Sapa undiscovered market (Simacai Market) 2 days 3 nights

Brief introduction
Hiding itself in the mountains and forest at the far end of a tough road, Si Ma Cai Market is often referred to as one of the remotest tribal market of the region and rarely visited by tourists. Every Sunday, Simacai market attracts some thousands of Flower H’mong, Zao, Phu La peoples from villages in the region come to shopping, enjoying themselves meeting friends and relatives…after hard working days. They spend most of their time at the market talking, chatting and also drinking a lot.

Tour route: Hanoi – Lao Cai – Can Cau – Bac Ha – Simacai – Lao Cai– Hanoi
Tour duration: 2 Days 3 Nights
Price: Contact us

Detail itinerary

Day1; Hanoi – Night train to Lao Cai
08:00 Pick up at the lobby of the hotel in Hanoi transfer to Hanoi Railways Station for the night train to Lao Cai

Day 2: Lao Cai – Can Cau market (Saturday) – Bac Ha town (3 hours driving, 80 km driving)

Arriving at Lao Cai train station around 5 am in the morning, you are welcomed by guide and driver, having breakfast at the local restaurant before being driven to Can Cau Market which is about 90km from Lao Cai. Your journey will take you through mountainous border area between Vietnam and China. Can Cau is a small but very colorful market where you can meet Flower Hmong, Nung, Tay, Phu La mountain tribes. Taking place only on Saturday, it always delivers a very photogenic display of ethnic costume. After spending about 2 hours to explore the market, you are driven back Bac Ha town to check in your hotel, have lunch and relax before having a short walk about 5km to visit Ban Pho village which is the home to Flower Hmong, here you can see how the tribe people make rice and corn wine as well as clothes. Coming back hotel by car, you have dinner at the local restaurant before watching local performance for 1 hour. Overnight at hotel in Bac Ha.

Day 3: Bac Ha – Simacai Market – Bac Ha (Sunday)
The Simacai mean “horse market” in the Hmong language and the old people said that it was the biggest horse market of the region.
After having breakfast at the hotel, we are transferred to Simacai Market which is about 27 km from Bac Ha Town to the east. The market is simply a large ground near the recently developed town let of Simacai District with some thatched huts built to accommodate shops and food stalls. It will be great to experience the most unique and untouched Market in the North of Vietnam which you can not find at other affectedly touristy markets. After 2 hours discovering this market you are transferred back to Bac Ha for your lunch. Continuingly, we are transferred to Trung Do Village where we can have a short walk of 2,5km to discover the amazing village of Tay minority people. Finally, we have a boat trip along the Chay River to witness the beautiful landscape along the river bank. Meeting driver at the end of River for transferring to Lao Cai Train Station for your night train to Hanoi.

Tour price include:
Picks up, transfer & sighseeing as per program by A/C private car
Meals
English speaking guide
Entranced fees and permission
Hotel
Train tickets from Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi (soft sleeper with air-condition)

Tour price excludes:
Travel insurance
Drinks
Other personal expenses

What to take:
Pack essentials, including light comfortable clothes suitable for outdoor activities, hiking shoes and small day pack.
It is essential to bring your passort on this trip. We also recommend packing: personal articles, insect repellent, sun cream, raincoat, sun hat,…