Sapa Minority Market & Homestay Trekking in 3 Days

Evening: Sleeper train to Sapa
Board the Dream Train Express from Hanoi around 10:00 PM. This comfortable tourist sleeper train offers 4-berth cabins with soft beds, clean bedding, and air-conditioning. It’s a relaxed way to travel overnight and arrive in Lao Cai early the next morning, ready to explore.
Alternative options like VIP sleeper bus, daytime limousine bus with hotel stay, or private transfer are also available if you prefer.

Arrive at Lao Cai train station early in the morning and meet your driver. You’ll be transferred to Sapa town where breakfast is served before the day’s activities begin. From here, your schedule depends on the market day and tour option you’ve chosen.

Morning: Visit a local minority market
Depending on the day of the week, you’ll travel to one of four traditional ethnic markets in the region:

• Bac Ha Market (Sunday): Famous for its vibrant crowd and livestock trading, it’s the most well-known and colorful market in the north.
• Can Cau Market (Saturday): A smaller, scenic market near the Chinese border with ethnic groups like Flower H’mong, Tay, and Phu La.
• Coc Ly Market (Tuesday): A riverside market known for buffalo trading and a good mix of minority groups.
• Muong Hum Market (Sunday): One of the least touristed, offering a raw, authentic feel and scenic route from Sapa.

Enjoy a guided walk through the market and learn how different tribes trade, shop, and interact.

Afternoon: Return to Sapa
After exploring the market, drive back to Sapa town and check into your hotel or homestay for the night. The rest of the day is yours to relax.

Morning: Begin your homestay trekking tour
After breakfast, begin your two-day trek through the stunning Muong Hoa Valley. Your guide will lead you along narrow trails through terraced rice fields and into minority villages like Y Linh Ho and Lao Chai, home to the Black H’mong people.

Midday: Picnic lunch
Stop along the way for a picnic lunch, surrounded by mountain views and rice terraces.

Afternoon: Hike to Ta Van village
Continue trekking to Ta Van, the only village in the valley inhabited by the Zay ethnic group. Arrive in the late afternoon, check in at a local family’s house, and settle in.

Evening: Local dinner and overnight
Share a home-cooked dinner with your host family and guide. You’ll stay overnight in a simple but welcoming homestay — a great chance to learn more about daily life in a minority household.

Morning: Trek deeper into Muong Hoa Valley
After breakfast, continue your journey through the valley, walking through more rice fields and visiting small villages. Enjoy a peaceful hike and learn more about rural life in northern Vietnam.

Midday: Picnic lunch
Take a break at a scenic spot for lunch, then continue walking to the pickup point.

Afternoon: Return to Sapa and free time
A jeep will meet you at the end of the trail and bring you back to Sapa. You’ll have some free time in town before heading to the train station.

Morning: Drive to ethnic minority market
Depending on the day, you’ll visit one of the regional markets listed earlier. Explore the market’s bustling stalls, observe minority groups trading goods, and take in the colorful atmosphere.

Afternoon: Return to Sapa and relax
After the market visit, return to Sapa for a short break before heading to Lao Cai.

In the evening, you’ll be transferred from Sapa to the train station for your return trip to Hanoi on the Dream Train Express. Settle in for a restful overnight ride.