Vietnam Lao Cai Tours

The Last Stop Before Sapa

Lao Cai sits on the Red River right at the Chinese border, and for most travelers it's a transit point rather than a destination in itself. The overnight train from Hanoi arrives here before dawn, with a short road transfer left to reach Sapa in the hills above.

Bac Ha's Sunday Market

South of Lao Cai town, Bac Ha holds one of the region's liveliest weekly markets each Sunday, where Flower Hmong traders in bright embroidered skirts sell everything from water buffalo to herbal medicine. It draws far fewer visitors than Sapa's markets.