Amazing Sapa - Sapa was by far our favourite place in Vietnam and the tour was well organised. From arriving (with our lost baggage) to finishing the tour we received great service and Michael was helpful throughout. We were especially pleased to have been given the opportunity to get on this tour despite it falling during the Tet Holiday which meant that Sapa was free from tourists allowing us to really enjoy the beauty of the place - thanks Charming Vietnam Travel for organising this for us on short notice! The sleeper train was an experience but the cabins were clean and as comfortable as a train can get - we would definitely do it again! The treks were wonderful and the local Hmong guides were some of the friendliest people we have ever met.Our guide Mai was also extremely helpful. The hotel was also very comfortable and the helpful. The only thing we could have been improved was the food at the hotel. However this did not take away from the sheer beauty of the place. We also liked that there was some downtime in the evening for us to do whatever we pleased, we went up Fansipan Mountain and were blown away by the views and beauty of it. Overall, we had a great time and would once again like to thank Charming Vietnam Travel for such a wonderful experience.

The highlight amongst highlights - Charming Vietnam Travel are to be commended on their excellent organisation and personal attention given to the customer purchasing this tour. Everything is arranged to the tiniest detail, and the tour is of incredible value. For 204AUD/head we got: 2 nights in a sleeper train, 1 night (including super-early check-in and late check-out) at a Sapa hotel (Legend Hotel - reviewed separately) which is advertised as 2 star but should be a 3 star, ALL meals for 2 days (yes, even dinners), transfers to and from the train station in Hanoi and Sapa, and a tour guide for 2 days of trekking. Tour guides spoke good English and were both attentive and unobtrusive, food was excellent, trekking pace adjusted to the needs of the group, and accommodation comfortable and clean. Do not be dissuaded by the heavy fog surrounding Sapa in winter. The hill-tribe villages visited are located in valleys where the fog doesn't seem to sink, so you do see the terrace rice fields aplenty. Terrain can be muddy so hiking boots are advisable. Our absolute only gripe is with Vietnam rail because toilets aren't cleaned at all during the course of the night (a train conductor/attendant travels in every carriage but goes to sleep for the night) and they are beyond disgusting by the early hours of the morning, something not otherwise seen in Vietnam. This is not however in any way under the control of the tour operator. We wholeheartedly recommend Charming Vietnam Travel.

Sa pa is overdeveloped - The indigenous tribal people are still there, but their occupations have shifted from farmers to tour-guides, sales people, and demonstrators of the old ways for tourists. Cat Cat village is a completely fabricated tourist experience, like a themed shopping mall that you must pay to enter. If you are looking for an authentic experience with the minority tribes of this region, you must reach out further. Sa pa itself is full of huge hotels with theme-park attractions like cable cars and funicular. There is massive, ongoing construction that makes the whole city a dust bowl of construction dust. Beware "Trekking" tours to Hmong and other villages, as they may be simply walking along roads through construction areas, to horrendous tourist traps.

Booked this Booked this for family... - <p>Booked this Booked this for family of 10. The agent was Charming Vietnam Travel on 0912634509.</p> <p>There were 2 tour guides with us - 1, by the name of Mr Nam who took us fr Hanoi to Sapa to Hanoi, the other Mr Phaj who took us on the Trekking in Sapa.</p> <p>Mr Nam did not leave us with good impression as we all find that he could have been more helpful and attentive to our needs. <br/> On the 1st night as we walk our ways with baggages to the train, one local man abruptly took over 2 of our baggages and another local man followed and slapped the first. The 2 went off they actually fought. We quickly left with our baggages. Our tour guide was ahead of us leading his way walking straight not knowing what happened behind him. We told him about what happened later.<br/> Arrived in Sapa, Mr Nam was eager to introduce his friend's shop Salmon Hot Pot. We did not show up. He did not share much about anything but told us that there'd be a local tour guide. He didn't inform us about the check-out matter as well. When asked he pushed the matter to the local tour guide. We knew it was his scope as he was staying in the very same hotel.<br/> On the last day as we returned to Hanoi, Mr Nam took us to this Fansipan Restop see pic, which charges VND25,000 for a 3-in-1 coffee stated as milk coffee in menu, the lady in the shop admitted it was a 3-in-1 when asked and VND60,000 for a chicken noodle soup. We witnessed the shop assistant ordering fr a road side stall just outside which costs only VND30,000. We could not help but wonder why we were taken to such a shop. </p> <p>The local tour guide, Mr Phaj who took us fr the trekking was GREAT. He was helpful, jovial and being professional. He speaks good english and was clear in his explanation. He was not pushy about local souvenir or anything to purchase/add on. We highly recommend Mr Phaj to anyone who wishes to do trekking tour in Sapa.</p>