Lao Cai
2 days, 1 night
AH-LC26
4/10
$109 USD
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WHY THIS TOUR?

This tour is a perfect choice for travelers who want to experience the most vibrant cultural side of Bac Ha in just one weekend. It combines two of the region’s most attractive highlights - the colorful Can Cau Saturday Market and the lively Bac Ha Sunday Market - with authentic village visits, local food, a traditional Tay homestay, and a scenic boat trip on the Chay River. With its rich ethnic atmosphere, beautiful mountain landscapes, and meaningful encounters with local communities, this is an ideal trip for guests who want a deeper and more memorable experience in northern Vietnam.

Highlights

  • Explore the colorful Can Cau Market on Saturday
  • Visit Ban Pho Village of the Nung and Flower H’mong people
  • Taste local corn wine in a village house
  • Stay overnight at a Tay homestay
  • Visit the old castle of the former H’mong King
  • Discover the lively Bac Ha Sunday Market
  • Visit Trung Do Village of the Tay people
  • Enjoy a scenic boat trip on the Chay River
SUMMARY

  • Departure Point: Lao Cai

  • Duration: 2 days, 1 night

  • Destination: Lao Cai

  • Activities: Special Interest

  • Min : 2 people

  • Best time: Year-round

  • Max : 20 people

  • Difficulty level: 4/10

ITINERARY
Day 1 (Saturday): Lao Cai – Bac Ha – Can Cau – Bac Ha

Upon arrival at Lao Cai Station, meet your local guide and driver, then transfer to a local restaurant for breakfast (optional).

After breakfast, begin the drive to Can Cau Market. The road is relatively flat from Lao Cai to Bao Nhai Bridge. After crossing the bridge, the road starts climbing uphill, offering beautiful views over the valleys.

Located about 20 km from Bac Ha, Can Cau Market is a small but very colorful market that opens only on Saturdays. It is especially known for the striking traditional costumes of the Flower H’mong, Black Dao, and Phu La people. Spend the whole morning exploring the market and enjoying its lively atmosphere.

After the market visit, continue to Bac Ha Town for lunch.

In the afternoon, take a walk to Ban Pho Village, a small village inhabited by the Nung and Flower H’mong people. The villagers grow vegetables and fruit trees, especially plums, one of the best-known local products. Visit a local house and enjoy a cup of corn wine, another specialty of the village.

Later in the afternoon, return to Bac Ha and check in at a Tay homestay for the night.

* Approximate duration:

  • Driving: 3 hours
  • Walking: 1.5 hours

* Meals included: Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 (Sunday): Bac Ha – Trung Do – boat trip on Chay river – Lao Cai

After breakfast, take a short walk to visit the old castle of the former H’mong King.

Then continue to Bac Ha Market, the biggest Sunday market in the area. Every Sunday, many colorful ethnic communities gather here to sell homemade products and buy daily goods for their families. These include the H’mong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay, and Nung people. Spend the morning exploring the market before lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, drive downhill toward Lao Cai for about half an hour. On the way, stop for a short walk to Trung Do Village, home to the Tay people. Tay villages are usually located at the foot of a mountain or along a stream, and their houses are built either on stilts or directly on the ground. Visit a traditional Tay house for a short cultural stop.

After that, take a boat cruise upstream on the Chay River. The scenery on both sides of the river is peaceful and beautiful. The boat trip ends at Bao Nhai Bridge, where your vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Lao Cai. End of the tour.

* Approximate duration:

  • Driving: 2 hours
  • Walking: 1 hour
  • Boat cruise: 30 minutes

* Note: If the water level is not suitable for the boat trip, the program can be changed to a buffalo cart ride in Trung Do Village instead.

* Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

INCLUSION/EXCLUSION

Inclusion:

  • English speaking guide 
  • Transportation
  • All indicated meals 
  • All entrance fees and permits
  • All needed accommodation (Hotel or homestay if any)
  • Boat on Chay River (if any)

Exclusion:

  • Tips
  • Soft drink (beer, coca cola…)
  • Medical Insurance
  • All other services not indicated above