During the period of Vietnamese feudalism, the Northwest was a faraway mountainous and secret area. Stories of the people from these remote areas were more like fairy tales characterized by mystical lands populated by nomadic tribes having such a special relationship with the environment. These people were considered savages by the rest of the nation and the more developed populations in the area.
These "savage", living in a large area from the Northwest of Vietnam to Northern Laos, Southern Myanmar, Southern China and Northern Thailand depended entirely on the local wildlife for their subsistent living with little trade with groups outside the area. It was only when the French colonized Vietnam ventured into this mystical area that the inhabitant's secrets and wild lives were revealed to the outside world for the first time
Night 1: Hanoi - Lao Cai
Our car pick up from your hotel then transfer to Hanoi train station to get the night train to Lao Cai station.Overnight in your soft sleep cabin.
Day 1: Lao Cai – Sapa, trek to Ta Van village (B,L,D)
The train arrives in Lao Cai at 6.30 a.m, our driver or tour guide with the sign of your name will welcome you. On a Russian jeep, we ride to Sapa in about 1,5 hours, you will be taken to a small guesthouse for a morning shower then your breakfast at a local restaurant here. We walk straight from town down hills to the valley of Muong Hoa, we will be trekking along the rice paddies, crossing the stream and visit the Hmong village at our break. Picnic lunch en route and we keep hiking up and down the green hills to Ta Van village of the Zay people, you will be greeted by your host, free time in the afternoon to wonder around or join in some of the life activities here. Dinner and sleep in the house of the Zay.
Day 2: Keep trekking to Ho village (B,L,D)
You will not be sleeping that long in the morning at any villages when you trekking, since the noise of the pigs, dogs, cats….will keep you awake early and it would be nice for you to take part in an activity here with the Zay. Breakfast and say goodbye to the host. Today we will do a trekking through forests, villages, suspension bridge and so to meet the locals working on the mountainsides or the rice terraces. We will break for a picnic lunch en route, keep trekking to Ban Ho village of the Tay people where you will be warmly welcomed by the host, share the dinner with them, and stay at their traditional house on stilts.
Day 3: Trek around Ban Ho and back to Sapa(B,L,D)
Another new day traveling over and over the scenic mountains and friendly village, breakfast with the Tay people here then we will take about 3 – 4 hours trek to Thanh Phu village and back to Ban Ho at noon for our lunch. Some walk up to the main road and jeep back to Sapa, check in your hotel then you are free to explore. Sleep in town of Sapa.
Day 4: Sapa and night train to Hanoi (B) Lunch and dinner on your own
Today you are free at leisure, to visit around the town of Sapa (Dragon mount, Orchid garden, Waterfall…) or relax in town and inhale the fresh air. Leave Sapa by bus in the late afternoon to Lao Cai station for our night train back to Hanoi. Overnight on the train.
Day 5: Sapa - Hanoi
Getting back to Hanoi from Sapa trip so early at around 5am, taxi to hotel on your own.
End of services. Our staff will give you the warmest goodbye and hope to see you again.
