Epic Trek + Homestay In Sapa, Vietnam | What To Know BEFORE You Go

Sapa is one of the most beautiful regions of Vietnam that has rolling mountain rice terraces, waterfalls and lush valleys. It is also home to some very interesting ethnic minorities like the Hmong Tribe which originally came from China, but has settled in northern Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar. If you are looking for a culturally rich experience you can join a hiking trek lead by a local guide and stay in homestays along the way. I did the 3 day / 2 night option and had an absolutely incredible time. But having said that, it was significantly more difficult than I was expecting and there are some things you should know before you go and even decide if it's really the right trip for you to do. I hope this video will be helpful and below is the contact info of two companies I would recommend in doing this trek:
Who I used (not sponsored)
Adventure Indochina Travel: www.tripadviso...
*My agents name is Thien and you can contact him directly by whatsapp: [phone]
He helped arrange all of our bus tickets from/to Hanoi, the whole Sapa trek and also Ha Giang Loop. Super easy to book everything in one go but if you wanted to do just trekking (I found this group after I went), it looks like a great company to support and the most direct way to help the local community continue to prosper: Sapa Sisters: sapasisters.com/
Support my journey on Patreon: / alinamcleod
Paypal Account: [e-mail]
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SafetyWing Travel Insurance (best travel health insurance for long terms digital nomads and/or younger travellers): safetywing.com...
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Contact me: [e-mail]
Lots of love xx
Alina

[@huonghuyennguyen4750]

I visted Sapa in June and took an 11 km hike along Muong Hoa Valley. The rice paddy fields were still green then and it took my breath away in every mean. The hike was exhausting but the views were breath taking. Sa Pa’s true beauty is outside of downtown Sa Pa.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Totally agree. Would love to visit again when the hills are more green!

[@potblack05]

Would late April be ok for green hills at sapa?

[@trunghieuluu9405]

Sapa is most beautiful during the ripe rice season from late September to the end of October every year. The terraced fields ripen golden in the autumn sunlight. Amazingly beautiful.

[@santorini8423]

@@trunghieuluu9405is march a no no then?

[@khenglim]

What a beautiful but exhausting hike! Thanks for bringing us there...with all its colors, nature and the hmong people. Enjoy the viewing very much.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@maxplanck9055]

The scenery looked great those steep hills and landscape looked beautiful, the guide seemed nice her English was good for rural Vietnam it was impressive ✌️❤️🇬🇧

[@tringo999]

Beautiful scenery glad you enjoyed breath taking trekking, and memorable experience.

[@AlinaMcleod]

It sure is!

[@geoffreydingle2410]

This was great Alina. I have said it before but towns and cities are all so similar and this gave us a great flavour of the countryside. More like this please.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Glad you liked it!

[@davko777]

What a wonderful hike among the Hmong people. The scenery is stunning. Thanks for sharing your trips and tips. Great video.🤩👍🏻

[@AlinaMcleod]

My pleasure!

[@Off_Road_Saigonese]

Welcome to my country. Wish you happy and peaceful. Thanks for sharing all things you have experienment. Love and hug

[@chriskinteris4665]

Thanks for sharing your hike... I would live to go there someday..its beautiful...great job..

[@AlinaMcleod]

I hope you do!

[@rahulrasam]

Would definitely love to explore Sa Pa and Northern Vietnam after watching this well-presented and insightful video! The vivid landscape of lush green mountains and paddy fields is very calming to watch. Perfect way to start my day 👌🏼💯

[@AlinaMcleod]

Glad you enjoyed it and yes, you totally should visit sometime!

[@costasworldofmusicmemories5792]

Stunning Views ! Having a guide as sweet as she was makes the hike so much more enjoyable. We have not been. When we go back to Vietnam, it's on our bucket list. Thank You Alina for sharing what you should plan for and to expect when hiking . Sending you Hugs🫂 and Kisses 💋 from Richmond, Va. Harriet, Jim and Yuki

[@AlinaMcleod]

Hope you guys have a great time!

