SAPA 1 DAY A MAZING MUONG HOA VALLEY TREKAt the start of our adventure, we will all gather together at 9:00AM in our office, ready to set out on our trek. Our initial journey will consist of walking alongside the road before making a right turn onto a smaller path leading down to the valley we'll be trekking through. Along this path, we'll come across the picturesque Y Linh Ho village, nestled against the Muong Hoa River. From there, our journey will take us to the fascinating Black H'mong village of Lao Chai. This particular ethnic group is one of the largest in the Sapa region and takes immense pride in their traditional culture, language, and clothing. Walking through the village, you'll notice that the H'mong people have only recently transitioned from a nomadic lifestyle to a more sedentary one. As we continue on our trek, we'll reach the beautiful Ta Van village, where we'll have the honor of meeting the Zay people. Although a much smaller ethnic group of only approximately 38,000 people, this tribe still retains many of their ancient customs despite the encroachment of modernization. Many women still wear the traditional, vibrantly colored shirts, while the houses are constructed from bamboo and wood with an earthy clay floor. Our adventure will culminate in the return to our hotel in Sapa, replete with unforgettable memories.
With an early start time of 5.30am – 6am, we meet our guide and driver. We are then transferred by car 15km from Sapa, to arrive at the Fansipan Park Ranger’s Station at a height of 2,000m, ready to begin the climb. The mountain’s ecosystem is rich, with 2,024 floral varieties and 327 faunal species. The challenging ascent and descent will take around 7-8 hours. Throughout, we hike through stunning primary deciduous and evergreen forests, follow crystal clear mountain streams, and brave windswept ridges. We will take short breaks along the way, you may take pictures at various scenic points during this climb if the weather permits. Forest types change with increasing altitude. Around the summit, dwarf bamboo is all that can survive. We arrive at the 3,143m summit around midday, and celebrate this victory with a picnic lunch, sitting high above the hills and hopefully with views of the stunning mountainous landscape. The descent, will take around 3-4 hours (depending on individual fitness levels). We will arrive back at the starting point with the car waiting for us to send us back to Sapa. Our tour ends with a soothing herbal medicine bath or foot massage
Sapa – Silverwaterfall –Love waterfall – Havengate – O long hill tea – Sin Chai village – Cat Cat village – Ma Tra village – Ta Phin village – Sau chua – Hang Da – Sapa This option is perfect for you to see Sapa in one day. You can see a lot of Sapa in this time. We have created this full-day tour for you to see almost all of Sapa, and we know how to choose the best places and villages for you to visit in one day. We know how to take you to see all of Sapa and we will take you to see and meet 5 of the ethnic minorities in Sapa. We’ve combined it with the highlights of Sapa and will take you to visit some villages tourists have never heard of before, where you can truly see real local life and culture. We run our tours like no other tour company. We have a great understanding and relationship with the people. This allows us to go off the beaten track and offer something no other tour company can. Sapa in a day is possible, so come along and experience it with us.
9:00am: You will be met up with our local guide at our office 013 Fansipan streets and transferred along the national road 4D to the starting walking path. You then follow a large and rocky path going gradually uphill for 2 hours. You hike along the narrow valley which runs between two high mountains to Sa Seng Village. The Hmong peoples here have just recently change their living way from sifting style into the sedentary one. There are traces of the past time can be seen: Rudimentary houses, stone wall around homes… Lunch break in the village. After Lunch, continue your hike along the same trail going gradually uphill the Den Thang mountain. After about one hour, you arrive in Hang Da Village of the Hmong which sits at 1,800m height and over looking down the Muong Hoa Valley. Make some home visits before you leave Hang Da village. You have an easy walk on high elevation. After about half hour, the trail gets steeper and narrower as you hike downhill. After two hours, you arrive in Hau Chu Ngai village. Keep hiking onto Thao Hong Den Village which consist of some small hamlets scattering on rocky land. This portion of the trek offers chances for taking the best photos of landscapes. Arriving in the center of Hau Thao Commune at about 03.00pm, you will be picked up again by your vehicle and transferred back to Sapa. Trip ends
We begin the day with a 3km trek through breathtaking landscape to the village of Suoi Ho, home to Hmong minority. From here you can enjoy views over endless rice terraces, and you will have the opportunity to see some of the animals used by the locals. Continuing on to Matra village you will come across the impressive ruins of a church dating back to the French occupation in the early 1900s. Take a minute to explore this intriguing sight and take some photos. Trekking to the village of Ta Phin you will be able to meet both Black Hmong and Red Dao minorities. The Red Dao are known for their expertise in herbal medicine as well as usage of plants from the land to treat many illnesses. Your guide will be able to introduce you to some Red Dao women who can tell you more about their many remedies. A Red Dao herbal medicine bath can be arranged for you to experience, so please ask. Transport will be provided from Ta Phin back to Sapa.
