From Hanoi: Sapa Real Experience 2-day 1 Night At Ethnic Homestay

I had pleasure staying at Sandman Signature Edmonton Hotel 1 night, my experience exceeded every expectation. From the warm welcome with genuine smiles, professionalism, and outstanding hospitality that immediately made me feel valued as a guest by the reception staff. The bed was incredibly comfortable, the bathroom was spotless, the Wi-Fi was excellent, and the room was beautifully designed with high-quality amenities. Everything was impeccably clean and well maintained. After a long journey, I felt completely relaxed, refreshed, and re-energized, allowing me to continue my work and travels with confidence. I highly recommend the Sandman Signature Edmonton Hotel to anyone looking for excellent hospitality, comfort, and outstanding service. My sincere thanks to the entire team, and I wish you continued success in providing such exceptional guest experiences.❤

It was an amazing experience😁

The trip by sleeper car was comfortable. Toa met us at the bus station. Because of the cloud cover, we took a different, uphill route to Mama Zuzu’s village. My partner and I are avid hikers in our mid-30s and found the uphill trek extremely challenging, so proceed with caution if you think this is beyond your physical limits. Mama Zuzu was patient and accommodating and walked the 45 min uphill trek slowly with us. Dinner at her home was yummy, and we slept comfortably. We felt very privileged to stay with her. The next day was a relatively easy downhill trek, then an uphill trek she thought might be too challenging for us, so we took motorbikes. This was a great experience for us, even though we underestimated the physical challenge.

For me, this was a good tour with some caveats. The trails were quite slippery and muddy with some pretty steep inclines and declines so it made for some pretty difficult trekking, but the views of the rice fields and mountains were beautiful. The home stay was pretty nice considering it’s located in a rural village in the mountains - the private rooms are small but the bed is comfortable and with a mosquito net, has a fan, and has charging outlets, and there is a western toilet and shower with warm water. The food served is delicious, and they were able to accommodate me as a vegetarian. Zu and her family are incredibly kind and welcoming and made us feel right at home. But during the treks villagers from nearby villages followed us to help us along the way, but at the end of the trek they tried to sell us their products and were pretty insistent, and at the home stay, we heard a pig about to get slaughtered (hard to hear as a vegetarian), so those two things made me a bit uncomfortable. Other than that, I thought it was a good tour and quite an experience, and I would recommend it to adventurous travelers as long as you’re prepared for the muddy and slippery trail conditions (at least during the rainy season).

It was much harder than I had expected. But it was a good experience to see SAPA from the eyes of a local. Some portion was really steep and slippery. Make sure you have the right hiking shoes. It was wet and muddy for sone parts. Five hours of trekking the first day and three hours the second day. If you can handle the physical challenge, it would be a very good cultural experience. It was bad that the tour ended with the bus ride back delaying by two hours because some passengers failed to show up. The whole bus full of passengers were waiting for a few missing ones. I think the bus’s waiting policy is not structured.

Amazing trip, Mamazuzu and the others ladies are very kind and nice people. The Village and the walking Road are Amazing and the food Is very good. I had a lot of fun with Mamaleto and her Happy water.

An unforgettable experience. Mama Ju and her family were wonderful helping us with the trekking and telling us the culture. The group we trekked with was fantastic and kind. The accommodations cannot be better. The food cannot be more organic and fresh.

An unforgettable experience. Trekking through the scenic landscape, and taking in the views of rice fields, bamboo forrest and mountain villages was breathtaking and unforgettable. The homestay of Mama Zuzu was really a nice break after long hours of trekking up and down the mountains, and the meals was very tasty. Entertainment by the other household members was also very fun and we stayed in a nice room. The bed was a bit hard for our liking, and the homestay does only have a single toilet which can be a challenge for bigger groups. Mama Zuzu was a very good guide and storyteller, who explained a lot about the life in and around Sapa. We were also joined along the way by other women, who - of course - did have local products to sell in their backpacks. But they were also friendly and good at explaining - a bit limited english though.

Our trip to Sapa was one of the highlights of my trip to Vietnam. The trekking tour through vietnams beautiful nature was tough, but so worth it! I saw beautiful nature and woods and if I had to do it all over again, I DEFINITELY WOULD! The home stay was very nice as well. Beautiful house, WiFi and bathroom with shower. I would definitely recommend this trip to everyone! Mama Zuzu made this trip amazing. She made people bond, she seemed passionate about her work and she showed a genuine interest in people’s lives. Mama Zulu’s neighbour is also one of the most delightful people I have met. I recommend this to everyone!

Mama Zuzu and Mama Zu made our stay in Sapa and their home village truly wonderful. Very kind and hospitable people. We did two days trekking with Mama Zu and she was the best local guide to show us the beautiful nature and tell us about the rice fields. Home stay at their place gives you an authentic experience to get to see a glance of their everyday life. At this time of the year the weather is not so warm so prepare some warm clothes with you. This tour is a must for anyone visiting Sapa and Northern Vietnam! Highly recommend!

