Authentic Experience of Sapa
When you travel to Sapa, what do you need? It’s not that we want to have a few days of leisure, it’s not that we want to breathe the air of the mountains and forests, it’s that we don’t want to explore the lives of ethnic minorities in northern Vietnam, right? Because the villages in Sapa are an indispensable part of Sapa tourism, tourists coming to Sapa also want to visit some famous Sapa tourist attractions in those villages. Along with the beautiful and majestic scenery of mountains and forests, ethnic minority villages, this place attracts a large number of kite-flying tourists to visit Sapa every year.
In Sapa, in addition to the Kinh people, there are also 5 ethnic groups, of which the H’mong are the largest community, followed by the Red Dao, Giay, Tay and Xa Pho.
Join Sapa Local Guide to discover 7 ethnic villages that you must definitely visit when traveling to Sapa
Key takeaways
- Sapa’s villages exhibit rich culture through stunning landscapes and traditions.
- Lao Chai Village showcases H’mong culture and terraced fields.
- Ta Van, Cat Cat, Y Linh Ho, Sin Chai, Ta Phin, and Ban Ho villages offer unique ethnic experiences, scenic beauty, and cultural immersion
Table of Contents
1, Cat Cat village – the Sapa village closest to the center
Cat Cat village is a famous ethnic village and most visited by Vietnamese tourists. Cat Cat village is located in San Sa Ho commune, Sapa district, just over 2km from Sapa town center to the village gate. You can choose to walk, which can combine mountain views and admire the entire village from above. Cat Cat Sapa village is also a small village inhabited by the Hmong community.
In addition to the beautiful scenery with terraced fields and Muong Hoa stream, Cat Cat village was built with additional infrastructure for tourism such as small stone roads through the center of the village, exhibits and exhibits. products of the people’s labor, preserving handicrafts.
The village center is where the hydroelectric plant built by the French on Muong Hoa stream is located. Currently, this place is a place for local music performances to serve tourists every day.
On the way back, from the last stop at Cat Cat village to the town is more than 3km. After exploring the village for a long time, the 3km return journey will make you quite tired, so if your health is not good, you should ride a motorbike and park at the village gate (you are not allowed to ride in the village). village entrance). village entrance). in version).
Cat Cat village price list:
Motorbike parking ticket price is 10,000 VND
Tickets to Cat Cat village are 150,000 VND/person.
The price to rent ethnic costumes is 150,000 VND/person if you are interested in the colorful costumes of the Hmong people here.
In front of the village gate there are many shops that rent ethnic clothes, you can buy one for yourself. There are also many other accessories that you can rent such as ethnic umbrellas,…
Another small thing to note is that when buying tickets at the ticket counter there are many maps. You can get it for free and the map is very helpful. On it are written all the famous attractions in Cat Cat village and directions – very helpful
You should prepare some candy in your bag because on the way to visit the village there will be many ethnic children following you. Those children sell crafts and invite you to buy them. If you don’t want to buy, give them candy and they won’t follow you anymore.
2, Ta Pin village – The place that preserves the most ancient things in Sapa
About 14 km from Sapa town towards Lao Cai city, Ta Phin village is inhabited by the Red Dao and Hmong ethnic people. Ta Phin village is located in a valley with mountains on all four sides but is quite wide and flat.
This place is famous for its herbal bath craft, which has created the brand “Red Dao herbal bath”. When walking around Sapa town, visitors will see many massage shops offering medicinal bath services from here.
You should note that when visiting the village, you should not wear undyed white linen, which is the color of funerals, and when the homeowner invites you to drink water or wine, if you refuse, you should say it politely so that the homeowner understands and sympathizes. , do not place the bowl face down on the table, only the shaman is allowed to do so to ward off evil spirits.
Today Ta Phin village is one of the villages strongly developing homestay tourism. In addition to visiting ancient villages and caves, visitors can experience medicinal baths, buy brocade items or enjoy specialty dishes served by restaurants here.
Near Ta Phin village there is Ta Phin cave, the cave entrance is about 5m high, 3m wide with a path going underground. Entering the cave, visitors will see rocks that look like a young woman holding a child, rocks that look like fairies, some that look like giant raspberries… The widest place in the cave is the stalactites hanging down. . like a winding, undulating, sparkling jade-colored lace. Going deeper, we came across a large rock lying slightly tilted, with chicken footprints on the rock floor. Right at the top of the rock on the right there are indentations that resemble horseshoes. On the opposite cliff, the word French is engraved on a hard object. To this day, even though time has covered them with dust, we can still read them. Ta Phin Cave still has many mysteries for us that need to be protected and preserved.
On Highway 4D to Lao Cai city, about 4 km from Sa Pa town, there is a fork into a small asphalt road. After a short walk you will see a toll booth. Each person has a ticket of 20,000 VND. Continue going about 18km more to reach Ta Phin village.
