Bac Ha

Hi there, we’ll be in Mai Chau in June and we’re thinking of heading to Sapa, but first spending a few days in Bac Ha to do some hiking and explore the area. Is this a good idea for those who’ve been there? How do you get there? Thanks for your feedback. Looking forward to hearing from you. Cédric.

Hi there

Bac Ha is *way* more authentic than Sapa because the hotels are simple and not too many, which keeps the crowds down. On market days, starting around 10 AM, the town fills up with day-trippers from Sapa, so hit the market early and you’ll have it to yourself. Same goes for other days. All around, there are lots of villages with different ethnic groups. Tons of hikes between villages and rice terraces.

Another market about an hour’s drive away is *really* cool, right in the mountains: Can Cau.

The catch is transportation: little to no regular buses. We rented a car in this part of Vietnam, even though we used buses everywhere else.

More info and photos in my travel journal: Back from a month in Vietnam, from the northern mountains to the Mekong Delta

Thanks for your feedback!👍

Hi Cédric,

We spent a few days in Bac Ha in August 2023.

To get there, we took the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai, then a shared bus that stops everywhere, with chickens and packages of all kinds. A tout at Lao Cai station had put us on that bus.

In Bac Ha, there were indeed few tourists except those coming from Sapa for the day. We did a few hikes with a guide from the Guesthouse. We also went to the Can Cau market. By bus on the way there, and hitchhiking on the way back!

To head back to Sapa afterward was simple. 2 buses with a change in Lao Cai.

Unfortunately, we had quite a bit of rain during that time, especially in Sapa, so we didn’t stay very long.

Happy travels! !

Hi Béatrice, Short and to the point 😊 This’ll be really helpful. Have a great day

Hi there, The answers you’ve received are relevant. Can Cau Market takes place on Saturdays, with the bird market and livestock market even further away. There’s also Coc Ly Market on Tuesdays, mostly frequented by Hmong people, and you can take a boat ride on the Chay River. Most importantly, follow the advice to visit the town market before 10:00 AM, when tourists from Sa Pa arrive. There’s often a night market on Saturday evenings with entertainment too. Happy exploring! Eric

Thanks Eric.