This full day tour offers you a chance to visit and explore a traditional market in Sapa named Coc Ly market. Joining this tour, you will see different ethnic minority people working in the market, such as Flower Hmong, Black Zao, Phu La, Nung and Tay people. Especially, you will enjoy a boat ride along a stream and a visit to a Tay Village.
Once you arrive at Lao Cao railway station, you will be greeted and picked there by a local guide and a driver. Then, you will stop at a restaurant to have breakfast.
After having breakfast and a rest, you will be transfer to Coc Ly market. The road leading there is relatively flat, but rougher in the last 30km. En route, you will pass through rural area and have the chance to enjoy fantastic landscapes of Vietnam generally and mountainous Lao Cai particularly.
You will arrive at Coc Ly market at the time when it’s the most crowded.
Coc Ly market is a small market situated by the Chay River. It opens on every Tuesday morning. Coming here, you will not only see different ethnic minority people in their colourful traditional dress, such as Flower Hmong, Black Zao, Phu La, Nung and Tay minorities, but also see a wide range of homemade products such as vegetables, fruits and even domestic animals sold by the locals. In addition, you can interact with the local and enjoy their traditional dishes.
After exploring the market, you will embark on a boat and ride downstream. On the boat ride, you can enjoy stunning views of beautiful natural caves and local daily life of the local on the riverbanks.
Then, you will either have lunch on a beach or in a village.
After lunch, you will continue the programme by visiting Trung Do village where Tay minority are living. You will enter in the village, observer their daily life and activities, and enjoy a cup a tea in a traditional Tay house. Leaving the Trung Do village, you will cruise further downstream until you reach Bao Nhai Bridge. Here, you will get on a car to drive back to Lao Cai. The tour ends.
After visiting the market, you travel by boat downstream. Along the ride, you can enjoy magnificent sight of the beautiful caves and life on the riverbank. You will have lunch on a beach or later in a village.
The trip will also offer you a visit to Trung Do village of Tay minority, where you can stop by a traditional Tay house for a cup of tea. You will go further downstream until you arrive to Bao Nhai Bridge. Here you get on the car for the journey back to Lao Cai.
