The ethnic villages in Sapa are an essential highlight of Sapa tourism. Somewhere in these villages, visitors will always find stunningly beautiful natural landscapes or encounter the simple, rustic, and often challenging lives of the local people. If you are unsure where to go when visiting Sapa or are simply tired of the bustling noise of the city and want to find a place to enjoy truly peaceful moments, then head to the villages of Sapa to experience it all!
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Cat Cat Village
Located about 2 km from the center of Sapa town, under the majestic Hoang Lien Son mountain range, Cat Cat Village is a long-standing settlement of the H’mong ethnic people, preserving its primitive and rustic charm. This is also the most famous village in Sapa, attracting many tourists. Visiting Cat Cat Village, you will have the opportunity to learn and experience the fascinating lifestyle and culture of the H’mong people.
With its pristine, majestic, and poetic nature, visitors will be enchanted by the stunning scenery of Cat Cat Village from the first glance. Wandering around Cat Cat Village, you can see small houses on the mountain slopes, men working in the fields, women weaving fabric by looms, and children playing mischievously. A day in Cat Cat Village will surely bring you much joy and a deeper understanding of life in the highlands.
Sin Chai Village
About 2 km past Cat Cat Village, you will reach Sin Chai Village. Despite its proximity to Sapa town, about 4 km from the town center, this village remains quite untouched and serene, not yet commercialized like other villages. Sin Chai offers visitors a sense of closeness to the mountain and forest nature. It is an ideal place for those who want to observe and learn about the life of the local Black H’mong people.
The characteristic wooden houses of the H’mong people line the narrow road that runs from one end of the village to the other, wide enough for only one motorcycle to pass through. If you visit Sin Chai between September and November, you will witness the terraced fields stretching at the foot of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. Foreign tourists often choose to trek to Sin Chai Village with local people to gain a better understanding of the place through their introductions.
Ta Phin Village
Ta Phin Village is home to the Red Dao and H’mong ethnic groups, about 12 km from the center of Sapa town. Ta Phin Village is a highland village in the Northwest, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists to explore its pristine and majestic beauty. Here, you will feel a sense of peace and smallness amidst the mountains, as Ta Phin is located in a valley surrounded by mountains but quite spacious and flat. Ta Phin not only has lush nature and a fresh, cool atmosphere but also many natural caves filled with mysterious and intriguing features, such as rock formations with strange shapes and sparkling stalactites.
This village is mainly inhabited by the Dao and H’mong people. Visiting Ta Phin, you will learn about the unique culture, festivals, and customs of the Dao and H’mong through their daily activities. Today, Ta Phin Village is one of the rapidly developing homestay tourism destinations. It is famous for herbal baths, which have created the “Red Dao herbal bath” brand. While strolling around Sapa town, visitors will see many massage parlors offering herbal bath services originating from here. Tourists can experience herbal baths, buy brocade items, or enjoy the region’s specialty foods here.
Lao Chai Village
About 9 km southwest of Sapa town is Lao Chai Village. If you visit Sapa, you should not miss Lao Chai, one of the most peaceful villages and a top spot for viewing terraced fields in Sapa. Even the road leading down to Lao Chai is a route that captivates many people. Foreign tourists often choose to trek down to the village to enjoy a clearer view of the entire landscape.
Lao Chai is home to the Dao, Giay, and H’mong people, with houses interspersed with terraced fields. This place is known for the beautiful Muong Hoa Valley, with the village leaning against the majestic Hoang Lien Son mountain range and the poetic Muong Hoa stream flowing in front. With vast terraced fields, Lao Chai offers some of the most picturesque scenery in Sapa. Here, you can choose a cafe with a view of the terraced fields to enjoy a truly peaceful day.
Ta Van Village
About 3 km past Lao Chai Village is Ta Van Village, home to the Giay community and some other ethnic minorities. Combined with Lao Chai, it forms a common tourist destination known as “Lao Chai – Ta Van.” Visiting Lao Chai, you must also visit Ta Van and vice versa. Ta Van is a rapidly developing homestay tourism village, with the most homestay rentals in Sapa. Visiting Ta Van, tourists can also stop for lunch at local restaurants.
This village is located in a valley through which the Muong Hoa stream flows, and the terraced fields here are very beautiful. Ta Van’s scenery is dreamy and poetic, captivating many people. Whenever Ta Van Village is mentioned, one recalls the breathtaking terraced fields during the pouring water season, shimmering like a giant mirror reflecting the surroundings, or the lush green young rice planting days, and the radiant golden ripe rice season. Visitors can also observe the diligent and hardworking locals amid vast fields.
Ban Ho Village
This is the farthest village from the center of Sapa town, about 30 km to the southwest, 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, centered around Ban Den Hamlet, where the Muong Hoa and La Ve streams meet. To reach the village from the main road, visitors must traverse winding, majestic paths, allowing them to admire the picturesque scenery. Visitors who come here will discover the convergent beauty of nature and people. Ban Ho promises to be one of the wonderful villages not to be missed in the journey to explore the villages around Sapa town.
Ban Ho is known for its winding roads, rolling hills, soft streams, majestic waterfalls, and diverse, rich vegetation. The more you gaze at Ban Ho, the more you will be mesmerized by the picturesque natural scenery. The locals here are very friendly and hospitable. The most exciting experience when visiting Ban Ho is staying in traditional stilt houses, enjoying rustic, distinctive dishes, and participating in warm community activities with the locals. Do not miss the stream bathing activity.
Y Linh Ho Village
Y Linh Ho Village is truly an excellent destination for those who love trekking and exploring the natural beauty of Sapa. Located far from the main road, Y Linh Ho Village offers a peaceful and tranquil space, entirely separate from the hustle and bustle of the town. Surrounded by the majestic Hoang Lien Son mountain range, this village is famous for its lush green terraced fields and the gentle Muong Hoa stream flowing through it.
When trekking from Sapa town to Y Linh Ho Village, visitors will experience the thrill of conquering winding trails, breathe in the fresh air, and observe the daily life of the H’mong ethnic people. This journey will surely be memorable, not only for its magnificent natural scenery but also for the closeness and hospitality of the local people.
If you plan to visit Y Linh Ho Village, be prepared for an exciting trip, and don’t forget to bring a camera to capture the beautiful moments of nature and the unique cultural life here.
The winding path leading into the village is flanked by colorful wildflowers. Nestled at the foot of the majestic, pristine Hoang Lien mountain, Y Linh Ho is enchanting with the babbling brook flowing from its source. Visitors will immerse themselves in the fresh countryside landscape. The green maize fields and eye-catching golden terraced fields. The simple, small stilt houses of the H’mong people. Especially, the long-standing traditional culture of the local people.
If life and work become overwhelming and exhausting, don’t hesitate to leave your worries behind, grab a backpack, and take a trip to Sapa. The beautiful scenery and the warm, hospitable people of the ethnic villages in Sapa will surely make you forget all your troubles! Don’t forget to choose a private car rental service with a driver from Hanoi to Sapa for the best trip to explore the ethnic villages in Sapa.
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