[@Duke19073]

Rural Vietnam looks so nice 😍 Love it

[@estee2398]

Hi Alina. It was great. Sapa and Hagiang are on my must-see list for my next trip to Vietnam, hopefully next year. I like hiking but I don't think I can hike as long as you did. You seemed exhausted at the end of the trek. Take care. Can't wait to watch your Hagiang motobike tour.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Yeah unfortunately I ended up getting sick 😅

[@DavidL23.]

Hi Alina! 😁🙏👋🌟 I hope your having a fantastic day! This truly is a marvelous super magnificent video! 😄👍❤️👏📹🇻🇳⛰🥇💯💫✨🌟 Wow! Sapa looks so absolutely amazing! Also the view of the landscape of mountains and green fields look really beautiful! Even the food at the homestay looks very delicious! I would definitely like to visit Sapa and Northern Vietnam one day. It really is a beautiful place! Thank you so very much Alina to share with us this amazing fantastic video. You are the best and greatest world traveler adventurer ever! 😃👍👏✈️🌎📹🥇💯🏆💫🌟 I wish you Alina a wonderful excellent magnificent blessed day. 😊🙏❤️👋👍✨🌟

[@AlinaMcleod]

It really is lush, thanks!

[@thomasprince4992]

enjoying this run of videos 100% , so jealous . enjoy

[@MysticYears]

Great fun watching.... I'm reliving some of my past Dad travel adventures with my Daughter.

[@lamar6007]

I spend a lot of time in Vietnam my girlfriend’s families from Hanoi Last year November I was in Sapa for about a week we stayed at the Topas Ecolodge very nice place in the middle of the rice patties I recommended

[@AlinaMcleod]

I heard Topas was incredible!

[@gabriellagirardi4741]

Hello Alina! This video was really nice, so calm and joyful and also very interesting as the scenerery was just amazing, the people friendly. I can imagine how tiring this hike could be, but it pays off at the end!! Thank you very much. Great video, as always❤❤❤

[@HungNguyen-zo9nu]

I think you are so lucky to have a chance to visit that place. Every day I visit that place through KZbin. Oh, I love the nature so much. Thank you for sharing with us all those beautiful pictures.😊

[@AlinaMcleod]

My pleasure!

[@allankamen9875]

Surprised to see you back in Vietnam. Im going to Hanoi tomorrow.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Hope you have a wonderful time!

[@dinab7852]

I would love to visit this place. I can't get enough of your videos! I watch and rewatch 2-3 hours of your videos everyday.

[@franciscoespiritu9020]

Nice video Alina😀

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you!

[@raqibulbd]

Nice looking! 22th Dec I am coming to Vietnam from Bangladesh.

[@reneerikolsen9694]

That was an amazing video! What a great experience for you and the others. It just gave me an amazingly positive feeling - thanks for sharing these moments in your life. Happy continued traveling. The guide is a sweet human being - like her attitude about life!

[@AlinaMcleod]

I’m so glad!

[@touher6071]

First off, thanks for showing your adventures in Sapa, Vietnam. I never heard of Sapa until I was following a follow hmong who lives in Laos and biked to Sapa. I'm Hmong and born in the States. To add context to what Cha was saying, each year in December, the hmongs (no matter where you are from) gather in December to celebrate the new year. The new year celebrations allows single people to mingle through what's called "ball toss". How that occurs is a single guy ask a single girl to toss balls back and forth while conversing and ultimately courtship if both like each other. Although my parents where born in Laos and came to the States as refugees back in the 70's aftter the Vietnam War, my view as a hmong kid growing up was limited and from what was taught from my grandparents and relatives were hmong people were from China and immigrate to the high lands of Laos and Vietnam. With the widespread of access to internet and social media today, my limited views are stretched as I see my people thriving in remotes part of the world. Sapa is 100% a place i would want to visit in the future to conserve in the native tongue, share stories about the ways of life and learn about our different dialect as hmong green, white and black. I do believe this will strengthen my identity as a hmong person and bring into light a unique introspective view of how far we as hmong living in America or any 1st world country has come.

