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Cat Cat and Sin Chai walks

By Mark Bowyer | 10 Nov 2016

2 of 8

The mountains and ethnic minority cultures around Sapa.
Photo: Mark Bowyer
Photo: Mark Bowyer
Photo: Mark Bowyer
Sin Chai village, Sapa
Photo: Mark Bowyer
Hmong mother and daughter, Sapa
Photo: Mark Bowyer
Sapa trekking
Photo: Mark Bowyer
Hmong village, Sapa
Photo: Mark Bowyer

Map

Cat Cat and Sin Chai walks

Walk west from town

Map

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Our rating

By Mark Bowyer 10 Nov 2016

The 3km walk to Cat Cat village is the closest and most popular from Sapa town. While the village sees plenty of travellers, the walk is beautiful - especially in the early morning or on a clear late summer afternoon. It's a good way to start a Sapa journey. Further along, the walks around Sin Chai are less busy and beautiful.

Note: The information provided in this review was correct at time of publishing but may change. For final clarification please check with the relevant service

Development continues to invade the Cat Cat Valley - but it’s still very photogenic and popular with travellers.

If you want to get further away from the tourists, Sin Chai village a further 4kms along is usually quiet (watch out for tour buses).

We last visited in late 2016 and we were pleasantly surprised how delightful the countryside was around Sin Chai - despite so much other development in Sapa.

Travel tips
Most travellers walk one way and take a motorcycle taxi (xe om) for an exhilirating ride back to Sapa.

Mark Bowyer is the founder and publisher of Rusty Compass. read more
Twitter: @rustycompass

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