Amazing track through bamboo woods, ris fields small villages! Mama Zuzu was kind and head the perfect room where we could stay! I can only recommend

2 days of hiking with mama Zuzu was really amazing. Everything went well, she picked us at the bus station and then after a quick lunch started to hike. Nature is beautiful and she explained to us all that we aksed her. Her English is very good :) at her homestay, we were lucky. Thry celebrated s birthday and they invited us to join. It was such a warm and pleasant experience. We ate cake. And had dinner together. We also tried happy water 😀 the place we stayed in was very clean, beds warm comfortable. If you want to experience a bit non touristy place and stay with real locals, then this is the tour to pick. I really recommend it. Thank you again for everything dear Zuzu.

We stayed at Mama Zuzu’s homestay for one night in December 2024. She adapted the tour to suit the weather conditions and made sure we had the best experience possible. The accommodation was perfect, with a room to ourselves and a hot shower. The food was also delicious and plentiful! Thank you so much.

It was great. Ya as Guide is very funny and great. Her family ist real friendly and the House are nice and Had everything for us. Amazing Food and many Happy Water. Thanks for all ! It was amazing and a Joy to met you .

Mama Zuzu is very nice. Nice rooms, nice guide, heavy way, but worth it. A must try for every who likes hiking und See the real places

Amazing trek booked at the last minute. Despite the rain and fog, the 5 hour hike was super pleasant (bit treacherous at the end but easily doable). Once arrived, the dinner and the atmosphere was amazing and super homely, followed by a good night of sleep. Breakfast amazing and we went back for a second smaller hike through the rice fields and through other villages I highly recommend for a short trip, we booked last minute the night before.

The trekking trip with Mama ZuZu was amazing! The transport was great at communicating pickups and arrived on time. The sleeper was quite small for me (being 6ft'3) but you can upgrade to VIP buses if you wish. After arriving in Sa Pa after 6 hours, we were greeted by Mama ZuZu and had lunch before beginning the trek which showed how beautiful the area is. After 3.5 hours trekking we arrived at the homestay and not knowing what to expect, it exceeded everything I thought. Her and her family/friends made us feel so welcome throughout our stay and drinking rice wine shots and beers after the amazing feast rounded off a great first day. The second day was more of the same with a good breakfast, coffee/tea before setting off on another trek. Again the scenery is breathtaking and we were really lucky with the weather both days but make sure to bring some proper grippy trainers/shoes and clothes that you don't mind getting a bit dirty. Amazing experience overall, would definitely recommend!

Amazing tour with an amazing family as tour guides. The homestay was super beautiful with an amazing view! Thank you to the family for a very good time!

Excellent trip ✨ Highly recommended! Dont pack too much stuff! You wont need it! Good for solo travel. great food x. Good shoes essential z

One of the best experiences I've had! Mama Zuzu was amazing, she has been trekking for over 11 years. She's always smiling and super helpful! We stayed at Lala homestay and the place was astonishingly clean. Everything was perfect! Highly recommended

We have been guided by Ma Ma for 2 days and 1 night, just after the huge rains and the typhoon in Vietnam. We are very glad that we didn't cancel our trek and homestay with her, as it was amazing ! Ma Ma showed us around by trekking in the rice paddies, experiencing riding on scooters and eating delicious local food, made by her husband ! Even though the paths were sometimes a bit slippery, we were able to see enough of the landscapes (safely, with Ma Ma's help) and be immersed in the local Hmong culture.

A great experience. Mama Zuzu has really been a great guide and very kind. The HomeStay is a very attractive, clean and ideal place to rest. Advisable!

Our guide was great, and the hike was beautiful. The homestay was super clean, and the homemade breakfast and dinner they provided was delicious! The facilities (i.e., bathroom and showers) were really well kept and everyone was super friendly. Thank you again for such a fun experience!

The experience is amazing. A few things I would change. If we had more time we would stay one more day in Sapa and see other things. It was possible. You get picked up on shuttle, then have a big bus, the ride is long. We could sleep most of the time. The hike is great, but was hard for some people, especially when it started rain. Have your rain jacket, soap ( there is shower, no soap), bathing suit if hot weather, you might stop at waterfall. The next day hike is easy and the views are amazing. Lunches outside of Mama Zuzu home were not so tasty, but dinner at the family house was so good - amazing! The family is nice and fun talking to. There is no option to work on the rice fields, we went in August and there is no work to do until September. They just check on it. It is also cooler there, so take a long sleeve with you.

