Sapa’s ethnic homestays consistently win travellers over with their warm hospitality and excellent value. Here’s the chance to interact with ethnic minorities on a personal level, taste authentic northern mountains cooking, and bed down in breathtaking locations on a budget.
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| Photo by Vietnam Typical Tours |
Homestay is no longer a new way of accommodation in Vietnam tourism, but homestay in Sapa is an extraordinary experience that you must try once. This is the best way for you to discover the normal life, traditions and cultures of ethnic minority communities in the North of Vietnam. Staying in unique stilt house and sleep on wooden floor, beside the wooden fire in cold weather, living and talking to the ethnic people as well as making and having dinner with them will give you unforgettable memories. Especially, living in the villages located in impressive natural scene will help you find the connection with the nature.
Choosing homestaying for accommodation, you can live as a local ethnic people for some day or just one night, depending on you. You will live in the traditional stilt house of the locals, sleep overnight like the way the locals sleep, learn how to prepare the traditional foods and also eat with the host, enjoy a peaceful day in front of the house to see the amazing sceneries of mountains, terrace fields, etc. And you also have chance to enjoy beautiful traditional dances and songs of ethnic people.
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| Photo by pexels |
Van Giay, Ho village, Ta Phin, Lao Chai, etc. Ta Van Giay is stunning village located in Muong Hoa Valley, about 8km to the centre of Sapa. It is a traditional village of Giay people, featured by stunning surroundings, including terrace fields under the village, imposing mountainous scenery, lovely bridge crossing the Muong Hoa stream,… Homestay service in Ta Van Giay has highly developed for over the years. You will be surprise by the friendliness and professional of the Giay people in the village. If you’re on the way to trek to Hoang Lien Range, Ban Ho is a perfect choice. Ban Ho is about 40km to the Southeast of Sapa Town, located in a beautiful valley near Hoang Lien National Park. Ta Phin, Lao Chai are also ideal villages for homestay.
Homestay is comfortable and clean enough with flush, tidy toilet; bedding with a mosquito net and, most importantly, hygienic food. Meals will be prepared by the host and their family. The menu is likely to have been modified from what the family usually eats to appeal to foreign palates, but will still be Vietnamese: spring rolls, rice, stir-fried meat and veg. You will probably eat together with the host and have the opportunity to ask questions — with your guide translating — and spend time with the family. The evening is good chance for more beer, rice wine and card games.
Looking for more awesome things to do in Sapa? Check out our other comprehensive articles at the Vietnam Travel Magazine!