Experience Cat Cat Village - The cultural hub of Vietnam

Cat Cat cultural village was formed in 19th century by the gathering of some families belonging to some ethnic groups living in mountainous areas of northern Vietnam, especially Black H’Mong .They lived next to each other along the mountain side and cultivated surrounding their home. Rice and corn were grown in terraced fields, while traditional handicrafts such as twisting flax and weaving fabric have been well-kept. Through times, Cat Cat Village has transferred to one appealing feature of Sapa’s tourism.

What you need to know before your trip to Cat Cat Village

Geographical location and access

Geographical location and access to Cat Cat village

Within the Sapa District, Cat Cat village can be found in San Sa Ho commune, right in the Lao Cai Province. To accurately locate this charming village, you’ll need to follow along towards the Fansipan Mountain for about 3 kilometers from central Sapa. Unlike other villages like Ta Phin and Ta Van, Cat Cat village is quite closer to Sapa, making it relatively easier to access the place by tourists and all other persons on their visit trip to the village. 

Best time to visit Cat Cat village

Due to its location within the mountainous belt of the Northwest region, Cat Cat village has a practically cool temperature and climate. During Spring, the village is clothed with fluorescence of pink cherry and apricot flowers that light up a significant part of the village in style.

Best time to visit Cat Cat village

Summer in this Cat Cat village also comes with its unique beauty adorned with yellow mustard flowers, while Autumn’s aesthetics release a picturesque structure on the village’s golden rice fields, as winter only has a duty of covering the fields with chilly clouds and blizzards.

All these suggest that it does not actually matter the season you decide to visit Cat Cat village, be it in winter, summer, autumn or spring, you are still assured of a wonderful experience.

Cat Cat village climate and weather

Cat Cat village climate and weather

The enchanting location of Cat Cat village in Sapa within the Hoang Lien Son mountainous region, gives it a treat to a completely unique weather and climate. It has cool temperatures ranging from 15°C to 20°C all year long, with random rainfall during the monsoon season. This makes the Cat Cat village weather favorable and quite conducive for tourist activities. Sapa’s high altitude and cool climate has contributed heavily in making it a very popular destination for not only tourists from different parts of Vietnam, but also for those who occasionally want to escape the humid and hot nature of other parts of the country.

Cultural heritage

The culture of the people of Cat Cat village is embedded in every aspect of their lives as a people. This is reflected through their captivating landscapes through to the scenic rice fields and charming waterfalls, creating a very beautiful and calm atmosphere in the entire neighborhood itself.

Cultural heritage

As you navigate through the Cat Cat village Sapa, you could feel and envisage the beauty of their wooden houses and naturally arranged paths and narrow alleys, different sounds and noises from birds as well as flowing paces of water from rivers and lakes that create a serene and harmonious ambiance with a touch of solemn relaxation.

All these, coupled with the true inner culture which stems from the peoples’ simple life styles, honest interactions and hospitality of the H’mong tribe as well as traditionally influenced delicacies will blow your mind away as you experience that originality and value for customs, tradition, beliefs and cultural legacy of the people, as it leaves traces of special memories to behold.

Traditional art and craft

The culture and tradition of the Cat Cat village locals does not end at their way of life, style and hospitable nature. They also have a rich art and craft culture to cherish.

As you navigate the confines of the village, be sure to get blown away by the peoples’ small but rich art galleries including the Gem valley and the May art gallery.

Traditional art and craft

The May Art Gallery is a place in Cat Cat village Sapa, with impressive and captivating posters, paintings, traditional clothes, etc. Local artists often display their talents in making these artforms for exhibition and sometimes, sale. This reflects the rich artistic culture possessed by the people of Cat Cat village, Sapa.

On the other hand, the Gem Valley is a café, homestay as well as an art gallery. There is quite a site of astonishing paintings and other kinds of art and handicrafts. It is even said that the place has now become home to two of Hanoi’s finest artists who got attracted by the beauty of the village.

Also, experience the local people's art and handicrafts as they indulge in sewing and embroidering their clothes and selling them off to tourists. A true way to showcase artistic talent and beauty.

Accommodation availability and options

Visiting a completely different environment especially for the first time can be quite challenging sometimes. Usually, it has to do with not knowing how the place is going to be or how things are going to turn up. As a tourist, one important thing you cannot afford to miss in your plan or schedule is good accommodation, as this gives you a haven and some level of security as well as the necessary peace of mind for a successful tour.

