are extraordinary.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Ham Rong Mountain Garden above Sapa town has the finest overview of the Muong Hoa Valley and the Hoang Lien Son range from above, the remarkable orchid gardens and the extraordinary terraced hillsides visible in a single panorama. Entry approx 70,000 VND.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Sapa Vietnamese pho or xoi sticky rice with the extraordinary mountain view. | Lunch: Hill Station Restaurant, Sapa The finest restaurant in Sapa with remarkable views over the rice terraces. | Dinner: Baguette and Chocolate, Sapa Local Vietnamese dishes in the finest budget restaurant in Sapa.
DAY 2
MUONG HOA VALLEY
MORNING
MUONG HOA VALLEY TREK, THE RICE TERRACE HEART OF SAPA
The Muong Hoa Valley below Sapa is the most extraordinary rice terrace landscape in Vietnam, the remarkable staircase terraces carved into the valley walls by H'mong and Dao farmers over centuries rising from the valley floor to the mountain ridges above. The trek through the valley passes the villages of Lao Chai, Ta Van and Giang Ta Chai, each with their distinctive ethnic minority architecture and extraordinary traditional dress. Guide hire recommended from approx 300,000 VND. Transfer: Guide walk
MIDDAY
H'MONG VILLAGE LUNCH AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
Lunch in an H'mong family home in the Muong Hoa Valley is the finest cultural experience in northern Vietnam, the remarkable combination of the extraordinary traditional house architecture, the family's handmade embroidery and the simple but remarkable Vietnamese mountain food giving the most genuine connection with ethnic minority culture available in Sapa. Most trekking guides arrange home lunch visits. Approx 50,000 to 100,000 VND contribution. Transfer: On trek
AFTERNOON
TA PHIN RED DAO VILLAGE
The Ta Phin Red Dao village north of Sapa is the finest Red Dao minority community near the town, its remarkable traditional herb bathing ceremony, the extraordinary embroidery skills of the Dao women and the remarkable hill top setting giving the finest ethnic minority experience in the Sapa region. The Red Dao herbal bath using 12 local mountain herbs is the finest therapeutic experience in northern Vietnam. Bath approx 100,000 VND.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Muong Hoa Valley rice terraces at harvest in September and October turn the extraordinary cascade of terraces from green to extraordinary shades of gold and amber. The harvest season gives the finest visual experience of the Sapa landscape and the remarkable sight of the entire community cutting the rice on the steep terraces is extraordinary.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in Sapa Early mountain breakfast before the trekking departure. Pack | Lunch: or plan to eat in the valley. LUNCH H'mong family home, Muong Hoa Home cooked rice, vegetables and local mountain greens. Extraordinary experience. | Dinner: Restaurant in Sapa Local black pork and mountain vegetables. The finest northern highland cuisine.
DAY 3
BAC HA MARKET
MORNING
BAC HA SUNDAY MARKET, THE FINEST ETHNIC MINORITY MARKET IN VIETNAM
The Bac Ha Sunday Market 70km from Sapa is the finest ethnic minority market in northern Vietnam, a weekly gathering of Flower H'mong, Tay, Giay, Nung and other minority groups who descend from the surrounding mountains in their extraordinary traditional dress to trade horses, buffalo, agricultural tools, traditional medicine and the finest handmade textiles in northern Vietnam. The extraordinary colour of the Flower H'mong costumes and the remarkable market atmosphere are extraordinary. Entry free. Transfer: 1 hour drive back
MIDDAY
CAN CAU SATURDAY MARKET OPTION
The Can Cau market above Bac Ha is the most extraordinary and least touristy ethnic minority market in northern Vietnam, a Saturday buffalo market where the remarkable Flower H'mong and Black H'mong traders bring their finest livestock from the surrounding mountains. The extraordinary combination of buffalo trading, traditional dress and the remarkable mountain setting is the finest market experience in Vietnam. Entry free. Transfer: Overnight bus or train
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO HANOI
The return overnight train or bus from Lao Cai to Hanoi takes 7 to 8 hours. The extraordinary Lao Cai station with its remarkable border crossing atmosphere and the overnight train through the northern Vietnamese landscape gives the finest way to return from the Sapa highlands. The soft-sleeper train carriages are comfortable and the morning arrival in Hanoi gives a full day in the capital.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Hoang A Tuong Palace in Bac Ha is the most remarkable historic building in the northern highlands, an extraordinary 1920s building combining Vietnamese, Chinese and French architectural styles built by the H'mong king Hoang A Tuong. Entry approx 20,000 VND.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel in Sapa Early breakfast before the Bac Ha drive. | Lunch: Bac Ha market stalls Bun bo Bac Ha beef noodles and local corn wine at the extraordinary market stalls. | Dinner: Train or bus food Instant noodles on the overnight train. Pack snacks for the journey.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Sapa, Nights 1-2 Topas Ecolodge or Hotel de la Coupole MGallery. Approx 40 to 150 USD. Budget option Sapa guesthouses from approx 15 USD. The view from any hillside guesthouse is extraordinary. Bac Ha, Night 2 option Bac Ha Hotel for the Sunday market experience. Very basic but perfectly fine.
Top Tips
1. The Sapa rice terraces at harvest season in September to October are the finest version of the landscape. The golden terraces with the mountain backdrop are extraordinary.
2. Hire a local H'mong trekking guide in Sapa. The guides speak English, know every family in the villages and provide the finest connection to the extraordinary ethnic minority culture.
3. The Fansipan cable car gives extraordinary views on clear days. Arrive early before the cloud builds. The summit temple complex is fine but the view is the reason to go.
4. The Bac Ha Sunday market is the finest market in Vietnam. The extraordinary Flower H'mong traditional dress, unlike anything else in the country, is the finest visual experience.
5. The overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai is the finest way to travel to Sapa. Book the Victoria Express soft sleeper. The 8-hour journey arrives at dawn for an extraordinary morning.
6. H'mong home stay in the Muong Hoa Valley is the finest cultural experience in northern Vietnam. Eating with a H'mong family and sleeping in the extraordinary traditional house is remarkable.
Total Budget
35 to 70 USD/day