WHAT CAN YOU DO IN SAPA WITH KIDS?
Located in the Northwest of Vietnam, Sapa is famous for its fresh atmosphere, spectacular terraced green/yellow rice paddy fields and the diversity of the ethnic groups residing here. This mountainous city is a ideal destination for those loving adventure activities such as trekking or hiking or for those loving traditional culture. Being home to the villages of the eight distinct ethnic groups such as Tay, Dzao, H’mong, Muong, Thai, Hoa and Xa Pho, this land is also famous for some unique festivals sich as “Roong Pooc Festival” of Dzay hill tribe in Ta Van Village, “Sai San” (Gau Tao) Festival of Hmong population, “Tet Nhay” of the Red Dzao ethnic group. About 320 kilometers from Hanoi, to get to Sapa, visitors can take a night train or a coach with an approximate duration of 6-7 hours.
What about you? Are you considering travelling Sapa with kids in the near future? Don’t you know what your family can do in Sapa? Don’t worry, in this post, Viet Prestige Travel will suggest you a list of activities that you should not miss out on a family vacation with kids, toddlers, or babies once coming to Sapa – Vietnam’s natural treasure. Children will have fun, learn new things, get good food and communicate with the locals. Let’s explore now!
Table of Contents
I. TAKE A VISIT TO SAPA’S TOP ATTRACTIONS
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1. Fansipan Mountain This summit attracts many climbers and trekking experts to Sapa for its impressive panoramic landscapes. At about 3,143 meters high, Fansipan is the highest mountain in Vietnam and is considered as the roof of Indochina. Although from Sapa to the top there are only about 20 km, the climb is tough and it can take about two days and one night to reach it, but it will become an unforgettable experience of the Vietnam circuit. |
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2. Ham Rong Mountain About 3 km from the center of Sapa, travelers love to hike to Ham Rong mountain to enjoy a fresh atmosphere and a panoramic view of Muong Hoa valley and Ta Phin village hidden in the smog. Walking along the mountain of Ham Rong, it seems to be in a wonderland that includes the cloud floor, the stone garden, the garden of medicinal plants, in particular the garden of different orchids and specific houses on stilts of ethnic minorities. |
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3. Notre Dame Cathedral Sapa (Sapa Stone Church) Located in the heart of Sapa Town and built in the early 20th century by the French, Sa Pa stone church (the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary) is famous for its unique architecture. All have the shape of the pyramid to make the work elegant, soaring. The entire church is built of stone and linked together by a mixture of limestone, sand, molasses. |
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4. Sapa Lake The best way to get a feel of this H’Mong-dominated region is walking around Sapa Town and take a breath at Sapa Lake. These areas are lined with coffee shop, restaurants, hotels and other shops. You can have a breakfast with pho, bun (noodles), breads, etc and then drink coffee while wandering around the lake. Moreover, your family may rent duck paddle boats on the lake, which make your kids so excited! |
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5. Ta Phin Village Located about 17 km west of Sapa, Ta Phin is home to Red Dzao Ethnic Minority Group which has a rich culture that has not been damaged by modern life. Since 1998, Ta Phin has officially become the “city of brocade”, where tourists can find handmade brocades from ethnic people. Your family is impressed with products with numerous bright colors and patterns, from bags, scarves, bags, skirts and even backpacks and coats. |
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6. Cat Cat Village Located on the slope of the Muong Hoa Valley, Cat Cat is a lovely village with peaceful views and distinctive customs and practices of the H’Mong ethnic tribe. It is from the city of Sapa about 3 km and it takes 45 minutes to walk here. Coming here, your family will see young women sitting on frames with colored brocade pieces decorated with drawings of flowers and birds. |
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7. Ta Van Village Located in Muong Hoa Valley, Ta Van Village is home to H’mong, Dzay and Red Dzao ethnic group. Their stilt houses are dotted in the green rice and wheat fields. Ta Van culture was based on the habits and characteristics of the Dzay ethnic group, which is known for the rice growing, musical instrument and silver production sectors record. |
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8. Muong Hoa Valley Muong Hoa Valley is one of the most iconic scenarios in the region. Coming here, your family could take a walk, go trekking or hiking through the rice fields. Coming in the ripping season, when Muong Hoa space is covered with a golden color that visitors can not help admiring. |
