Discover Sapa – Mu Cang Chai 7 Days

Our driver and tour guide will be waiting for you at the lobby from 8AM. After getting out of a busy Hanoi, you will enjoy the countryside view through the windows while driving northwestward to Yen Bai province, which was historically known for its French colonization since 30s of the previous century. Arriving at Nghia Lo town early in the afternoon, checking in our homestay at a peaceful village, then having lunch and rest on a traditional stilt house for a while. In the afternoon, we embark on a bicycling tour to discover the daily life of the ethnic community in the area and enjoy the beautiful scenery of villages, mountains, and rice fields. As named the second largest in Northern Vietnam, the rice paddies start changing into a yellow-gold colour in autumn and fall, and the harvest runs from September until the end of October. These fields are recognised as a national scenic site as well as the unique cultural identity of the Hmong ethnic group.

With ‘Homestay’ experience, your dinning and overnight accommodation is provided by a local family in their traditional house-on-silts. There would be no private room and you will find yourself comfortable sleeping on the floor in a large communal area. The sleeping corner is set up with a single mattress (thin, but adequate), blankets (ditto), pillow and mosquito net. The restroom is at international standard and a few steps from the main house.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to the host family and head for Tu Le, a little town located at beautiful valley at the foot of Khau Pha Pass, in the middle of the way to Mu Cang Chai. Upon arrival, we get ready for a soft trek to the rice valley and visit some villages. After taking photographs and meeting nice people, you will be back to the town and having lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we start our drive up the famous Khau Pha Pass, where the clouds are almost reachable and there are fantastic views of valleys at the bottom. We will have some stops for a break and photo opportunities on the way to Mu Cang Chai until late afternoon. After checking in another homestay by the town, the day will end with a gentle walk to visit a village of the Thai ethnic minority at the foot of a mountain nearby. Dinner and overnight at the homestay.

In the morning, we will get a transfer to a gather point for the whole day trekking to enjoy Vietnam’s national rice terrace heritage which creates amazing landscapes stretching down the mountain sides. Our trek will start from Che Cu Nha commune to La Pan Tan Commune in the distance of around 13 km. This trek will definitely offer us a good opportunity to see the main spots and admire the beauty of amazing rice terraces of Mu Cang Chai, the place also is wonderful for taking magic photos of with wooden houses and guard boxes spotted on the terrace fields. We will also be able to visit a few villages of the H’mong hill tribe scattered in the area and experience interesting livings of ethnic minority groups. Afterwards, you will get picked up by your private vehicle around 4.00 PM, then transfer back to the accommodation and stay for the second night in Mu Cang Chai.

In the morning we set out for another valley near Mu Cang Chai town. From here we have a perfect panorama of the whole town surrounded with terrace rice field. You may take this chance to photograph the scene with water buffalos and people harvesting rice. Then we will leave Mu Cang Chai to Tan Uyen, a mountainous district of Lai Chau province and have our lunch here.

The tour keeps going heading for a hidden tea plantation where we see the local picking up tea by hands. The scenery is really beautiful depicted by the view of tea filed stretching to the horizon. Lastly, we head for Sapa, one of the most breathtaking hill stations in Vietnam which reflects the signature of French architecture and colorful hill tribal cultures. We have a visit to the town’s market and free time in the late afternoon. Overnight in Sapa.

After having breakfast and check out hotel, there would be a brief break and last preparations before our Sapa trip.

We take a walk on a small path down the valley to the Muong Hoa River along Y Linh Ho valley and from here lead to the Black H’mong in Lao Chai village. Black H’mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area. They are proud of their culture and preserve their traditions and way of living. They have their own language and usually wear traditional indigio blue clothing.

Continue to Ta Van village, home of the Dzay tribe. Although Dzay is a fairly small minority group of about 38.000 people who live mainly in the mountains in Northwest Vietnam, but they still account for the majority of populations, among Tay, Thai, Nung. In fact, the nobly humanistic values in characteristics and the special culture of Dzay people are the most impressive feature for tourists when travelling Ta Van Village.

Following a breakfast with local people, please enjoy the breathtaking scenery in early morning before continue to visit Red Dao people at Giang Ta Chai, where we also have a short break near by a hanging bridge made from cane and witness a beautiful waterfall on the occasion.

Red Dao, the second biggest group of hill minority people in Sapa, is recognized as those who wear plain black trousers and a long black tunic with embroidered cuffs and lapels; especially the women have very colorful red embroidery and coins on their clothing. On their head, there is a red scarf to be worn. Some of the women even have shaved off their eyebrows following a respectful Red Zao Legend.

We continue along small paths in the rice fields, cross the Muong Hoa River and trek up to Su pan village where you will meet the jeep and transfer back to Sapa. You will have free time and overnight at hotel in Sapa.

After having breakfast and checking out, we plan to walk through the town for about 20 minutes before turning to a dirt road to Ma Tra Village, whereon inhabited by friendly Black H'mong ethic. Continue trekking up the village and getting through paddies fields will lead you to an ancient Catholic abbey, built by French colonists almost a century ago. Traveling across 2 km further to reach Ta Phin Village for exploring the daily life of Red Dzao, where you have a good chance to buy woven and textile brocade made by ethical people as the exclusive souvenirs, before exploring village and Ta Phin Cave and small hamlet of Black H'mong people. 

We will have lunch at a local restaurant before return to Hanoi. You will arrive your hotel in Hanoi at about 19:00. Finish unforgettable Vietnam Tour with Asia Tour Advisor. Good bye & see you in the next time! Asia Tour Advisor is capable of tailoring customized trips if you wish otherwise.