Accommodation availability and options

Cat Cat village Sapa is no exception. There are quite a number of hotels and inns that tourists or visitors can book in order to make their tour possible and worthwhile. Some 5-star hotels in Cat Cat village include Silk Path Grand Resort and Spa, Ville De Mont Mountain Resort, Hotel de la Coupole, etc. The 4-star hotels include Pistachio Hotel, Sapa Jade Hill Resort and Spa, etc.

As a tourist, you can choose from any of these hotels and resorts among others. All you need to do is to book or make reservations before your trip to Cat Cat village, in order to have a smooth transition and tour in the village.

What to do and what to avoid in Cat Cat village

As a tourist, going to a place for the first time can be somewhat challenging and sometimes very stressful. This is why you need to know the things to do and the ones to avoid even before you take the first step of your trip.

When taking a trip to a village setting, you must bear in mind that most of these villages have rules to be adhered to by both locals and strangers. 

What to do and what to avoid in Cat Cat village

Just as many other villages in Sapa, there is a forbidden forest in Cat Cat village. This forest is usually carefully protected by the villagers, so that no stranger can have access to the forest. Even locals themselves are to avoid the forest as it is a sacred ground or place where traditional rituals of spirit worship or casting away evil spirits. So as it stands, it is a taboo in Cat Cat village, Sapa to visit or enter the forbidden forest. It is a taboo to do so.

Another taboo in Cat Cat village is that you must avoid noise making that cause disturbances and tramples upon the tranquility and calm atmosphere of the village.

Whistling is also a taboo because it is believed that thats the sound used to signal devils to the village.

Avoid rubbing you hands  or touching the heads of children to show affection. According to the people, that kind of touching may make the soul of the head flee and bring the children pai, diseases and sickness.

Finally, while in Cat Cat village, you might want to reconsider wanting to give candies to children. The children themselves will happily reject it. You might want to give them books, pens etc.

How to get to Cat Cat village from Sapa

Experience a relaxing short journey from Sapa through to Cat Cat village. The direction you take in starting this journey solely depends on the hotel you’re lodged in. The most common thing however is that you are inclined to move about 1.3 Kilometers downhill as you head to the entrance of the Cat Cat village from Sapa.

How to get to Cat Cat village from Sapa

Regardless of the path you take, you are likely to encounter concrete roads and great mountain views along the way. Furthermore, you go past a couple of hotels and homestays while you see an overview of the Cat Cat valley.

As you continue to leisurely walk through with quite a number of random stops, just to enjoy the surrounding views, it should take you about half an hour to get to the Cat Cat village entrance.

The current Cat Cat Village entrance fees

The current Cat Cat Village entrance fees

Currently, Cat Cat village is managed as a tourist center (village), and therefore has entrance charges. The Cat Cat village entrance fees are as follows:

Adults: 150,000 VND/Person

Children between 1 and 1.3 meters tall: 70,000 VND/Person

Children under 1 meter tall: free of charge.

It is therefore worth noting that after the purchase of your Cat Cat village entrance ticket, you can pick up a copy of the village guide and map for easy navigation. The Cat Cat village opening hours  are from 6am to 9pm daily. Take some time to check out Asia Tour Advisor to learn more.

Top amazing things to do in Cat Cat Village Sapa

Go shopping for local artifacts

Engage yourself in the most thrilling moments as you shop for traditional handicrafts among other things around the Cat Cat village Sapa. While in the village, you cannot afford to miss such an opportunity, as those handicrafts are the main things that the Cat Cat village locals are notable for.

The handicrafts include amazing and unique handmade brocade, embroidery andclothings woven and crafted by the indigenous concept with natural materials such as flax and hemp. These artistic pieces are quite immaculate as they are made with spot on designs and reflective colors that show out and project the creativity and artistic minds of the H’mong natives.

Go shopping for local artifacts

Again, you are warmly embraced with local souvenirs as jewelry, wood carvings etc. You can buy these intricately designed items from the locals or better still, directly from the main artisans from their various shops across the village.

A very great way to keep you in constant connection with the Cat Cat village and its people is to have those souvenirs as part of their culture and heritage goes with you wherever you go.

