Sapa & the Ha Giang Loop – The Ultimate Combo Tour

Evening: Hotel pick-up & train boarding
Between 20:30 and 21:00, our guide or operator meets you at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter, hands over your train tickets, and escorts you to Hanoi Railway Station.

Night: Overnight sleeper train experience
You travel overnight to Lao Cai on the Dream Train Express, a comfortable tourist sleeper train. You’ll stay in a shared 4-berth cabin, with your own bed, clean bedding, air-conditioning, and space to store luggage under the berth. The ride can be a bit bumpy and noisy at times, but it’s a classic Vietnam travel experience and a relaxed way to cover long distance while you sleep.

Train schedule: SP7 – Hanoi 22:40 → Lao Cai 06:25

You’ll arrive in Lao Cai around 06:00. A driver will take you up to Sapa, where you can store your bags, take a shower and have breakfast.

You will have free time in the morning to relax and prepare before the tour begins.

The tour starts around 09:00. You drive towards Tram Ton Pass and then walk about 1.1 km along the Golden Stream to reach Love Waterfall, one of the most scenic waterfalls near Sapa, surrounded by forest and mountain views.

After returning to the main road, you stop at Tram Ton Pass, the highest mountain pass in Vietnam, before visiting Silver Waterfall. The waterfall drops nearly 200 meters and flows year-round, making it one of the area’s most impressive natural sights.

After lunch in Sapa town, you’re dropped off at your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax, explore Sapa on your own, or enjoy the mountain atmosphere.

After breakfast, the trek begins around 09:00. You’re driven down Cat Cat Road before starting the walk towards the Muong Hoa River, crossing a hanging bridge and continuing uphill through bamboo forest and mountain paths.

As the trail opens up, you walk through some of the largest and most beautiful rice terraces in the Sapa region, with wide views over the Hoang Lien Son mountain range.

You arrive in Y Linh Ho, a small Hmong village, where lunch is served at a simple local restaurant run by a Hmong family.

After lunch, you continue walking to Lao Chai, one of the oldest and largest Hmong villages in the valley, before heading on to Ta Van Village, home to Giay and Hmong communities. Along the way, your guide explains local customs, daily life, and ethnic differences. Depending on the season, you may see rice planting or harvesting in action.

After the trek, you return to your hotel in Sapa for a well-earned rest.

At around 06:30, you’re picked up from your hotel in Sapa and travel by bus to Ha Giang. The journey takes about six hours, with one or two short breaks along the way.

Around 13:00, you arrive in Ha Giang. From the meeting point, a taxi takes you to Thon Tha Village, where your Tay ethnic host family welcomes you. Lunch is served at the homestay.

The rest of the afternoon is free. You can explore the peaceful village, relax at the homestay, or, in summer, visit a nearby waterfall for a refreshing swim if weather conditions allow.

At around 19:00, enjoy a traditional dinner with your host family and fellow travelers, sharing stories in the cool mountain evening.

After breakfast, you begin your Ha Giang Loop journey, heading out of Ha Giang City and climbing Bac Sum Pass, your first taste of the region’s rugged mountain terrain.

You stop at Heaven Gate Pass, one of the highest viewpoints in the area, with sweeping views over valleys and limestone peaks. Nearby, you visit a viewpoint overlooking the famous Twin Mountains, a natural landmark of Quan Ba.

The drive continues through ethnic minority villages and over scenic passes, including Tham Ma Pass, known for its winding S-shaped road, and Chin Khoanh Pass, also called the 9-ramp pass.

You pass through Sung La Valley, dotted with traditional houses, before visiting the Hmong King Palace, a historic residence that offers insight into local leadership during the French colonial period.

Arriving in Dong Van, you check in to your hotel and have free time to explore the old quarter, enjoy dinner, and soak up the relaxed mountain-town atmosphere.

If your visit falls on a Sunday, start the day at Dong Van Sunday Market, a lively gathering place where ethnic minorities trade goods, livestock, and food while wearing traditional clothing.

You travel north towards Lung Cu, passing scenic mountain roads and traditional villages with distinctive yellow clay houses. At Lung Cu Flag Tower, climb to the top for panoramic views over the border region.

On the way to Meo Vac, you cross Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of Vietnam’s most dramatic mountain roads. You’ll stop at viewpoints and, if you like, walk part of the Ma Pi Leng Skywalk. There’s also an optional boat ride on the Nho Que River, offering a different perspective of the canyon below.

You arrive in Meo Vac, check in, and relax after a full day of unforgettable scenery.

If it’s Sunday, you can visit Meo Vac Market, the largest ethnic market in Ha Giang Province, full of color, local products, and traditional life.

Leaving Meo Vac, you drive through remote villages and stop at the M-shaped viewpoint for one last panoramic photo opportunity. The landscape gradually shifts from rocky mountains to greener valleys, especially around Mau Due, where rice terraces dominate from May to September.

Depending on timing, you return via a faster route or a more scenic road through Du Gia, passing Tay villages and peaceful countryside. Arrival in Ha Giang is around 16:00.

You board a limousine bus back to Hanoi, traveling in a comfortable soft-seat coach. There’s a short break on the way. You arrive in Hanoi around 22:00 and are dropped off at your hotel in the Old Quarter.