In many parts, the car runs along the hillside, on both sides are green terraced fields, the edge of the field curves close to the back of the hill, creating soft, graceful curves like undulating waves in the valley. . Far away on the horizon, on the rocky mountainside are green patches of corn fields. That poetic scene helps us forget the fear of this long “path of suffering”!
3, Lao Chai village – Sapa village has majestic mountain scenery
Lao Chai village is a village of the Black H’Mong ethnic group, located 6-7 km southeast of Sapa town. Visitors can go to Lao Chai village from Sapa without spending too much time traveling. Coming to Lao Chai village, visitors can interact and learn about the culture and customs of the northern mountainous ethnic groups. Lao Chai is a village of three large villages with more than 100 Black Hmong ethnic minority households.
Leaning against the majestic Hoang Lien Son range, in front is the Muong Hoa stream flowing through, along with vast terraced fields, Lao Chai is a village with the most charming and beautiful scenery in Sa Pa.
From the high point of the 8km long main road from Sapa town to the village, visitors can admire the panoramic view of Lao Chai village, behind the village are high mountains and facing the river. The Hmong people in this village make a living from intensive rice farming in the lowlands near the foot of the valley. This is considered their main source of income besides growing corn on the mountainside behind the village.
The Black H’mong community still maintains many traditional customs, especially child marriage. Most Black Hmong households depend on agriculture and land for their livelihood and rely solely on income from selling textiles at local markets. Only when buying livestock and household appliances do Black Hmong people need money because they grow and raise most of their food themselves. Coming to Lao Chai village, visitors will experience the culture, customs, and life of the Black H’mong ethnic people and admire the typical terraced fields of the Northern mountains.
4, Ta Van village
Along the Lao Chai village, Ta Van Sapa village is also a destination that young people love to explore. Ta Van is a small village in Ta Van commune, Sapa district, Lao Cai province. This place is only about 10km from the center of Sapa tourist town. There are no high-rise buildings, no smog of the city, all Ta Van has is a simple, romantic scene with a high blue sky, terraced fields with thousands of ripe rice, Rustic mud-walled cottage and small dirt roads filled with wildflowers on both sides. All of them create a strangely peaceful picture of the highlands.
Going through Lao Chai village for 3 km, you will reach Ta Van village, where the Giay ethnic community lives. Located in a valley where Muong Hoa wolves pass through, the terraced fields here are also very beautiful. Together with Lao Chai combined into a common name for a tourist destination “Lao Chai – Ta Van”, when visiting Lao Chai, you must visit Ta Van and vice versa.
Ta Van is a strong homestay tourism development and has the most rental homes in Sapa. Visiting Ta Van, visitors can also stop here for dinner at local restaurants.
You can get to Ta Van Sapa village by car or motorbike. However, the priority of many self-sufficient Sapa tourists is motorbikes, because you will be able to ride while admiring the romantic scenery and breathing the fresh air here. On that edge, Ta Van is mainly small roads so it will be difficult for large passenger cars to move. Rent a car in the town center and ask them directly for directions to Ta Van.
It’s hard to say what a trip to Ta Van Sapa will bring to you. What I can be sure of is just a peaceful trip back home. As I said, Ta Van does not have high-rise hotel restaurants, modern homestays, or check-in points – in virtual warehouses. Ta Van has a much more simple and wild beauty. The houses here are often made of wood or dirt. Household items are also made from wood. Not much influenced by modern life, people here make the most of everything nature has to offer.
5, Sin Chai village
One of the most special things about a trip to Sapa is the wild, time-tinged beauty of the ancient villages. Most of the villages in Sapa retain their rustic and simple features, but the most poetic and rustic village is Ban Sin Chai. Going through Cat Cat village about 2 km will reach Sin Chai village. Although located quite close to Sapa town, this place is not as touristized as other villages. This is an ideal place for tourists who want to observe and learn about the lives of the indigenous Black Hmong people.
Sin Chai village (or Xin Chai) is “embraced in its heart” by the Hoang Lien Son range, located right at the foot of the mountain, creating a “very poetic” scene amidst the pristine mountains and forests. As one of the villages with the largest area in Sapa, Sin Chai village is increasingly attracting the attention of a large number of domestic and foreign Sapa tourists.
People often visit Sin Chai village when the rice is ripe, from September to October every year. At this time, the entire vast space is filled with the color of ripe rice, captivating people’s hearts. Who visits Sin Chai village once and doesn’t bring back many unforgettable memories.
The typical wooden-walled houses of the H’mong people are located right next to the small road running from the beginning of the village to the end of the village, the road is only wide enough for a motorbike to pass. Although the terraced fields around the village are not majestic and spacious, they have their own unique features during the rice season.
What season is best to travel to Sapa? When is the best time to go to Sin Chai village? It is difficult to give an accurate and complete answer because each person will have a different feeling about Sapa. However, there are still a few golden times that many people talk about the most, which are May, June, September and October.