[@dewankhurshedalam5959]

Very joyful Video

[@ericdoan5452]

My must visit destination on my next trip. I wonder if it gets very cold around February. Great video. Thank you for sharing

[@AlinaMcleod]

My pleasure! I did hear February is the coldest month so may be better to pay extra for a hotel with heating.

[@AmjadAli-lb2ql]

Your arrival is being awaited in dubai🎉 hope to see you soon here.

[@huunghia1810]

Great trip, thank you for visiting our country and creating such an amazing video like this.

[@ervinsmoviecorner8748]

A very amazing one!❤

[@kennethaiori]

Great video, Alina! 😊 Watching & living vicariously from Calgary 🇨🇦 through your excellent travel adventures!! Your Sapa guide - that was an awesome conversation with her - sooo interesting!

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@trunghieuluu9405]

I like your videos👍👍❤️. Most of them are very realistic. I thank you for visiting Vietnam🙏. Hope you will come back and have better experiences when our tourism industry will invest more in Sapa as well as Ha Giang.💪💪

[@HungNguyen-zo9nu]

Wow, it is so beautiful.

[@eowynaldridge]

I just visited Sapa a few weeks ago and went hiking / visited a bunch of the villages! It's so cool that you got to do a homestay, I would have loved to if I'd known it was possible!

[@josealfonsosilvalatorre1826]

Amazing video

[@SabaInShambles]

I'm going to Vietnam next week, might have check Sapa out

[@AlinaMcleod]

Have a great trip!

[@VivekM-hb3eb]

mind blowing ❤

[@typhanthongphay]

Awesome 😁 appreciate you sharing ❤

[@donstravelsandrants.]

That was glorious trekking. Loved it.👍😊🇮🇪🇻🇳

[@jonathanhuynh43]

Beautiful scenery . I wish I were there right now

[@annamayfair-diaznovelspoet8436]

What an amazing and arduous trek of this magical land and resilient, hard-working villagers; loved all the tips especially the waterproof Echo shoes and the way you captured the topography and happy music. Loved the guide and interview. Thx for all you do! Happy and safe trails ahead and holidays!

[@barrywood4337]

Hi Alina great video we did hiking around Sapa some years ago not the trek you did but was pretty hard .I can appreciate the hard work you put in not only to do the treck but to film it. Just think that it is something you will always remember for the rest of your life. Well done Cheers

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you! It is very challenging to hike but be filming as well 😅

[@daniellopez-nj1bf]

alina Mcleod nice recorrido en Sapa nice gente, dia soleado, areas Verdes , comida a mi me gusta el jugo de mango y te miras bonita! drinking tu mango juice

[@darellnewsome4459]

Wow Alina what an adventure. Thoroughly enjoyed the video and the scenery was amazing. As always thank you for sharing!

[@thieudtcvlogs6312]

Cảm ơn bạn đã có chuyến đi du lịch trái nghiệm và khám phá vung phía bắc vung đất sapa với những khung cảnh thiền nhiên hung vĩ với quan cảnh tuyệt đẹp của rưng núi và những con ngươi thân thiện quý khách của ngươi dân vung sapa việt nam tôi luôn chào đón các bạn❤❤❤❤

[@redrose_9400]

:)Aw you made a lil friend, that's so awesome.

[@jimross7648]

That was definitely a very scenic area. The little I know about the Hmong people was from books I've read about their involvement with the French and Americans during the warring period before Vietnam reunified. It appears that the Hmong are much more involved with general Vietnamese and Laotian society then they were forty years ago. So as always, I learn stuff about the peoples and the countries I've never been to, through your videos.

[@20luzer52]

There is Hmong in South Vietnam, which is often associated with the US military during the war. The Hmong here in Sapa is very different.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Yes some of their past involvement with US is quite interesting.

