Sapa & ethnic colorful market

In the evening, transfer to the Hanoi train station to take the night train to Lao Cai. The train leaves Hanoi around 20:30. You will be in an air-conditioned cabin with soft berths (4 people/ cabin).
 

Arrival at the Lao Cai train station around 06:30. There will be a vehicle and tour guide waiting to transfer us to Bac Ha.
Before leave Lao Cai, you will be led to a hotel near the station where the room is at your disposal to rest and take a shower and then breakfast.
Take a 2 hour drive towards Bac Ha for the weekly market of ethnic minorities which takes place only on Sundays mornings.
 
The Bac Ha market is the most important colorful ethnic market in the region. It is filled with many different hill-tribe peoples like Flower Hmong, Thais, Daos, and Tays. At the  market you will find with amusement that they do not only come to trade but also to discuss with distant neighbors, to meet or drink some glasses of rice or corn alcohol with friends .
 
You will have lunch in a local restaurant.
 
In the afternoon, you will walk through the Ban Pho village where you will discover the lifestyle, architecture, culture... of Tays peoples and the manufacture of the famous corn alcohol in the region.
Leaving Bac Ha, you depart to Sapa (100km - 3 hours). Upon arrival in Sa Pa, drop off ath your hotel and free time to rest.
Overnight at hotel in Sapa.
 
Note: Depending on your travel dates, you can visit another market than Bac Ha (you will find its calendar).
 
Market timing:

• Bac Ha market, the biggest market in the region, open on Sunday morning
• Can Cau market, which is more focused on the livestock trade, takes place every Saturday morning
• Sin Cheng Market, 50 km from the Bac Ha town, open every Wednesday morning
• Coc Ly market, 40km from Bac Ha town, open every Tuesday morning
• Lung Khau Nhin market takes place every Thursday morning

After breakfast, we start the trip to the South East of Sapa alongside Muong Hoa valley to Y Linh Ho village.  Then walk down to the Black H'mong village of Lao Chai and the Dzays village of Ta Van.
 
The lovely walk that will take us along small paths and through terraced rice paddies.  This is an absolutely spectacular walk through stunning scenery inhabited by some of the friendliest people you can meet. Stopping for a lunch on the way at a family in Ta Van village. Opportunity to meet with local people and study the art of making batik and local weaving villages - study textile tradition of craft women o Black H'mong and Red Dzao.
Transfer back to Sapa town for overnight at hotel.
 

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning is free at you leisure for rest or discovering of the romantic small town of Sapa: the market, the church etc...
In the afternoon, transfer southwest from Sapa to the Sin Chai village - home of Black H'mong people. From there, you will walk along a small path leading to the end of the village, you will see traditional houses, terraced rice fields and meet local people.
Around 16:00, you take the road to Lao Cai station.
Have diner in a local restaurant close to the train station.
You spend the night aboard the train, in an air-conditioned cabin with soft berths (4 persons / cabin).
 

Arrival at the Hanoi train station around 5:30 am. Your guide waiting to transfer you to your hotel. End of tour.