Sapa minority market & homestay trekking – 3 days

This 3 day Sapa tour is the ultimate local experience. Visit an authentic hill tribe market in one of the northernmost provinces of Vietnam. Combine this with a trekking tour through the famous rice paddies around Sapa in the Muong Hoa valley and stay overnight with a local host family in a homestay.

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 homestay trekking

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

• Day 1: Market visit – Day 2 & 3: Trekking
• Day 1 & 2: Trekking – Day 3: Market visit

This route takes you to several villages in the Muong Hoa Valley, inhabited by different ethical minority groups including: Black H’mong, Red Dao and Zay. If you are interested in learning more about these hill tribes, this trip is probably the one for you. We trek along the road, along local trails and through terraced rice fields.

From Sa Pa we trek through beautiful countryside via Y Linh Ho to the Black H’mong village of Lao Chai where we spend time looking around and learning about village life. We enjoy our picnic lunch in Lao
Chai or in a suitable place.

After lunch, we will hike through rice terraces and on local trails to the Zay village of Ta Van. This is the only village in the Sapa area where the Zay people live. We spend time looking around the village.

We meet our local Zay hosts at their home. The hosts and guide will prepare our evening meal, and the rest of the evening can be spent learning about family life in Ta Van or strolling around the village.

Overnight at a local homestay in the Ta Van village of the Zay minority.

Day 2: Sapa homestay trekking

After breakfast there will be more time to look around and experience life in Ta Van. We continue our trekking in the valley stopping for a picnic lunch at a suitable spot along the way.

After lunch we head up the side of the valley to the final place where the jeep is ready to take us back to Sapa.

Rest and enjoy dinner in the evening. Stay overnight in a hotel.

Day 3: Visit Sapa market

After breakfast you leave early in the morning for a local market.

You have 4 options for a market visit

Option 1: Bac Ha market

• Day of the market: Sunday
• Departure from Hanoi: Thursday 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: Wednesday 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: Saturday 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: Thursday 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.