Even major highways are little more than single-truck, manyroads are under repair and things gradually improve.
The most popular routes to get to Sapa is sign up fortrain ticket depart at night time between 7.00 to 10.30pm from Hanoi stationto Lao Cai station. We highly recommend Victoria Express train with softsleeper and air conditioning. The journey is about 8.5 hours then by car ormini van to Sapa, it takes about 50 minutes up and down the beautiful riceterraces of local people.
Getting there by local buses is possible, though veryuncomfortable, bumpy roads and many buses charge Westerners double or treblethe regular fare.
Renting a vehicle gives you more freedom to stop atvillages or jaunt off along side tracks. Either a four-wheel-drive jeep orlandcruiser or a motorbike is recommended.
If you have more time, highly recommend to do the excursionto Bac Ha market on Sunday, Can Cau market on Saturday or Coc Ly market onTuesday. You can go there by local transportation(uncomfortable) or rent aprivate vehicle easily in Sapa or included in the itinerary if you book the tourthrough the travel agent. Some other destination is adviced for tourists are BanHo village, Ta Van village, Ta Phin village, Lao Chai village...
Ban Ho village
This vilalge is populated by the Tay minority. They were verywelcoming and friendly towards people. Ban Ho Village, home to the Tayminorities and perhaps the most picturesque of the whole challenge.
Situated alongside a turquoise fast flowing stream, it willbe possible to take a little rest from a trek on one of the large boulders atthe streams edge. You can also take a little time to explore this village beforepushing on over the suspension bridge and trekking through ride fields to theRed Dao village of Nam Toong.
Lao Chai village
About 8 – 9 Km southeast of Sapa town on the west bank ofMuong Hoa River, Lao Chai is a commune composed by three large villages withover 100 families of the Black H’mong ethnic. From a high point of the main road8 Km from Sapa town, great view of the whole village open wide to offer themarvelous panorama of the village, backed by high mountains and facing theriver.
The H’mong people in this village experience rice intensivefarming on the lower land near the bottom of the valley as main source ofearning while growing corn on the mountain slopes at the back of the village.
Taphin village
Ta Phin village of the H'Mong and Red Dao minority people, aremote village around 12 kilometers from Sapa which still retains traditionalcustoms and lifestyles of ethnic minority groups. Something special awaitsvisitors at Ta Phin. The villagers will invite visitors to visit their homes toshow how they live and what they have, and tell about their families.
When heading off to Ta Phin village from Sapa, hiking up anddown the 12 kilometers of hilly terrain is a good choice as travelers will seelocal people working in terraced paddy fields, or traveling back and forth fromthe market to their homes or tourist can stop to see an old French monastery.Especilly after a long day of walking on the windy roads and hills around Sapatown tourist can soak your bones and muscles in a traditional Red Dao herbalbath at Ta Phin.
Cat Cat village
Location: Cat Cat Village is 2km from Sapa Townlet, SapaDistrict.
Characteristics: This is an age-old village of H'Mong ethnic group remainingunique customs and practices that are lots in other villages.
Visitors to Cat Cat have an opportunity to admire a livelyand colorful picture. That is the image of young women sitting by looms withcolorful pieces of brocade decorated with designs of flowers and birds. Whenthese pieces of brocade are finished, they are dyed and embroidered withbeautiful designs. A noteworthy is that H’Mong women use plants and leaves todye these brocade fabrics. And then they roll a round and smooth section of woodcovered with wax on fabrics to polish them, making their colors durable.
In addition to the brocade weaving craft, many residents inCat Cat are good at manipulating gold and silver jewelry. Their products arefairly sophisticated, especially jewelry for women.