Sapa Hill Tribe Markets - 5 Days

  • Colorful crowd at the Sunday market. Bac Ha, Vietnam

    An image of Quang-Tuan Luong

  • Hmong kids returning from school, near Lai Chau. Northwest Vietnam

    An image of Quang-Tuan Luong

  • Detail of Flower Hmong dress. Bac Ha, Vietnam

    An image of Quang-Tuan Luong

  • Hmong women returning to their village, which cannot be reached by road. Sapa, VN

    An image of Quang-Tuan Luong

  • Steep road ascends the Tram Ton Pass near Sapa, Northest Vietnam

    An image of Quang-Tuan Luong

  • Children returning from school, Ma Phuoc Pass area. Northeast Vietnam

    An image of Quang-Tuan Luong

  • Ethnic women carrying banana trunks. Vietnam

       

  • Fashion shopping at the Sunday market. Bac Ha, Vietnam

       

  • Tending rice fields in the mountains. Vietnam

       

 

This trip will take you to some of the most isolated but also very beautiful area in the Northwest of Vietnam where you can visit many different hill tribes. You will have ample opportunity to discover stunning scenery as well as hospitable hill tribe people you’ll meet along the way. On your scenic drive from Sapa to Bac Ha, you will have the chances to visit the hill tribes and their colorful weekly markets. The Chay River will be your alternate route back to Lao Cai. The river cruise offers you another perspective of this ruggedly beautiful and majestic landscape of Vietnam's Northwest.


 

Day 1:
HANOI – LAO CAI

Tonight board the Victoria Express train from Hanoi to Lao Cai. Overnight on train. (B/D)

 

Day 2:
SAPA – TA VAN – CAT CAT

Arrive at Lao Cai early in the morning. Breakfast at hotel and early check-in. A pleasant trek this afternoon will take you along ancient buffalo paths and trails and through Cat Cat and Ta Van villages, home to the Black Hmong, and Dzay people. Discover the region’s striking landscape and meet friendly villagers along the way. Descend to the valley floor and you’ll find yourself surrounded by the valley walls covered with multi-layered terraced rice fields. Late afternoon, climb to Ham Rong Mountain for a panoramic view of Sapa at sunset. (B/L)

 

Day 3:
SAPA – CAN CAU – BAC HA

The 50-mile scenic mountain drive this morning will take you to Can Cau (via Bac Ha) in time for its weekly market. Set amidst mountains and green forests near the Chinese border, Can Cau market is smaller in scale but very colorful compared to other markets in Lao Cai Province. Here you’ll find mainly the Flower Hmong minority with their beautiful embroidered dress and head gear. Visit Can Cau and you will experience a typical, rural market of the hill tribes. Thanks to its remote location, the market is still largely untouched by tourism, preserving  historic  authenticity. Transfer to Bac Ha for lunch and hotel check-in. In the afternoon, take a relaxing trek on a mountain path to Ban Pho village, home of the Flower Hmong. You saw them at the market this morning, now visit their homes and learn about their daily activities, customs and traditions. Overnight in Bac Ha. (B/L/D)

 

Day 4:
BACHA – LAOCAI – HANOI

This morning you’ll visit the famed Bac Ha Sunday market, by far the largest and most colorful market in the Sapa Region. Here, you’ll see many minority groups from the neighboring villages and hamlets – the Flower Hmong, Dao, Giay, Han (Hoa), Xa Fang, Lachi, Nung, Phula, Thai and Thulao – gather on Sundays to trade, eat, drink and socialize. Their beautiful, distinctive dress in rich colors is a feast for your eyes (and camera). After lunch, travel back to Lao Cai by way of the Chay River. Enjoy this majestic landscape and occasional visits to some remote villages which can only be accessed by boat. Upon arrival at Lao Cai, board our night train back to Hanoi. Tonight you will dine on the train in le Tonkin Restaurant. (B/L/D) 

 

Day 5:
HANOI - DEPARTURE

Our train arrives in Hanoi early in the morning. Transfer to the hotel for breakfast and enjoy a half day use of the facility. Our hotel is located in the heart of the Old Quarter, so you can venture out on foot to explore the area at your own pace, sample local cuisine or catch up with last minute souvenir shopping. You will be assisted with transfer to the airport for your return flight to the US. (B) Bon voyage!

 

Departure:

November 5, 2012

Tour cost:

$1290

Tour price includes:
  • Service of Quang-Tuan Luong & local guides
  • Transfer Hanoi-Laocai-Hanoi via Victoria Express Train
  • Accommodations with tax and service charges
  • All meals except 1 dinner
  • Sightseeing as noted in itinerary & entrance fees to sites and museum
  • Airport transfers
  • Surface transportation in air conditioned vehicles
  • Visa provision services
  • Luggage handling (two pieces of luggage per person)
Tour price does not include:
  • International (trans-Pacific) airfare
  • Visa fees
  • Tips
  • Laundry
  • Excess baggage charges
  • Beverages at group meals
  • Travel insurance

Trip Payment Schedule: • At time of reservation: $300 (non-refundable) • 120 days prior to departure: 20% of tour cost • 60 days prior to departure: Balance
Cancellation Schedule :

All deposits are non-refundable. Refunds of final payment will be honored as follow:

  • 61-90 days prior to departure: 75% refund
  • 45-60 days prior to departure: 50% refund
  • 44 days or less to departure: No refund

In the event Insiders Asia cancels the tour, a full refund (deposits & final payment) will be honored. We recommend travel insurance.

 

Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa is the only luxury hotel in North-Western Vietnam, opened in March 1998. Built as a traditional mountain chalet with accented wooden décor and a welcoming stone hearth fire...

 

Quang-Tuan Luong is a full-time freelance nature and travel photographer from San Jose, California. Although his experiences have taken himaround the world, he is particularly attracted to the countries ofSouth-East Asia, all of which he has visited. He has an extensive knowledge of photography and all its artistic, technical, and business aspects.

Born to Vietnamese parents in France, he was trained as a scientist (PhD
U. Paris). The revelation of the high Alps led him to become a mountain
climber and wilderness guide. When he came to the US to conduct research
in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing, he felt
in love with the National Parks. After he became the first to photograph
all of them in large format, Ken Burns featured him in "The National
Parks: America's Best Idea" (2009).
 
His photographs, published in three dozen countries (National
Geographic Society, Time, Life, Outside, Scientific American, GEO ...),
the subject of two coffee-table books, have been profiled in several
photography magazines and National Geographic Explorer, as well as seen
in galleries and museum exhibitions on both US coasts.