Review Author: Chris

Review Date: 11 Jul 2024

Review Body: I really enjoyed my trek with Khai, even though it was just the 2 of us it felt like hiking with a good friend. Day 1: The route is not easy, especially when it rained previously, causing some paths to be muddy. Some parts of the trek are also quite tiring both up and downhill. I would advise trekkers to wear shoes with proper grips, and to train for at least 2 weeks or a month to make it enjoyable without feeling too tired. However the view throughout is very much worth it, and there are pitstops along the way to rest. The homestay dinner was great, and we had a fun karaoke session. There is a mosquito net for sleeping but you may have to smack some during dinner/at night. Day 2: Breakfast was okay, but i was hoping to try the local breakfast, instead we had crepes, which I think was due to the other guests who were a french family of 6. It was still enjoyable and healthy. Unfortunately I had to cancel my 2nd day after the homestay due to bring tired, but Khai and the host arranged a bike back to town for me without any issues. Overall would recommend Khai and team, just ensure your fitness level is adequate so you don't miss out on enjoying the trip.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: An N, Germany

Review Date: 09 Sep 2019

Review Body: We just got home 2 weeks ago and am already missing the rice field mountains and Chan, Dung, Di, Cong and Sung. The 3 day trecking tour was the final event of our 3 weeks in Vietnam. We were looking a few days before what kind of tours we could do to see the beautiful north east of Vietnam. You will notice that there are thousands of companies offering well-organized tours from Hanoi. Most of them with a schedule like (drive to a - take photos of minority people b, ect.) which we found ridiculous - well, of course there is a market. In case you want to have a less touristic and more authentic experience in the north --> then shoot Chan a Whatsapp message and ask her for a trecking tour. Its easy! We had a quick exchange via Whatsapp and a quick phone call and agreed on a 3 day trecking program the next day. We asked her to hike some quieter routes in order to escape the hectic cities and tourist tours. We took a night bus to Sapa (take one with big beds! Otherwise you might feel uncomfortable if you are bigger/taller). Chans sister picked us up at the bus station and we had a great buffet breakfast at a hotel in Sapa. A little later Sung arrived (Chans husband) to take us (YES! THIS IS A PRIVATE TOUR! Which makes sense - you dont want to go hiking with random strangers. This often leads to problems if the fitness level contradicts too much) on a hike. This was awesome - we only saw very, very few other people on the way. We had lunch on the way (rice plate). We (me and my gf) then arrived at Chans and Sungs house. They just finished building it a few years ago and it is pretty dope! Especially the view made wondering "why wouldn't you wanna live here". Take care! The kids: 2 daughters Dung and Di and the small boy Cong are all pretty adorable! There are little puffies (dogs) - also ultra cute and like to kuddle. We then prepared dinner together. They have their own garden with very fresh and tasty vegetables. The food was very nice and more then enough. We sat together with the whole family and talked about our lifes, views of life and individual stories for hours. They were very open and we learned 10000 more about Hmong culture than in any Wikipedia or lonely planet article. The next day started with delicious pancakes made by sung. He got this skill from a french cooking school in Hanoi - where he actually met Chan! : ) we went on another incredibly beautiful hike with more water buffalos than any other human on the way. We hiked up some pretty mountains, had picnic and came back to the house for dinner. This time Chans cousin joined us and we had a lot of fun including self brewed rice wine. Sung made some pretty dope french fries - which we all thought were frozen but he learned that in the cooking school, too. They had a riffled knife to make them including garlic - yummi! The final day started again with an amazing view from the terrace (we had the whole 2nd fool for us) + pancakes. We then went on our final hike to a very beautiful waterfall. After a final lunch with Chan it was time to say goodbye - unfortunately. She gave us some homemade presents and we took a bus from the village to Sapa to take another bus to Hanoi. I hope Chan - you are reading this! Thank you so much and give the whole family a warm hug from us! Hope to see you soon!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: katie1616, USA

