Day 1 — Hanoi – Laocai – Sapa: Early morning,
7:00am depart Hanoi and drive to the mountain village of Sapa by air-conditioned car with driver & guide on the new highway. You’ll begin travelling from Hanoi to Sapa early in the morning which will take roughly 5 hours.
Arrive Sapa in the afternoon & you’ll have some free time to settle in and freshen up at your hotel before start a half day trek to Lai Chai and Ta Van (vehicle is available for those who don’t want a long walk). Begin the 3.5 miles walk by descending into a rice-terraced valley on the foot of Fansipan mountain, with the heart-breaking landscapes.
Walk though isolated villages, rice fields, and thatched roof villages where Hmong people live. Observe the Hmong at work and at play in their distinctive dark blue dress.
Continue hiking to the village of Ta Van, one of the few villages in Vietnam inhabited by the Zay tribe. Arrive in Ta Van this late afternoon, continue exploring the villages nearby.