At 09:00 Am, Our guide will pick you up at your hotel/ hostel then we start biking 5 km to visit the Red Dzao ethnic people in Suoi Thau, Ma Tra villages then continue 9km biking through the local villages, the rice and corn fields. Have picnic lunch then we continue riding around the mountain biking trails from Ma Tra Villages to Ta Phin village. Reach Ta Phin village where we have chance to learn about the life styles and the custom of the red Dzao minority, enjoy landscapes... then ride back to Sapa. Drop you off at your hotels/ hostel in Sapa town. Tour ends.
When you are almost ready for your journey to go trekking in Sapa, you must ensure that you are well prepared. Take the following items with you:
Bac Ha Market ( On Sunday Only )
Bac Ha Market is one of the biggest and most well known in all of North Vietnam. The energy and colour of the Flower Hmong People give the area a unique vibrancy. Bac Ha Market is at its finest very early as the local minority tribes bring their livestock, wares and rice wine to sell each week. Although there are things to buy in the form of handicrafts and souvenirs, the best quality products can be found in Sapa. Bac Ha Market is not really a place for shopping, but is a great location to visit if you are happy to people watch and take in the energy and vibrancy of the occasion. Many different ethnic groups such as Flower Hmong, Phu La, Tay and Nung minorities gather to buy and sell local products that cannot be found elsewhere. This makes the market a portrait photographers dream. Indeed most locals paid little attention to you, rather choosing to focus on their business and the short Sunday-sized window of opportunity. The market is located in Bac Ha Town, 3 hours drive, by private car or shared bus from Sapa or (2h drive) by private car from Lao Cai.
Can Cau Market ( On Saturday )
Can Cau Market is the place to exchange the community culture between the minority ethnic groups. With a lot of the different locals who come from the different ethnic villages around Simacai District at Can Cau Market, the tourist will have a chance to see a lot of beautiful and splendid dresses with the giant flower butterflies of the ethnic girls and women in this market, or the tourist could also buy the bags which are made by hand by the own locals as the souvenirs to give their friends and family in an impressive place as in Can Cau Market.
The goods in Can Cau Market is showed to sell very simple, even the locals just need a raincoat to unfold in the soil, then they put their own products to sell and exchange goods. The market are also divided into many different areas to do business such As
the brocade area, the tool area, the animal area…., but the most interested area is the place for the traditional restaurants with the local food and dishes, if you set your foot at Can Cau Market is you should go to a local’s small restaurant where is decorated very simple to enjoy the special and local food that is cooked directly by the locals at here, it is very cheap and characteristic
Coc Ly market on Tuesday
Coc Ly market where situated between stunning mountains by the Chay River. Every Tuesday morning, the people from the surrounding ethnic villages such as Flower H’mong, Phu La and Dao Tuyen gather to sell and buy their products. Having explored the market, you will have a boat trip to Flower H’mong village of Na Nen then trek to Trung Do village of Tay minority people. Enjoy the picnic lunch in local house with Tay people. From there you can travel by boat down the river and experience the magnificent sight of the beautiful river banks.
Sin Cheng On Wednesday
Locate in Sin Cheng Commune center. It’s far Si Ma Cai district about 10 km. Sin Cheng market open on every Wednesday/ It offers the opportunity to discovery a colourful gathering point of many local minorities as Hmong, Tay or Giay people… One of the truly authentic markets in the northwest of Viet Nam, Sin Cheng market offers a special and unique experience. An early departure from Sa Pa or Lao Cai station to Bac Ha traveling through the Viet Nam-China border area, you will enjoy amazing mountain vistas and a charming river. The activities of minority people are evident with corn plantations and terraced rice fields seen throughout the landscape. This panoramic route leads you to Xin Change, a colorful and special market for Flower H’Mong, Tay and Giay people who come to trade and exchange local products like tobacco, clothes, fruits, horses and buffaloes. The market itself is also a place for the young to meet and find partners, for the old to get away from life’s struggles, and for men to enjoy the traditional corn wine. Like a colorful festival of life, it is a happy time for all involved before heading back to their daily routine. Returning to Bac Ha at noon, we pass by the H’Mong King Palace to learn about the history and culture of the area
© SAPA BUFFALO TREKKING