Review Date: 10 Apr 2019

Review Body: My friend and I spent an incredible 3 days with Chan as our guide for a Sapa trek. I absolutely cannot say enough good things about Chan and her family. She was an incredible guide. Her English was excellent, the best of any guide we had in Vietnam and very easy to understand. She was extremely funny, kind, and personable. We rarely stopped chatting for the two and a half days we spent with her. We learned so much about the Hmong villages, culture, and traditions. She pointed out interesting sites, plants, and things to discuss along our trek. We had so much fun talking and laughing with her. She is also an incredibly strong and interesting person, and we loved learning about Hmong culture from her. She helped us to be really well prepared to trek. It was raining our first day and she helped us purchase rain boots and ponchos so we stayed comfortable and dry the whole time. Many other groups we passed did not have this and were clearly struggling with their guides! The first night we had homestay with her family. The mattresses in her home were extremely comfortable and the house was clean, and there was a working toilet and hot water in the shower that we had to ourselves on the second floor. Cooking dinner with her family the first night was one of our top experiences in Vietnam. She helped teach us how to do Batik crafting while her family cooked by the fire. Her three absolutely adorable children played with us and they were so sweet. The meal was outstanding, with friend chicken, local vegetables, and the best springrolls we had during our time in Vietnam. Chan also helped fit the trek to our level. The second day had some rain and difficult muddy hikes. Chan was SO unbelievably kind and patient, helping us down the more difficult parts of the hike and taking breaks or getting us snacks whenever needed. She never got annoyed by us and was so fun to be around despite how difficult the hike was. The views we saw while trekking were incredible, and we loved the natural beauty of Sapa. I saw and have spoken to friends who have also done treks, and I think our experience with Chan and her family was much more fun and authentic than others I have heard about. We talked about how we missed hanging out with her even after the trek was over. Choose this tour company for your trek, you won't regret it!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: aliciah2033

Review Date: 04 Sep 2019

Review Body: My husband and I spent two very busy weeks in Vietnam, and our two day, one night trek with Chan was the highlight of our trip - by a long shot! After reflecting on the tour, we realized that what made this experience the most special was the that we could relate to and befriend Chan despite being from such a different world and culture. Chan has perfect English and a bubbly personality. This is supplemented by a wealth of knowledge about her tribe, the Sapa region and farming. She is open to any and all questions about her tribe and lifestyle, which led to some really interesting conversations. We had these conversations for hours while trekking the gorgeous scenery - rice paddies, water falls and bamboo forests. When we got to Chan's home, we were pleasantly surprised. We were not quite sure what to expect initially, and didn't know if we would have a bathroom or shower. Chan and her husband built a beautiful new home around 4 years ago with an upstairs floor just for guests. There is a clean bathroom and shower as well as a deck overlooking rice paddies, waterfalls and mountains. Her family made us feel at home immediately, serving us tea on the deck and including us in dinner preparation. After a day full day of hiking, we were reenergized by Chan's wonderful children who warmed up to us in a few minutes. Despite the language barrier, we played with the kids for hours. Another factor that we appreciated was Chan's flexibility. We were able to choose our treks with Chan in terms of distance, level and scenery. We also had a little more time in Sapa than initially expected, so Chan gave us more time to trek with her on the second day. During our visit, many families were harvesting rice and we asked many questions about the harvesting process. Picking up on our curiosity, Chan asked a family if we could help them for a little while in their harvesting process. This added a layer of appreciation for the labor involved in harvesting rice. Book this tour! You will not regret it!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: thebirdstheysing, Australia

Review Date: 24 Jul 2019

Review Body: We organised a three day trek with Chan, and we firmed up the itinerary when she met us at our hotel in Sapa the day we set out. We had initially planned to stay at different homestays for the two nights, but ultimately decided to stay with Chan and her family in TaVan, which meant we got to know the family and didn't have to pack up twice. Chan was initially concerned our kids (aged 8, 9 and 10) would struggle on the 16km mountainous first first day and wondered whether we should instead take the roads, but we were keen to stay on mountain paths even if muddy so that's what we did. Chan was great with the kids (she has young kids herself), especially our youngest who needed a hand in some of the more slippery parts. The two older kids had no trouble. The scenery was stunning, the agriculture was fascinating (including the effects of climate change) and as on all days we stopped for a simple and delicious lunch where Chan efficiently organised our meal. Chan made us all bamboo walking sticks which were a hit, and taught us a lot about Hmong culture. She is bright and curious and a delight to spend time with. Chan and her family cooked us a generous and delicious evening meals using many veggies from their garden. If you arrive early enough you can help with the preparation. We had a similarly enjoyable hike on the second day, then on the third day tropical thunderstorms hit in a major way which was an adventure in itself. It meant that we stayed on the roads and couldn't swim in the river, which the kids had been looking forward to. After the trek we continued to be well looked after as Chan passed us into the care of her sister who helped us out at the covered market and getting a van back to the overnight train. All five of us enjoyed our time trekking with Chan and staying with her family very much - a definite highlight of our trip to Sapa and Vietnam.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Portlandpride

