Sapa minority market tour & trekking – 2 days

Combine a trip to Sapa with a visit to a local market of hill tribes in northern Vietnam. See how livestock such as buffaloes and pigs are traded and local produce. On the other day you will take a hike through the valley between the rice fields and visit local minority villages.

Night 1: Hanoi night train

Make your own way to Hanoi train station.

Take the night train to Lao Cai. Overnight on the train is based on a bed in a shared 4-bed cabin. For a complete private cabin you need to contact us.

Day 1: Sapa market

Arriving at the Lao Cai station early in the morning, you will be met to be taken to Sapa.

Breakfast will be prepared for you in Sapa before you start your Sapa adventure.

Important! Depending on the market you choose and which day you arrive, this daily schedule can differ. two possibilities

1. Day 1: Market visit – Day 2: Trekking
2. Day 1: Trekking – Day 2: Market visit

You have 4 options for a market visit

Option 1: Bac Ha market

• Day of the market: Sunday
• Departure from Hanoi: Friday or Saturday
• Distance from Sapa: 100 km
• Driving time: 2.5 – 3 hours
• Tour type: private or group tour

It is the most popular and busiest market in the Northern Province trading a wide variety of goods including livestock such as cows, pigs, buffalo and horses and everyday items such as rice wine, vegetables and household goods. It is particularly popular with visitors as it provides an excellent opportunity to see and meet the people of the Flower H’mong ethnic minority, which is characterized by their extremely light and colorful dress. For this reason, the Bac Ha market is also called the most colorful market in Vietnam.

Option 2: Can Cau Markt

• Day of the market: Saturday
• Departure from Hanoi: Thursday or Friday
• Distance from Sapa: 120 km
• Driving time: 3 hours
• Tour type: private

It takes about 3 hours to reach the relatively little visited and small market of Can Cau, located in a small valley close to the Chinese border. It is this location that gives the market a unique atmosphere. Here there is the opportunity to observe the Dao Tuyen, Phu La, Tay and Flower H’mong minorities each doing business in the market.

Option 3: Coc Ly Market

• Day of the market: Tuesday
• Departure from Hanoi: Sunday or Monday
• Distance from Sapa: 80 km
• Driving time: 2.5 hours
• Tour type: private

Coc Ly is a small market and is known for the buffalo and horse trade. It is quite a small market, but especially interesting for its location next to the Chay River. It is a market where you can observe different ethnic groups including: Flower H’mong, Phu La, Dao Tuyen and Tay who come to exchange, buy and sell goods every Tuesday.

Option 4: Muong Hum Market

• Day of the market: Sunday
• Departure from Hanoi: Friday or Saturday
• Distance from Sapa: 45 km
• Driving time: 1.5 hours
• Tour type: private

This remains the least “touched” market in the area. It takes 1.5 to 2 hours drive east of Sapa via Lao Cai which takes us through beautiful scenery. The market is frequented by a wide variety of ethnic minority groups, including: Black H’mong, Zay, Tay, Red H’mong, Lu, Ha Nhi and Flower H’mong. There is a lot to see in this interesting and very rural market.

Day 2: Sapa trekking

After breakfast you will start a beautiful trekking through the famous rice fields of Sapa. Along the way you will visit authentic villages of local hill tribes (ethnic minorities), where you will learn more about their local culture.

• Route: Y Linh Ho – Lao Cai – Ta Van
• Difficulty: Easy – Medium

This is one of our most popular treks. The route takes you to villages in the Muong Hoa Valley, inhabited by a variety of ethical minorities, including Black H’mong and Zay. We move over
back roads and local paths between the terraced rice fields.

From Sapaa we trek via Y Linh Ho, through a beautiful landscape to the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai. We spend time looking around the village.

Continuing our walk through rice terraces and local trails to the Zay village of Ta Van, the only village in the Sa Pa area where the Zay people live. We spend time looking around the village and stop here or at an alternative spot for our picnic lunch.

After lunch, we will continue and walk through bamboo forest and terraced rice fields to Giang Ta Chai village where we meet the people of Red Dao minority. Finally we go back into the valley and we go back to Sapa by jeep.

Rest and enjoy dinner in the evening.