Planning a trip to Vietnam?

Looking for a mountain destination where you can feel lost in time and space, leaving the routine behind?

Wondering if Sapa is worth visiting?

Here’s the kicker:

Not everywhere in Sapa is packed with tourists, the same way that not all the natural wonders that you can find in Lao Cai province are located in Sapa.

It’s all about a simple rule of thumb:

The benefits of tourism must be spread so that both hosts and visitors can enjoy a pleasant exchange. That also means that if you travel to a certain destination, you should not focus your whole trip exclusively on one single place, especially when you have invested some precious time to get there and when the rest of the region can also offer you many other ventures – And that’s exactly the case of Lao Cai province!

Y Ty: the upland village in the scenic Bat Xat district, Lao Cai

You will find the commune of Y Ty right on the peak of a triangle with Sapa and Lao Cai, very close to the border between China and Vietnam and laying at an altitude of 2,000 m. on the slope of Nhiu Co San mountain.

360 Km from Hanoi
70 km from Lao Cai station

Well-known for…

…Its dense clouds, spectacular jungle mountains and magnificent terraced fields.

However, the commune remarkable character has undeniably been nurtured by the different ethnic identities of the area: The H’Mong, Dao, Giay and the Ha Nhi, each one with their traditions, jewelry and architecture.

The mushroom-shaped houses of the Ha Nhi people (Nha trinh tuong) are a great sample of traditional green architecture in harmony with nature: the thick walls made of clay and the roofs covered with thatch are just some of the eco-friendly materials that allowed the ancient people in Bat Xat to face the harsh winters – So green architecture isn’t any new invention!

Pure rural setting laureated for its genuineness

The winding road leading to the commune goes through a majestic natural scenery painted with forests, cascades, beautiful terraced fields and some villages nestled on the mountains like Y Ty, which is greeted by misty clouds almost all year-round, so the locals rarely see the sun shining for the whole day.

Due to the genuineness of the setting, when coming here, tourists and photographers describe it as being in a fairyland where there is no trace of urban life’s hustle, as a (nice!) feeling of being lost in time and space.

The villagers may stare at you curiously since most of them have never run into a foreigner. However, Y Ty people are hospitable, so don’t be surprised if you are invited to a house to taste some local wine.

On Saturdays, you will also have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the colorful highland market, full of local products. And at dusk, when it gets chilly, it is usual to lit a fire to warm up while listening stories about this border region.

Some of the most beautiful Vietnamese mountain villages

Many people compare Y Ty to Sapa or Mu Cang Chai due to the impressive mountain fields that can be found in the area, especially the ones extending from Muong Hum to the top of the mountains of Den Sang and from the center of Y Ty to Ngai Thau or A Lu, which are pretty unique since they are located on the top of a mountain.

Together with Lao Chai and Sim San, the area unquestionably counts on some of the most beautiful villages in the Vietnamese northern mountains.

Activities

• For adventurers: Conquering Nhiu Con San or Bach Moc Luong Tu mounts by hiking through a stunning primeval forest with hundred-year-old trees.

• For the ones seeking other ways of living: Trekking through villages along terraced fields to visit the different ethnic villages of the area.

• For mountain bikers: An awesome route between Sapa and Y Ty.

• For the ones who’d love to go to a highland market: The Weekend markets on Saturday (Y Ty) and Sunday (Muong Hum), where ethnic people gather to trade, meet and socialize.

When to visit

The best time is from September to November and from April to June as Y Ty is located on the high mountains with extremely cold winters.

Some specific dates worth to be mentioned:

• Rice harvesting season: From late August to mid-September.

• Cloud hunting: After Tet to March is the best time to catch the most impressive cumulus clouds crossing the valley.

• Mirror-like rice fields: In April, when locals cover the terraces with water to prepare their lands for a new season. By April the azaleas also bloom throughout the jungle.

• The Kho Gia Gia festival: Held for 5 days, starting on the 4^th June of the lunar calendar.

• Ga Ga Tho Tho festival: From the 9th to the 11^th of November (lunar calendar).

Where to stay

There are not many hotels or guest houses in Y Ty. At Handspan we work with a few locals so that our guests can stay in a traditional house, experience how the Ha Nhi people live and maybe do some daily tasks with them.

How to get there

• Lao Cai is the gateway to Y Ty. You can easily get there by a comfortable night train or a regular bus from Hanoi.

• Y Ty is a remote village, therefore getting there from Lao Cai requires a private transfer. At Handspan we regularly run regular trekking and market tours with our local expert departing from Hanoi every Friday.

What does Handspan offer?

What we call ‘sharing ECOnomy’ trips:

• Trekking and market tours to Y Ty and Muong Hum can be arranged on request with our local expert. The tour can be connected with Sapa as well. Let us lead you off the beaten path to Y Ty.

• Suggested program:

  • Friday: Night train to Lao Cai

  • Saturday: Transfer to Y Ty for the Saturday market. PM trekking to Lao Chai village (Ha Nhi people) Sin Chai and Nhiu Co San. Overnight in a local guesthouse.

  • Sunday: Drive to Muong Hum village. PM hiking in Ta Giang Phin and Ban Khoang village. Overnight in Sapa.

  • Monday: Visit the Golden stream valley in Sapa. Evening bus to Hanoi.

Come to discover Y Ty with us and figure out why this is one of our top 5 mountain destinations at Handspan!