Sapa

Explore Sapa and the area around this frontier town in the Lao Cai province in northwest Vietnam. It is one of the main market towns in the area where many ethnic minority groups such as H'mong, Dao and Tay live.

Day 1 - Hanoi/Lao Cai
This evening transfer to Hanoi Railway Station for your overnight train to Lao Cai, the gateway to Sapa. You will overnight in a soft sleeper compartment aboard the Victoria Express.

Day 2 - Lao Cai/Sapa
On arrival in the border town of Lao Cai transfer to the former hill station of Sapa. In the terraced hills and mountains of this area, the expansive green landscape is enlivened by the colors of its hill tribe population - flashes of shining silver jewelry from the necks and wrists of indigo-clad H'mong and the scarlet turbans worn by the Red Dao. It is here you will find hands stained with color from fabric dyes intricately embroidered into clothes, hats and purses.

On a morning walking tour of Sapa, visit the busy market where Dao, H'Mong, Tay and other ethnic minority people converge from the surrounding countryside to sell their handicrafts and buy provisions. A light trek takes you to Sapa's quaint hill tribe villages set against Indochina's highest peak, Mt. Fansipan in the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range, a picnic lunch will be had en-route. (Please note that appropriate footwear must be worn for the trek. If conditions are wet, programs may be diverted)

The afternoon and evening is yours to continue discovering the area. Overnight at the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa.

Day 3 - Sapa
Today take a light trek to a different valley to enjoy the sceneries of mountain rice terraces, waterfalls, buffaloes at work. Observe people at work in the fields, witness the traditional dyeing of clothes, and cross rivers by suspended bridges before returning to Sapa for lunch and an afternoon at leisure. Overnight at the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa.

Day 4 - Sapa/Ethnic Market/Lao Cai/Hanoi
After breakfast take a short drive to visit a local market. Different markets are open throughout the week, such as the Ban Cam on Tuesday, Cao Son on Wednesday, Lung Khau Nhin on Thursday, Can Cau on Saturday and Bac Ha on Sunday. You'll see mostly Flower Hmong but Phu La, Black Dao, Tay and Nung hill tribe groups also gather in these markets. Browse the variety of local products that are not found in other areas, such as the interesting animal market where pot-bellied pigs, cows and buffalos are traded.

This afternoon take a short walk in a hill-tribe village, visiting local homes to understand more of daily tribal life, culture and traditions. In the late afternoon return to Lao Cai where you will have use of a hotel room to freshen up before taking the overnight Victoria Express train back to Hanoi.

Day 5 - Hanoi
Arriving early this morning in Hanoi, you will transfer to your hotel or central Hanoi for your onward departure.