We arrived at Lao Cai around 6 AM and continued our journey to Sapa via a free shuttle bus, which took about an hour. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t as friendly as we had hoped—it was foggy and cold, setting a moody tone for the day.
By 8 AM, we checked in early at Azalea Sapa Hotel, which was such a blessing. We managed to have a proper breakfast and take a hot shower before starting our tour to CatCat Village.
At 9:30 AM, we met our local guide in the hotel lobby. She took us to explore both CatCat Village and Lao Chai Village, giving us a glimpse into the daily life of the local ethnic tribes.
Fun fact: CatCat was actually derived from the French word Cascade (meaning waterfall). The local people had difficulty pronouncing the "S" sound in the middle, so it eventually became "CatCat."
CatCat Village was quite packed with both local and international tourists, especially from other Asian countries. The walk down to the village was lined with souvenir shops and staged traditional houses where visitors could observe local life. One kind local even welcomed us into their home to see how they live.
We rented traditional outfits for VND 300,000 each and took some lovely photos near the waterfall—a must-do moment despite the crowds!
Afterward, we visited Lao Chai Village, which felt more natural and less touristy. We got up close with buffaloes and saw how farmers live. Our guide shared insightful stories about the Hmong people's way of life, which added so much depth to our experience.
For lunch, we enjoyed a simple, homemade meal at a local restaurant run by members of the tribe—humble and heartwarming.
In the evening, we had a comforting hotpot dinner near our hotel in Sapa Town. The broth was light and refreshing, and the portions were incredibly generous—perfect for the chilly weather.
The next day, we went up to Fansipan, famously known as the Roof of Indochina. Sadly, the weather was still not on our side—it was foggy, freezing cold, and visibility was almost zero. Temperatures dropped to -1°C, and the wind was strong. We couldn’t see the breathtaking views we were hoping for, but we definitely felt the mountain chill!
We also tried the Alpine Coaster, a self-controlled roller coaster with a scenic Fansipan backdrop. Again, the weather robbed us of the views, but the ride was thrilling enough to make up for it.
Before heading back to Hanoi, we made one last stop at Moana Cafe, known for its Instagrammable photo spots. Despite the fog, we managed to take some cute pictures to remember the trip by.
All in all, we had a wonderful time in Sapa. The weather wasn’t ideal, but on the bright side, we finally got to test the winter jackets we bought in Hanoi—and they kept us warm and cozy the entire time!
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