Review Date: 08 Oct 2019

Review Body: I found Chan via trip advisor two weeks ago and was so lucky she had availability to take my partner and I trekking for two days. We were worried that going with a company (like Sapa sisters or another) might mean the H'mong women aren't getting all of the money and we wanted to cut out the middleman and give directly to the minority community. THIS is the way to do that. And one of the only ways as a lot of the companies (including Sapa sisters which is owned by a westerner) aren't even owned by local people. It's sad to know that someone is taking money out of these communities. So give directly to a local family and keep the money in these minority communities to help them thrive and live more comfortable lives. Chan was an absolutely incredible guide. She took us on paths without all the other tourists and taught us so much about the way of life for these minority groups. She shared stories of her family and community and took so much time to explain whatever we were wondering about. She was also very good because I am recovering from a knee injury and she always have me options of easier or more difficult paths which was such a blessing. Having a guide all to yourself really allows you to learn so much more and build a relationship. We had a lot of laughs and loved her beautiful home. Best night I've slept so far in Vietnam. Also, I'm Celiac and when talking to Chan about needing to steer clear of wheat and sauces containing it, she and her family were excellent. I felt so comfortable and was able to try so much local food that I usually any because communication is hard. If you need gluten free or wheat free food I highly recommend Chan. She also catered for us being vegetarian! Her home is lovely. She is lovely. Her family is lovely. Stop looking and go with Chan, you'll be in the best hands. I can't wait to come back in the future!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: DominikZindel

Review Date: 27 Jul 2018

Review Body: We did a 3-day trekking with Chan and it was absolutely fantastic. Chan was a great guide for us, showing us many things and always extremely helpful. The first 1.5 days were very rainy, but Chan proved to be very flexible and was still able to show us many nice places that were absolutely save to walk, avoiding the potentially dangerous/slippery paths. Also, Chan flexibly adapted the program to our preferences and fitness - we could tell her that we were a bit tired today and she immediately proposed several alternatives, among which we could choose. We were travelling both with my parents and our two children, 4 and 2 years old. Herself having children in the similar age, Chan proved to be the perfect guide for a family tour. The 4-year-old girl walked almost everything (several hours/day) at the hands of Chan, who also carried her when necessary (e.g. to cross a river) and was just lovely with her. The first day after the trekking, our daughter already missed Chan :-) The homestay at her family was also very nice, with a very welcoming family, showing us many things and very open to provide insights in their live. I could have stayed there for longer! We had booked/organized it via email with Chan and Sung, and everything worked out perfectly from the beginning to the end. Chan is very fluent in English with a very good pronunciation, we never had communication issues - which is something quite rare here. She also openly discussed several topics and local issues. Overall: if you're thinking about doing a trekking around Sapa, I can definitely and without any hesitation recommend Chan and her family!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Cadertots, Colorado

Review Date: 17 Jun 2019

Review Body: This is one of the best travel experiences we have ever had! Chan and Sung are a husband and wife pair that own and operate the tour. They are from the Black H’Mong tribe and have generations worth of knowledge and insight about the traditional way of living in the northern part of Vietnam. They speak perfect English, which allowed us to get to know them on a very personal level. They were able to teach us about everything from family life to agriculture. Chan had the best sense of humor and had us laughing the entire trek. The walk itself is not too physically demanding, although depending on rain the conditions can be muddy. We had some rain and found it to be awesome because it cooled us down. On this trek we saw incredible rice terraces and traditional villages. They taught us about garment making and we saw how they grow and use indigo to color their own clothes. The lunch was made from fresh vegetables, rice and meats straight from the gardens in the village we ate at. The best part of the trip was the stay at their home. Their family is so cute and welcoming. We loved being able to get a real taste of local life. The bonus was helping to prepare dinner with the fresh ingredients we harvested from their gardens. It was basically like a cooking class included as part of the trip! Having done various other treks and excursions we can safely say that these two are THE BEST! Look no further and book now, it will be an experience you’ll never forget!! Thank you Chan and Sung!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: seedimm, Ohio