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9. Ban Pho Village This is a mountainous commune of Bac Ha district, offering amazing natural landscapes. Ethnic people in Ban Pho Village live mainly on rice cultivation, weaving cotton and linen, and cultivation of medicinal plants. Especially, Ban Pho is famous for corn wine. |
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10. Love Waterfall Once traveling Sapa with kids, your family should not miss Love Waterfall. It takes your family about more than 15 minutes to the southwest of Sapa town to the romantic Love Waterfall. On the way, your kids have a chance of exploring the beauty of the pristine mountains surrounded by forests. The legend behind the Love Waterfall is so amazing, too. Once upon a time, fairies sometime came to the waterfall for bathing. One day, a fairy heard the flute sound from a boy and fell in love with him. So she came to the waterfall everyday to listen to his flute. Unfortunately, this love is forbidden and at the time her parent found out, she was prevented from coming back to the waterfall. The fairy was heartbroken and then she transformed herself into a bird to live with the young boy. Then, the waterfall was called Love Waterfall. The entrance fee for this waterfall is about 75,000 Vietnamdong ($3.25 US Dollar) per person. From the entrance, you need to walk through the forest for about 30 minutes to reach the waterfalls. The scenery along the way get more and more spectacular before you reach the majestic 100-meter-tall Love Waterfall. |
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11. Silver Waterfall Located about 14 kilometers from Sapa Center, a motorbike ride of your family will last about 40 minutes. With a height of approximately 100 meters and formed by sources of water from Lo Sui Tong Mountain Peak, the waterfall looks like a giant white dragon looking down from the sky. At the foot of the waterfall, the vast heaven and earth and the majestic mountains will come into your sight. The entrance fee is 20,000 Vietnam dong (~$1 US Dollar). |
II. JOIN ONE OF THE BEST TREKKING ROUTES IN SAPA WITH KIDS
With the spectacular terraced rice paddy fields dotted with the stilt-houses of the ethnic minority people, trekking to some hill tribes of Sapa is a must-do activity for your family in Sapa. Here are some suggested routes for you and your kids:
1. Sapa Town to Cat Cat Village Trekking Route
Muong Hoa Valley, Sapa
It’s quite easy for your family to pass through 3 kilometeres (1.8 miles) from Sapa Town to Cat Cat Village. By following the “Cat Cat Trail”, your family will weave your way down to the bottom of Muong Hoa Valley where Cat Cat Village sits. Although this trail is a paved road, it’s quite steep and exhausting. On the rainy day, the road can be muddy and very slippery, therefore, your family should be careful. Experiencing the local life in Cat Cat Village is an interesting thing that you should try.
2. Cat Cat Village – Y Linh Ho Village Trekking Route
In the morning, trek from Sapa Town to Cat Cat Village and pay a visit to the stunning waterfall and a hydroelectric station in Cat Cat Village. After taking a short break, continue your family’s trekking route on a dirt trail through the splendid terraced rice paddy fields to Y Linh Ho Village. This land is home to both of Dzay and Black H’mong communities.Local people are so friendly and hospitable, therefore, they would love to help you to learn about their traditional culture and customs. You and your kids have chances of experiencing some daily activities such as weaving textiles and fabric. To encourage the villagers’ traditional craft, your family is suggested to buy local product like embroidering cushion, ethnic instruments, brocade scarves, etc. for souvenirs.
Family Trekking through Rice Paddy Fields to Y Linh Ho Village
While walking along the path leading into the village, your family will be immersed in the fresh air and peaceful atmosphere as well as overwhelmed by astounding valley lying between hills dotted with small H’Mong’s wooden and bamboo houses.
3. Y Linh Ho Village – Lao Chai Village – Ta Van Village Trekking Route
After a hearty breakfast in Y Linh Ho Village, a guide will lead your family to trek down to Lao Chai Village, which means “Old Village” in the local dialect. Hidden in Muong Hoa Valley alongside the river and surrounded by mountains, this picturesque village is home of both the Black H’mong and Dzay individuals. You will be excited when seeing locals in the colorful outfits. While the Dzay often wear simple clothing with vibrant color, the Black H’mong looks more outstanding with more embroidery and ornamentation. These hospitable locals is willing to show you about their culture and special customs, including some daily activities such as weaving textiles and fabric. The best time to visit Lao Chai is in the harvesting season from September to April. The village is decorated with the wonderful yellow terraced rice paddy fields.
