The 3-day tour includes the most important travel highlights in the northern Vietnam – Sapa and Halong bay. Take the overnight train to Laocai then enjoy a full day hike through terraced rice fields, local H’mong and Dzao villages. You have about 5 hour boat cruise in Halong bay on day 3. If your group size is big enough, we would recommend you booking a chartered boat junk offering you a complete flexibility while cruising.

Itinerary:
Day 1: Overnight train to Laocai.   

Overnight train to Laocai. Train??? Departure at ??? (To be advised). Overnight on board train.

Day 2: Laocai – Sapa. Sapa full day tour. Overnight train back to Hanoi (L).   
Arrive Laocai Railway Station early this morning. You will be welcome by our local team and transferred uphill to Sapa.

After breakfast (not included), travel to Sin Chai village. This is a beautiful village, located right at the foot of Hoang Lien mountain range and inhabited by the Black Hmong minority. There we start our trekking journey uphill. Once we reach to the top, you will take a small trail descending to Catcat village.

Your lunch will be provided near a waterfall.

In the afternoon, we will take another trail sneaking through mountain. The scenery is also spectacular. Take a short break upon arriving Y Linh Ho village before climbing up to the main road where our vehicle will be waiting for us for the journey back to Sapa.

Day use will be provided in a mini standard hotel in either Sapa or Laocai.

Travel to Laocai Railways Station for overnight train trip back to Hanoi. Train ??? Departure at ??? (To be advised). Overnight on board train.

Day 3: Arrive in Hanoi. Hanoi – Halong bay – Hanoi (L).

Arrive Hanoi Railway Station early this morning. You will be greeted again by Lotussia local team and transferred to Halong bay.

Enjoy 3.5 hour drive through the fertile flood plains of the Red River Delta to Ha Long City. Once at Ha Long City we board our private boat for a five-hour cruise of this stunning area, stopping along the way to visit one of the limestone caves in the bay. There will also be time for a swim in the bay’s emerald waters. Whilst on board, you will be served a delicious local seafood lunch.

The boat goes back to shore at about 15:30. Get on our car again and travel back to Hanoi. You will be dropped off at your hotel in Hanoi city center. End trip.

Contact Lotussia Travel for more details.

Sapa is home to many ethnic minority groups, each wearing their traditional and colorful attire. This cultural trip includes a 6-day trek through the hills and valleys of the Sapa region, encountering several minority villages along the way. This trip provides an authentic experience of local traditions and culture.

Night 1: Hanoi - Lao Cai
08: 30pm Lotussia Travel tour guide will pick you up at hotel lobby to escort you to the Hanoi railway station for night train to Sapa. The train conditions are very basic however we will travel in soft sleeper class which is compartment for 4 passengers. Stay overnight on the train.

Day 1: Sapa - Ylinh Ho - Lao Chai - Ta Van (15km) (B/L/D)
Train arrives Lao Cai railway station aroung 06: 00. Pick up and transfer to Sapa town. Relax for a while at local restaurant then begin trekking down the valley to the Muong Hoa River and from here to the Black H'mong village Lao Chai San, Lao Chai. We then continue to Ta Van village to visit Zay people. We'll stay overnight with a local family in Ta Van. Accommodation is basic but a unique and special experience.

 Day 2: Ta Van- Giang Ta Chai - Seo Trung Ho (15 km) (B/L/D)
After the breakfast we'll continue to the Red Dao people at Giang Ta Chai. The scenery is breathtaking on the trekking way. Overnight in the Seo Trung Ho village of Red Dzao.

Day 3: Seo Trung Ho  Ta Trung Ho  Ban Ho (15 km) (B/L/D)
Continue along small paths and trek up to the hill with good views of Ta Trung Ho village the Red Dao ethnic group. On the way we have lunch and trek to Ma Quy Ho village, Red Dzao ethnic people also. Then we continue trekking to Ban Ho village where is the home to Tay ethnic group. We stay overnight in a wooden Tay stilt house.

