North Vietnam Freedom Trip Day 5｜Trekking Through Yao Ethnic Villages × Bamboo Forest Trail × Hidden Waterfall Sanctuary

Day two of the Sapa trek, and once again the morning began with sunshine waking us up. Last night brought another heavy downpour, and once the rain stopped, the valley settled back into stillness, with a thin mist drifting gently among the terraced fields—this seems to be the everyday rhythm of Sapa during this season. Setting off in the morning: a valley woken by the sound of rain Breakfast was simple—warm pancakes with banana, plus a pot of hot water so we could brew our own coffee. At 8:30, Little Sheep arrived right on time at the homestay to lead us out, ready to begin today's trekking route. Before long, a light drizzle began falling from the sky again. Although the powerful typhoon in the distance was gradually weakening, it was still bringing continuous rain to the mountainous region of northern Vietnam.

▲Homestay Morning View: Panoramic Terraces Through the Morning Mist

▲ Breakfast prepared by the homestay 💡 Fun fact: October in Sapa is at the tail end of the rainy season, so even when typhoons don't make direct landfall, intermittent rain is still common — be sure to bring a waterproof jacket and hiking boots. Differences between Hmong and Dao settlements Yesterday's flower valley was mainly a Hmong settlement, while today's destination — Ta Van Village — is a community made up mostly of the Dao people. As we walked, Little Sheep explained that Dao architecture usually has a gentler roof slope than Hmong buildings, and the walls are often made of mud or stone, giving them a thicker, sturdier look.

▲Every now and then we pass by a few houses, with sun-dried corn hanging under the eaves. Along the way, the scenery is still filled with terraced fields. Little Sheep says we'll be circling into the mountains today, then descending from the other side. Although it kept alternating between rain and sun, we cherished every moment the rain paused, seizing the chance to capture the layered beauty of the terraces.

▲ A distant view of the village's terraced rice fields

▲ A water buffalo by the roadside, showing the flavor of rural life Crossing the bamboo forest × the challenge of mud after rain The night rain made the mountain path even more slippery, which was especially tough for me in my sneakers. After about two hours of hiking, we entered a bamboo forest. Water droplets on the bamboo leaves sparkled, and whenever the wind blew, it felt like a gentle drizzle falling softly.

Climbing to the end of the bamboo forest, we came to a small slope. Because it was slippery, we held each other's hands and climbed up together. When we finally reached the top of the hill, the whole valley suddenly opened up before us — terraced fields, Yao villages, and distant mountains wrapped in mist, all lying quietly in view.

Ethnic minority women along the way Just like yesterday, a few ethnic minority women walked alongside us again today. Even when we politely declined to buy anything, they kept walking with us, smiling, and when we reached the fork in the road heading to the waterfall, they cheerfully said, "Buy from us when you come back!" All we could do was wave and laugh, saying, "Really, we don't need anything!" This kind of interaction has actually become part of the Sapa trek — a little annoying, a little endearing, and quite genuine.

Waterfall Wonderland × The Legend of the Suicide Grass The trail to the waterfall is like a path into a hidden realm — along the way you have to cross several small streams. My sneakers got almost completely soaked, so I really recommend wearing hiking boots or waterproof shoes. It takes about 30 minutes to walk from the village to the waterfall, and along the way Little Yang introduced us to a plant called "suicide grass" — according to Miao and Yao legend, eating it three times is said to be fatal for sure. Just hearing that was enough to send chills down my spine.

▲Footage of crossing the stream

▲ Close-up view of the waterfall

▲Suicide Grass

▲ Leaving the waterfall area along the drainage ditch Lunch and the afternoon Coming back down the other side of the mountain, we once again saw the beautiful scenery where terraced fields and Miao (Hmong) villages intertwine. Along the way, our little guide took us to a high vantage platform to take photos — the clouds and mist, distant mountains, and terraced fields formed a perfect composition.

We'll arrive at the lunch restaurant around 2pm, which offers simple fried rice, fried noodles, and rice noodle soup. Around 3pm the sky turned cloudy, so Xiaoyang suggested canceling the extended afternoon route and heading to a nearby café to rest instead. A few of their flavored coffees there (like peanut and tofu flavor) were quite unique.

At 4 o'clock, Xiao Yang arranged a car to take us back to the homestay. Along the way, we specifically stopped at a small vegetable stall, hoping to buy some local vegetables to cook at home, but in the end we only bought some dragon's tongue beans.

Evening moments at the homestay Back at the homestay, it's the same familiar rhythm again: dining, raising glasses, and playing billiards. Outside, the rain keeps falling, but inside the house is filled with laughter. This day had no gorgeous sunset, no lively nightlife — only a gentle breeze, laughter, and the quiet terraced fields. In that moment, we all knew — this is what Sapa is truly about. Previous post ← Northern Vietnam Free Travel Day 4 | Sapa Trekking × Mountain Terraced Fields × Ethnic Minority Village Visit Next → North Vietnam Solo Trip Day 6｜Crossing the Yao and Miao Protected Area, a Farewell in the Fog 🔗 Further Reading｜North Vietnam Solo Trip Series 【Travel Journal】 North Vietnam Solo Trip Day 1｜Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Lake × Ngoc Son Temple × St. Joseph's Cathedral × First Experience of the Water Puppet Show North Vietnam Solo Trip Day 2｜From Hanoi to Sapa × Visiting Cat Cat Village × Overlooking the Beautiful Terraced Rice Fields North Vietnam Self-Guided Trip Day 3｜Climb the Roof of Vietnam, Fansipan × Take on the Rong May Glass Bridge Above the Clouds North Vietnam Free & Easy Trip Day 7 | Ninh Binh One-Day Tour: Trang An Boat Ride × Mua Cave Hiking × Thung Nham Bird Sanctuary 【Complete North Vietnam Travel Guide Roundup】 Complete Hanoi Travel Guide | Must-Visit Attractions × Itinerary Planning × Extended Trips Around North Vietnam (2025 Updated Edition) Vietnam Sapa Travel Guide | North Vietnam's Rice Terraces and Ethnic Minority Cultural Hideaway Ha Long Bay Travel Guide: One-Day Itinerary, Best Season, and Classic Attractions Ha Long Bay World Cultural Heritage Site, Vietnam: Best Travel Season and a Recommended 3-Day Itinerary