North Vietnam Free Travel Day 5｜Through Yao Village × Bamboo Forest Trail × Hidden Waterfall Sanctuary

Day two of Sapa trekking, this morning was still awakened by sunlight. Last night was another heavy rain; after the rain stopped, the mountain valley returned to tranquility, thin mist gently wrapped around the terraced fields——this seems to be the daily rhythm of Sapa in this season. Morning departure: Mountain valley awakened by the sound of rain Breakfast was very simple, hot crepes with bananas, and a pot of hot water so we could brew coffee. 8:30, Xiao Yang arrived at the homestay on time to lead us out, ready to begin today's trekking route. Soon after, the sky began to drizzle again, though the strong typhoon in the distance was gradually weakening, it still brought continuous rain to the northern Vietnamese mountains.

▲Homestay morning view: a light mist outside the window and a panoramic view of the terraced fields

▲Breakfast prepared by the homestay 💡 Fun fact: October in Sapa is at 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 boots. Differences between Hmong and Dao settlements Yesterday's Muong Hoa Valley ("Reed Flower Valley") was mainly a Hmong settlement, while today's destination — Ta Van Village — is a community made up mostly of the Dao (Yao) people. As we walked, Xiaoyang explained that Dao architecture tends to have a gentler roof slope than Hmong buildings, and the walls are often made of mud or stone, giving them a thicker, sturdier look.

▲Occasionally passing a few houses, dried corn hangs under the eaves Along the way, it's still a scene of terraced fields; Xiao Yang said we would circle into the mountains today, then descend the other side. Although it kept switching between rain and sunshine, we cherished every moment the rain paused, seizing the time to capture the layered beauty of the terraced fields.

▲ A distant view of the village's terraced fields

▲ A water buffalo by the roadside, showing the atmosphere of the countryside Crossing the bamboo forest × the challenge of post-rain mud The night rain made the mountain road even more slippery, which was especially hard for me wearing running shoes. After about two hours of hiking, we entered a bamboo forest. Water droplets on the bamboo leaves sparkled, and when the wind blew, it was like a gentle drizzle falling softly.

Climbing to the end of the bamboo forest, we found a small slope, and because it was slippery, we held each other's hands to climb up. When we finally reached the top of the hill, the scenery of the entire valley suddenly unfolded before us — terraced fields, Yao ethnic villages, and distant mountains wrapped in mist, all lying quietly before our eyes.

Ethnic minority women along the road 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 I could do was smile and wave, saying, "Really, we don't need anything!" This kind of interaction has actually become part of the Sapa trekking experience — a little annoying, a little endearing, and quite real.

Waterfall Secret Realm × The Legend of the Suicide Grass The trail leading 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 do recommend wearing hiking shoes or waterproof shoes. It takes about 30 minutes to walk from the village to the waterfall. Along the way, our guide Xiaoyang introduced us to a plant called "suicide grass" — according to Miao and Yao legend, eating it three times is said to be fatal without fail. Just hearing about it sent chills down my spine.

▲Crossing the Stream Footage

▲Close-up of the waterfall

▲Suicide Grass

▲Leaving the waterfall area by walking along the 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 villages intertwine. Along the way, Xiaoyang took us to a high platform to take photos — the clouds and mist, distant mountains, and terraced fields formed a perfect composition.

We arrived at the lunch restaurant around 2pm, which offers simple fried rice, fried noodles, and rice noodle soup. Around 3pm the sky turned cloudy, so Xiao Yang suggested canceling the extended afternoon route and going to a nearby café to rest instead. A few of the specialty coffees there (such as peanut and tofu flavors) are pretty unique.

At 4 o'clock, Xiaoyang arranged a car to take us back to the homestay. On the way, we made a special stop at a small vegetable stall, hoping to buy some local vegetables to cook, but in the end we only bought some Cirrus squash tendrils.

Homestay Time at Night After returning to the homestay, it was the same familiar rhythm again: eating, raising glasses, playing pool. The rain kept falling outside, but the room was filled with laughter. This day had no gorgeous sunset, no lively nightlife — only the breeze, the laughter, and the quiet terraced fields. In that moment, we all knew — this, is the real Sapa. Previous ←North Vietnam Freedom Trip Day 4｜Sapa Trekking × Mountain Forest Terraces × Ethnic Minority Village Visit Next Article → North Vietnam Independent Travel Day 6 | Crossing the Yao and Miao Ethnic Protected Area, a Farewell in the Fog 🔗 Further Reading | North Vietnam Independent Travel Series 【Travel Journal】 North Vietnam Independent Travel Day 1 | Hanoi Hoan Kiem Lake × Ngoc Son Temple × St. Joseph's Cathedral × First Experience of the Water Puppet Show North Vietnam Independent Travel Day 2 | From Hanoi to Sapa × Visiting Cat Cat Village × Overlooking the Beautiful Terraced Fields Northern Vietnam Self-Guided Trip Day 3 | Ascending Vietnam's Roof, Fansipan × Challenging the Rong May Glass Bridge Above the Clouds Northern Vietnam Self-Guided Trip Day 4 | Sapa Trekking × Mountain Terraced Fields × Visiting Ethnic Minority Villages Northern Vietnam Self-Guided Trip Day 5 | Passing Through Yao Villages × Bamboo Forest Trails × Hidden Waterfall Secret Spot Northern Vietnam Self-Guided Trip Day 6 | Crossing the Yao-Miao Protected Area, A Farewell in the Mist North Vietnam Independent Travel Day 7｜Ninh Binh One-Day Tour: Trang An Boat Ride × Mua Cave Hiking × Thung Nham Bird Sanctuary 【North Vietnam Travel Guide Complete Summary】 Hanoi Travel Complete Guide｜Must-Visit Spots × Itinerary Planning × Extended Trips Around North Vietnam (2025 Updated Edition) Vietnam Sapa Travel Guide｜North Vietnam's Terraced Fields and Ethnic Minority Cultural Hideaway Ha Long Bay (Land) Travel Guide: One-Day Itinerary, Best Season, and Classic Attractions Ha Long Bay World Heritage Site in Vietnam: The Best Travel Season and a Recommended Three-Day Itinerary