Northern Vietnam Self-Guided Trip Day 5 | Traversing Yao Ethnic Village × Bamboo Forest Trail × Hidden Waterfall Paradise

Day two of the Sa Pa trek — and once again, the morning began with sunlight waking us up. It had poured heavily again last night, but once the rain stopped, the valley settled back into stillness, with thin mist drifting gently among the terraced rice fields — this seems to be the everyday rhythm of Sa Pa 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 make coffee. At 8:30, Little Sheep arrived right on time at the homestay to lead us out, getting ready to start 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: Light Mist Outside the Window and a Panoramic View of the Terraced Fields

▲Breakfast prepared by the homestay 💡 Fun fact: October in Sapa is the tail end of the rainy season, so even if a typhoon doesn't make direct landfall, intermittent rain is still common — be sure to bring a waterproof jacket and hiking shoes. Differences between Hmong and Dao settlements Yesterday's flower-grass valley was mainly a Hmong settlement, while today's destination — Ta Van Village — is a community centered around the Dao people. As we walked, our little guide explained that Dao architecture typically has a gentler roof slope than Hmong buildings, and the walls are often made of mud or stone, giving them a thicker, sturdier look.

▲ We occasionally passed by a few houses, with sun-dried corn hanging under the eaves. Along the way, the terraced field scenery continued, and Xiaoyang said we would circle into the mountains today and come down the other side. Although it was on and off rainy and clear, we cherished every moment the rain stopped, seizing the time to photograph the layered beauty of the terraced fields.

▲ Looking out over the village's terraced fields

▲ A water buffalo by the roadside, showing the atmosphere of the countryside Through the bamboo forest × the challenge of mud after the rain The rain in the night made the mountain path even more slippery, and it was especially hard going for me in my sneakers. After about two hours of hiking, we entered a bamboo forest. The water droplets on the bamboo leaves glistened, and when the wind blew, it was like a gentle drizzle falling softly.

At the end of the bamboo forest was a small slope, and 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, a Yao village, and distant mountains wrapped in mist, all lying quietly before our eyes.

The 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 smiling and walking with us, and when we reached the fork in the road leading to the waterfall, they still cheerfully said, "Buy from us when you come back!" All we could do was smile, wave, and say, "Really, we don't need anything!" This kind of interaction has actually become part of the Sa Pa trekking experience — a little annoying, a little endearing, and quite real.

Waterfall's Secret Realm × Legend of Suicide Grass The trail to the waterfall is like a path to a secret land, requiring you to cross several small streams along the way. My athletic shoes were nearly soaked through, so I really recommend wearing hiking boots or waterproof shoes. It's about a 30-minute walk from the village to the waterfall. Along the way, Xiaoyang introduced a particular plant — "suicide grass" — which according to the legends of the Miao and Yao peoples would definitely be fatal if consumed three times. Just hearing about it gave me chills.

▲ Crossing the stream (footage)

▲Waterfall Close-up

▲Suicide Grass

▲ Leaving the waterfall area along the ditch Lunch and the afternoon Coming back down the other side of the mountain, we once again saw the beautiful scenery of terraced fields interwoven with Miao villages. Along the way, Xiaoyang took us to a high platform to take photos, where the clouds and mist, distant mountains, and terraced fields formed a perfect composition.

We arrived at the lunch restaurant around 2pm, which offered simple fried rice, fried noodles, and rice noodle soup (pho). Around 3pm the sky turned cloudy, so Xiaoyang suggested canceling the afternoon's extended route and going to a nearby café to rest instead. A few of the flavored coffees there (such as peanut and tofu flavor) were quite unique.

At 4 o'clock, Little Yang arranged a car to take us back to the homestay. On the way, we specifically stopped at a small vegetable stall, originally intending to buy some local vegetables to cook, but in the end we only bought dragon whisker greens.

Nighttime at the Homestay After returning to the homestay, it was the same familiar rhythm again: dining, raising glasses, playing pool. The sound of rain kept falling outside, while laughter filled the room inside. This day had no gorgeous sunset, no lively nightlife — only a gentle breeze, laughter, and quiet terraced fields. In that moment, we all knew — this is what Sapa is truly about. Previous ← North Vietnam Free Travel Day 4｜Sapa Trekking × Mountain Terraced Fields × Ethnic Minority Village Visit Next → North Vietnam Free Travel Day 6 | Crossing Through the Yao Miao Protected Area, Farewell in the Mist 🔗 Extended Reading | North Vietnam Free Travel Series 【Travel Travelogue】 North Vietnam Free Travel Day 1 | Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Lake × Jade Mountain Temple × St. Joseph's Cathedral × A First Look at Water Puppet Theater North Vietnam Free Travel Day 2 | From Hanoi to Sapa × Visiting Cat Cat Village × Gazing Over the Terraced Fields North Vietnam Self-Guided Tour Day 3｜Climbing Fansipan, the Roof of Vietnam × Challenging the Rong May Glass Bridge Above the Clouds North Vietnam Self-Guided Tour Day 4｜Sapa Trekking × Mountain Forest Terraces × Visiting Ethnic Minority Villages North Vietnam Self-Guided Tour Day 5｜Through Yao Ethnic Villages × Bamboo Forest Trails × Hidden Waterfall Secret Realm North Vietnam Self-Guided Tour Day 6｜Through the Yao and Miao Ethnic Reserve, a Farewell in the Mist North Vietnam Freewheeling Trip Day 7 | Ninh Binh Day Tour: Trang An Boat Ride × Mua Cave Hiking × Thung Nham Bird Sanctuary 【North Vietnam Travel Guide Summary】 Complete Hanoi Travel Guide | Must-Visit Attractions × Itinerary Planning × North Vietnam Extended Trip Ideas (2025 Updated Edition) Vietnam Sapa Travel Guide | North Vietnam's Terraced Fields and Ethnic Minority Culture Hidden Gem Ha Long Bay Travel Guide: One-Day Itinerary, Best Season, and Classic Attractions Vietnam's Ha Long Bay World Cultural Heritage Site: Best Travel Season and a Recommended Three-Day Itinerary