Fansipan Peak & Cat Cat Village: 2D1N from Hanoi

The Cable Car Climbs 2,800 Meters, Then You Hike 600 Steps to the Roof of Indochina

You take a sleeper bus from Hanoi to Sapa, trek through Cat Cat Village with a local guide on day one, then ride the world's longest cable car up Fansipan Peak and climb to the summit on day two. Hotel, meals, all transport, and entry fees are included. You return to Hanoi the same evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel to Sapa and Cat Cat Village trek

• Pickup from Hanoi hotels early morning
• Travel to Lao Cai with two rest stops
• Arrive in Sapa and meet local guide
• Check in and enjoy welcome drink
• Have lunch with local Vietnamese dishes
• Walk to Cat Cat Village entrance
• Trek 2.5km through village and waterfall
• Visit French-built hydroelectric plant
• Return to Sapa by bus
• Dinner at local restaurant
• Free time to explore Sapa nightlife

Day 2: Fansipan peak and return to Hanoi

• Breakfast and hotel check-out
• Travel to Fansipan Cable Car Station
• Ride cable car and enjoy mountain views
• Visit pagoda and hike 600 steps to peak
• Spend 1.5 hours hiking and taking photos
• Return by cable car to Sapa town
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Relax and shower at hotel
• Meet group and prepare for departure
• Depart Sapa for Hanoi by bus
• Arrive Hanoi late evening

The experience

You're sitting in a cabin suspended 6,292 meters of cable, watching the valley floor disappear below. The world's longest three-wire cable car system carries you up through cloud cover toward Fansipan Peak, the highest point in Indochina. Twenty minutes of that, and you step out at 2,800 meters to start the real climb: 600 steps that lead to the landmark at the summit. The whole push takes about 1.5 hours, and the view from the top is the kind of thing that makes the 5am hotel pickup and the long bus ride back to Hanoi feel worth it.

The trip starts in Hanoi's Old Quarter, where a driver picks you up between 6 and 6:30am and heads northwest toward Lao Cai province. Two rest stops break up the drive, and by 1:30pm you're in Sapa, checking into a 3-star or 4-star hotel. After lunch and a welcome drink, your local English-speaking guide takes you down to Cat Cat Village, home to the Black H'mong people. The trek down to the valley bottom is 2.5 kilometers and takes about two hours. You'll pass the waterfall where the French built a hydroelectric plant during the colonial era, stop for photos at the bridge, and see how the villagers live. It's not a hard walk, but it's real walking, and the guide points out things you'd miss on your own.

Day two is the cable car and the peak. After breakfast at the hotel, the driver takes you to the cable car station by 8:30am. Once you're back down and have had lunch in Sapa, you pack up, meet the group around 3pm, and board the sleeper bus for the return to Hanoi. You'll arrive back around 9:30 or 10pm, and from there you arrange your own way to your hotel. The whole thing (transport, one night's accommodation, all meals, the cable car ticket, the village entrance fee, and a guide the whole way) is included in the price.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Hanoi Old Quarter.
• round-trip sleeper bus transport between Hanoi and Sapa.
• one night at a 3-star or 4-star hotel in Sapa (standard room).
• dinner on day one, breakfast and lunch on day two.
• local English-speaking guide for both days.
• Fansipan cable car round-trip ticket.
• entrance fee to Cat Cat Village.
• in-town transfers in Sapa by air-conditioned van or bus.

Options for this experience

2 options

Overnight stay at a 3-star hotelGuide in English · 06:30Overnight at a 3-star hotel: a solo traveler surcharge (single supplement) of USD 15.0 applies. Includes the round-trip Fansipan cable car and pickup.

Overnight stay at a 4-star hotelGuide in English · 06:30Overnight stay at a 4-star hotel: a solo traveler pays a single supplement of USD 20.00. Includes the round-trip Fansipan cable car and pickup.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (10 to 70 years) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 30

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by GADT Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to reach Fansipan's summit and see a traditional H'mong village without arranging transport, hotels, or a guide separately: the fixed itinerary and included meals mean you show up and the logistics are handled.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the drive from Hanoi to Sapa?

The journey is roughly 5–6 hours by sleeper bus, with two rest stops included. You depart between 6 and 6:30am and arrive in Sapa by 1:30pm on day one.

What's included in the price?

One night at a 3-star or 4-star hotel in Sapa, all meals (dinner, breakfast, lunch), the Fansipan cable car round trip, entrance to Cat Cat Village, sleeper bus transport both ways, in-town transfers, and a local English-speaking guide.

How difficult is the Cat Cat Village trek?

The trek is 2.5 kilometers and lasts about two hours. It involves walking down to a waterfall and back up, but it's not technical climbing. A moderate level of fitness is recommended.

What should I bring to Fansipan Peak?

Warm clothing or a coat, since the temperature at 2,800 meters is cold. Trekking shoes and comfortable clothes are recommended for the village walk.

Can the itinerary order change?

Yes, the order of activities can be adjusted as long as all destinations are visited. The tour operator will confirm any changes when you book.

Is the cable car included?

Yes, the round-trip cable car ticket for Fansipan is included. Children taller than 1.3 meters are charged the adult rate.

What time do I return to Hanoi?

The sleeper bus departs Sapa around 4:30pm and arrives back in Hanoi between 9:30pm and 10pm. From there, you arrange your own transport to your hotel.

Is the hotel room upgradeable?

Yes, you can upgrade from a standard room to a higher category for an extra fee, depending on availability at the hotel on your dates.