Escape to the cool highlands of northern Vietnam on this 4-day journey to Sapa, where misty valleys and emerald rice terraces await. Begin by exploring Sapa town, with its bustling market and charming colonial-era church.
Spend your days trekking through breathtaking landscapes to ethnic minority villages such as Lao Chai, Ta Van, and Cat Cat, home to H’Mong, Giay, and Dao communities. Along the way, enjoy close encounters with local people, learning about their customs, traditional crafts, and daily mountain life.
Each evening, relax in a cozy hotel surrounded by the fresh mountain air. This short getaway offers the perfect mix of soft adventure, authentic culture, and natural beauty—an ideal escape for travelers seeking a refreshing break from the city.
Vietnam
Ethnic Villages in Sapa
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of Sapa’s terraced rice fields, towering mountains, and peaceful ethnic villages. Trek through scenic trails, meet the warm-hearted H’mong and Dao people, and experience authentic local life amidst nature’s masterpiece.
Sapa's rice fields
Let’s embark on a captivating journey through the breathtaking rice terraces of Sapa. Nestled amidst stunning mountain landscapes, Sapa lies just a short distance from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Discover the timeless charm of this famous destination in Northwestern Vietnam, where the natural beauty of terraced fields blends seamlessly with the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Tour guide will pick you up and transfer you to the train station for your overnight train to Lao Cai, departing at 9:40 pm. Overnight on the train.
6:00 am, arrive at Lao Cai and be picked up at the railway station by car. The drive to Sapa takes around 1.5–2 hours, arriving at your hotel around 8:00 am for check-in, breakfast, and a refreshing shower.
The journey begins with a drive through hilly terrain, passing beautiful terraced rice paddies, to reach Cat Cat cultural village, just 3 km from Sapa town. Enjoy a leisurely walk through this old village to learn about the traditional customs and daily life of the Black H’mong ethnic people. Stop by a picturesque waterfall and visit the remains of a hydroelectric power station built by the French during the colonial period.
Continue along a dirt trail through the mountains, soaking in the stunning scenery as you trek beside a narrow stream until you reach Y Linh Ho village, another Black H’mong community. From here, head down into the Muong Hoa valley.
As you descend, you’ll see the largest terraced rice fields in the Sapa region. (If your visit falls between May and October, it’s an ideal time to witness or even join in the rice planting and harvesting activities.) The trek continues from Lao Chai village of the Black H’mong to Ta Van village, home to the Giay ethnic minority.
Stop for a picnic lunch at a local house before transferring back to Sapa in the late afternoon. Overnight in Sapa.
Start your morning with a scenic drive down to the lowest valley of Sa Pa, a journey of approximately 2 hours descending through the picturesque Sa Pa valley. Along the way, enjoy breathtaking views of cascading terraced rice fields and expansive cornfields — the largest terraced paddy fields in the entire Sa Pa District.
Passing through Ban Ho Village, your car will ascend to My Son Village and then Nam Cang Village, home to various ethnic minority communities such as the Xa Pho, Red Dao, and White H’mong people. Stop by Nam Than Village, where you’ll have the opportunity to visit a traditional minority home and learn about their daily life and customs.
From here, begin a gentle trek by crossing a suspension bridge. The first impression is the refreshing sight of a small, cool waterfall — and you’ll encounter several of these hidden gems along your trekking route. The trail winds through the most stunning parts of the valley, with terraced paddies and quaint buffalo houses on stilts scattered across the fields. Adding to the serenity is the forest’s natural soundtrack — the chirping of wild birds harmonizing with the gentle rustle of the breeze.
After approximately 2 hours of trekking, you’ll stop for a well-earned lunch in a stilt house belonging to a minority family in Thanh Phu Village. This is a wonderful chance to savor authentic local cuisine and interact with the villagers in a peaceful, rustic setting.
In the late afternoon, transfer back to Sa Pa town, enjoying panoramic views of the sun setting behind the mountainous landscape — a perfect close to a day immersed in culture and nature.
Overnight in Sapa.
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. After check-out, your guide will pick you up for the drive back to Hanoi via Lao Cai. Along the way, take in the scenic countryside views of Northern Vietnam. Arrive in Hanoi around 2:30 PM. Lunch can be arranged at a local restaurant upon request, payable directly. Tour ends.