Review Date: 13 May 2019

Review Body: We had to do a good amount of research to find a trekking company that was actually Hmong-owned, and we're SO HAPPY we found Chan and Sung. We got to go on a private, 12-mile trek from Sapa at our hotel through Cat Cat Village and all the way down to Chans homestay in Ta Van Village. They have "Easy/Medium/Hard" options, so we naturally chose "Hard" and went for it. Sung was our guide and was incredibly personal, professional and informative. I don't think we stopped talking about the Hmong people, their culture, their daily lives, etc for the entire 6 hour experience. We met locals, had a fantastic lunch at the top of the valley, and trekked through multiple villages and farms. I can't say enough about this young couple, their business, and their hospitality. These two "get it" and we were so fortunate to find Hmong guides that are committed to this business, not a just a foreign owned or VN business that employs Hmong. Best part was arriving at their beautiful new homestay, cracking open a beer, and meeting their adorable kids. After, they arranged for aotorbike taxi to take us back, which was worth the price of admission on its own! Super fun way to finish the day on the back of a bike, weaving through traffic and seeing parts of Sapa that we never would have seen. We will definitely be back for an overnight next time! Thank you Chan and Sung!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: D4436WSjanej, Vietnam

Review Date: 16 Oct 2019

Review Body: Today with misty weather trying to dampen the mood - we set off on a four hour trek. When we got out of the bus after 6km drive from Sapa town we were greeted by three very happy Tribal ladies. With perfect English they asked us our name age and where we were from. When I told them my age it transpires they were younger than I. 48-53 yrs. but they were fit young women from mountain living and natural nutrition. We had a happy chatty walk with our guide and the three ladies who made crafts in shape of hearts and horses from grasses reefs and flowers. When after 1 hour in their company they asked us to buy some of their hand made crafts. Yes it was expensive at $4 a bag, but the experience and company made up for it. . Our guide being from this tribe had explained they make the products up here and it’s a long walk to go down to city to sell. We passed a wedding preparation. A funeral celebration well into its party time and lots of wonderful children and farm animals on our journey. A trip well worth it, despite the cloud and fog coming down to spoil photo opportunities. But a memorable experience everyone should try if in Sapa

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ceekey, Austria

Review Date: 21 Jul 2019

Review Body: My girlfriend and I had a lovely experience with Chan and her husband. We booked the two day / one night trekking experience and we were glad that we did. We booked it very conveniently over whatsapp and Chan always answered immediatly. We actually wanted to make a bike tour before our trekking trip, but Chan cancelled due to bad weather which - in our opinion - is a showcase of professionalism, as it is very important to Chan that we experience the beautiful sides of Sa Pa. The next day we tackled the trek with her husband who took us on a beautiful and challenging path, through local villages, along the rice paddies, down the slippery bamboo forest to their homestay where we met Chan in person. Their homestay is an ongoing project and one of the biggest houses we saw on the whole trek. My girlfriend was taught how to design her own local cloth. We received a wonderful dinner with a couple of shots of "happy water". The next day we went on a short but more challenging and slippery path. All in all, a great experience and a highlight on our vietnam vacation.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Bree R

Review Date: 03 Jul 2019

Review Body: My partner and I visited Sapa for 4 night's, one of which was with the lovely Chan, and her family. She had been recommended by a friend of ours who had been trekking through Vietnam a few years ago - and the experience did not disappoint. We learnt so much about the culture of the villages surrounding Sapa; including history, agriculture and daily life. Chan's friendly nature and ability to speak English fluently made us feel more comfortable, as if we had known her for years. Nothing was too much trouble, Chan went out of her way to accommodate our needs and this made all the difference. The scenery on the trek is breathtaking. There are a few different options for length and direction of the trek - but we recommend the 2 days 1 night so you can stay with Chan and her family, and take in the magic of this beautiful place. Proper shoes are a must! We had a bit of rain which made the paths really slippery and impossible. Best to have sturdy shoes so you can enjoy the adventure in rain, hail or shine. We hope to go back next year and do it all again!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: melissajolliffe52, UK

