Sapa – Fansipan – Hekou Tour | All-Inclusive Northwest Vietnam & China Border Discovery
Highlights
Highlights:
The Sapa – Hekou – Fansipan tour takes you on an unforgettable journey exploring the beauty of two neighboring countries,
Vietnam and China. You will stand atop the “Roof of Indochina” Fansipan, immerse yourself in the rich ethnic cultures of the border highlands, and experience the vibrant border town of Hekou, China, renowned for its authentic and delectable Chinese culinary specialties.
Detailed itinerary
06:20: Our vehicle will pick you up at the designated meeting point or Noi Bai International Airport to depart for Sapa via the Hanoi – Lao Cai Highway.
Note: For guests arriving at Noi Bai Airport on early flights landing before 07:45, airport pickup is available. For guests arriving the previous evening and staying near the airport, pickup will be arranged in front of the Noi Bai Airport Hotel lobby between 07:45 and 08:00.
13:00 - 13:30: Arrive in Sapa. Transfer to the restaurant for lunch, followed by hotel check-in and time to rest before the afternoon excursion.
Afternoon: Choose 1 of the following 3 sightseeing options:- Cat Cat Village: Discover the daily life of the H'mong ethnic community, visit Tien Sa Waterfall, and enjoy traditional cultural performances at the old hydroelectric power station.
- Ham Rong Mountain Eco-tourism Area: Explore the Indochina Orchid Garden, Heaven's Gate, and Cloud Yard, accompanied by ethnic musical performances on Ham Rong Mountain. Interact with local hill tribes and take memorable photos.
- Ta Van Village: The most scenic valley in Sapa, highlighted by the 15km Muong Hoa Stream meandering through the valley like a giant winding ribbon past Lao Chai, Ta Van, Hau Thao, and ending in Ban Ho. During the harvest season, golden terraced fields cast shimmering reflections upon the crystal-clear waters, enhancing the poetic allure of Muong Hoa Valley.
18:00: Dinner. Enjoy free time in the evening. Take photos at Sapa Stone Church, explore the lively Sapa Love Market on Saturday evenings, or savor local barbecue specialties paired with famous San Lung wine to warm up in the cool Sapa night. Overnight in Sapa.
07:00: Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and relax with a hot morning coffee at the restaurant.
08:00: Vehicle and tour guide transfer you to the Fansipan Cable Car Station to begin the journey conquering Mount Fansipan via the world's most advanced 3-rope cable car system, with cabins accommodating up to 30 passengers. From the upper station, pass through the Thanh Van Dac Lo Heaven's Gate to step into the sea of clouds. Bich Van Zen Monastery, situated at an altitude over 2,000m, welcomes visitors and Buddhist pilgrims with authentic Vietnamese architecture amidst drifting mist. Stroll along mountain paths echoing with temple bells up to 3,000m, where the majestic 21.5m bronze Amitabha Buddha statue stands serenely looking down with compassionate grace. In that tranquil, sacred atmosphere, make a silent wish amidst the warmth of spring buds of rhododendrons, raspberries, and plum blossoms bursting into life. From the Great Buddha statue, the Arhat Pathway—flanked by 18 bronze Arhat statues measuring 2.5m high—leads you to the Kim Son Bao Thang Pagoda complex, showcasing timeless 15th-16th century Vietnamese wooden architecture. Pay homage to the Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva statue and the Mountain Spirit Shrine. Century-old rhododendron trees braving the highland cold will blossom into vibrant hues of white, yellow, red, and pink in March and April.
Finally, ascend 600 stone steps to reach the summit of Fansipan at an elevation of 3,143m—the Roof of Indochina. Gaze out at the panoramic vistas spanning in all directions for an unforgettable, awe-inspiring moment.
Noon: Return to Sapa town and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
12:30 - 13:00: Pick up from your hotel in Sapa and transfer to Lao Cai International Border Gate for an exciting cross-border excursion.
14:00: Complete exit procedures at Lao Cai Border Gate and cross Kieu Bridge into Hekou Yao Autonomous County, Yunnan Province, China.
