Today is Sunday so nothing will be better than driving overland to a market of the hill tribal people, mainly from Flower Hmong ethnical group. Early morning we will drive toward Bac Ha, about 110km from Sapa. With a dozen of tribes living in the surroundings, including Flower Hmong, Chinese, Nhang, Dzao, Nung, Phu La, Thai and King (or Viet), the market is extremely exciting esp. in the early morning. The winding road to Bac Ha helps maintain the colours (in both literal and figurative sense) of the area. In this market, we can meet hundreds of beautiful women from Flower Hmong tribe, who are famous for their wonderful craft and hand-made flowering clothes and textile fabrics, or intermingle with people from Black Hmong, Dzay, Dzao and other ethnic groups coming to the market not for purchasing stuffs, but for meeting and chatting – just once a week - like in a real cultural center.
After lunch (your own account), we can hike around, following the mountain people to their villages for a visit, or take our car heading to further hamlets in Ban Pho. Back to Lao Cai Station later afternoon with stop for photo shooting at Ha Khau – border gate between Vietnam and China. Take the night train from Lao Cai to Hanoi. Overnight on train (4-berth apartment with air-conditioner).