Sapa and Bac Ha Exploration

Sa Pa District is located in Lao Cai Province, around 350 km north-west of Hanoi close to the border with China. The Hoang Lien Son range of mountains dominates the district, which is at the eastern extremity of the Himalayas. This range includes Vietnam's highest mountain, Fan si pan, at a height of 3142m above sea level. The town of Sa Pa lies at an altitude of about 1600 m. The climate is moderate and rainy in summer (May-August), and foggy and cold with occasional snowfalls in winter

Day 1: Hanoi - Sapa O/N on the train

After your dinner you will be driven to Train station for a night train at 20.40pm starting from Hanoi to Lao Cai. Overnight on the train

Day2: Sapa (B, L)

Early arrival in Lao Cai station, you are greeted by our local guide and driven up hill to Sapa town for hotel check-in. You will visit Cat Cat Village, Dragon Jaw, and Sapa market. Rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight in Sapa

Day3: Sapa Trekking ( B, L)

We start walking on a small path down the valley to the Muong Hoa River and from here to the Black H'mong village Lao Chai. Black H'mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area. They are proud of their culture and keep their traditions and way of living. They have their own language and wear traditional indigo blue clothing. After picnic lunch, you will continue to Ta Van village (1.200 m) to visit DZay people. Then walk up road where our pick-up vehicle is waiting to drive you back to Sapa.

Day 4: Sapa - Bac Ha - Lao Cai train station (B, L )

Bac Ha - a small highland town - doesn't have the same dramatic location of its more illustrious neighbour, but it is calmer when Saturday comes. It fills up to choking point on Sunday morning, when visitors flood in to meet the Flower H'mong at the morning market. Compared with Sapa, tourism is still in its infancy here and during the week the town has a deserted feel. Bac Ha is a good base to explore the surrounding highlands. Around 900m above sea level, it is noticeably warmer than Sapa. There are 10 Montagnard groups that live around Bac Ha; the colouful Flower H'mong are the most visible, hut other groups include Dzao, Giay (Nhang), Han (Hoa), Xa Fang, Lachi, Nung, Phula, Thai and Thulao. One of Bac Ha's main industries is she manufacture of alcoholic home brews (rice wine, cassava wine and corn liquor). The corn hooch produced by the Flower H'mong is so potent it can ignite! Bac Ha is the only place in Vietnam where you'll find this particular moonshine; there's an entire area devoted to it at the Sunday market. Swill some down before deciding whether to buy a buffalo or cow.

After breakfast you will take a 3 hour drive to Bac Ha town and join in Coc Ly Hill tribe Market ( if on Tuesday) or Can Cau hill tribe market (if on Saturday) or Bac Ha hill-tribe market ( if on Sunday) and discover the daily life of Flower H'Mong, Red dzao people. After lunch in Bac Ha town, you have a trek about 6 km of mountain path to Thai Giang Pho or Ban Pho village - home of Flower H'Mong people. In the late afternoon, you will be driven back to Lao Cai station to catch a night train back to Hanoi. Overnight on the train

Day 5: Hanoi Arrival

The train returns you to Hanoi at 5.30am. End of services

Tour price includes

a/ Accommodation based on 3 star hotel with daily breakfast

b/ Sightseeing tours, as specified in the itinerary, with private car with English speaking guide

c/ All admission fees as stated in the itinerary

d/ Meals as stated in the itinerary

e/ Return train tickets (soft sleeper 4 berth air-conditioned cabin) Hanoi - Lao Cai - Hanoi