Muong Hum Market and Sapa Tribal Villages Explore Tour code: SP-22 Duration: 3 days/ 4 nights Departure: Every Saturday evening from Hanoi

Muong Hum Market and Sapa Tribal Villages Explore

Tour code: SP-22

Duration: 3 days/ 4 nights

Departure: Every Saturday evening from Hanoi

Pick up: At your hotel in Hanoi

Grade: Easy

Description

Attending tribal Sunday Market in Muong Hum for encountering the most variety of tribal peoples in their colorful traditional dresses, enjoying fresh smell from exotic herbs and spices,.. walking along the trails winding up and down hills in spectacular Ta Phin and Muong Hoa Valleys, paying visit to Red Zao, Black H’mong or Zay villages and homes… they are all unforgettable experiences included in this trip.

Itinerary

Night 1 (Saturday Night) Take the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai
Please, be ready at your hotel lobby at 20.00 for a short transfer to Hanoi railways station. Tonight you will travel to Lao Cai on sleeping train in the most comfortable 4 bed cabin of Victoria compartment or in 2 bed deluxe cabin of other train carriage.

Day 1 (Sunday) Lao Cai // Muong Hum Market // Sapa

Early arrival in Lao Cai, at the Chinese border, you will meet your local guide and driver as soon as you check out the station, freshen up and Breakfast before taking an hour drive through scenic countryside to Muong Hum. Arriving at the market at about 09.00Am, joining the locals for the market activities. It is here at this market place where you can see and meet the most diversity of ethnic minority peoples living in Lao Cai Province: The four H’mong sub groups: Black, Flower, Red and Blue; Red Zao, Black Zao, Zao Tuyen; Ha Nhi; Zay; Nung…You will realize easily women from many different groups by watching at traditional costumes they wear. The Zay wear black trousers, pink or blue blouse or shirt with a woolen headscarf, the Flower H’mong and Red H’mong wear colorful skirts which decorated with thick red and yellow embroidery on the batik patterns, silver ear rings and necklaces while the Black H’mong choose the simple indigo color with light decorative embroidery…
Time has passed away fast and the market coming to an end. Let’s sit down on a large and flat rock by the river to relax and enjoy picnic lunch before taking the road ride to Sapa. You’ll enjoy some stops for sightseeing along the way. Check in your hotel upon arrival in Sapa and time is set free at your leisure.

• Breakfast & Picnic Lunch included. Dinner on your own

• Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

Day 2 (Monday) Tribal village exploration in Ma Tra and Ta Phin Valley

Lying on the south of Sapa town, this vast valley composes of 3 chambers surrounded by high mountains with thick forest at the top and terraced rice paddies from lower slopes stretching to the bottom. It is home to the Black H’mong and the Red Zao ethnic minority who live in wooden houses scattering here and there.
Starting from Sapa with your guide, you will follow a trail running through fruit and orchard gardens, lush pine forests to a Black Hmong ethnic minority village named Matra, isolated away from the civilization. Chickens, water buffalos, pot – belly pigs and piggy everywhere, some locals will be happy to invite us to their home which offers chances to see their dwellings, weavings on belly looms to makes traditional costumes out of hemp fiber…Our path weaves itself up and down hills, through valleys with terraced rice fields which create spectacular landscapes. After picnic Lunch, we get to Taphin Commune where the Black H’mong and the Red Zao live together. It is very interesting to realize culture assimilation: Which can be mixed, which can not! At the end of the footpath, our Jeep is waiting for us for the return journey to Sapa.

• Breakfast and picnic Lunch included. Dinner on your own

• Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

Day 3 (Tuesday) Explore Muong Hoa Valley // Night train to Hanoi

Today you will spend the whole day exploring the spectacular Muong Hoa Valley. Two high ranges of mountains run in parallel north to southwest of Sapa town had created a narrow and long valley, which is the most famous valley in the region for its breathtaking scenery and is home to the major part of Sa Pa’s ethnic population including the H’mong, Zao, Zay, Tay and Xa Pho.
A Jeep will take us out of the town, following the only road built on the side of a mountain range, looking down the valley, over viewing magnificent landscapes composed of high mountains, deep valleys, and stream of water winding, waterfalls and terraced rice paddies… leaving the main road for some short trek, you will visit tribal villages such as Ta Van of the Zay, Su Pan of the Black H’mong, Ban Ho of the Tay…enjoy meeting and contacting locals at home and at works.
We leave Ban Ho of the Tay people in late afternoon, drive back to Sapa. After a short rest for shower, we then transfer down hill to Lao Cai station for overnight train back. Trip ends when arrives in Hanoi early next morning on Wednesday morning at 6:00 am.

• Breakfast and picnic Lunch included. Dinner on your own

• Overnight on the train in first class 4 beds cabin with air-conditioning

Tour Price per person in US Dollars

Group size	2 persons	3-6 persons	7-10 persons	Single Surcharge
Standard hotel	232	215	192	45
Superior hotel	257	240	217	65
Upgrade 2 beds cabin	70	70	70
Chidren Policy	Under 6 free, from 7 to 11 charge 75 %, 12 years and above pay for adult price

Tour price includes

• Accommodation: 2 nights hotel room in Sapa basing on double or twin for 2 occupations.
• Return overnight train deluxe class in 4 berth cabin with air-conditioning.
• Transfer with private car as indicated in day by day itinerary.
• All meals as listed in day by day itinerary.
• Visiting fee, tax and service charge.
• Local English speaking tour guide.

Tour price excludes

• Meals not indicated in day by day itinerary.
• Drinks personal expenses.