16:00: Complete China entry procedures. Your tour guide will lead you to Lantern Street for refreshments, followed by a visit to Hekou Railway Station to snap photos along the historic railway connecting Vietnam and China. Continue exploring popular culinary stops in Hekou—famous for bubble tea, xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), and Uncle Troc's grilled squid. Walk along streets adorned with Chinese flags and capture wonderful travel photographs.
17:45: Take an electric cart or taxi (at your own expense) to Light Park (Lanshan Park). Highly acclaimed by travelers, this park becomes brilliantly illuminated by a spectacular lighting system at sunset. Dazzling lights envelop every corner, creating a magical atmosphere reminiscent of an ancient Chinese water town by night.
The park features traditional classical Chinese architecture built over a large, clear lake, offering a serene and refreshing ambiance where night lights cast romantic reflections across the water.
19:00: The guide takes you to Fuxin Underground Shopping Mall, offering an array of quality goods, affordable prices, and famous Chinese snacks.
20:45: Transfer to a Zhejiang baked cake shop before walking back to the border gate for immigration clearance back to Vietnam.
21:30: Driver picks you up and transfers you to Lao Cai City. Overnight in Lao Cai City.07:00: Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and relax with a morning coffee at the restaurant.
08:00: Vehicle and tour guide take you to visit Mau Temple (Mother Goddess Temple), Thuong Temple, and Coc Leu Market.
11:30: Return to the hotel to check out, followed by lunch and relaxation.
13:15: Tour guide assists you with boarding the coach for the return trip to Hanoi.
19:00: Arrive in the Noi Bai Airport area. For guests requiring drop-off directly inside the airport terminal, transfers are available for an additional fee of 50,000 VND per group.20:00 – 21:00: Vehicle and tour guide return you to the original pickup location. Tour concludes. We look forward to welcoming you on future journeys!
Note: In addition to the default schedule above, if you require an earlier morning departure or a late afternoon/overnight departure with sleeper bus service due to flight schedules or other reasons, please notify us at the time of booking for detailed assistance.
Included
- Round-trip transportation Hanoi - Sapa - Hanoi. Due to the daily nature of the tour and the use of sleeper buses for rest, there is typically no tour guide accompanying the group from Hanoi.
- 4 to 29-seater vehicle for sightseeing transfers in Sapa
- Hotel accommodation according to registered standard, 2 guests/room (triple sharing for odd numbers)
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary: 5 main meals, 2 breakfasts
- Professional, culturally knowledgeable local tour guide serving the group in Sapa (due to cable car ticket pricing policies and regulations for tour guides at Fansipan Legend, our guide will accompany you to the summit of Fansipan for groups of 5 or more taking the cable car)
- Single-entry admission tickets to Ham Rong Mountain and Cat Cat Village
- Border pass
Not included
- VAT invoice (if required, please notify in advance and pay additional VAT as per regulations)
- Round-trip Fansipan cable car ticket. You can register prior to booking or pay directly to the tour guide in Sapa at the actual retail price without any extra surcharge.
- If guests purchase cable car tickets independently, the tour operator will not arrange transportation and a guide to Fansipan.
- Muong Hoa funicular and mountain climbing train tickets. These are optional experiences that do not affect the main tour itinerary.
- Beverages during meals, at the hotel, and other personal expenses
- Sightseeing ticket price differences (if any) between the booking time and travel date. We kindly ask for your understanding and compliance with these regulations.
- Gratuities for the driver and tour guide:
- Tips are discretionary if you are satisfied with the service provided by the driver and guide. Tipping is entirely voluntary, though customary at a minimum of 50,000 VND/guest/day
- Standard tipping guideline for international travelers: 3 USD/guest/day
Changes to departure dates must be requested at least 3 days prior to departure. The first change of departure date is free of charge. Subsequent changes (2nd, 3rd time, etc.) will incur a 30% fee per change. Rebooked dates must retain original booking details.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
- Cancellation at least 7 days prior to departure: 30% penalty fee
- Cancellation at least 3 days prior to departure: 50% penalty fee
- Cancellation within 1-2 days prior to departure: 100% penalty fee
- On the departure date, if you fail to arrive at the designated meeting point on time, or if the guide cannot contact you via the provided phone number and you do not proactively notify us of any changes, this will be considered a no-show and subject to a 100% cancellation fee.