Come for a Sapa Ethnic Tour, the doorway to Northern Vietnam’s real beauty and culture. Situated amidst overwhelming landscapes in Sapa, tours into ethnic villages dig deep into daily life, customs, and crafts that give life to these indigenous communities of Sapa. Noteworthy among them is the Nam Toong Village, a home to the Red Dao tribe opening the doorways to rich traditions, colored attires, and special herbal remedies. Sapa Tours to villages like Nam Toong would give that added dimension to any adventurer who wants to beckon in a holiday of memories woven into beautiful landscapes and meaningful cultural interchange.
Nam Toong Village
Nam Toong village is a typical tribal village in the Hoang Lien Son Mountains. Here exists the proud Red Dzao community that has lived for centuries, leaving a remarkable cultural mark. The ancestors of the Dzao people in Sapa established the first generations here centuries ago, drawn by abundant natural resources and secluded valleys. Nam Toong provides an ideal environment for agriculture and traditional herbal practices, thus the grounds where the Red Dzao do their best to preserve and cultivate the most unique and enduring way of life.
At the forefront of the culture of Nam Toong Dao are the peculiar rituals, spiritualism, and festivities that they hold dear to their hearts. The Red Dzao are known for their flashy red turbans wrapping their foreheads and embroidered attire with cultural symbols, where every stitch has a tale to tell of ancestry. Visitors to Sapa Tours to Nam Toong are always amazed by the Dzao’s spiritual life as most of it was based on animism: spirits populate the mountains, the rivers, and the forests. It is in their elaborated rituals and ceremonies that the Dzao people invoke from these spirits good health, good harvests, and the happiness of their families.
However, festivals have immense importance in the life and identity of the community of the Red Dzao people. Probably one of the most intriguing customs you could come across on Sapa Ethnic Tours is a festival called the Fire Dance Festival. Within this extravagant ritual, the men from Dzao place their bravery and spiritual strength to the fore, dancing symbolically upon glowing embers guided by their spiritual leaders. Events like this underpin not only the Dzao people’s sense of bravery but also how deeply they are tied to millennial spiritual traditions that seem very much alive in Nam Toong.
Nam Toong Village is highly instrumental in preserving the traditions and culture of the Red Dzao. These make the village very unique and different compared to many others in Sapa. While other villages are quickly moving to modernization, Nam Toong has remained sheltered as a home for the tradition of the Red Dzao. Highly valued and preserved are the arts, rituals, and community values. For guests traveling with Sapa Ethnic Tours, Nam Toong represents a living, breathing museum of Dzao culture and a present lifestyle gorgeously anchored in history and nature.
Festival of the Red Dao people
Nam Toong Rice Terraces: A Sea of Gold in Beauty Nam Toong’s most breathtaking scenery is its rice terraces, which are especially stunning in the golden harvest season. When one thinks about it, rice plants will only gradually ripen and turn beautiful, green terraces into a sea of gold, with each step in the terraces whittling a different pattern into the side of a mountain. These are the testimonies of the ability and hardiness of the Red Dzao farmers, who over the decades have morphed the land into shapes to plant their crops together with nature. You will gain an appreciation, on the Sapa Tours around the level terraces, of just how much work and devotion goes with farming through this method.
Stilt Houses: A Peek into Tribal Life of the Red Dzao The other unforgettable feature of Sapa Ethnic Tours in Nam Toong is the possibility to show traditional stilt houses so famous in Sapa. These raised homes are made of wooden floors and solid-dressed bamboo structures, which play a very important part in the daily life of the Red Dzao people.
Constructed to endure the vagaries of nature, the stilt houses protect not only from seasonal floods but also give solid comfort space that is naturally cool in summer and warm in winter. Inside, everything is nicely arranged for family space: a well-organized cooking area, sleeping areas, and places to socialize. The layout and design of these homes take visitors on a level of understanding about how community and family are central elements in all that is Red Dzao. On Sapa Tours through Nam Toong, you’re welcome to step inside some of these houses, often meeting the families who live there. They share stories about their everyday life, or you can even sometimes have a traditional craft demonstration or taste something homemade. Warmness and hospitality are so appealing here that every visitor will feel like part of the family.
No visit to Nam Toong would be considered complete without visiting the busy Nam Toong market. The Red Dzao descend on the spot to sell their handicrafts, traditional medication, and fresh produce in this busy conglomeration. Bright colors of hand-woven textiles, earthy aromas of traditional herbs, and cacophony of friendly bargaining heady with promise flood the market. Anything from a beautiful scarf, a piece of Red Dzao jewelry, to a bag of healing herbs-you’ll find real treasures that are truly one-of-a-kind here.
Get yourself ready to make the most out of your venture with Sapa Ethnic Tours to Nam Toong. Here are some basic but highly necessary tips that will get you ready, comfortable, and respectfully in tune with the locals.
See terraced fields
Nam Toong is so high up in the mountains that one can never be sure of the weather; it can be very unpredictable. Pack layers for the best experience: lightweight tops that breathe will do well for those really warm hours of the day but slip into a jacket or sweater later to keep you so cozy on those cooler evenings. Remember to wear sturdy and comfortable shoes to trek along and explore the beautiful rice terraces. Whenever visiting ethnic villages of Sapa, it is always highly advisable to bring a rain jacket with you because frequent showers can take place. Sun protection should also be put into your luggage: a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses would be of great help for sunny days.