Mama Zuzu was simply wonderful, precise and organised! A woman with enormous energy, as much as her smile and kindness. We had a rather strenuous afternoon trek, but the beauty of the landscapes around us repaid any effort. Walking through rice paddies, maize fields and bamboo forest was truly sensational. The homestay in which we stayed was a small refuge, a peaceful corner right next to a stream. It was well maintained, clean and had a beautiful dining room. We ate very well both for dinner and breakfast and everything was homemade. Everything was beautiful, I will never forget this experience and these people!

I was trekking and staying with Mama ZuZu and their family. They really looked after us so well! I had never done a homestay before so I was nervous about if I would enjoy it. I hike was just what I had needed after being in Hanoi for a week. It was steep at first but then levelled out and the views were stunning, I liked the hiking through bamboo forests to get to the homestay in the early evening. There was so much food and they had a fridge with soft drinks you could have in the evening. On the second day the views were AMAZING. I have always wanted to see rice fields up close like this and was blown away by how beautiful it was. I would highly recommend to anyone considering booking this. Bring Hiking boots / Walking boots with you and also swimming clothes if you want to dip in the waterfall.

Great way to see the Sa Pa countryside and learn about Vietnamese culture. Many different animals seen along the hike. Food was very good. Cold beer and karaoke shared with other travelers in the evening was a highlight. All hosts were excellent and any requests were never an issue.

We enjoyed the opportunity to stay with a home stay that has more of a country living ambiance. From the moment we got off the bus in Sa Pa, Kat was a great guide as we walked 2 hours to the house (because of our 10-year old daughter, we took a taxi half the way because it was too hot & humid to hike the full 5km). The rest of the guests hiked the full way. Our luggage was bought up via motorbike. The house is typical country and very clean. You have all you need there; new toilet, hot water for shower, plug ins with converters, WiFi and warm blankets. We had a fabulous group dinner all made from scratch and then Mama Little entertained us with rounds of Happy Water!! The hike out the next morning was lovely passing by the rice fields, it took 2-2.5 hours to hike down and we had lunch by the waterfall. Bring bug spray as some trails are nature trails and beware the trails can be muddy & slippery. The owner was very attentive, professional and the whole family is kind. Families don’t normally sign up for this homestay as the accommodations are rural like and there is a lot of hiking but for the right type of family, it’s an adventure. Wonderful stay, great people.

We just left Vietnam after 7 days and without a doubt, this was THE number 1 highlight of our stay. Yes, Halong bay and Ninh Binh are nice, but the wilderness and authenticity of Sapa are on a whole other level. Specifically for this tour, which brings you OUTSIDE of the beaten path, on empty hiking trails for hours. The homestay is fantastic as well, very very rudimentary, just the way you want it for a truly genuine experience. Mama Zuzu and Mama Little are absolute gems, we were so sad to have to leave them. I cant recommend enough going on this tour. Just make sure you pack proper hiking gear, these hikes a serious stuff.

I would absolutely recommend this trip to everyone. Please keep in mind it is quite challenging and the route takes around 4 hours from Sapa to Mama Su's homestay. Everything is well organized and the guides keep checking if everyone is doing okay and if a short break is needed. Food is homemade and delicous. Support the locals by buying some souvenirs directly from them.

Mama Linh and her family made us feel so welcome in their home. So friendly and helpful with everything. I would highly recommend this to anyone.

Dear Mamazuzu, the tour was so great the host family pick us up from the bus station all the way to the homestay, very nice food, hot showers were included. Everything was so localised, this trip worths it! Jasmine

We stayed at Mama Zuzus home where she cooked an incredible home made dinner…one of the best meals we’ve had in Vietnam. Mama Linh took us for hikes along the rice fields and mountains and showed us great sights we would have never been able to reach without their tour. Highly recommend!

Had a fantastic time! Very authentic and we were well looked after. Nice food, comfortable place to sleep and shower - mama zuzu looked after us very well! Mama Linh also took us on two beautiful treks! Highly recommend 😊

Incredible, must do experience. 2 fantastic hikes, a little challenging but nothing to intense. The home stay was lovely and a great experience. The bed was comfortable and clean, and a proper toilet and shower to share also. The family couldn’t have been more welcoming and the trip exceeded my expectations.

Mama and family really looked after us great fun… do not miss on Happy water… hahaha Be ready for a long and beautiful walk.

We did the tour with MaMa ZuZu. She was amazing! We went through the rice fields, through a route it would be impossible to find without a guide. We spent the night in her house with her family and had a delicious dinner. Definitely recommended!!!