[@tringo999]

@@AlinaMcleod Sadly before the Internet the tribal Hmong faced discriminations from those from metropolitan cities. Glad isnt the case anymore.

[@tringo999]

@@AlinaMcleod the Hmong tribal believed to act observation posts over HCM trails during US involvement.

[@ibrahimdihum9127]

Thank you for sharing your hike Have a great time

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you! Will do!

[@PeteEdmunds]

Wonderful footage alina. Loved your chit chat with the guide 😊. I’m heading there at end of March - this has whetted my appetite nicely. Thank you!

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you! Hope you have a great trip!

[@user-hs7lc6hk2z]

Alina, you have a wonderful voice and I love your videos and naration!

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you so much!

[@bellyhungry]

It is like the Swiss Alps of viet nam. With some foreign investment , it could become a vacation destination.

[@sotop226]

ABC Trek, Nepal. Everest base camp, Nepal Dolpo ,Nepal Manaslu circuit trek,Nepal Leh, India Spriti Valley, India North east. India Very beautiful place to visit. These place are not too much tourist area, Enjoy & stay safe 👍♥️🙏

[@AlinaMcleod]

I have actually don’t the Everest basecamp trek when I was younger!

[@vealtzioncliff]

I have never been to South East Asia, And I'm curious to know how do people deal with the drug war going on since that area WAS the craddle of civilization at some point in time. I've heard about Hmong people but never really understood what these people were. As an educated man, I believe there are many tribes in the world who are closed off to society. Must be nice to REALLY experience life around the world at first pov. Amazing Vlog Alina!!!!!! Hopefully your father is enjoying his time, they say curiosity kills the cat but God willing I hope everyone is safe and sound. All the best McLeod's! #TheInvisibleWar #StaySober #HappyHolidays#MerryXmas#HappyNewYear

[@user-pw4ec4ub3q]

great Video

[@bernabecaneta6154]

Wow god's mother nice place thaks for sharing this video and advance Merry Christmas God Bless yuo all ways and yuor family ✌️❤️

[@NES-vy6cg]

Thank you for posting this video! It was very helpful in helping me decide whether to do this experience.

[@AlinaMcleod]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tsuvtom7668]

Thank you for sharing. Love your video. FYI, there are Hmongs in the USA, France, Australia, French Guiana, and South Korea as well. There are Hmong Senators, Congressman, Mayors and other political staffs in the USA. Sunisa Lee is Hmong from St. Paul, Minnesota, is a Gold, Silver medal Olympic champion.

[@mansouraldhlaan5655]

Best coverage so far,thanks for sharing 🌹

[@maxplanck9055]

Bamboo socks would have helped resist blisters on a trail like this, wet cotton will chaff, you can find copper infused or bamboo socks online,great for hiking in Vietnam ✌️❤️🇬🇧

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thankfully no blisters for me but for the people in rubber boots, definitely

[@phanvansang2788]

Have you ever traveled to Ha Giang city.This is one of famous places in Viet Nam.I hope that you will have a great trip in Viet Nam.We love you guys!

[@AlinaMcleod]

That’s where the next video will be from!

[@mohmdkhiry235]

I love the video Awesome nature Thanks for sharing ❤

[@yenqv120]

Heu, u have to go to CAO bang, best area of Vietnam , and ha giang...slavia ukrainienne🙌

[@isackmussa879]

HELLO,Alina,it's an amazing video of beautiful nature. You are so beautiful!

[@user-fx3vl9oq6w]

Hey Alina! Thank you very much! Great video! 👍

[@vithayachaipanya561]

Hi from Bkk

[@davidhumphrey2593]

Well, that temperature is WAAAAY HIGHER than it is in Minnesota anyway. At least in the RESPONSIBLE CELSIUS diminutives!! 😁

[@AlinaMcleod]

But you guys got central heating!

