Sapa 3 Days & 2 Nights Trekking from Hanoi & Cat Cat Village

Three Days in Sapa's Mountain Villages, Starting from Hanoi by Bus

You get picked up from Hanoi's Old Quarter, ride five hours to Sapa, trek through Cat Cat Village and rice terraces over two days with a local guide, stay two nights in a hotel, and return to Hanoi by bus on day three. Meals, transport, water, and guide are included. You bring warm clothes and trekking shoes because the altitude and weather shift fast.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Bus to Sapa and Cat Cat trek

• Pick up from Hanoi Old Quarter
• Bus to Lao Cai with breaks
• Arrive Sapa, welcome and lunch
• Drive to Cat Cat village
• Trek Cat Cat village and waterfall
• Return to Sapa, dinner and overnight

Day 2: Trek Y Linh Ho to Ta Van village

• Breakfast and check out hotel
• Trek rice terraces to Lao Chai village
• Continue trek to Ta Van village
• Shower and lunch at Ta Van
• Bus back to Sapa town
• Free time, dinner and overnight

Day 3: Free morning and return to Hanoi

• Breakfast and free time in Sapa
• Check out and lunch at hotel
• Meet group and prepare for departure
• Bus back to Hanoi with breaks
• Arrive Hanoi and trip ends

The experience

"The weather here changes fast. You need warm clothes even in summer," our guide told us before the trek started, and he wasn't exaggerating. The Sapa 3 days 2 nights trekking tour from Hanoi picks you up from the Old Quarter between 6 and 6:20 in the morning, loads you onto an air-conditioned bus, and drives you five hours north to Sapa Town. You stop twice for breaks (once at 9:30 and again at 11 in Lao Cai), so the ride doesn't flatten you before the real walking begins. By 1 p.m. you're checking into The View Sapa Hotel or a similar place, eating lunch with local Vietnamese dishes, and getting a briefing on what comes next.

That afternoon, you trek to Cat Cat Village, home to the Black H'mong people, descending 2.5 kilometers through the valley to a waterfall where the French built a hydraulic power station decades ago. The walk takes about two hours, and you stop for photos at the bridge and the water before heading back uphill to catch the bus at 5 p.m. The next day is longer: a 9-kilometer trek through rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Stream that lasts 3.5 hours, moving from the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai to Ta Van, where the Dzay people live. You shower and eat lunch there before the bus picks you up and brings you back to Sapa Town by early afternoon, leaving the rest of the day free to walk around on your own or take the cable car up Fansipan Peak if you want to see Indochina's highest point at 3,143 meters.

On the final morning, you have time to explore Sapa or rest at the hotel before checking out and eating lunch around 11. The bus departs at 3:30 p.m. for the return journey to Hanoi, with two rest stops along the way, arriving back at your hotel around 9:30 p.m. An English-speaking local guide walks with you through the villages, bottled water comes with you on both bus rides, and your luggage stays on the bus or gets transferred to the villages while you trek, so you're not carrying extra weight through the mountains.

What’s included

Your tour includes hotel pickup from Hanoi's Old Quarter, round-trip air-conditioned bus transport to Sapa with bottled water on both journeys, two nights in The View Sapa Hotel or similar on a twin-sharing basis, an English-speaking local guide for all trekking, all meals (lunch and dinner on day one, breakfast, lunch, and dinner on day two, breakfast and lunch on day three), bus insurance, and luggage transfer to villages during treks. You arrange your own return transport from the hotel to your accommodation after the 9:30 p.m. arrival in Hanoi.

Options for this experience

3 options

Sleeper bus transferGuide in English · 06:00Transfer from Hanoi: A modern, air-conditioned sleeper bus with comfortable beds runs from Hanoi to Sapa, with a return trip. Pick-up and drop-off happen in Hanoi, so choose this option if you are leaving from Hanoi. You can also finish your trip in Sapa. Pickup is included.

Luxury limousine transfer, DcarGuide in English · 06:00, 06:30 and 07:00Luxury limousine transfer, Dcar: Morning departure from Hanoi to Sapa, with a shared limousine return. The Hanoi to Sapa route is the best choice for passengers who want to save both time and money. This luxury limousine brings you unique experiences over a long journey to reach one of Vietnam's most loved destinations. You can also end your trip in Sapa. Pickup is included.

One-way night train with bus returnGuide in English · 06:30, 07:00, 07:30 and 20:30Overnight train: Leave Hanoi in the evening by train for Sapa, then return by limousine or single-cabin bus. Train and bus tickets are included. Pickup and timing: you are collected from your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter and taken to the train station, Monday to Thursday nights ONLY. A unique experience: many tourists choose the train from Hanoi to Sapa for its convenience and exciting atmosphere. Duration: 3 days, this is the 3-day, 3-night option. Finish the trip: you can also end it in Sapa Town to relax further or continue your journey from there. Pickup is included.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 20:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (3 to 8 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

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 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Vietnam Travel Top

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to trek Sapa's villages and rice terraces without arranging your own transport from Hanoi or managing hotel bookings: the fixed itinerary and included guide handle both, leaving you to focus on the walking and the landscape.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 8 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

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 6 days before the start.

How long is the drive from Hanoi to Sapa?

About five hours, with comfort breaks at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. before arriving in Sapa Town around 1 p.m.

What is the total trekking distance?

Day one is 2.5 kilometers (2 hours) to Cat Cat Village. Day two is 9 kilometers (3.5 hours) through rice terraces to Lao Chai and Ta Van.

Is the guide English-speaking?

Yes, an English-speaking local guide is included for the trekking portions in Sapa.

What meals are included?

Lunch and dinner on day one, breakfast, lunch, and dinner on day two, and breakfast and lunch on day three.

Where do I stay?

The View Sapa Hotel or a similar property, with standard rooms for 2–3 people on a twin-sharing basis.

Can I leave luggage behind while trekking?

Yes, large luggage stays at the hotel or is transferred to the villages by car while you trek, so you carry only a light pack.

What should I bring?

Warm clothes, a scarf, hat, trekking shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, and any personal medicine. Sapa is cold and sometimes foggy, especially December through March.

Can I extend my stay in Sapa?

Yes, you can finish your trip in Sapa instead of returning to Hanoi on day three.

Is vegetarian food available?

Yes, but you must inform the tour operator in advance of any dietary requirements.

What currency should I bring?

Vietnamese Dong is preferred. US dollars, euros, and Australian dollars are also accepted in Sapa, but the banking system there can be unreliable.