Review Date: 17 Mar 2019

Review Body: Myself and a friend trekked with Chan for two days/1 night! She is super lovely and very knowledgable. She collected us from Sapa and we trekked over the mountains on day one, the views were amazing!!!! In the afternoon we visited her mum and she showed us some of the local artisan works and taught us the art of Batique (we even got to make ourselves some little headbands!). We then spent the evening at their home, where we met her children and husband Sung, who cooked us the most delicious traditional Vietnamese food. Day 2 was a trek through the rice paddies, before stopping for lunch and then getting a motorbike onto our next destination. Both Sung and Chan are so friendly and helpful, the communication for organising the whole trip was so easy, and they helped at every point. If you are looking for a real immersive/home-stay trip to see real Vietnamese village life and learn about the culture and land then this is the trek for you!! I cannot recommend Chan highly enough. This was the best part of our whole Vietnam trip!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Mishter_Dahby, Australia

Review Date: 08 Oct 2019

Review Body: I spent a long time searching for the best way to trek Sapa without having a negative influence on the local communities and luckily found Chan on TripAdvisor. It was hands down the most amazing experience: She took us off the beaten track away from the tourist traps, we saw waterfalls and gorgeous rice paddies and everything you want from your Sapa experience. But the best part? Chan herself! We learned what life is like for the minority communities, the workings of their culture, clothes, lifestyle... All from the most hilarious, kind person we've met in a while. We are both vegetarian and gluten free and when we stayed the night in her home with her family, they cooked us delicious food (while we did a shoddy job at making rice paper rolls!). It was a home full of love (and cute kids and puppies). We wouldn't book with anyone else next time we come back! P.S. There are a lot of companies that offer homestay tours but the money just goes to the owners living in Europe. Make the right choice and go with a local.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: GenuineFoodFan

Review Date: 06 Nov 2019

Review Body: We did a three day-two night homestay trek with Chan and Sung. We opted for the more "strenuous" treks which took us up into the hills overlooking the valley. This was such a good decision - it was tough trekking in part but very rewarding as the routes took us away from the masses of day trippers in the valley floor. The days weren't over-long and food and water was provided as part of the trek service. The evening meals were excellent with a great spread of authentic Local and Vietnamese dishes - more than enough to fill us up! The evenings were spent in Sung and Chan's own homestay which was very clean, spacious and comfortable. We held with the evening meal food preparation - learning about recipes and techniques - including making deep fried spring rolls. Both Sung and Chan speak excellent English and are very happy to engage and discuss topics relating to their culture, their local area and living in modern day Vietnam as a whole. We will be recommending them to all our friends and family.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: eacd2

Review Date: 29 Jul 2019

Review Body: If you are looking to have a trekking experience with local guides AND you care that the money stays in the community, you must do it through Sapa Hmong Family Trekking Adventures. A joint venture that is actually owned and operated by two Hmong sisters (versus having international ownership in Europe), this experience opens you up to not only the beautifully terraced rice paddies in the mountain but also the families of the Hmong women who run this venture. My husband and I had a fantastic experience both in the hiking and learning about the Black Hmong of this region. We hiked, did Batik in the traditional style, and even received some cooking lessons. Chan, Song, and their family were amazing hosts and the accommodation itself was very nice too. Not speaking any Vietnamese or Hmong, we appreciated how good their English was. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in trekking Sapa and having the most local impact for the money spent. Also accepted payment by PayPal.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: AlineT23