6, Ban Ho Village
About 25 km from Sapa town in the same direction as the Lao Chai – Ta Van route, Ban Ho is a village of the Tay people, with a relatively small population compared to other ethnic groups. The village is located in a small valley, the downstream of Muong Hoa stream.
Ban Ho commune is a rare commune with a completely different climate from the whole province. The weather in Ban Ho is quite warm and the winter is not as cold as in other villages. The center of Ban Ho is Ban Den village, where the two streams Muong Hoa and La Ve meet with clear water.
Muong Hoa Stream with its beautiful terrain, peaceful stream running around the traditional villages of the Tay people, closely associated with the daily life of the ethnic people here has created a charming, peaceful landscape painting. . La Ve stream flows down from high mountains into waterfalls with flocks of fish following the stream as if they were dancing. Here, you can freely set a net to catch fish and enjoy excellent grilled fish right on the stream bank.
To go from the main road down to the village, visitors must go through a majestic and beautiful winding road. The most interesting thing when coming to Ho village is the experience of sleeping in a homestay in the typical stilt houses here, along with enjoying special dishes and bathing in streams that cannot be missed.
In addition to these two famous streams, in Ban Ho there are also many other small streams and waterfalls winding around the village.
From the winding road leading into the village, with towering mountains on one side and a deep abyss on the other, far away at the end of the road is the golden color of terraced fields, revealing the folds of the village’s houses. Tay and Giay ethnic people line both sides of the stream, the peaceful scene touches people’s hearts.
Walking around Ban Ho, you will admire how the ethnic people here weave brocade, listen and sing and dance together with quite unique dances.
7. Y Linh Ho Village
SaPa is not only known to tourists for many tourist destinations such as Ham Rong mountain, Muong Hoa valley… but also attracts tourists to explore the wild beauty of Y Linh Ho village in SaPa.
From SaPa town, go down to Lao Chai about 3km, stopping at the steep road, the majestic beauty and unique name Y Linh Ho appear, making many tourists choose to explore when arriving in SaPa. This.
Y Linh Ho is a commune with many small populations, living scattered on mountainous terrain with high and steep mountain ranges. With rudimentary houses made of dirt or bamboo along with corn and rice fields on steep hillsides.
Not mentioned much, but Y Linh Ho village is very suitable for walking trips. Standing at the southern edge of Sapa town, looking down at Y Linh Ho village right at your feet. It feels very close but going down is very far due to the different terrain, the road to the village is also difficult to go.
Going from Cat Cat village, or along the slopes from Sapa town down, then trekking along the trails through terraced fields interspersed with wooden-walled houses of the H’mong people is an experience. Memorable.
Y Linh Ho is currently divided into 2 villages: Y Linh Ho 1 and Y Linh Ho 2, each village has 100 households. People here are purely agricultural, mainly growing rice and corn. However, Ban Linh Y increasingly changes color and is gradually renovated to promote the advantages of the natural landscape and national cultural identity of the people here.
Coming to Ban Y Linh Ho SaPa, visitors will be immersed in the beautiful natural scenery, green corn slopes, terraced fields filled with colorful rice stretching to the horizon. The simple, small, beautiful houses of the Mong people along with the long-standing traditional culture of the local people… All these beauties blend together to create a beautiful natural picture of the region. land. Northwest. Especially the hospitality, enthusiasm, honesty and typical dishes of the people here make visitors nostalgic and wish to come back again.
Join Authentic Experience in Sapa
Sapa 1 Day
1 day experience,Rice fields, valley, villages. Moderate to challenging, Private,Vegan-friendlyCultural immersion & active adventure
Motorbike Tour
1 day experience,Rice fields,waterfall.Challenging,Private tours friendly Cultural immersion, active adventure
Sapa 2 Days
2 days 1 night experience. Moderate to challenging, adventure. Mountains, valleys, rice fields and villages. Vegan-friendly
Sapa 3 Days
3 days 2 night experienc, Moderate to challenging. Mountains, valley, rice fields & villages. Private tours. Vegan-friendly
Sapa is a land blessed by nature with lush green valleys, beautiful terraced fields and rolling mountains. All contribute to creating the majestic and vast scenery of the Northwest sky and land. If you are a free and liberal soul, what are you waiting for? Choose one of the Sapa villages recommended by your local Sapa tour guide and get ready to explore!
If you likes to learn and experience Local trekking: THE TOP 7 Best Villages Sapa Local Trekking Tours The Best Sapa Local Package Tour, Ideal time to visit Sapa – Fully enjoy the please experience with us Sapa Local Guide on trips. Our tour guides will show you the friendliness and Hospitality of tourists in Sapa. If you are interested, don’t forget to visit our website. https://sapalocalguide.com/ contact us via email at info@sapalocalguide.com, WhatsApp +84949560504 or by phone +84949560504 for more information.
Sapa Local Guide hopes that the above information will help you and wish you an enjoyable and meaningful vacation in Sapa Vietnam.