Lao Chai And Ta Van Village Family Trekking
Continue your trekking journey to Ta Van Village which possesses a rich culture and beautiful wooden houses of Dzay people nestled by various rice paddy fields. Dzay is a fairly small minority group of about 38,000 people living mainly in the mountains in Northwest Vietnam. The crew will trek through the paddy fields, stop at the viewpoint to admire the beauty of the mother nature including mountain, stream, terraced rice fields and colorful costumes of local people. Then, your family will pass by the village markets and Ta Van Bridge. If travelling between May and October, you will have chance of observing and experiencing how the locals plant a new rice season in Muong Hoa Valley. Moreover, your family will learn about how to cultivate the rice, from when the seed sowed to harvested, and then until being served as cooked rice on the dinner table; or observe how locals make traditional clothes, handicraft, indigo, etc. Experiencing the local life with Dzay people will become the memorable moments of your family!
4. Lao Chai Village – Ta Van Village – Giang Ta Chai Village Trekking Route
This trekking tour will start in Lao Chai Village, which is about 7 kilometers away from Sapa Town. Your family will pass through Ta Van Village – the village of Dzay and Dzao. After crossing the wooden bridge over Muong Hoa Stream connecting Ta Van village to other ones, you will have chances of meeting Dzay community. Travelling at the Dzay’s wedding season (from mid-November to December), it’s so amazing to see the locals in colorful traditional wedding customs.
Let’s trek a bit further upon the hill to meet Dzao Community, who earn their living mainly on farming and tourism service. They leave home and do farming at dawn, get back at sunset and entertain at night. You can spend an overnight at homestay in Ta Van to fully experience the true spirit. Everyone including locals and customers will gather around a huge bonfire for admiring a musical show of bamboo dancing, fan dancing and multi bamboo flute dancing. You and your kids can also take part in the show by learning from the locals. They are always welcome you to join.
Friendly Local Kids in Giang Ta Chai Village
The next stop is in Giang Ta Chai Village, which is located at the opposite side to Muong Hoa stream. Like other view spots in Sapa, visitors can admire the gorgeous picture of mountains, stream and terraced rice paddy fields. This village is home to Red Dzao Community Group, the second biggest group of minorities in Sapa, Vietnam. They are easily recognized by the outstanding traditional costumes, which are mafe from natural materials. Meeting the locals, you can experience their life style through their handicrafts, traditional dances and folk songs.
RECOMMENDED TOURS FOR FAMILY IN SAPA
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III. OVERNIGHT AT BEST LOCAL HOMESTAYS IN SAPA
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Located on the edge of Muong Hoa River, and next to terraced rice paddy fields, Ta Van Riverside Ecolodge offers your family a great views of nature. All of rooms are decorated with traditional decoration. Address: Ta Van Dzay II Village, Ta Van Commune Services: Free Wifi connection. Family Rooms. Restaurant. |
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The homestay is located outside of Sa Pa in the village of Su Pan with beautiful scenery of the valley. Your kids will have chances of communicating to locals kids of Rainbow Class. Address: Giang Ta Chai Mong Village, Sapa District Services: Free Wifi connection. Non-smoking Family Rooms. |
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Located in Dzay Village, between Ta Van and Giang Ta Chai Village. Your family can join cooking class with locals in the morning and learn how to cultivate rice in the paddy fields. Address: Ta Van Dzay 2 Hamlet, Ta Van Commune, Sapa. Services: Free Wifi connection. Family Rooms. Restaurant. Bar. |
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IV. OVERNIGHT AT TOP BEST HOTELS IN SAPA
1. 3-STAR SAPA HOTELS
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Located in Sapa. The hotel offers a selection of cozy rooms and suites with free WiFi, a restaurant and a 24-hour reception. Address : N.1A, via Thac Bac, Sapa, Vietnam Services : Car rental. 24-hour reception . Non-smoking rooms. |
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Located in Sapa. The hotel offers a selection of cozy rooms and suites with free WiFi, a restaurant and a 24-hour reception. Address : 034 via Cau May, Sapa, Vietnam Services : Free Wifi connection. Fitness center. Restaurant. Non-smoking rooms. |
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2. 4-STAR SAPA HOTELS
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The hotel is an excellent choice to rest and recover energy. The hotel offers a selection of cozy rooms and suites with free WiFi, a restaurant and a spa. Address : Xuan Vien Street, Sapa, Vietnam Services : Free Wifi connection. Fitness center. Restaurant. Non-smoking rooms. Spa. Swimming pool. Babysitting service. Tennis court. |
