Sa Pa, Night Train & Trekking to Ta Phin

After the bustling streets of Hanoi, we ventured to the mountains in the north of Vietnam. We took a night train to Lao Cai and a bus to Sapa, both near China’s border. At 6.00 am, we arrived in Lao Cai, and from there, we journeyed to Sapa. Guided by Sumay, we hiked for two days amidst breathtaking landscapes.

Night Train Hanoi – Lao Cai

That luxury is relative becomes clear on this train. I have no idea when the wagons were last renovated, but they didn’t look brand new. Anyway, we were fortunate to have a cabin to ourselves with soft sleepers (I have never had such a hard mattress in my life; I wonder how the hard sleepers would be). The cabin was clean, and there was a banana for each of us, a bag of peanuts, and a bottle of water. This is the new luxury.

Hiking to Ta Phin

When we arrived in Sapa, we received a warm welcome from Sumay, our guide for the next two days. On the first day, we embarked on a 15-kilometer hike, meandering through picturesque corn and rice fields, as well as crossing mountains. In the evening, we had a delightful dinner with Sumay’s family at their home, where we also spent the night. After dinner, we had the pleasure of experiencing a rejuvenating herbal bath, expertly prepared by Sumay’s family, who are part of the Red Dao tribe and are renowned for their skill in using fresh herbs from nature. It was a truly amazing experience.

The following morning, our hike continued, and luckily, we encountered some rain, providing us with the perfect excuse to take shelter in a nearby cave for a short while before making our way back to Sapa.