Sapa Ethical Travel: 7 Reasons You Should Book With an Independent Guide

Planning a trip to Vietnam, and wondering if Sapa is an ethical travel destination? You are in the right place!

When I was planning my Vietnam itinerary, trekking and homestay in Sapa with a local Hmong hill tribe were at the top of my bucket list. But my very first question was how ethical or responsible it was, and how I could not only have an authentic experience but also give back to the local community.

I had an amazing experience not only visiting Sapa and spending time at a homestay with a Black Hmong family, but also, becoming close friends with them, and being able to help them through my blog. Now I am here to share my top 7 reasons you should book with an independent local guide and have the most ethical and responsible travel experience.

Ethical travel is all about creating better places to live and better places to visit – So, if you are here now, it seems that we have a lot of things in common and that you are a responsible traveler and care about our Planet and want to create a positive impact on the local’s life.

So without any ados, let’s review this complete article about Sapa ethical travel!

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Sapa Ethical Travel: My love note to you!

Before we jump into the 7 reasons why I recommend you to book a tour in Sapa with a local independent guide, I would love to share this love note with you!

We, travelers, are generally curious people and we all have plenty of questions, especially when it comes to ethical tourism. I learn as I go, and many destinations and activities I have participated in give me the chance to learn something new.

As visiting Sapa has become a very touristy destination, how to make sure you are choosing and supporting ethical and responsible tourism, and not getting into tourism traps and supporting any kind of “human zoo” or exploitation of the local communities of the places you visit?

Sapa has loads of travel companies offering tours, and trekking with homestays…. and the choice you make can drastically alter your experience – from tour operators taking advantage of the local hill tribes to over-tourism.

It is our responsibility to do our research and make sure we are choosing the best option for the most authentic experience, but also, that we are giving back to the local community that uses trekking and homestay as their only income.

Sapa ethical travel

And if you are questioning: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT GUIDE IN SAPA?

I did a lot of research prior to my trip to Sapa, and luckily I found my guide in one of the blogs I read. I requested her contact from the bloggers and booked in advance directly with her using WhatsApp. You can contact me if you are interested in my guide, as I am not sharing her contact here to protect her from any harassment from the big tour operators.

Another option is upon your arrival at the Sapa train or bus station, you will be welcomed by many local ladies (from different tribes) who will offer you trekking and homestay. You can read more here about All you need to know on how to do an authentic homestay in Sapa.

Keep traveling, and keep giving back to the local communities. Together, we can make a difference on the Planet and in someone’s else life!

Sapa Ethical Travel: 7 Reasons You Should Book with a Local Hill Tribe

1. Give back to the local communities in Sapa

By going direct, the families and community benefit directly from the money you spend rather than a small portion coming from a tour company. You can also find ways to contribute to the tribes financially or by spreading the word about your experience to attract more ethical travelers to visit this beautiful region and experience the amazing culture.

You can pre-book with a local guide from a tribe, or make arrangements upon your arrival to Sapa Town. There are many ladies that meet the bus as it arrives, looking for tourists to guide.

If you are interested to hire Bau as your guide, please leave a message here and I will share her contact information.

Sapa Ethical Travel
Local Hmong ladies in Sapa wearing traditional clothes

Sapa Ethical Travel
The beautiful handmade clothes made by my Black Hmong guide Bau

2. Avoid organized tours whenever is possible

During my research prior to the trek in Sapa, I read that some of the local tour companies do not do fair business with the ladies they hire to take tourists on the tour.

While I was there, I confirmed that they charge the tourists full price, and only pay a very small commission (much less than half) to the ladies who do ALL the work guiding tourist groups. If you hire the guides directly, the money will help clothe the children, buy supplies for their school, invest in their houses, and go back into the community.


3. Homestay is the best option – Cheaper & More Authentic

The best and most ethical way to go is to stay in a homestay. Aside from the experience of a lifetime, you will be giving back to the community. The family will charge you a fair price, and this money helps the family to improve their houses and support their kids in school. The money goes directly to the family, not to a tour company.

It is also the best opportunity to live and experience the essence of the places I visit. The more I research, learn, and interact with local people and immerse in the local culture, the more fulfilling my experience will be.

It is also the most economical option – To stay with a local family and experience a homestay is a cheaper option compared to the organized tour agencies and hotels. You can read more about prices and options in this article.

More authentic – If you are like me, and like to skip the touristy, crowded places this is the best option. The local ladies will take you to their villages and nearby villages and introduce you to their families, friends, local market, culture, etc. You will eat with the family and get a true cultural immersion. This IS NOT a visit to a human zoo; this is a unique chance to be an active observer and contribute positively to your hosts. You can read more about trekking and homestay in Sapa, and find a whole itinerary and what to expect.

Trek and homestay in Sapa
Inside the homestay – they cook using a fire pit

Sapa homestay typical with Black H'mong
Traditional Black Hmong home in Sapa


4. The local guides discourage kids from working in tourism

Many of the ladies also have children, and they are aware of the bad practices around local tourism. Never forget, don’t give money to children or buy from them.