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With spectacular mountain views, the hotel offers modern accommodation with a rooftop pool and spa. Address : Dong Loi Street, Sapa, Vietnam. Services : Free Wifi connection. Fitness center. Spa. Heated swimming pool. Non-smoking rooms. |
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3. 5-STAR SAPA HOTELS
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The hotel is a great choice for tourists in Sapa. Silk Path Grand Resort & Spa with spectacular views and luxurious surroundings offers a selection of cozy rooms and suites with free WiFi, a restaurant and a spa. Address : Doi Quan 6, Group 10 next on Thac Bac route, Sapa, Vietnam Services : Free Wifi connection. Fitness center. Restaurant. Non-smoking rooms. Spa. Swimming pool. |
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Located in an ideal destination close to some main tourist points, the hotel offers a selection of cozy rooms and suites with free Wi-Fi, a restaurant and a 24-hour reception. Address : Muong Hoa Street, Sapa, Vietnam. Services : Free Wifi connection. Fitness center. Restaurant. Non-smoking rooms. Spa. Swimming pool. Bar. Babysitting service. |
4. SAPA’S ACCOMMODATION WITH INFINITY POOL FOR KIDS
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At Sapa Clay House – Mountain Retreat, every room includes a patio with a mountain view. There is a number of amenities including a garden, a bar and a shared lounge. Address: Lao Chai – Y Linh Ho Village, Sapa, Lao Cai Services: Free Wifi. Infinity swimming pool. Spa. Bar |
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Located on Muong Hoa Street, the hotel offers a selection of cozy rooms and suites with free WiFi, a wonderful mountain panorama, a restaurant and a 24-hour reception. Address : N.18 via Muong Hoa Street, Sapa, Vietnam Services : Free Wifi connection. Shared bathroom. Bar. Non-smoking rooms. Infinity swimming pool. |
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Located in Sapa, the hotel with a luxury environment and a variety of services ideal for travelers, this accommodation offers the best comforts and excellent value for money. Address : N.29, Thac Bac Street, Sapa Town, Vietnam Services : Free Wifi connection. Fitness center. Restaurant. Non-smoking rooms. Spa. Infinity swimming pool. |
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Lying within the boundaries and overlooking valleys of the Hoang Lien National Park, Topas Ecolodge is a quaint and charming mountain property where guests can freely mingle with the ethnic villagers. Address: N.24 Muong Hoa Street, Sapa Town, Lao Cai Services: Free Wifi. Spa. Restaurant. Infinity Swimming Pool. Non-smoking Room. Bar. |
IV. TASTE THE LOCAL FOOD WITH KIDS IN SAPA’S BEST RESTAURANTS
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1. Red Dzao Restaurant Located in the heart of the town of Sapa, the Red Dao House restaurant is a fascinating traditional wooden house on stilts of the Red Dao hill briber in the North West mountain of Vietnam. It is much more than a restaurant; it’s a wonderful dining experience. Opening hours: 7.30 am – 10.00 pm Address: No 4b, Thac Bac Street, Sapa Town |
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2. VietTrekking Restaurant In addition to the exquisite dishes, the restaurant also offers a wonderful panorama of the mountain. The restaurant menu is a combination of traditional dishes and fast food with natural ingredients from Sapa. Opening hours : 6.00 am – 11.00 pm Address : 33 Hoang Lien, Sapa |
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3. Little View Restaurant The salmon stew of the Little View restaurant is highly appreciated for the flavor, freshness and goodness of the ingredients, in particular salmon and spices, herbs as broth. This is one of Sapa’s delicious restaurants and also a Sapa coffee shop that invests in the interior. Little View is at the same time lively, clean and bold with a local cultural identity. Both domestic and foreign tourists love the culinary space of this restaurant. Opening hours : 8.15 am – 10.15 pm Address : 42 alley of Cau May, Sapa, Lao Cai |
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4. 1991 French Bistro Restaurant Located in the center of Sapa, the restaurant is easy to reach. The restaurant offers several all classic and modern ones. The menu is combined with Italian, French, etc. The restaurant is also a bar where you can get Vietnam coffee. Opening hours : 6.15 pm – 9.30 pm Address : 35 Xuan Vien, Sapa |
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5. Ta Van Restaurant If you are a vegetarian, the Ta Van restaurant is the right choice for you. The restaurant offers special dishes for vegetarians as well as normal dishes from Vietnamese and even European cuisine. Opening hours : 6.30 am – 10.00 pm Address: via Xuan Vien, Sapa |
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V. TOP ACTIVITIES IN SAPA WITH KIDS
1. Conquer the Highest Mountain in Indochina – Fansipan
One of the most prominent activities for family in Sapa is conquering Fan Si Pan Mountain. With the height of 3143 meters above the sea, this is the highest mountain in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Therefore, it’s named as “the roof of Indochina”.