The Red Dzao happens to be very, very hospitable, but it never hurts to be a respectful guest. Interact with the locals, taking on a friendly yet soft approach. If you wish to take pictures of them or any private home, always ask permission. Showing curiosity about their culture is encouraged, so feel free to ask questions-they’ll surely love sharing these stories! Following these Sapa travel tips builds trust and makes for a more meaningful experience.
Basic Rules: Putting Health and Safety First, especially on the way to Nam Toong, is of great importance. Have basic travel insurance that covers trekking and visiting highlands. Note that pharmacies can be scant, so bring any medications. Make sure to keep hydrated by carrying a reusable water bottle to fill up throughout the day. Often, Sapa Tours includes guides that are there to support and help resolve whatever questions and issues you may have, hence providing ‘worry-free’ support.
Thus, in villages like Nam Toong, sustainable tourism shields the land and protects the people’s way of life. Unique traditions, stunning rice terraces, and a peaceful environment depend on practices respectful toward natural surroundings. Responsible tourism in Sapa contributes to maintaining the ecological balance in Nam Toong and provides an opportunity for the Red Dzao to maintain their customs and ritualistic history.
Here are some dos and don’ts to consider during your responsible travel with Sapa Tours in exploring Nam Toong:
Sapa Ethnic Tours works in cooperation with the local organization for community projects in Sapa to be able to help the Red Dzao. Projects often involve education, sustainable agriculture, and eco-friendly tourism. The choice of using Sapa Ethnic Tours means that you also choose to participate in contributing to these projects, as part of our tour fees go toward initiatives that benefit the people of Nam Toong directly. These collaborations not only raise the standard of living but also guarantee and preserve the cultural heritage for many years to come.
Red Dzao people
Nam Toong Village is a treasure for whoever is in pursuit of an in-depth, genuine experience with Sapa’s ethnic culture. Sapa Ethnic Tours offers visitors deep insight into the customs of the Red Dzao, from breathtaking rice terraces to colorful local markets. A more specific reason for choosing Sapa Ethnic Tours is not just sightseeing, but the means for sanguine connection-building with people and heritage. Hence, if you are looking for an authentic cultural tour in Sapa, go for Sapa Ethnic Tours for lifelong memories. Don’t forget to regularly follow our Impress Travel for more interesting information about traveling Sapa to and to book Sapa Tours at the best prices.
Hotels in Sapa
Homestay in Sapa
We went on a private trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, the whole trip plan was organized for us by the Impress Travel Company from Vietnam, the company did an amazing job, the whole trip was organized in a wonderful way with an amazing match between the various parties, their choices were correct and the quality of the hotels chosen were very high quality and it is important to note that the price was low in comparison To other agencies, thanks to Impress Travel and especially to Daniel who was tolerant and open to changes and organized the route for us.
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating!
We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC.
The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T".
I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all.
Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team.
Sulaiman Pochee
Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.
This is the second time we travel to Vietnam with IMPRESS Travel. First time, we booked our holiday to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Sapa during Dec 2018 with Impress.
Second time, we travel to Hoi An, Hue & Danang (Central Vietnam) during Jan 2019.
My friends & I are very glad & happy with all the hotels stay in Central Vietnam, the meals provided are delicious. We are greatly appreciated with all the tour arrangement by Tommy & his team (tour guide).
Especially, Mr. NHAT C.V. He is helpful, cheerful, knowledgeable and very professional. He always volunteer to take a nice pictures for six of us (group) .
We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel. We will definitely come back to Vietnam again with Impress
Inclusion: Night train tickets, Tour guide, Transfer from Hanoi to Lao Cai station
Inclusion: Breakfast; lunch; dinner, Homestay in Ta Van, Entrance fee; Tour guide, Private air-conditioned vehicle pick up from Lao Cai train station to Sapa town
After breakfast, we keep the easy trekking through the rice terrace track to Giang Ta Chai village where is home of Red Dao people, and then to Su Pan village where the vehicle is awaiting for transferring back to Sapa town.
The afternoon time is free at leisure and explore Sapa town by self
Hotel overnight in Sapa town
Inclusion: Breakfast; Entrance fee; Tour guide, Private air-conditioned vehicle pick up from Su Phan village back to Sapa town, Hotel in Sapa
Inclusion: Breakfast; Entrance fee; Tour guide, Private air-conditioned vehicle pick up from Cat Cat village back to Sapa town and transfer to Lao Cai station and Night train tickets to Hanoi.
Impress Travel – Sapa tours offers classic and easy tours, trekking tours (easy trek, medium trek & hard trek) to discover the remote ethnic minority villages & adventurous tours to conquer Fansipan’s highest mountain peak or motorbike to travel around and mountain biking, market day tours, homestay with an ethnic family. For the most trusted and most saving for North Vietnam Tour Packages to explore Sapa Vietnam. Email: Sapatours@impresstravel.com & call to Mr. Alex Impress Travel Manager at his cell phone (+84) 9123 79 189
Contact us about any of our tours, or discuss your trip ideas, about Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar with Impress travel consultants. All replies asap and always within 24 hours.
