2-day Sapa trek from Hanoi: Cat Cat village and rice terraces

Walk into the valleys where the French once retreated from the heat

A 2-day guided trek from Hanoi to Sapa combines two separate treks through the mountains of Northern Vietnam: a 2-hour descent into Cat Cat village and its waterfall on day one, then a 3.5-hour trek through rice terraces and Hmong settlements on day two. The tour includes hotel pickup in Hanoi, all transport by air-conditioned vehicle, overnight stay at a 5-star hotel, all meals, and an English or Vietnamese-speaking guide who adjusts the route to match your fitness level.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hanoi to Sapa and Cat Cat trek

• Pickup from Hanoi hotel
• Breakfast stop in Lao Cai city
• Arrive in Sapa Town and have lunch
• Trek to Cat Cat village and waterfall
• Return to Sapa Town and overnight stay

Day 2 — Trekking and return to Hanoi

• Breakfast at hotel and prepare for trek
• Trek to Y Linh Ho and Lao Chai village
• Continue trek to Ta Van village
• Bus pickup at Ta Van Bridge
• Rest and lunch at hotel
• Group meeting and depart for Hanoi
• Stop for break during journey
• Arrive back in Hanoi

The Experience

The pickup starts at 6:45 AM from your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter. The drive to Sapa takes most of the morning, with a breakfast stop in Lao Cai city around 9:30 AM before you reach the town itself by 12:30 PM. Lunch is local Vietnamese food, and then the first trek begins: a 2-kilometer walk down to Cat Cat village, home to the Black Hmong people, where you'll see the waterfall the French built a hydraulic power station around. The path descends into a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak and takes about 2 hours total, including the walk back uphill to meet the bus. You're back in Sapa Town by 5 PM and overnight in a 5-star hotel.

Day two starts with breakfast at the hotel and a light pack for trekking—your luggage stays at the reception. The second trek runs 3.5 hours and covers about 12 kilometers through rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Streams, passing through the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai and ending at Ta Van, where the Dzay people live. The guide builds the route around your ability, so the pace adjusts as you go. A bus picks you up at Ta Van Bridge by 11:30 AM and brings you back to Sapa center for lunch and free time. At 3:15 PM you depart for Hanoi, arriving back at your accommodation around 9:15 PM.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in Hanoi's Old Quarter and return transport by air-conditioned vehicle.
• overnight stay at a 5-star hotel in Sapa.
• breakfast on day two and lunch on both days.
• a local guide in English or Vietnamese who adjusts the trek route to your fitness level.
• all fees and taxes.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sapa Private Day Tours

Is this one for you?This tour is shared, not private, and the pace is set by the guide based on the group's ability rather than your own choice. Book it if you want the structure and company of a guided group and prefer not to arrange your own transport, hotel and meals across two days in the mountains.

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Top questions

What is Cat Cat village and why do we trek there on day one?

Cat Cat village is a settlement of the Black Hmong ethnic people located in a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak. The trek descends 2 kilometers to the village and a waterfall where the French built a hydraulic power station during the colonial period, giving you a close look at both the landscape and the daily life of the locals who live there.

How difficult is the trekking on this 2-day tour?

The first trek is 2 kilometers and lasts about 2 hours; the second is 12 kilometers over 3.5 hours through rice terraces and streams. Your guide adjusts the itinerary based on your fitness level, so the pace is not fixed—the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though it does involve walking uphill and downhill on both days.

What ethnic groups will I see in Sapa?

You'll encounter the Black Hmong people in Cat Cat village, the Dzay people in Ta Van, and you may see the colorful traditional costumes of Hmong, Dzao and Tay people around Sapa Town itself, where the guide will explain their daily life and customs.

What meals are included, and when do we eat?

Breakfast is included on day two at your hotel; lunch is included on both days—local Vietnamese dishes in Sapa on day one, and at the hotel on day two. Dinner on day one is your choice of local restaurants recommended by the hotel staff; the tour does not include dinner but suggests where to eat.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Hanoi to Sapa?

No—the tour includes pickup from your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter at 6:45 AM and all transport by air-conditioned vehicle. The driver also brings you back to your Hanoi accommodation, arriving around 9:15 PM on day two.

Can I keep my luggage during the second day's trek?

Yes—you can store your luggage at the hotel reception while you trek on day two, so you only carry a light pack for the 3.5-hour walk through the rice terraces and villages.