Review Date: 22 Mar 2019

Review Body: I found out about Chan’s trekkings in Sapa really by chance on a blog... and I am really glad I did!! We booked a 3 days / 2 nights trek but because of the weather we agreed with Chan to change it to a 2 days / 1 night trek. They organized as well the pick-up from Lao Cai to Sapa. Chan was our guide, she is really a lovely woman, always smiling and laughing. It was really great to trek with her as we avoided the « tourist trek » and on the way she was telling us about the surroundings, her culture. At the end of the first day Chan hosted us. Also an amazing experience: dinner was excellent and Chan and her husband made us try a couple of home made happy waters. On the next day Chan prepared us breakfast and we then went for the second day of trekking. After lunch we went back to Sapa and it was time to leave Chan. Overall I would say: great authentic experience, a really lovely woman, trekking / hiking for all level although some part could be a bit tricky in case of mud.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: thegirlbill

Review Date: 09 Dec 2019

Review Body: My boyfriend and I hiked Mount Fansipan with Tu this past week in SaPa-- Tu was very organized and prompt. He set a quick pace but was happy to wait for us on our many breaks :) Super nice and knowledgeable guide. About the hike itself... It is extremely challenging from the start! It took us 7 hours to reach the summit (with many breaks and a leisurely lunch) and we decided to take the cable car down because we were absolutely exhausted when we reached the top! The hike was so beautiful and worth it-- The sun came out and the views were unlike anything I'd seen. I would recommend the hike and Khai Tours to anyone, but consider your company to add a hike option where you hike up and take the cable car down (the cable car was not included in the price). The two other groups we were hiking with decided to do the same thing (hike up, cable car down) due to the difficulty of the hike. Again, would recommend Khai and Tu. The hike was a highlight of our trip.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: 988emilys, Indiana

Review Date: 13 May 2019

Review Body: What an incredible experience we had! Sung and his wife Chan are amazing hosts and guides! They were so kind, knowledgeable and fun! Sung took us off the beaten path to see the true region. We chose the “hard” one day trek that was the perfect amount of challenge but very manageable. He took us to some amazing photo ops and parts of the region that really expose the true beauty! This family is one of the only few that are run, owned and operated by local Hmong people which was so important to us to invest back into the region. Due to our travel schedule we were only able to do a one day trek. Sung made sure to maximize our day and took us on a 12 mile trip but I still wish we had more time. An over night with two day trek would have been perfect. We ended the day at their residence and we were able to see the homestay which was beautiful. Brand new build and very clean. Would have loved to spend the night there with them!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: NBoss67

Review Date: 01 Jun 2019

Review Body: We had a great time with Chan and sung and their cute family yesterday. It was raining throughout the day we started our motorbike trek. But no regrets. It was a. Beautiful ride for around 2 hours. Sung was a good driver and could drive on the muddy narrow roads with me in his bike and my wife in another. They drove like a pro and it was a safe trip to his wonderful new stilt house for lunch It was amidst a rice field and the scenic beauty made out short stay more memorable The lunch was nothing less than a classic restaurant food ( we we're mostly vegetarian, but we are their home cooked sumptuous chicken salad too ending with rice wine) We hoped that we stayed there overnight, but unfortunately our stay was short in Sapa We would definitely be interested in staying for a couple of days to enjoy their hospitality and scenic beauty. I would highly recommend everyone visiting Sapa for a lifetime experience

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Explore ethnic villages, waterfalls, and scenic landscapes on a cultural trek.

Itinerary Description: 09:00 am: Take a short walk along an easy path to Cat Cat Village. 11:00 am: Visit a local waterfall, Walk across a valley bridge and through the bamboo forest to Y Linh Ho Village 01:00 pm: Enjoy a picnic lunch on the mountain behind the village and absorb the magnificent mountain scenery across ancient rice terraces. Post lunch walk to Lao Chai Village. 03:00 pm: Be welcomed by a Black Hmong ethnic minority family who will be your host for the night. Dinner and overnight stay.

Itinerary Day 2

Itinerary Summary: Today you will trek to Tan Van Village, home of the Dzay ethnic minority

Itinerary Description: 08:00 am: Breakfast, Start the day with an ascent of Lao Chai mountain, 1,800M. Enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery and valley views 12:30 pm: Enjoy a picnic lunch 01:00 pm: Trek down to Tan Van Village, home of the Dzay ethnic minority 03:00 pm: Car or motorbike transfer back to Sapa 04:00 pm: Arrive at Sapa Town