Conquering Fansipan Peak With Kids In Sapa
There are some ways for your family to reach Fan Si Pan Peak, for example, go trekking or take a ride on cable car.
Although it’s about 10 kilometers away from Sapa town, but the trek is not easy. There are a few trekking routes (depending on your desired level of adventure, fitness and time) for your family to consider: easy, medium and difficult one. On the trekking way, you may come across the paved steps, ladders, and clear paths; but in the more difficult routes, some dangerous steep climbs may become the obstacles to your family.
a. Easy Fansipan Trekking Route
With the easy route beginning at Tram Tron, your family must spend about 10 hours to be on the summit. Therefore, your family can finish this 11-kilometer-route in one day. This route is mostly chosen by tourists, so you will probably meet others on the way and at the pit stops.
b. Medium Fansipan Trekking Route
This route begins at San Sa, then crosses through Ban Sin Chai to the summit. The total trail of the route is shorter, about nine kilometers, but it’s quite hard to pass through and you can get lost if you don’t follow the local guide.
c. Difficult Fansipan Trekking Route
To take the most difficult as well as the longest trail, your family needs to start at Cat Cat Village. It is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the starting point to the summit and you have to spend at least three days to complete it. Although many difficulties may make you tired, you will be rewarded with spectacular views.
Most of Fansipan is covered by dense forests, therefore, it gets hot and humid during the day but significantly drops the temperature after sunset. That is the reason why you need to pack your back carefully to survive in any situation.
d. Reach Fansipan by Cable Car with Kids
However, if your kids are too small to endure 2 days trekking up to the mountain, your family can choose to explore Fan Si Pan by newly built cable car with the cost about 600,000 VND ($26). A two (or three)-day journey in the forest will be compressed into 20 minutes on the middle of the sky. The cables run from Muong Hoa Valley up to the final station on the mountain. Sitting on the cable, the spectacular views of rice paddy fields in Muong Hoa Valley will come into your sight. Once arrival to the last station, there are 600 more stairs that your family has to climb. Your little members does not love climbing? Don’t worry as there is a tram system to take you up. The price for the additional tram is 100,000 VND (about $4).
Cable Car to Fansipan With Kids
In spite of which way or route that you choose, you can visit Fansipan Legend Spiritual Culture Complex on the way to the summit. This complex consists of spiritual system ranging from 2,900 meter to over 3,000 meters. These buildings were built in the style of Vietnamese ancient pagoda architecture, for example, Bao An Zen Monastery, Bich Van Zen Monastery and Kim Son Bao Thang Pagoda. Moreover, your family will also meets other spiritual destinations such as Amida Buddha Statue, avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Sacred Tower, Caodaist Vistula and Arhat Road along the mountain side. Especially, your family will be lost in the heaven especially when the sun rises and the cloud appears.
From the summit of Fansipan, you will catch the peaceful and spectacular views of mountains surrounded by clouds and forest of Hoang Lien Son National Park – another attraction in Sapa. The park includes several mountains and forests, and becomes the habitat for a diverse set of animals. Some species are only found in Northwest Vietnam and are highly endangered.