With us, we know very well where you stay is very much part of the experience. Wherever possible we select characterful accommodation to suit your budget, which we have personally tracked down and visited regularly. We selected best accommodation from eco-homestay to luxury hotels.
Meals are included as per the itinerary that we have mentioned. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups.
While traveling with us, you will have the opportunity to not just experience the wide variety of wonderful food available in Vietnam and Cambodia, Thailand, Laos but also get to try some of it too. Your guide will be able to suggest some great restaurants for you to try during your trip.
If you have any specific food requirements (vegetarian, vegan, or food allergies), please inform us in advance so that we can provide a notice to the restaurant or hotel where you will be served.
You will be led by an English-speaking guide who offers local insight, pursues great experiences, and makes every tour exceptional. Our guides are well informed about the local culture, history, and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you.
An air-conditioned vehicle is standing by, fully prepared to take you away on an unforgettable excursion. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the destination in style, with all the amenities you need for a comfortable and enjoyable journey.
The included cold water & tissue, local snacks, and fresh fruit will keep your energy levels up while you enjoy the tour and ensure that you stay hydrated and well-nourished.
We organized and ran our trips to ensure they had a minimum impact on the environment and a positive impact on the local communities and cultures we operate in. Siem Reaper was founded not only to provide memorable and meaningful travel experiences for our guests but also to build a sustainable adventure-travel business that supports the local communities. We aim to support all of our local communities, whether it be through our unique educational tours, visits to nature preserves and wildlife sanctuaries, or by purchasing locally grown produce from farms in the region.
Want to know more about this adventure and how to plan for your trip? Essential Trip Information is a one-stop resource that provides everything you need to know about this trip. Read about your destination country's requirements for passports, visas, vaccinations, baggage restrictions, packing lists, and tipping guidelines before you go.
Visitors to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos require a passport to enter the country, and all travelers must hold a passport with validity for 6 months after their planned exit from above countries
Citizens of the UK, EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and almost all other nationalities will require a visa. Non-UK residents should check with the Embassy in their country of residence for the most up-to-date information. Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at airports without prior registration. A visa is issued on arrival for most nationalities for US $25/pax to $30/pax, and the visa has a one-month validity. You need to pay in cash and in US dollars and provide two recent, identical passport photographs.
Read more about applying for an eVisa here:
You will be met by your guide in the arrivals hall, after immigration and baggage reclaim. He/She will be wearing the Footsteps Indochina Travel logo and will be holding a meeting board displaying your name.
You will be met by your tour guide and driver at your arrival point. They will be holding a Footsteps Indochina Travel name board with your name on it. It is possible you will be a little bleary-eyed after a long flight and there are also likely to be a large number of meeting boards displayed, so please take your time to locate them.
Firstly, do not panic - let the crowds clear a little and stay with your luggage. After 15 minutes, if you still have not been met then one of you should locate the airport information point and check that you are in the correct place (many airports have several terminals and your guide will be waiting for you at the timetable arrival terminal).
Travel insurance is not included in the tour price. You can arrange travel insurance with your preferred insurance company. As medical facilities in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand & Laos are rather limited, it is imperative for you to take out a good medical insurance policy when traveling.
Although not mandatory, for the safety of travelers, we strongly recommend immunization against malaria, infectious hepatitis, tetanus, typhoid, diphtheria and polio. Travelers should visit their general practitioners for advice on the best pills to take for malaria prevention. Although it is not required in all circumstances, travelers may want to consider immunization against Japanese Encephalitis as an added precaution.
Meals are included as per the itinerary that we have mentioned. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups.
While traveling with us, you will have the opportunity to not just experience the wide variety of wonderful food available in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand & Laos but also get to try some of it too. Your guide will be able to suggest some great restaurants for you to try during your trip.
If you have any specific food requirements (vegetarian, vegan, or food allergies), please inform us in advance so that we can provide a notice to the restaurant or hotel where you will be served.
Keeping you hydrated is one of the most important parts of our tours. We provide cold water, as well as local fruit and soft drinks to keep you energized and refreshed during your trip. Beers and alcoholic drinks are freely available everywhere but are not included in the price.
At Footsteps Indochina Travel, we’re ensuring that we’re fulfilling the core values of our business. We operate in a responsible manner to protect our local culture and environment, as well as youth development in our community. We’ve made a commitment to be a responsible business and live up to this promise every single day.
