Duration
4 days / 3 nights
Price Per Person
Destinations

 Among the many must-see destinations in Vietnam, the northern region of Sapa and nearby Lao Cai have enjoyed popularity with visitors for years. But, this four-day adventure is a journey of discovery through the areas’ lesser traveled treasures. Take the long and winding road through picturesque rice paddies with craggy mountains soaring up in the background. Visit charming, remote villages and meet their inhabitants, many of whom belong to tiny ethnic minorities unique to the small areas. Experience local customs and warm hospitality as you explore, discover and share in traditional village life. Take part in the hustle and bustle of a northern market and enjoy the colors, smells and sights as traders from miles around come together. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the real charms of Vietnam’s beautiful north.

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

• Hill Tribes: The ethnic groups of Vietnam's northern highlands are colorful, diverse, and thriving. Discover the unique cultures and customs of communities such as Black Hmong, Red Dao, and Xa Po, among others.

• Scenery: Mountain roads winding through stepped rice paddies and dense jungle covered in morning mist make for incredible photo opportunities.

• Handicraft Markets: Locals meet in hillside villages to trade and eat, and it's here you'll be able to pick up handmade souvenirs and sample regional delicacies.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Sapa

Embark upon your adventure starting from the bustling city of Hanoi where you will be picked up from your hotel bright and early at 8.30am. The brand new highway to Lao Cai runs through gorgeous scenery from the flat delta plains to the green hills and the journey will include plenty of comfort and photo breaks. After just over four hours, stop for lunch in a local restaurant in pretty Lao Cai before continuing for just one more hour to charming Sapa in the mountains. Check in at your hotel and acclimatize to your new surroundings with a stroll around town.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel
  • Aesthetics: The vibrant array of haute design elements will stun guests of the Hotel de la Coupole, where marble floors, elegant crown moldings, ornate light fixtures, and plush furnishings are aesthetic touches that come mandatory.
  • Variety: Whether in reference to the many room types or the numerous dining options and amenities, the Hotel de la Coupole brings no shortage of options to the table for guests to choose from.
  • Services: The Hotel de la Coupole is truly a five-star establishment in every sense — especially when it comes to service, which is extensive and thorough.
See Hotel
Hotel de la Coupole Sapa Preferred Hotel
About

Located 18 kilometers from the town of Sapa, Topas enjoys an idyllic mountaintop location with stunning views over Sapa Valley. Its 25 individual lodges offer double or twin occupancy, and come with traditional thatched roofs and hot water.

If our Preferred Hotel is unavailable, this accommodation is a reliable alternative and has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 2

Sapa

Head southwest to Thanh Phu by the mountain road on a journey of just under three hours, which affords amazing views of the valleys of below. Take a stroll through Muong Bo valley to visit the village of My Son, home to the Xa Pho - a small ethnic group found only in certain areas of Lao Cai. Later, take the road onward to Nam Sai, a larger village set on a mountain stream; here you will have lunch in the home of a Tay family. A leisurely drive back to Sapa will see you back at the Victoria Hotel with the evening to yourself.

Alternatively, depending on the weather, begin your day with a relaxing drive through the mountains with plenty of stop-offs to take pictures of the unrivalled scenery, including the famous Heaven’s Gate. Before lunch, visit either the village home of the Red Hmong people, or Ban Khoang where the Red Dao live, and enjoy the colors and sights of local life. Later you’ll have the chance to meet either the Lu and Thai tribes or head to Ta Giang Phihn to see the Black Hmong. After your day of exploring, enjoy the two-hour return journey to Sapa.

Sapa
Sapa

Day 3

Lao Cai

Enjoy breakfast in your hotel before checking out and driving off into the countryside. Your destination will depend on the day of the week. Sunday is market day in Muong Hum and your driver will take the ninety-minute scenic drive through Ban Khoang Commune and the Ta Giang Phinh Valley, with panoramas of soaring peaks and fields of rice. Amidst the mountains lies the village, home to the most colorful market in the province, attended by the people of the Black Hmong, Red Hmong, Black Dao, Red Zao, Day and Ha Nhi ethnic groups, all in their beautiful traditional dress. After lunch in the marketplace, it’s a short drive to Nam Pung where you can take a leisurely walk and explore Ha Nhi village.

Alternatively, on a Tuesday, take the two-hour drive from Sapa to Coc Ly, a bustling weekly market on the banks of the Chay river. Here the ethnic groups from the surrounding area gather together to trade, with attendees from the Flowery Hmong, Black Dao, Day and Tay tribes. Enjoy a picnic of local dishes on the riverbank, followed by a boat ride to Trung Do. Here you can visit one or two home villages of the Tay and Hmong people. 

After your busy day, take the winding road trip back to Lao Cai and check in to your luxury hotel; we recommend the comfortable and international Sapaly Hotel.

Hotel Options
About

Conveniently located in the centre of the provincial capital of Lao Cai, the Sapaly Hotel offers international standards of service combined with traditional Eastern charm. The hotel features 116 superior and deluxe rooms, plus junior suites and the Presidential Suite.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 4

Departure

After a delicious breakfast, check out of your hotel, bid farewell to Lao Cai and begin the leisurely journey back to Hanoi. Enjoy the scenery along the highway and take the time to make photo stops along the way. Once back in the city, check in to your hotel or enjoy your onward adventures.

Suggested Hotels For Days 1–2

Hotel de la Coupole Sapa
Preferred Hotel

Hotel de la Coupole Sapa

Sapa is a verdant, mountainous town located in northern Vietnam known for its rich ecological and cultural diversity stemming from its proximity to the Chinese border. With picturesque rice terraces and forested hills surrounding the town — and the Fansipan, the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia, located nearby — a stay in Sapa will leave visitors feeling like they’ve escaped to an old-world settlement that dates back to the colonial era of French Indochina. The Hotel de la Coupole Sapa, a luxury hotel that fuses design elements of elegant French colonial style with the colorful touches of native hill tribes, stands as the only five-star international hotel in Sapa. The Hotel de la Coupole features 249 accommodations, an on-site shopping mall, and a selection of bars and restaurants. Other amenities include air conditioning and heating (more sought-after than one might think in a mountain climate famed for occasional “four-season days”), numerous meeting and banquet rooms, and a Spa and Fitness Center complete with a sauna and massage parlor. And for those wishing to venture out and explore the surrounding mountains, waterways, and lush slopes, local guides are easily hired, and transportation is conveniently arranged either through the hotel or by local means.

See Hotel
Topas Ecolodge

Topas Ecolodge

Located 18 kilometers from the town of Sapa, Topas enjoys an idyllic mountaintop location with stunning views over Sapa Valley. Its 25 individual lodges offer double or twin occupancy, and come with traditional thatched roofs and hot water. Amenities are kept to a minimum to ensure the hotel does not generate too much waste. The restaurant specialises in hearty Vietnamese fare and is open for breakfast, lunch & dinner, on a buffet or set menu basis. The lounge offers drinks, books and games.

Suggested Hotel For Day 3

Sapaly Hotel

Sapaly Hotel


Conveniently located in the centre of the provincial capital of Lao Cai, the Sapaly Hotel offers international standards of service combined with traditional Eastern charm. The hotel features 116 superior and deluxe rooms, plus junior suites and the Presidential Suite. These are the best rooms available in the area. There are multiple dining options, including a cafe, a formal Vietnamese restaurant and a VIP private dining room. The lobby bar offers a range of international wines. There is also a basic fitness centre.


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