Sapa 3 Days 2 Nights Trekking: Homestay & Hotel in One Trip

Three villages, two nights, one trek: rice terraces to mountain homestay to hotel

You trek from Hanoi to Sapa over three days, spending one night in a Dzay village homestay and one in a hotel. The itinerary covers Cat Cat Village on day one, a 12-kilometer trek through rice terraces and Lao Chai on day two, and a final walk to Giang Ta Chai on day three. All meals, transport, entrance fees, and an English-speaking guide are included, with pickup and drop-off at your Hanoi hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi to Sapa and Cat Cat trek

• Pick up from Hanoi Old Quarter
• Depart to Sapa by bus
• Comfort break on highway
• Second comfort break at Lao Cai
• Arrive in Sapa Town
• Welcome drink and lunch
• Trek Cat Cat Village and waterfall
• Return to Sapa Town
• Dinner and overnight at hotel

Day 2: Trek Sapa to Ta Van Village

• Breakfast and check out hotel
• Trek rice terraces to Lao Chai village
• Continue trekking to Ta Van Village
• Lunch with local family
• Check in bungalow at Ta Van
• Enjoy mountain life and sunset
• Optional cooking and dinner
• Evening at local bar
• Overnight at bungalow

Day 3: Trek Giang Ta Chai and return

• Breakfast at bungalow
• Trek rice paddies and bamboo forest
• Photo session and panorama view
• Trek Giang Ta Chai Bridge to main road
• Lunch
• Bus to Sapa Town
• Relax and shower
• Group meeting and prepare for Hanoi
• Bus back to Hanoi with rest stops
• Arrive Hanoi and trip ends

The experience

The pickup happens early, 6am from the Hoan Kiem district, and the bus fills with other travelers still half-asleep, coffee cups in hand. By 9:30 you're at the first comfort stop near Lao Cai, and the road starts to climb. Sapa sits at 1,600 meters, and you feel it in the air before you see it. When you arrive around 1pm, the town is already busy with vendors in traditional H'Mong and Dzao dress, and your guide meets you at the hotel with a welcome drink and a rundown of what's coming. Lunch is Vietnamese (something simple and warm), and then you're out again for a short trek to Cat Cat Village, about 3.5 kilometers downhill through the Black H'Mong territory. The waterfall where the French built a hydraulic station is still there, and the bridge makes for the kind of photo that actually looks like the place, not like a postcard. You're back in Sapa by 4:30, dinner at the hotel, and the first night is in a proper bed.

Day two is the long one. Breakfast at 7am, then you're trekking for real: 12 kilometers through rice terraces that drop away in layers, along the Muong Hoa Stream, into Lao Chai where the Black Hmong families are working the fields. The guide walks with you the whole way, pointing out the landscape and the daily rhythms of the villages. Around noon you stop for lunch cooked by a local family, and then the trail opens onto Ta Van Village, where the Dzay people live. This is where you stay the night: in a basic bungalow, not a hotel. You check in, meet the family who runs the place, and have time to sit on the porch and watch the mountains turn gold as the sun drops. If you want, you can help cook dinner with them, or walk to the small bar nearby where other trekkers gather. The bungalow is simple (no frills, no hot water necessarily), but it's real, and that's the point.

The last morning starts with breakfast the family makes, and then a final 3-kilometer trek through bamboo forest and rice paddies to Giang Ta Chai, the red Dzao village, where you get a long view of everything you've walked through. By 11am you're back on the main road, lunch by noon, and the bus picks you up to return to Sapa. You have time to shower and rest at the hotel before the afternoon departure back to Hanoi. The drive takes about six hours with two rest stops, and you're dropped at your hotel by 9pm. The whole thing (three days, two nights, all the trekking, the homestay, the meals, the guide) costs less than the night train option, and you actually see the mountains instead of sleeping through them.

What’s included

Your three days include pickup and drop-off at your Hanoi hotel in the Hoan Kiem district, round-trip air-conditioned bus transport to and from Sapa, one night in a 3-star hotel room in Sapa (twin sharing), one night in a basic bungalow in Ta Van Village with a Dzay family, all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day), entrance fees to all villages and attractions, an English-speaking local guide for all treks, two bottles of water per person on each bus journey, and 24/7 hotline support. You'll need to arrange your own transport to the pickup point and provide your hotel address and contact details when you book.

Options for this experience

2 options

Sleeper bus transferGuide in English · 06:00 and 06:30Transfer from Hanoi: a modern, air-conditioned sleeper bus with a comfortable bed, running from Hanoi to Sapa and back. Pick up and drop off in Hanoi: choose this option if you are departing from Hanoi. Finish the trip: you can also end your trip in Sapa. Pickup is included.

Luxury limousine transfer by carGuide in English · 06:00, 06:30 and 07:00Luxury limousine D-car transfer: a morning departure from Hanoi to Sapa with the return trip. Shared Sapa limousine: the best choice for the Hanoi–Sapa route, saving passengers time and money. This luxury limousine brings you distinctive experiences on a long journey to one of Vietnam's most loved destinations. Finish the trip: you can also end your trip in Sapa. 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 dayDepartures at 06:00, 06:30 and 07:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

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?Right for travelers based in Hanoi with 3 days to spare who want to trek and sleep in a village without the cost and fatigue of a night train. Expect a full schedule (you're walking or traveling most of each day), which is what lets you cover the mountains and stay with a local family instead of just passing through.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 7 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.

What's the difference between the homestay and the hotel night?

The homestay in Ta Van Village is a basic bungalow run by a Dzay family: no frills, but you eat with them and experience village life. The hotel night in Sapa is a standard 3-star room with normal amenities.

How difficult is the trekking?

The trek is moderate. Day one is 3.5 kilometers over 2 hours; day two is 12 kilometers over 4 hours; day three is 3 kilometers over 3.5 hours. It's suitable for all fitness levels, but you need proper trekking shoes and should be prepared for steep terrain and altitude.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes hotel and bungalow accommodation, all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day), entrance fees, an English-speaking local guide, modern air-conditioned bus transport from Hanoi, and water on the bus. You arrange your own transport to the pickup point in Hoan Kiem.

When is the best time to go?

September through March is ideal. The weather is cooler and clearer. December through March can be foggy, so visibility for photos may be limited. Bring warm clothes and layers regardless of season.

Can I end the tour in Sapa instead of returning to Hanoi?

Yes, you can finish the trip in Sapa if you prefer. Arrange this with the operator when you book.

What should I bring?

Trekking shoes, warm clothes, a hat and scarf, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, and any personal medicine. Bring cash in Vietnamese Dong. The banking system in Sapa is unreliable. US dollars and euros are accepted in town.

Is there a guide with the group the whole time?

Yes, an English-speaking local guide leads the treks and stays with the group throughout the three days.

Can I store luggage while trekking?

Yes, you can leave your luggage on the bus, and the company will transfer it to the village during the trek so it's waiting when you arrive.

What if I have dietary requirements?

Inform the operator in advance if you're vegetarian or have special food needs, and they'll arrange meals accordingly with the families and hotel.

What time does the tour end in Hanoi?

The bus arrives back at your Hanoi hotel around 9pm on day three. You'll be given the exact pickup time 1-2 days before the tour starts.