[@davidhumphrey2593]

@@AlinaMcleod The way I want temperature to be at!! 🤔 Even though those around me refuses to have it be that way around me!! ☺

[@mickyryan3874]

We just finished the one day hike today, and I'm shattered! I don't think I could manage the 2 or 3 day ones. You definitely need good boots😅

[@AlinaMcleod]

Haha glad it wasn’t just me 😅

[@user-pp4ig3hl8m]

Hello Alina

[@TôiĐãĐếnvlog]

❤❤ A great video I like

[@ChickenkoukMenacer-it1qw]

You have a really a good time in Sapa and the nature in Sapa is beautiful and the people is friendly but something I don't like the grils married very early You had a good time in Sapa Alina thank you for your chennel.

[@travling_IN_MOROCCO2640]

NICE VIDEO 👍👍

[@VivekM-hb3eb]

wow alina

[@dannychhann6917]

Hi happy 2024 all the best 😊🙏👍

[@zdarkz5952]

Welcome to vietnam 😃😃🎉🎉🎉

[@tieuenthan9536]

Sang mùa xuân tháng 3 em lại sang VN chơi đi tua ngắm hoa đỗ quyên nhé. Đi xe ôm taxi nếu ko đặt trên App thì em tìm hiểu giá cả số km tránh 1 số tài xế nâng giá cước. Ăn nhà hàng xem giá menu trước cho chắc.

[@GreenLivingAdventures]

great, excellent, wonderfull !!!

[@BeniSedano]

Awesome video. Hope you get better ❤

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you, thankfully better now

[@isackmussa879]

Interesting journey!

[@user-vn3ou9ot7y]

If you ever plan to come to Dhaka, Bangladesh, I would love to be ur guide here. I will show you everything here. I have a very busy banking life here but I would take leave for you.

[@user-vn3ou9ot7y]

I like your videos specially those of Saskatchewan

[@Tideo123]

There are a lot of H'Mong people living in the US. They can learn English fast and can adapt very well to the American culture better than people from other cultures. H'Mong people are hard working people and usually like to work in the farming business. In Asia, you can most likely find them live far up in the hills and mountains far away from the crowds so they end up having poor standard of living. I hope they find better life in the USA.

[@tednguyen7258]

they have ruthless hmong gangs .....gang problems

[@Tideo123]

@@tednguyen7258 ... adapt very well to the American culture better. They do what they learned from Latino and Asian American.

[@bipinkotak]

Alina you've shot eye-pleasing visuals and a very informative video.

[@1234lesy]

That guide is beyond cute. She needs her own Instagram account...!

[@videoguru1987]

Great video Alina. You should cross the border and visit China if you got the chance. They are modern and more welcoming than you might believe. You'll be amazed and its not what you always hear about in the Western media 😃

[@AlinaMcleod]

I will definitely visit sometime!

[@vanhphonsiri2835]

Great vdoAlina, but you should pronounce Hmong with the H being silent.

[@nathanhaese4158]

Thanks!

[@AlinaMcleod]

Thank you very much, Nathan!

[@maliscook9323]

❤❤❤❤

[@quangphan1569]

Xin chào

[@VutbttrillionaireLe]

Great My Friends ❤😂 Hmong culture they're close to vietnam than china hán

[@shakpro4296]

❤

[@ChickenkoukMenacer-it1qw]

Hello Alina ❤

[@cuongtoviet6155]

Cố lên cô gái còn nhìu niềm vui trên đường mà

[@Ruanwending]

chao ban video ve sa pa rat thu vi

[@Trantrungduc584]

❤❤❤

[@DungPham-mu9fv]

Come to my province Ninh Binh 🎉

[@keangwooichoo6138]

Wow that is cold and no heating.

[@user-yg1jp7dp5e]

Vietnam ❤ 🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳

[@AhmedKhan-xe2eq]

hi!how are you?

[@chuckymonkey7199]

Corrections on the name HMONG, The “H” is silent, the proper pronunciation is MONG, not HA-MONG

[@naveedkhan-yk9bl]

wellcome to gwadar pakistan

[@shekhargupta6718]

Hey Alina, you look so tired & exhausted . Is it bcz of extensive trekking & hiking ?