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Hanoi to Sapa

5 Days 4 Nights — Ethnic Villages, Rice Terraces & Fansipan

Price: Contact us for pricing

Indochine Tours
Sweeping terraced rice fields cascading down the mountains of Sapa in northern Vietnam

Tour Map

  • Day 1 – Hanoi Arrival & Night Train
  • Day 2 – Lào Cai → Sapa → Muong Hoa Valley
  • Day 3 – Ethnic Markets & Night Train
  • Day 4 – Hanoi City Tour
  • Day 5 – Departure

Tour Itinerary Overview

DayDestinations / ActivitiesHotelMeal
Day 1Hanoi Arrival – Night Train to Lào CaiOvernight train (4-berth cabin)
  • B: –
  • L: –
  • D: Light dinner
Day 2Lào Cai – Muong Hoa Valley – SapaSapa Hotel
  • B: Restaurant
  • L: TBA
  • D: –
Day 3Ethnic Markets – Ban Pho Village – Night TrainOvernight train (4-berth cabin)
  • B: Hotel
  • L: TBA
  • D: –
Day 4Hanoi City TourHanoi Old Quarter Hotel
  • B: Hotel
  • L: TBA
  • D: –
Day 5Hanoi DepartureNo Service
  • B: Hotel
  • L: –
  • D: –

Itinerary Details

  1. Day 1: Hanoi Arrival – Night Train to Lào Cai
    • Arrive at Nội Bài Airport; driver transfers you to a mini-hotel near the train station
    • Light dinner with local food; shower and relax before the overnight journey
    • Board the overnight train at 10:00 PM in a shared 4-berth cabin
    • Train arrives Lào Cai ~6:00 AM
  2. Day 2: Lào Cai – Muong Hoa Valley Trek – Sapa
    • Arrive Lào Cai ~6:00 AM; transfer ~1 hour uphill to Sapa town
    • Breakfast at a local restaurant; drop luggage at hotel
    • 9:00 AM — descend into Muong Hoa Valley on foot, home to the largest terraced rice paddies in the Sapa area (May–September: witness planting and harvesting)
    • Trek from Lao Chai Village (Black H'mong minority) to Tả Van Village (Zay minority) — compare traditions, costumes, and daily life of two distinct ethnic groups
    • Return to Sapa by car for lunch
    • Afternoon: hotel check-in, leisure, or shopping at the Sapa night market
    • Optional — Fansipan Peak by cable car (surcharge: cable car USD 35–37/person round trip + funicular USD 8/person round trip): board the funicular from Sun Plaza to the cable station, then cable car to 2,800 m, then walk to Fansipan summit at 3,143 m — the highest point in Indochina. Enjoy panoramic views over Sapa, Muong Hoa Valley, and Hoàng Liên National Forest. Note: not suitable for those with respiratory or heart conditions, or fear of heights.
  3. Day 3: Ethnic Markets – Ban Pho Village – Night Train to Hanoi
    • Early breakfast; explore the vibrant ethnic minority markets — each held on a specific day of the week:
    • Bắc Hà Market (Sunday) — Vietnam's most colourful hilltribe market; 8+ ethnic groups, H'mong King's palace
    • Cốc Ly Market (Tuesday) — riverside market along the Chay River
    • Cao Sơn Market (Wednesday) — Mong, Dao, H'mong & Phu La ethnic convergence in Muong Khuong District
    • Lung Khau Nhin Market (Thursday) — stunning hilltop views with vivid colours against mountain backdrops
    • Cán Cấu Market (Saturday) — off-the-beaten-path hidden gem for adventurous travellers
    • Afternoon light trek to Ban Pho Village, home to Flower H'mong minority — enter local homes, share green tea and corn wine, hear family stories
    • Return to hotel; transfer to Lào Cai station for the overnight train back to Hanoi
  4. Day 4: Hanoi – City Tour
    • Arrive Hanoi ~5:30 AM; guide and driver meet you at the station
    • Transfer to hotel for early check-in and breakfast
    • 8:30 AM city tour begins: Ba Đình Square — site of the 1945 independence declaration
    • Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum, stilt house, One-Pillar Pagoda & Presidential Palace
    • Museum of choice: Vietnam Military History Museum, Fine Arts Museum, or Hỏa Lò Prison
    • Lunch at a local restaurant
    • Temple of Literature — Vietnam's first university (founded 1070), stunning traditional architecture and manicured gardens
    • Evening free to explore the Old Quarter streets; optional Water Puppet Show at Thăng Long Theatre
  5. Day 5: Hanoi Departure
    • Breakfast at hotel; leisure time until transfer
    • Driver takes you to Nội Bài Airport for your departure flight

Photo Gallery

View from Fansipan summit at 3,143m — the highest peak in Indochina, overlooking Sapa and the surrounding mountains
Fansipan Summit, 3,143m
Cat Cat village nestled in the valley below Sapa — a traditional H'mong minority settlement
Cat Cat Village
H'mong minority village in Sapa — traditional wooden stilt houses surrounded by terraced fields
H'mong Village, Sapa
4-berth overnight train cabin on the Hanoi–Sapa railway — comfortable sleeping carriages for the night journey
Overnight Train, 4-berth Cabin
Bắc Hà Sunday Market — the most colourful hilltribe market in northern Vietnam, attended by 8+ ethnic groups
Bắc Hà Sunday Market
Cốc Ly Tuesday Market along the Chay River — traditional trade and exchange between hilltribe communities
Cốc Ly Tuesday Market
Cao Sơn Wednesday Market — a vibrant convergence of Mong, Dao, H'mong and Phu La ethnic groups
Cao Sơn Wednesday Market
Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum at Ba Đình Square, Hanoi — visited on Day 4 of the tour
Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi

Tour Inclusions & Exclusions

  • Includes: Accommodation at 4-star Hanoi hotel (2 nights) + 4-berth overnight train cabins (2 nights) + Sapa hotel (1 night), English-speaking guide, private transport, meals as listed, admission fees, travel insurance, recommended tips for guide & driver
  • Excludes: International flights, personal expenses, drinks, Fansipan cable car (USD 35–37/person) & funicular (USD 8/person), optional Water Puppet Show, others not mentioned

Children's Policy

  • Under 4 years: Free (must share seat/table with parents)
  • 4–9 years: 75% of adult price
  • 10+ years: 100% adult price
  • Two adults can bring one child free/at reduced rate. Second child charged as adult.

Cancellation Policy

  • 3–5 days before departure: 75% fee charged
  • 2 days before departure: 100% fee charged
  • Cancellations must be received and confirmed by Indochine Tours