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Description of Lao Chai Village and is it worth visiting
Lao Chai – is a H'mong village, one of the closest to Sapa, visited during trekking routes through the Muong Hoa Valley.
Lao Chai is not as developed as the next village on the route, Ta Van, and tourists rarely stay overnight here for the simple reason that they arrive here by lunchtime during trekking tours from Sapa and usually have lunch before moving on to Ta Van. Because of this, by the way, Lao Chai is an excellent option for a one-day trek without an overnight stay, including for independent travel. You can easily start the classic hiking route here from Sapa via asphalt or through Cat Cat Village in the morning, arrive by lunchtime, and return to the city again on foot (but you'll have to walk uphill the whole way) or take a taxi.
However, there are several large cafes here specifically to accommodate large numbers of tourists traveling in groups. Prices in cafes are reasonable, there are cold drinks and beer. Usually, the cost of lunch is included in the tour price, only drinks are paid for separately. There is a large market with handmade souvenirs on the main street. Also, there are several wonderful and inexpensive homestays in Lao Chai where you can stay overnight and get to know the lifestyle of the H'mong ethnic group.
Further from Lao Chai, the trekking route leads to Ta Van, which requires crossing the river via a bridge and walking along its right bank on asphalt for another 20-40 minutes.
🕐 Opening Hours
24/7.
💵 Entrance Fee / Ticket Price
Free, but you need to pay for entry to Muong Hoa Valley - 150,000 VND (5.7 USD, see all about Vietnamese money and exchange rates). Usually this amount is already included in the cost of the trekking tour.
🚶 How to Get There
Lao Chai is located 8 kilometers from the center of Sapa (village on the map). On foot, this distance can be covered in 4 hours via trails through the fields, or you can get there by rented transport or taxi on the main road TL152 through Muong Hoa Valley.
If you come here during an independent day trek or even for an overnight stay, you can take a taxi back to Sapa via the Grab or Xanh Sm apps from 100,000 VND (3.8 USD).