Hanoi: Sapa Overnight Tours Trekking, Villages, Homestay, Foods

Hanoi – Sapa by bus - trek Y Linh Ho - Lao Chai – Ta Van Village (Lunch, Dinner))

06:00-06:30: Pick up at hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter by bus. 09:30: Follow the highway and have the first rest stop. 11:00: Second rest stop before heading to Sapa. 13:30: Arrive at Sapa Town - colorful traditional costumes of H’mong, Dzao, and Tay ethnic people. The guide will pick you up and have lunch at local restaurant. 14:30: Start hiking through Y Linh Ho then trek through the rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Valley (Thung Lung Muong Hoa) to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai to see the spectacular landscape of Hoang Lien Son Mountain. You approach Ta Van Village where Giay Ethnic People inhabit in late afternoon. => The trekking distance is about 9-12km and it lasts for 4 hours. 17:00: Check in homestay; get to know the family of Dzay People. Spend time enjoying the mountain life on Sunset. You may attend cooking local dishes with the family and enjoy dinner in peace.

Legend has it that, the name of Y Linh Ho Village actually has a meaning behind. According to the elderly people in the village, “Y Linh Ho” was named after the first man who built the village: Mr. Ly Linh Ho. In the past, the surroundings of the village was claimed by Dao people who were led by Mr. Ly Linh Ho. Throughout a long period of living and cultivating, the Dao people formed a new village and called it Y Linh Ho. After some times, the Dao people in this village migrated to other places, and then the Mong people arrived here. However, the name ”Y Linh Ho” was still kept by the villagers in order to commemorate the one who started the development for the village back then.

Lao Chai almost lies in the middle of rice and corn terraces, giving travellers the chance to trace along with narrow but magnificent path on the fields to contemplate the whole zone. The best time to visit Lao Chai is from September to next April, when the village is decorated beautifully by the most wonderful rice terrace fields. On the main road, you can also get great panorama of the whole village looming in high mountains along with peaceful river flows.

Ta Van Village is the home of 110 ethnic families (mostly Black H’Mong), who have stayed here for generations. There are two major minority groups living in the village: the Giay and the Dao. Right after crossing the wooden bridge through Muong Hoa Valley (Thung Lung Muong Hoa) - water stream, which connects Ta Van to the outside world, you will meet the Giay community. If you are coming in mid-November or December (October in the Lunar calendar), the Giay’s wedding season with traditional wedding customs will be fun plus for your experience. On the other hand, the Dao community is located a bit further up on the hill. These locals earn living mainly based on farming and tourism service occasionally.