2. Experience the traditional life in Cat Cat Village
a. Visit H’mong HousesWhen wandering around the village, there are lots of traditional H’mong houses with unique architecture. Each of them has three rooms with three doors, and the roof is made of Pomu wood which is not deteriorated by water and is not attacked by insects. The special thing is, the main door is always closed and only opened for large events or significant ceremonies like weddings, funerals, Tet holiday, and Chinese New Year. |
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b. Learn about Traditional Culture and PracticesCat Cat Villagers are excellently good at weaving, silver carving, making cotton, linen, tools and jewelry. At the center house, your family can directly watch how hard-working H’mong women make traditional handicraft products. There are four main colors of brocade made by H’mong tribe – blue, red, white and yellow under many patterns and shapes with a special dying technique from forest leaves and ash. |
c. Enjoy Folk PerformanceYour family can enjoy H’mong tribe performance in the center house near Cat Cat Waterfall. The cultural performances consists of the fan dance, folk singing and pipe singing. |
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d. Observe Giant Bamboo Water MillsOne of the most interesting sights that everyone wants to check-in is giant bamboo water mills. These mills are generated by the power of flowing water. Thanks to the fast-flowing of water power, the water wheels can bring water to pound rice, corn and other crops. The giant water mill, the rustic cottages, the tottery bamboo bridge on the rolling waterfall, the wooden swing will make your family not want to leave. |
e. Go Shopping around the Village and Talk to the LocalsWhen walking through the village, your family can make a halt at Cat Cat Market for purchasing souvenirs or handmade items to bring back home. There are many shops on the both sides of the main pathway, selling a wide range of local products such as dry and fresh food, handicrafts, clothing, jewelry such as necklace, bracelet and rings made from silver, bronze and aluminum. You can make some bargains with friendly locals. Some of them can speak English fluently and might even invite you to visit their home. |
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f. Wear H’mong Ethnic ClothesThe most interested thing here is that your family members can try on a traditional costumes of hill tribes such as H’mong, Dzao, Ha Nhi, etc. That makes your family turn into the locals and get on well with their daily life. The costumes can be rented at the entrance with the approximate price of 50,000 to 100,000 Vietnam dong per set. It’s well noted that you check the clothes carefully before renting to ensure that they are not damages and no problems happens when returning them. |
g. Taste the Local Food and WineYour family can taste the local food in many cafes and restaurants inside the village such as Thang Co – typical dish made from the meat of cattle such as horses, cows, goats and buffaloes. Enjoying this dish with a cup of corn wine (Happy Water) is the best. This wine is made from corns, which are boiled in hot water for a long time until the seeds break out of the cob. Then, the local will mix the broken grains with yeast. The fermentation process of the corn wine will happen in 6 days. After that period, it can be served and sold in the market for low price. |
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h. Observe Pulling Wife Customs“Pulling wife” customs is a special custom of hill tribes in Sapa. If a man falls in love with a woman, with the help from his friends, the woman will be lured and pulled to his house and kept there in 3 days. During these days, if the woman agrees to become his wife, they will held a wedding party. However, if she does not like him, they will enjoy a glass of wine together to become friend and she can happily go home after the time of 3 days. |
3. Go Shopping at Local Markets around Sapa Town
A visit to Sapa will be not complete without shopping around this blissful land. Let’s spend some hours on wandering around the Sapa market and talking to the locals about their traditions. In the town square, there are lots of stalls along the road. Your family can communicate with them in English and other languages as they learn by themselves from the tourists.
Local markets in Sapa is open all week, but the main Sapa Market or Sapa Love Market usually happens in every Saturday. H’mong and Dzao people in the surrounding will gather and meet others every week to exchange and purchase a wide range of goods and local products.Many stalls along the stone stairs sell flowers, fresh products, groceries and food, and little workshops on the second floor offer ethnic fabrics. Your family has chance of trying fresh mountain fruits like apricot, peach, plum and pear; or buy some local products like embroidered handbags, skirts, blankets, table covers, pillow shams with unique patterns as souvenir for relatives and friends. Don’t forget to enjoy grilled food in Ham Rong Grill Food Street next to the Stone Church. Grilled food in Vietnam is quite popular, but eating them in Sapa is totally different and unmistakable. The grilled vegetable and meat mixed with the fresh herbs in the clean and cold climate will give you the unforgettable flavors.
Go Shopping at a Local Market in Sapa Town
In Sapa Love market, the women wear red scarves and colorful embroidered costumes with silver rings and small coins attached shoulder shirt. Moreover, all of the ethnic young women and young men will come here to meet, sing and dance together to find a partner through the love songs with flute, horn or other local musical instruments.
