Top Things to do in Lao Cai Province
What to do and see in Lao Cai Province, Lao Cai Province: The Best Free Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in Lao Cai Province, Vietnam including Indigo Cat, Hieu Stone, Hanoi City Tours, Wooden PUB, Relax Bar, Can Cau Market, Bac Ha Market, Coc Ly Market, The H'mong Sisters, O Quy Ho Mountain Pass.
Restaurants in Lao Cai Province
1. Indigo Cat
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 66 reviews
At Indigo Cat shop, we carefully choose our fabrics directly by visiting local families from all over the northern part of Vietnam. Those families and Indigo Cat agree on a fair price that covers the cost of labor and materials and enables artisans to earn a fair compensation for their work. All these artisans can plan for the future with constant orders from month to month. We are now working with more than 50 different families and we are employing 3 women in our workshop located in Ta Van village. By purchasing items from us, our customers are directly impacting the local minority communities to create a better life for them and their families.
Reviewed By Oliwwwa
I am greatly interested in art of fabrics. My husband took me for super treking combined with batik workshop from Indigo Cat. We had a scenic walk for about 10 km from Sa Pa to Ta Van village where the sweetest and lovely teacher had showed me the secrets of batik making and indigo. You have to reserve minimum 3 hours for the whole process. It is such a meticulous and complex craft and everyone interested in artisan work and diy will greatly enjoy it. My teacher was very patient and truly applied learning by doing method of educating. I was so satisfied with observing her work, teach and also happy with the effect. Additionally we made a little shopping on the spot. Highly recommend this very unique and rare experience.
2. Hieu Stone
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 15 reviews
My shop is located on the way to the tourist area of Cat Cat Village! We accept orders (custom design available) and follow the requirements of customers from sapa soap stone! "all days of the week workshop( Carving class"!
3. Hanoi City Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Hanoi City Tour are excellent journeys for your trip on holidays. You will easily be to choose a good tour visiting many famous landscapes or trekking for getting adventure. The tours attract all domestic and foreign tourists by its climate, natural landscapes and local specialities. Moreover, you can make new friends from over the world with group tours or enjoy by yourself with private tours or customized tours. Hanoi City Tour is a leading tour operator in Hanoi Vietnam offers private tour packages, trekking tours, customized Vietnam tours, best price tour to Sapa from Hanoi. Contact us to get more information and promotional program for your trip. HOTLINE: (+84) 0974 299 800
4. Wooden PUB
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
5. Relax Bar
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 74 reviews
Welcome to Relax Bar Sapa ! There is not many place for nightlife in Sapa town - a big tourism city and we understand what traveller looking for at night when you travel to this town. Make sure you will enjoy every moment that you visit this place (The people, music, traditional art ...) Thank you very much
Reviewed By Flyer707497 - Sapa, Vietnam
Great location in Sapa town with friendly boss and beautiful waitress serving you, free pool table....Strongly recommend.
6. Can Cau Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 70 reviews
Reviewed By J4939HJmichaelp - Chiang Rai, Thailand
Another market well known for colorful minority people and one of a handful where large livestock (cows and buffalo) are still traded. I have been to this market many times as it is easy enough to reach by bus from Bac Ha town center. Located 12 highway miles (19 km) north of Bac Ha, the small village of Can Cau hosts a smaller version of the Bac Ha market every Saturday morning. Overlooking a beautiful valley blanketed in rice terraces and cornfields, the market is spread out over a fairly large area. Situated along provincial road DT- 153, it feels less crowded, and until recently had fewer tourists than the market in Bac Ha. Since many of the vendors are selling their wares on the highway itself, it is easier to move around and take photographs. Much like Bac Ha, Can Cau market attracts the colorfully dressed Flower Hmong people who both buy and sell fresh produce, livestock, farming equipment and all sorts of clothing and household goods. In the very back of the market is a long-curved path where vendors sell handicrafts, trinkets, and souvenirs to a growing number of tourists. The trip from Bac Ha to Can Cau takes about forty minutes, so I recommend getting an early start. The market can be reached by bus or motorcycle taxi; a one-way moto ride costs around 200,000 VND. Another option is to hire a motorcycle taxi and after seeing the market make a tour of the surrounding area. Drivers can be arranged through hotels to do a six to eight-hour sight-seeing tour for around $30 USD. To reach Can Cau by bus, take any of the local ones marked "Lào Cai - Bắc Hà - Si Ma Cai". These buses pass directly in front of the market which happens to be on the main road between Bac Ha and Si Ma Cai. Since buses make frequent stops, the journey takes at least one hour. The cost, each way, is 40,000 VND.