Savor the local foods of the people

It is not enough to be dazzled by the Cat Cat village's charming scenery, as a tourist, you are also offered the chance to take a big bite into the food culture of the people. It is no secret that Cat Cat local people have a lot up their sleeves when it comes to food, with their wide range of local dishes.

Aside from the generally known Vietnamese foods such as rice and noodles, there are certain foods that are exclusive to the Cat Cat village people. Some of these foods include Buffalo meat: This is one of if not the most sought after food in the whole Cat Cat village. A well marinated fresh buffalo meat with traditionally produced spices, hanged in the kitchen for quite some time, and then creates a unique feeling and taste.

Savor the local foods of the people

You also get to be blessed with their Corn wine: This is a specially brewed wine using an ancient traditional recipe and methods with the typical leaf yeast of the H’mong ethnic people, creating an irresistible sought after aroma and taste.

There are also certain fruits that are peculiar to the people that you should try. Some of these fruits include plum, peach, pear and docynia indica.

Experience the charming beauty of Cat Cat village waterfall

The Cat Cat waterfall is indeed a scenic site to behold. Being one of the most captivating natural landmarks in Sapa, you will love it, as most tourists cannot resist falling in love with it. As you get close to the waterfall, you are embraced with the most serene and calming sound of flowing water with the naturally refreshing scents from the depth and core of deep high end waters across the forest.

Experience the charming beauty of Cat Cat village waterfall

The waterfall, which is originally from the core of the Hoang Lien Mountain Range, and is clothed with fields of green vegetation. As a tourist, you can choose from several viewpoints and relaxation areas as you are refreshed by  the waterfall’s natural aesthetics.

Interact with the locals

Interact with the locals

As you enjoy the natural and scenic beauty of the Cat Cat village, it is quite important that you engage the local people while at it. Talking to the indigenous people of the village will give you a lot of insight about the peoples’ deepest culture and even certain hidden secrets (depending on the circumstances). A peoples’ heritage and cultural beliefs and practices are deeply rooted in the people themselves. This is the easiest way to have a true connection with the H’mong ethnic  people and their culture.

Range over giant water wheels

Range over giant water wheels

Experience one of the wonders in the Cat Cat village as bamboo sticks are used to create water wheels, so as to use the power generated by water to pound rice. This is so amazing. Aside from this main function of the water wheel, it also serves as a site of interest for tourists to explore. You should not miss the chance to watch the speeding wheels as you are engulfed in cracking and creaking sounds, hence aligning harmoniously with nature. 

Navigate along the scenic roads in the Cat Cat village

One of the things you must do as a tourist in Cat Cat village is to take a stroll in navigating the most peaceful paths of the village. The village hosts numerous stunning landscapes, ranging from amazing rice paddies to scenically captivating green forests.

Navigate along the scenic roads in the Cat Cat village

There are lots of beautiful orchards and beautifully preserved gardens to see. The sight of those alone is quite therapeutic.

As you enjoy the great scenery, you are bound to also see quite a number of activities by the local people such as weaving, dyeing and making handicrafts. Those are quite some refreshing and mind calming scenes.

Explore the H’mong culture and architectural legacy

While in the Cat Cat village, it is practically inevitable to notice the H’mong peoples’ unique culture and architectural designs, which have been in existence for centuries.

Explore the H’mong culture and architectural legacy

You will notice how the village is paraded with stone and wooden H'mong ethnic houses that emit a distinctive architectural style. Each house has three doors, with the main door aligned towards the center and the two others on both sides. The main door is usually opened during important occasions or ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, holidays etc.

These traditional architecture are not exhaustive of the whole structure, as they (The H’mong people) have a habit of allowing visitors to learn more about their cultural practices, customs and traditions.

Conclusion

Cat Cat Village Sapa has quite a number of  unique features of a highland village, and a very notable attraction for almost every tourist visiting Sapa. The village conventionally blends stunning and captivating natural beauty, traditional customs, as well as a modernized way of life, leaving visitors with lasting impressions and wonderful memories. So, the question now is, what are you waiting for? Don’t miss out on Asia Tour Advisor. Pack your bags, start a Vietnam tours package today, and get ready for an exciting and unforgettable journey to one of Vietnam's most charming and captivating destinations!