4. Visit Other Markets nearby Sapa with Kids
a. Bac Ha Market
Located about 100 kilometers from Sapa Town, it takes your family about 2 hours or more to transfer from Sapa Town to Bac Ha Market – the biggest market of minority people near the mountainous highlands and the Chinese border. Held only on every Sunday, this market is famous for its traditional trading culture between different of minority groups, especially Dzao and H’mong people. On the market days, your family can see that all the path ways and mountain roads are full of people.
Bac Ha Market is held not only for buying and selling; but also for cultural and sentiment exchange. The locals from other surrounding hill tribes such as Red H’mong, Black H’mong, Tay, Nung, Black Dzao, Dzay, La Chi, Phu La, etc. will gather at the market for trading local products, for example, souvenirs, handicrafts, clothes, food and animals like buffaloes, pigs, chickens, ducks, cows and even dogs. Bac Ha dogs is very famous and is one of the three breeds of Vietnamese native dog. This breed has different hair colors such as black, gold, white, black, gray and brindle. They are often tall, have fuzzy and beautiful mane.
At the fair, you can try Thắng Cố – a H’mong’s famous traditional food made from horse meat. Locals usually gather together and eat this special dish while drinking wine for the best taste. When tasting it, your family members will be surprised by the taste of well-cooked horse meat dipped in special seasoning from many kinds of herbs. Visiting Bac Ha Market will be an interesting activities for your family in Sapa.
b. Can Cau Market
Approximately 120 kilometers far from dreamy Sapa Town, Can Cau maket is situated in Can Cau Commune, Si Ma Cai District and is held by Flower H’mong and Dzay hill tribes. With more than 1 hectare in square, this market is divided into two main areas: the local products area and the cattle one. The local products area has five more sectors. Three of them are colorfully decorated with vegetables, herbs, fabrics, clothes, brocades, embroideries, etc. while the other two provide with daily household appliances like pans, flashlights, light bulbs, etc.
What makes this market become special to visitors, especially foreigners, is that the cattle area with hundreds of cattle. Can Cau Market is also named as a buffalo market because of a large number of buffaloes. For local people, these buffaloes takes an indispensable part in their farming life. On every Saturday, they will go to the market to buy the best breeds for better serve their farm work. The locals not only sell buffaloes, but also offer cows, donkeys, dogs, birds, chickens and horses. Coming to Can Cau Market, your family should try some special dishes such as vermicelli, pho, triumphs, banh cuon (steamed-sticky rice), corn cakes, and donuts.
c. Muong Hum MarketIf you want to get away from the crowds, Muong Hum Market is a great choice for you. It’s about 45 kilometers to the North West of Sapa Town. Like Bac Ha Market, it’s only held on every Sunday. The hill tribes of Flower H’mong, Blue H’mong, Black H’mong, Red Dzao, Dzay, Ha Nhi, Tu Di wearing colorful and unique traditional costumes will come to the market for exchanging homemade products, chatting, meeting or even dating with each other. Stopping at a restaurant in Muong Hum, your family will have a chance of trying horse meat fried with onion, and pig entrails with mint leaves.
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d. Cao Son MarketTo reach small sized Cao Son Market, your family must spend nearly 3 hours to drive from Sapa. Or you can choose to get there by tours on Chay River in order to enjoy the romantic and poetic landscape. Early in the every Wednesday, locals from H’mong, Dzao, Black Han and Phu La Hill Tribes of the four largest villages of Muong Khuong District will come to the market in group, in pairs or one by one. They usually ride horses or motorbike to pack the goods. There are many kinds of products in several stalls. Local women will sell vegetables, herbs, furgus, shiitakes, household appliances, jewelry, silver, corn alcohol, upland rice, etc. Moreover, your family will be interested in the outstanding stalls selling colorful sophisticated brocade fabric with exquisite patterns. Talking, sharing and learning more about the local daily life of the ethnic minorities residing along the Chay River.
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e. Binh Lu MarketPassing through the Tram Ton pass – the highest mountain pass in Vietnam, about 1900 meter above the sea, your family will catch amazing tribal markets in Binh Lu town.Many Tai Kra-dai language groups has lived here for a long time such as Flower H’mong, Red Dzao, Black Dzao, Coin Dzao, Lao, Lu, Dzay, Phu La, Nung, etc. Every Sunday, from 8 a.m to 1 p.m, they will gather at the market for buying and selling their own products. Their amazing fabric shows their skillfulness in growing flax, making thread, dying, weaving and embroidering.
