Sapa: train and trekking

In the early evening, you'll be collected from your hotel in Hanoi and taken to the train station to begin your Sapa trek. After you've stocked up on a few nibbles, you'll depart from Hanoi aboard the overnight train to Lao Cai in Northern Vietnam. You'll sleep in a reasonably comfortable carriage with 4-couchettes. At around 7.30am the following morning, you'll arrive in Lao Cai where you'll begin this Vietnam tour as you'll be collected by a driver and taken to Sapa (approx. 1.5hrs). Sapa was previously a French summer resort, as its elevation (1650 metres) ensures mild, fresh temperatures. This made it an ideal escape from the hot, sticky Hanoi summers.

After settling in and freshening up, you'll set out on a 10-15km hike, stopping at several hill tribes along the way. You'll be warmly received in all of the villages and often invited to drink tea in the huts. Tonight, you'll stay with a local family for an authentic adventure. You'll be provided with a mattress, blanket and mosquito net - but don't expect too much more. This is a Sapa trek at its most rustic. Please note that it is advisable to bring your own sleeping bag liner for this Vietnam trip.

The next day you'll continue your trek to the villages of Giang Ta Chai and Red Dzao. As you're not travelling in a group during our Sapa trek, it will be just you and the guide on the hikes. This means that you are free to set your own pace, taking it as fast or slow as you like. The locals that you'll meet along the hike will be very friendly, though perhaps a little shy. 

In the afternoon you'll have another adventure - travelling back to Sapa by Vietnamese moped, the mountain wind blowing through your hair. You'll spend the night in a comfortable hotel in Sapa, bursting with local charm.

Today, you'll hike to Cat Cat, a Black H’mong village. The Black H’mong is a striking tribe whose people wear mainly black clothing. The dye that they use often runs, staining their hands slightly black. Although Cat Cat sees more tourists than the smaller surrounding villages, the people here still live in much the same way as their forefathers. You might see a few effects of tourism, but the visit will still provide a fascinating glimpse into hill tribe life.

At around 4pm, you'll be taken to Lao Cai to board the sleeper train back to Hanoi. You'll arrive on day five at about 5.30am in the morning. This is where your Sapa trek comes to an end.

Taxis and tuk-tuks will not be in short supply, so you can easily travel from the train station back to your hotel. It will be a little too early to check in at your hotel, so we would recommend arranging an early check-in in advance. If this is something that you would like to organise, then just let one of our Vietnam travel specialists know.

We would recommend our laid back Halong Bay cruise to follow your Sapa trek, or perhaps you could continue your Vietnam holiday with a few day tours from Hanoi. Alternatively, you could begin to head slowly south, with a little shopping on our Hoi An trip along the way.