Duration: 3 days 2 nights
Start: Hanoi/ Finish: Hanoi
Destinations included: Hanoi – Sapa – Lao Chai – Ta Van – Muong Hum – Hanoi
Price from: 265$/person
After the trekking up and down to mountain and valley with stunning senery, we get Muong Hum market. It is small, yet active hill tribe market that typically attracts five ethnic groups. Taking place each Sunday morning, visitors can expect to see Hmong, Dao, Ha Nhi and Giay people trading their local wares in a very traditional and intimate village setting. Muong Hum contrasts greatly with the touristic Bac Ha or Can Cau markets.
JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS
Trekking up to mountain & down to valley
Getting astonishing shots of terrace rice fields and landscapes
Meeting and living with the local ethnic people
Crossing mountains, forests, villages and valleys
Experiencing the colorful hill tribe market of five ethnic groups
TOUR INCLUSIONS
- Carefully selected accommodation with breakfast
- Other meals listed in the itinerary
- Expert English-speaking local guide
- Tours as mentioned and air-conditioned transfers
- Sightseeing and permit fees during guided times
- Service charges and government VAT tax
TOUR MAP
ITINERARY BY DAY
Day 1 – Friday: Hanoi – drive to Sapa – trekking Lao Chai – Ta Van
Around 8.00Am, we leave Hanoi for Sapa. Arrive in Sapa around lunch time. Have lunch and refresh at a moment. On the first day we start trekking in Sapa. There are several trails leading down into the beautiful Muong Hoa Valley. Here we will reach a river that we will follow for a while. The trail leads through an stunning landscape, with mountains and steep sloping rice paddies. You will see rivers, local houses and farmers working with their buffalo’s.
>> Read more: 7 places must to visit in Sapa
Sapa in spring with peach flower blooming
First we get the village of Lao Chai, one of the oldest and largest Hmong villages in the area. This is my home village and I will tell you everything about the traditions of the local people. If we have enough time I can even bring you to my family-house up in the mountains.
From Lao Chai we will walk to Ta Van Village, mostly inhabited by the Giay and Hmong ethnic minorities. If it is the right time of the year you can see the people planting rice or harvesting it. I will learn you all about the differences between the ethnic minority groups.
>> Read more: 7 the most beautiful villages in Sapa
When we reach the homestay you can walk around in the village, go to the river for a swim (in summer) or watch the family cook dinner.
 Sapa homestay in Ta Van village |  A bedroom in a Hmong homestay |
| Living in a homestay makes guest closer with local people and understand the beautiful of unique culture. | |
Day 2 – Saturday: Ta Van – Muong Hum
After the breakfast, say goodbye the host, we drive through the grand mountain passes towards Ta Giang Phin Village. We will do some walking towards our lunch stop and eat a traditional, home cooked meal with a local Hmong family. After lunch, there may be time for more walking before continuing our journey towards Muong Hum and the overnight homestay.
Sapa homestay in Ta Van village
Day 3 – Sunday: Muong Hum Sunday market – Hanoi
Muong Hum market is a small hill tribe market which is frequented by 5 different tribal groups: Giay, Flower Dao, Green Hmong, Ha Nhi and Tay. The market is in its full swing from morning to noon, people from faraway villages come to buy and sell the agriculture products, livestock, brocades and handicrafts, etc. The market day is also their day to enjoy and have fun as they spend time with their family and friends to eat and drink rice wine. You may also try some local food here. Then, the car will take you from Muong Hum Market to Y Ty commune via Den Thang village. You will also have ample to time to take pictures of your beautiful surroundings which will include Lu rice field, Den Sang cardamom forest and Nhi Cu San mountain. This place is next to the border between Vietnam and China.
Visiting market is an activity help tourist can understand more about the local culture – Some market of ethnic people in Sapa only open 1 day on a week or month. So it’s not only a market, it’s such like a festival of local people.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant at Y Ty commune’s center. After lunch, you will get to visit a local house of Ha Nhi people. Their houses are made with mud, bamboo and wood. Then the car will now bring you to Hanoi. We will make a stop at Lung Po T-Junction, which is the starting point of the Red River in Vietnam. Arrive in Hanoi in the late afternoon.
REFER OTHER TOURS TO SAPA OR TRAIN TO SAPA
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