I took an organised tour to Coc Ly, a village 70 km from Sapa, that has an interesting market (according to Lonely Planet). I wanted to see it because there are other ethnic minorities who trade goods. The only ethnic majority you really notice here are the H'monh people. Whether they are the Black H'mongh, the Flower H'monh, the White H'monh, the I-don't-know-what-else H'monh, they are everywhere. Usually selling stuff on the street. In Sapa you also se the Red Dao people, who are really friendly, not pushy like the H'monh and have the ability of learning foreign languages fast. Well, in Coc Ly you can also see the Tay and the Nung people. The market is small but interesting. You can buy meat and traditional clothes, radios and dishes, vegetables and knives - in short, everything. From the market we took a nice ride on a boat to the Black H'Mong village, where we had lunch. Our guide was funny and always singing Vietnamese songs...

Tour HighLights:

• Get down to a valley, visit an H’mong village and the hydro electric power station built by the French. Take a small path to go and visit other 2 villages of the H’mong and the Dzay people (LaoChai and TaVan village).

• Take the road to GiangTaChai village to see the Red Dzao people via the paths through terraces and bamboo forests.

• CocLy market which is situated far from Sapa.Enjoy the peaceful life of 6 different minority peoples (Flower H’mong, Black Dzao, Tay, Dzay, HaNhi and Nung).

• Get down onto a boat along Chay river

• The Fairy Cave is located deeply in the rocks.

Detailed  Itinerary

Night 1: Ha Noi - Lao Cai . Overnight on Train

VietnamGoldenholidays's car pick  from your hotel then transfer  to Hanoi Railway Station for the night train, soft sleeper with AC to Lao Cai station.Overnight on the train.

Day 1 - Sunday:Sapa - Cat Cat - Lao Chai - Ta Van).( B,L,D )

Picked up at Laocai Railway station  early in the morning by bus. Arrive at Sapa round 8:00 AM. Breakfast and shower. Start from Sapa at 10:00 AM. Get down to a valley, visit an H’mong village and the hydro electric power station built by the French. Take a small path to go and visit other 2 villages of the H’mong and the Dzay people (LaoChai and TaVan village). Stay in TaVan at a Dzay family. Picnic lunch on the way and dinner at the family.

Meals : Breakfast, Luch, Dinner

Day 2 -Monday: Giang Ta Chai – Supan - Sapa( B,L,D )

Breakfast at the home-stay, take the road to GiangTaChai village to see the Red Dzao people via the paths through terraces and bamboo forests. Visit a waterfall, a suspension bridge. Picnic lunch and cross the river. Visit an H’mong village up to the mountain. Vietnam Goldenholidays's car pick you back to Sapa. Visit the ancient stone circle on the way back. Check in hotel, dinner in Sapa.

Meals : Breakfast, Luch, Dinner

Day 3 - Tuesday: Sapa - Coc Ly – Chay River - Trung Do - Hanoi ( B,L,D )

Leave from Sapa early at 7:00 AM for CocLy market which is situated far from Sapa. Enjoy the peaceful life of 6 different minority peoples (Flower H’mong, Black Dzao, Tay, Dzay, HaNhi and Nung). The market is the chance  for the minorities to meet and share joy and sorrows after the crops, to exchange one another’s experience. Say goodbye to the market and get down onto a boat along Chay river. You are bound to feel great and find yourselves smaller among high Rock Mountains and to be surprised at white and breathtakingly waterfalls. The Fairy Cave is located deeply in the rocks. Get off the boat to visit a village of the Tay Minority (TrungDo village) by the river. After the boat trip, visit a small town – BaoNhai and then take a car back to Laocai Station for the night train to Hanoi. Have dinner before getting on the train.

Meals : Breakfast, Luch, Dinner

Day4 - Wednesday: Hanoi Arrive

Arrive in Hanoi round 5:30 AM,taxi to hotel on your own.Tour ends.

VietnamGoldenholidays can arrange additional customized trips for you if the above itinerary does not match your expectations.

Trip Included :

• Private car pick up from your hotel to Hanoi train station.

• Returns train tickets in  04 berths canbinet, A/C Wooden Softsleeper

• Local English speaking guide, Other languges upon your request

• Twin /Double sharing Room at Hotel Sapa

• Meal as mentioned in program ( B= Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner )

• Sightseeing fees

• Purified water and wet towel

• Transport as programe

• Taxes

Trip Excluded :

• Insurance

• Personal expense (drinks, telephone…)

• Tips and gratuities

What to bring :

• Sun Block

• Wide brim hat

• Camera + Film

• Comfortable shoes

• Rain gear

• Warm clothes

• Insect Repellent

• Original Passport