Day 1: Hanoi – Lao Cai
Our trip starts with an overnight train journey from Vietnam's capital city to the border town of Lao Cai. The accommodation for tonight will be in soft sleeper berths on the express train (standard cabin includes 4 berths per cabin).
Day 2: Lao Cai - Sapa
Early arrive at Lao Cai, transfer to Sapa for breakfast. Today we start by getting some exercise with trek to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, Ta Van and Cau May. As we walk to the villages nestled in the valley below Sapa, we will meet some of the local ethnic minority people on their way to and from Sapa. These minority people, including the Red Zao, Hmong and Tay people, walk to Sapa to trade at the markets. Tonight we spend night in our hotel at Sapa town.(B, L)
Day 3: Sapa – Ta Phin – Lao Cai
This morning our exercise involves climbing up Ham Rong Mountain for a panoramic view of Sapa and its environs. After lunch time we drive out of town and commence an hour-long walk to Ta Phin, home to the distinctive Dao (pronounced Zao) community. From here we drive to Lao Cai station for night train back to Hanoi.(B)
Day 4: Hanoi
Arriving at Hanoi station at 0500AM in the morning, end of services.(B)