Sapa Northern Highlands
5
Day Itinerary •
Vietnam
Five days in Sapa and the northern highlands gives you the complete extraordinary range of Vietnam's most spectacular mountain region, from the rice terrace valleys and ethnic minority villages around Sapa to the remarkable Ha Giang Loop through the most extraordinary mountain landscape in Vietnam, the extraordinary Dong Van Karst Plateau and the remarkable Ma Pi Leng Pass above the Nho Que River. This route extends beyond Sapa to cover the finest mountain circuit in northern Vietnam. The Muong Hoa Valley, Cat Cat village, Fansipan summit, the Bac Ha Sunday market and the extraordinary Ha Giang region with its dramatic karst plateau, ancient H'mong villages and the most extraordinary motorcycle road in Vietnam.
Best Time To Visit
September to October or March to May
Getting There
Overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai
Getting Around
Trekking guides, rental motorbike and taxi
Budget Per Day
Approx 40 to 75 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate to challenging; mountain roads
DAY 1
SAPA
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
HA GIANG LOOP
MORNING
HA GIANG, THE DONG VAN KARST PLATEAU UNESCO GEOPARK
The Ha Giang Dong Van Karst Plateau is the most extraordinary mountain landscape in Vietnam, a UNESCO Global Geopark of dramatic limestone karst peaks, ancient H'mong villages and the most spectacular mountain roads in Southeast Asia. The drive from the Ha Giang town through the extraordinary Quan Ba Heaven Gate gives the first panorama over the valley below where two perfectly conical karst hills are known locally as the Heaven's Gate Fairy Breasts. Entry to geopark free. Transfer: On road
MIDDAY
MA PI LENG PASS, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY ROAD IN VIETNAM
The Ma Pi Leng Pass on the Ha Giang Loop is the most extraordinary mountain road section in Vietnam, a 20km stretch carved into the cliff face above the extraordinary turquoise Nho Que River canyon 1,200 metres below. The view from the summit of the pass looking down the extraordinary canyon to the river and across to the limestone peaks of the geopark is the finest mountain panorama in Vietnam. The road has been called one of the finest drives in the world. Transfer: In Dong Van
AFTERNOON
DONG VAN ANCIENT TOWN
The Dong Van Ancient Town is the finest historic settlement in the Ha Giang geopark, a remarkable 19th-century trading town with extraordinary French colonial and Chinese architectural influences at 1,600 metres above sea level. The stone-flagged market square, the remarkable Dong Van Sunday market and the extraordinary setting between the limestone peaks give the finest small town atmosphere in northern Vietnam. The night in Dong Van is extraordinarily clear for stars.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Lung Cu flagpole at the northernmost point of Vietnam stands on a hill above the village of Lung Cu, the furthest north in Vietnam accessible by road. The 33-metre flagpole and the extraordinary view over the karst peaks into China give the finest sense of Vietnam's frontier with its northern neighbour. Entry approx 20,000 VND.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Guesthouse in Sapa or Bac Ha Early breakfast before the Ha Giang drive. | Lunch: Restaurant at Ma Pi Leng viewpoint Simple Vietnamese food with the extraordinary canyon view. | Dinner: Dong Van guesthouse Home-cooked H'mong food in the remarkable ancient town. Corn wine and black pork.
DAY 5
HA GIANG RETURN
MORNING
MEO VAC SUNDAY MARKET AND H'MONG CULTURE
The Meo Vac Sunday market on the opposite side of the Ma Pi Leng Pass from Dong Van is the finest and most remote ethnic minority market in Vietnam, a weekly gathering of Black H'mong, Flower H'mong, Lo Lo and Pu Peo minority groups in extraordinary traditional dress in the most dramatic mountain setting in the country. The market is at 1,200 metres above the Nho Que River canyon and the surrounding landscape is extraordinary. Entry free. Transfer: On road
MIDDAY
HA GIANG LOOP RETURN DRIVE
The return drive on the Ha Giang Loop through the extraordinary limestone karst landscape gives the finest views of the geopark from the opposite direction, each turn of the mountain road revealing a different extraordinary panorama over the karst peaks and the deep river valleys below. The loop road is at its finest in the afternoon light when the shadows fall across the extraordinary limestone formations. Transfer: Overnight bus or plane
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO HANOI
The return from Ha Giang to Hanoi takes 6 hours by bus or 45 minutes by the Vietjet air service from Ha Giang airport. The extraordinary experience of the Ha Giang Loop, the finest mountain circuit in Vietnam and one of the most extraordinary motorcycle roads in Southeast Asia, is the finest conclusion to a northern Vietnam highland journey. Ha Giang remains the least touristed extraordinary destination in Vietnam.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Pao's House in the Lao Xa village near Dong Van was the filming location for the Vietnamese film Chuyen cua Pao, based on an extraordinary novel about H'mong life. The remarkable traditional H'mong stone house is now a guesthouse and the setting in the karst valley is the finest in the Ha Giang geopark.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Dong Van guesthouse Final H'mong highland breakfast before the Meo Vac market drive. | Lunch: Meo Vac market stall Bun bo and corn wine at the extraordinary remote market stalls. | Dinner: Hanoi restaurant Return pho in the capital after the extraordinary highlands week.
Where To Stay
Sapa, Nights 1-2 Hotel de la Coupole MGallery or Topas Ecolodge. Approx 40 to 150 USD. Bac Ha, Night 3 Basic guesthouse for the Sunday market. Approx 10 to 20 USD. Dong Van, Night 4 Dong Van guesthouse or Don Cao Guesthouse. Approx 15 to 30 USD.
Top Tips
1. The Ha Giang Loop is the finest motorcycle road in Vietnam. Rent a semi-automatic motorbike in Ha Giang town and take 3 days for the complete extraordinary circuit.
2. Sapa rice terraces at harvest in September to October are the finest. The golden terraces with the mist and mountains give the most extraordinary landscape photography in Vietnam.
3. The Bac Ha Sunday market Flower H'mong traditional costumes are the most extraordinary in Vietnam. The remarkable colour and the remote mountain setting make this the finest market in the country.
4. Ma Pi Leng Pass is the finest road viewpoint in Vietnam. Stop at the summit for the extraordinary Nho Que canyon view. The turquoise river 1,200 metres below is extraordinary.
5. Ha Giang is the last frontier of Vietnamese tourism. Go now before the crowds arrive. The extraordinary landscape, the remote ethnic minority villages and the remarkable road are extraordinary.
6. Book the Victoria Express overnight train for the Hanoi to Lao Cai journey. The soft sleeper cabins are comfortable and the 8-hour journey arriving at dawn for Sapa is the finest start.
Total Budget
40 to 75 USD/day