7. Bac Ha Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 489 reviews
Bac ha Market Nestled in the northern hills of Vietnam exists one of the best ethnic markets in all of Southeast Asia! On Sundays, the ethnic minorities from the surrounding villages and hills come by foot, by motorscooter, by horse, and by water buffalow for their chance to socialize, eat, drink, smoke, get a haircut, and buy produce and meat for the next week. It is a blur of colorful plaids and stripes.
Reviewed By J4939HJmichaelp - Chiang Rai, Thailand
I've actually been to this market around fifty times. Located in Bac Ha town center it is very easy and inexpensive for budget independent travelers to reach. It is also one of a handful of markets where large livestock; buffalo, cows, and horses are still traded. Many Chinese from Yunnan come here to buy buffalo and it's not uncommon to see money-changers armed with electronic calculators and large bags of ready to buy back Chinese Yuan. The market is also well known as a gathering place for the Flower Hmong people who live in Lao Cai and Ha Giang Provinces. For the minority people, these markets are a bit like a county fair in rural North-America. Many folks, mostly the girls and ladies, put on their best costumes for the occasion. In addition to the Hmong, visitors will also encounter Black Tay, Tai, Kinh, Dao Ao Dai, Phu La and Nung people in full traditional clothing. These markets in Northern Vietnam start early; around 6 a.m., peak around 10 and by noon most people are headed back to their villages, many on foot, with bamboo baskets full of rice and other basic staples. Amazing arrays of products are sold here including foodstuff such as meat, produce and rice, clothing and household goods. As many of the shoppers here are farmers a wide selection of agricultural equipment from hand and power tools to pumps and machinery is also available. Since the market starts early in the morning and peaks before noon, many travelers opt to arrive in Bac Ha Saturday afternoon and spend at least one night. There are a number of budget hotels in the town, most of which are within a five-minute walk of the market. There are also many inexpensive home-stays in and around town, a few of which can be found in Ban Pho Village. Besides the Sunday market, there is a small Saturday night market and cultural show located near the pagoda in town. Bac Ha offers trekking opportunities to nearby villages such as Ban Pho.
8. Coc Ly Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33 reviews
Coc Ly market where situated between stunning mountains by the Chay River. Every Tuesday morning, the people from the surrounding ethnic villages such as Flower H'mong, Phu La and Dao Tuyen gather to sell and buy their products. Having explored the market, you will have a boat trip to Flower H'mong village of Na Nen then trek to Trung Do village of Tay minority people. Enjoy the picnic lunch in local house with Tay people. From there you can travel by boat down the river and experience the magnificent sight of the beautiful river banks.
Reviewed By r0landbrunner - Zurich, Switzerland
The Coc Ly Tuesday market is very colorful and much more authentic then the bigger market in Bac Ha and especially more so then the whole Sapa setting, even if also here tourists start coming in more and more. the buffalo fair with hundreds of buffalos to be traded is amazing.
9. The H'mong Sisters
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 120 reviews
Music Bar, Happy Hour from 4 PM to 7 PM, "buy 1 get 1 one free" mojito everyday, wood fire in winter, free pool table
Reviewed By Airsnroo123 - Birmingham, United Kingdom
Cool decor! Great music free pool table. Wish this was my local! Good prices on drinks and friendly welcome. Did I mention great play list? Haven't rocked like this for years.
10. O Quy Ho Mountain Pass
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 43 reviews
Reviewed By Xcrat - Singapore, Singapore
Except the Balinese alike gate, this place is great place for sunset. Going to that place by a motorbike, it was chilling and windy especially otw back. Beware of the traffic police in the evening, this route is their area to make bribe money and they insulted ladies by asking number n words. It was such a bad exp in Vietnam and it ruined our holidays a bit.