This is a must experience in Vietnam. So far the highlight of my trip. A special thanks to Mama Zuzu for being so kind and hospitable. Fellow traveler, you won’t regret it!! Just keep in mind the weather may change very quickly and fog will hamper your expected views. However, I leave two suggestions for improvement: - Safety: the trails are very muddy, steep and dangerous. One of our tour members injured himself and all of us struggled to avoid falling. Please review the choice of walking trails as there are many more alternative trails in the area. - Rental boots: since the mud on the trails is unavoidable, our shoes get really dirty. Please have water proof boots available for each person directly from Sa Pa. You can rent out the boots to tourists and make some extra money. Tourists will be glad to pay for it as this is a must have.

This trip was worth the long bus ride and money. Mama Zuzus family welcomed us with open arms and we got a good amount of hiking in . The nature surrounding Mama Zuzus house was great and everyone in her village was so friendly. Also Mama Zuzus food was banging ! Best food i had in Vietnam so far ! Her house was very comfy too and we slept great.

The host mama Zuzu is an amazing host and offers a authentic and intimate experience of Sapa, a highly recommended tour.

The trek was amazing, challenging in places, but our guide Mama Lihn was fabulous. She gave lots of information and answered all of our questions. Mama Lihn was very calm and caring, you could tell her priority was our safety and enjoyment. When we arrived at the homestead Mama Zuzu welcomed us and made sure we had everything we needed. Dinner was very good and authentic. The bed was super comfy and we slept for 9 and a half hours straight! If we had the chance we would do it all again.

The trekking and home stay experience with Mama Zuzu was a once in a lifetime experience. Mama Zuzu and her family created such a welcoming environment and made our home stay so wonderful. They made us a delicious meal and introduced us to some of their customs. I 100% would recommend this experience!

Our homestay in Sapa Valley was nothing short of magical! The adventure began with a 12-kilometer trek up the mountain to Mamazuzu's homestay. Despite the slippery roads from the rain, we traversed rice terraces, bamboo forests, and waterfalls, soaking in the breathtaking beauty of Sapa. Mamazuzu, our host, was incredibly friendly and warm; she made us feel like cherished family members. From cooking and enjoying meals together to picking vegetables from the garden and sharing homemade rice wine, every moment was filled with genuine connection, making our stay truly unforgettable. The hike through the quaint villages of Sapa allowed us to meet locals and witness stunning views. Living with the family provided insights into daily life, architecture, and the natural landscape, creating an opportunity to learn about local culture, customs, and habits. It was an amazing blend of adventure, warmth, and cultural immersion that we'll cherish forever.

Mama Zuzu and her family are so kind !! This was a magical experience and we feel so lucky to have experienced that. We arrived during the tiger day, a special Chaman day, so a lot of people (family and neighbours) were here for the rituals and dinner. It felt so unreal, it is so impressive ! As this was a special day, we trekked towards her house with her daughter Yeye who was really nice and talked a lot to us about her culture. We learned a lot about their way of living in the countryside it was so interesting. The hike wasn't that hard (and I am not a professional hiker) as most of the time we walk down. The last 45 min were hard because you have to walk in the mud and it is really slippery. We went there on a rainy day so I really advise you to wear rain boots if this is the case for you. As it was rainy there were a lot of leeches the last 30 min of walk but our guide was so helpful and everything went well in the end !! We were rewarded with a really tasteful dinner and breakfast with a lot of pancakes ! It was perfect :D Thank you so much Mama Zuzu, I want to come back !

Amazing and unique experience. The host is really nice and we saw amazing sights. They cooked for us, made us experience local life, were really open, and helped with everything. I strongly recommend this tour for anyone looking for a local experience which will make you learn a lot about Vietnamese culture. Be aware that, when it is raining, during trekking there can be a lot of mud (it can be slippery) and there are insects (specifically leeches).So come prepared! Amazing experience!

A fantastic authentic experience with Mama Zuzu and her family! Bring some hiking shoes and be prepared for some good hikes with amazing views and cultural experiences. A great tour for the adventurous traveller.

Very beautiful hike through amazing views and just the nicest family. You need to be reasonably fit (you have to hike off road and up a mountain a lot), but you get rewarded with beautiful views, and get to meet and stay with a lovely family. They are all super nice and caring, and we loved the food. It feels like you get to know the lifestyle of the local people very authentically. While we had a logistical problem with our bus that was not their fault, the operator quickly organized a replacement (even had an upgrade).

We had the best time. Mama Zuzu and her family were so hospitable and made sure we had everything we needed. The food was amazing and the views on the hike were stunning. Be sure to bring grippy hiking boots because it’s very slippery even when it’s not raining. Thanks Mama Zuzu and your family and friends for helping us ❤️

We had an amazing time with Mama Zuzu experiencing local life and taking in the stunning surrounds of this part of the world. There were incredible views throughout and Mama Zuzu and her family couldn't have been more hospitable. Just be aware that the beginning of the trek is quite steep and there were some slippery sections as we went through the rice paddies and forests so you need a decent level of mobility and fitness to complete it successfully. Amazing time overall though having an experience we could have never otherwise had.