Day 4: Thanh Phu - Nam Sai - Nam Ken - Ban Ho (15 km) (B/L/D)
After breakfast we'll hike to Nam Sai Village to visit the Tay People, and then we'll trek up to the Red Dzao Village the village of Xa Pho tribe - the smallest group in Sapa who have very little contact with modern Vietnam. Overnight in the Ban Ho Village.

Day 5: Ban Ho  Nam Toong Nam Ken  My Son - Thanh Phu (15 km) (B/L/D)
After breakfast we'll hike to Nam Sai Village to visit the Tay People, and then we'll trek up to the Red Dzao Village the village of Xa Pho tribe - the smallest group in Sapa who have very little contact with modern Vietnam in My Son village. Then we trek one hour to trek up to hills to Thanh Phu village a Tay ethnic group. We arrive Thanh Phu and stay overnight on Bamboo's hut.

Day 6: Thanh Phu - Sapa (B)
After breakfast, we;ll trek to Ban Den place. From here, we are collected by our vehicle and transferred back to Sapa. In the afternoon you will have time to experience the colourful Sapa before driving to Lao Cai for the night train back to Hanoi. Stay overnight on train .Arrival Hanoi at 5:00AM in next day, clients arrangement taxi from train station to hotel. End of service.

Inclusive

English or French speaking guide

Black Hmong porters (to carry food and luggage)

Road transfer by good vehicle and mountain experienced driver.

Cook (for group sizes of 8 pax)

All necessary transport

All indicated meals, plus snacks (B as breakfast; L as lunch; D as dinner)

Water for the whole trip

Sleeping bags and mattresses
Waterproof bluebag for luggage

Tents if needed

Mosquito nets

All entrance fees and permits

Overnight in local houses or tents

Train Tickets from Hanoi-Lao Cai - Hanoi

Exclusive
Personal Pocket Money
Soft drinks (beer, coca cola)
Insurance
All other services not indicated above

5 of 5 stars Reviewed October 18, 2012


We went on a 2 day trek with Lotussia Travel including a homestay and it was wonderful. We arranged everything through email (Lotussia Travel was very responsive) and everything was ready for us when we arrived. Our guide, Cho, spoke perfect English and was extremely knowledgeable about the area because it's where she has lived her whole life. She let us choose different routes and got us off the beaten path where we were away from other tourists. The homestay was very comfortable and the food was delicious!

As others have said, be forewarned that the women who tag along for the first half of the first day will want to sell you things. We got really ripped off because it took us off guard. We told Cho that we didn't want to buy anything more and asked her to please tell any other women that we were not interested. We had no more problems.

We had an incredible experience with the Sapa Sisters and would highly recommend them.

“Excellent guide”

My wife and I recently had a 2D trip with Chi in SaPa. Chi was lovely and is a very knowledgeable of the area. She asked what we wanted to do and made sure that we got what we wanted. For any like me who have never left the city, this was a big insight into how others live. Not in Kansas anymore Toto. We stayed in a well appointed local house, though even this felt like camping. We did have a fantastic time though and learnt a lot.

My only complaint was in regards to the 'hangers-on' mentioned by others, and mainly only due to my own stupidity. I am not good at bargaining and always forget. I have been ripped off so many times, but probably the most by these followers. Get back to town and find the same thing for 1/4 the price leaves a bad taste in your mouth. I would appreciate the guides giving more warning. She did feel sorry for us though and did some bargaining on our behalf later on. :)

Seriously though, if EVER a price is verbal rather than written down, 1/4 seems to be a fair price to pay. E.g. If they ask $20, pay no more than $5. I'm only slightly bitter...honest!

“Great adventure”
Trekking with Sapa Sisters was great: they adjusted the path, the pace as we wanted. They have helped us while trekking (as it was demanding and not easy, but this is how we wanted;)).
The best part was the satying over in the guest house and the evening with the local family. The atmosphere and the home made food was best I have tried;)
We have seen how people live in the villiges, how are their lifes, what are the challenges, that was the best life lesson ever.
If you want see real life and meet great people-definitely go there.
Visited December 2012