Sapa Explorer and Remote Cao Son Market

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Sapa Explorer and Remote Cao Son Market

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Tour code: SPM-09

Duration: 4 days/5 nights

Departure: Every Monday evening from Hanoi

Pick up: At your hotel in Hanoi

Grade: Easy

Description

Walking to visit remotest villages, meeting tribal peoples at home, at work and joining them to enjoy their most exciting weekly event at market place, wandering the famous Sapa town and exploring its surrounding tribal villages…you will enjoy the stunning scenery of the mountainous region as well as discovering interesting culture of tribal peoples. It is also a good chance to see the contrast between a famous tourist destination and a really rural one.

ITINERARY

Night 1: 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 for taking the overnight train (first class 4 beds cabin with air-condition) which arrive in Lao Cai city, near the Chinese border next morning.

Day 1 (Tuesday) Lao Cai // Cao Son

Upon arrival to Lao Cai station early morning, you will meet your local tour guide and driver and enjoy breakfast in a restaurant nearby. Freshen up and heading along the road to Muong Khuong district which weaves its way up and down hills of the tea plantation and pine trees. It gets wilder and greener with thick forest and small tribal villages scattering isolated on slopes of the mountains as you get close to Cao Son Commune. You will enjoy much of the scenery which is marvelous and changes very fast after every bend. Arriving in Cao Son almost at noon, checking in the Lodge where you will stay overnight, take a rest or wandering around breathing fresh air.
Afternoon is for walking to explore tribal villages nearby for a discovery of tribal culture, custom and self subsidiary way of life of different ethnic minorities.

• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included

• Accommodation: Cao Son Ecolodge

Day 2 (Wednesday) Cao Son Market // Sapa

Today is the market day in Cao Son and you will spend the whole morning to take part in this weekly event. The village seems to wake up after a week staying peacefully. People from different tribal groups such as H’mong, Zao, Nung, Pa Di, Tu Di…wearing their traditional costumes converge to the market place on foot, motorcycles and horses. Many comes from remote villages, near the border and have to start their journey even from midnight. Joining the market, you will soon get the feeling of local, cheerful faces every where. Commodities for sale at the market is rich, from home produces such as fruit, vegetable, chili, ginger, smelled medicinal herbs, mushroom, bamboo shoot, corn wine, local handicraft, animals includes pigs, chicken, dogs, cats... to farming tools as hoes, plough shares, spades, knives…
You are leaving the market and Cao Son after Lunch for a drive to Lao Cai and then uphill to Sapa through a scenic region. Arriving in Sapa at your hotel in the afternoon and the rest of the day is set free for you to wander around charming Sapa town.

• Breakfast and Lunch included, Dinner on your own

• Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

Day 3 (Thursday) Sapa Tribal Village walk to Ma Tra & Ta Phin

Lying on the south of Sa Pa 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 Sa Pa 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 Ta Phin 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 Lunch included, Dinner on your own

• Accommodation: Hotel in Sapa

Day 4 (Friday) Visit Lao Chai & Ta Van Village // Overnight Train to Hanoi

Today morning, you will explore the spectacular Muong Hoa. 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…walking trail can be seen clearly from the road winding up and down hills on the other side of Muong Hoa River to connect village to villages…
Our suggested walk starts from Lao Chai village of the H’mong along the river to Ta Van, the Zay village. Our Jeep will pick us up at Ta Van Bridge and drive back to Sa Pa at noon.
Afternoon is at your leisure for wandering Sa Pa town and market until late afternoon when transfer down hill to Lao Cai station for taking the overnight train back. Trip ends when arrives in Hanoi early next morning.

• Breakfast and Lunch included, Dinner on your own

• Overnight train in first class 4 beds cabin with air-condition

Tour Price per person in US Dollars

Group size	2 persons	3-6 persons	7-10 persons	Single Surcharge
Standard hotel	297	264	217	38
Superior hotel	323	290	240	58
2 beds cabin extra	50	50	50

Tour price includes

• Accommodation: 1 night in Cao Son Lodge, 2 nights hotel in Sa Pa basing on 2 occupations.
• Transfer with private car as indicated in day by day itinerary.
• Return overnight train deluxe class in 4 berth cabin with air-conditioning.
• 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 and personal expenses.

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Others Minority Markets Excursions

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Can Cau and Bac Ha Markets (SPM-02)

Bac Ha and Coc Ly Markets (SPM-03)

Muong Hum Market and Sapa Tribal Villages Explore (SPM-04)

Coc Ly Market and Sapa Highlights (SPM-05)

Muong Khuong Market and Sapa Hilltrible Visit (SPM-06)

Sapa Tribal Villages and Bac Ha Market (SPM-07)

Lung Khau Nhin Market and Sapa Minority (SPM-08)