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f. Muong Khuong MarketMuong Khuong Market is the biggest local market in Muong Khuong District, which is about 50 kilometers from Lao Cai and 90 kilometers from Sapa. If Bac Ha Market is named as horse market, Can Cau Market is named as buffalo market, this market is named as Chinese hwamei market. Every Sunday, at the corner of the market, the local men will bring a wide range of bird species to the market for trading. |
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If you have been contemplating to take a family trip to Sapa, then wait no more! Beside 7 things to do in Sapa with kids that we offer you above, more activities welcomes your family such as join a cooking class from a H’mong chef to cook five local dishes at the Hill Station, watch the Ta Phin commune church singing, join a H’mong sewing class at Indigo Cat, or visit some museums in Sapa. With its marvelous landscapes as well as its diverse hill tribe cultures, your family trip to Sapa will become memorable moments in your lifetime!!! After reading this post, if you still consider what to do, let’s contact to us via sales@vietnamholidayfamily.com or Whatsapp +84-985-767-599. Viet Prestige Travel will offer you and your children the best Sapa family tours.
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We booked a Cambodia-Thailand 13 day holiday package through Viet Tour. It was one of the most amazing Southeast Asia trip to my family. Viet travel Consultant Thao Nguyen guided us with her superlative professionalism. Extremely reciprocative and spot on to the real time info. Probably one of the best tour and travel consultant I encountered so far. We have plan to make further tours in South East Asia and will certainly rely on Viet. Simply one stop shop with high value for money.
Miss Loan the tour operator took us out for an evening meal when in Hanoi, she had been extremely helpful throughout the whole process, particularly as this was our first visit to the area. Then on to Ha Long Bay on an incredible cruise with Ginger Cruise with high quality dinning and wonderful decor in the cabins. I would strongly recommend Viet Prestige Travel to anyone who is looking to visit this part of the world with a bespoke agenda.
Had 10 days vietnam holiday as arranged by viet prestige travel with the help of Mr.Tuan. It was the most memorable vacation, it was very organized from the hotels, transportation and my itinerary was exceptional. I definitely will have my another holiday to be arranged by them.Great thanks to Mr.Tuan who assisted me from the time I arrived in the airport until I left the country.
Our organisor at Viet Prestige (Hoa Pham) was brilliant from start to finish. She designed and arranged our 15 day tour through Vietnam & Cambodia and our expectations were exceeded in every way. She was always in contact before (and during) the trip to ensure everything was going smoothly and also went far and beyond the call of duty when my wife left her coat in a minibus coming back from Halong Bay. Although it was a Sunday afternoon and we were due to leave for the airport in 45 minutes, on her day off, Hoa not only tracked down the driver and found the coat but managed to get this delivered to us within the hour as we were in transit going to the airport! Wonderful service and support. I can highly recommend Viet Prestige and especially Hoa, who ensured everything went to plan.
I contacted Thao Dinh at Viet Prestige travel to organise a private tour from North to South Vietnam for 17 days for the two of us. Thao was amazing, she listened to what we wanted, made great suggestions re what level of accommodation we should look at in each city. We had a private driver and private tour guides who were extremely flexible when we wanted to change our sightseeing around. Thao, Organised a cookery course, put us on the most amazing boat to cruise around Halong Bay (a definite must). Was contactable throughout the tour. I was so delighted that I have recommended her to all my friends.
Mrs. Thao Dinh
Sales Executive
From TripAdvisor: “…Viet Prestige did all of the arrangements. Thao Dinh was so thoughtful and her attention to detail was impeccable. She’s a delightful lady….”
Mrs. Hoa Pham
Sales Executive
From TripAdvisor: “…Hoa is very responsive and knowledgeable. She listened well, was responsive to our desires, and made many wonderful suggestions….”
Mr. Duc Tuan
Travel Consultant
From TripAdvisor: “…Mr.Tuan Truong our travel consultant was most helpful organizing the tour. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Viet Prestige Travel…”
Ms. Loan Vuong
Travel Consultant
From TripAdvisor: “…I must comment that Loan was a very helpful & informative agent. She helped us to plan our entire trip…”
Ms. Thao Nguyen
Travel Consultant
From TripAdvisor: “…Viet travel Consultant Thao Nguyen guided us with her superlative professionalism. Extremely reciprocative …”