I saw many small children, dirty and poorly dressed in Sapa Town (the main city where you arrive), begging and selling small things.

When I left Sapa Town following my guide up the path into the mountain, a boy of about 10 followed us. After a while, I asked my guide who the boy was. Bau said she did not know him. We walked for 4-5 hours to get to my guide’s village with the boy in tow.

Bau suspected that he was following us to learn the different mountain paths so that he could work as a guide. While I could not help but admire this boy’s spirit (walking in the rain, ascending mountain paths in flip-flops, following closely but not too closely, being ever respectful, etc.), it was also heartbreaking that he was taking this path in life, and not getting an education.

When we stopped in a village for lunch, he seemed to know some of the people there and stayed with them as we continued on. I suppose it was a chance for him to warm up and take some of the chills off.


5. The local ladies in Sapa do a phenomenal job

My guide Bau is a young lady, married with 3 beautiful children. Her sweet mom, “Momma Lily”, lives with them and helps to take care of the kids. Bau works very hard and is dedicated to providing a better life for herself and her family.

During the summertime, the family plants rice on the steppes of the mountain surrounding her village and during the low season, she gives tours to provide the family income. Just like the majority of the women in Sapa, they are expected to work and help care for and provide for the family. 

They will take great care of you. They will hold your hand whenever the rain comes and the mountain’s path gets muddy and slippery. They will cook from scratch amazing meals. They will wake up before you to prepare the best breakfast before a long day of trekking and they will share everything they have with you…their home, their families, and even their clothes and shoes. 


6. The locals in Sapa want to interact, and also, learn from us

Our host was so curious about my life and culture. It was incredible to exchange our life experiences.

When we were done trekking for the day, we just sat around the fire interacting, entertaining, and learning from our host family. We simply talked, shared ourselves, and appreciated the little things more than ever.

The kids are so curious about us and they pay close attention to our cultural behavior. They want to interact with you and they are extremely happy to share their house and playtime. I brought crayons and coloring books for the kids, and it was amazing to watch them color. They were so appreciative and they treated all the crayons and coloring books like precious treasures. They asked me to color with them, it was so much fun.

Sapa- Complete Ethical Travel Guide
The kids were fascinated by the drone


7. Life Lessons are the Best Part of Sapa Ethical Travel

Last, but not least on this list of Sapa ethical travel, is the opportunity to be back to basics!

It was amazing to hike among the gorgeous misty mountains. At the end of a long day of hiking in Sapa and learning everything Bau had to teach us about the area and the Black Hmong, we stopped to buy fresh ingredients in a village market.

When we arrived back at the house, Bau cooked the most delicious meal in the fire pit in the middle of the kitchen floor. While she cooked, I just spent time playing with the kids. I am surrounded by smartphones, tablets, TVs, and computers in my day-to-day life, and it was refreshing to see kids play together without the modern devices we so often cling to in the “modern world”.

Truly being there, living, and experiencing such a different life created memories (of moments and people) that are so vivid and profound. This was not something that I saw through a car window, passed by on the street, or watched on TV.

The abstract became real and I could see, touch, feel, smell, and taste…I was in real life! SO ALIVE, doing what I love!

Everything you should know about Sapa
Sharing a meal and drinks with the bride and groom at their wedding party

Sapa - everything you should know about trekking and homestay
Hmong ladies in Sapa

Sapa- Complete Ethical Travel Guide

About my Guide and Friend, Bau

Bau lives a simple life, with limited options compared to my life. It was very profound for me to ponder this, and to wonder if simple is better. It is really a life-changer experience.

Bau’s English is excellent. She learned by herself and working with tourists is how she practices and improves. I remembered she couldn’t read or write in English beyond a few basic phrases, but since I gave her a Vietnamese/English dictionary and she has been practicing, now she can also write and read in English. She just amazes me!

Based on our conversations, she impressed me as not only a strong, intelligent woman but also an entrepreneur. Her dream was to build a bigger house so she could accommodate her guests in more comfort, without losing the experience of a homestay, and not long after I visit her, she was able to build her dream home. And guess what! After 3 years since I met Bau and her family, she has built a beautiful home – all with ethical tourism!

Bau and I became friends and we communicate every day, and even on a very stressful and busy day, she can help me to slow down for a few minutes and to put a big smile on my face anytime when I get the message “Paula, I miss you…when am I going to see you again?”

Until next time my friend…until next time 🙂

Everything you should know about Sapa

Sapa Ethical Travel Conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed this article about Sapa ethical travel and have found the information you are looking for. Yes, it is possible to visit Sapa and help the local families, and actually, they need the job as a guide to help to provide for their families.

After my experience with my Black Hmong family in Sapa, I adopted the family, and even during the pandemic, when they didn’t have any source of income, I was blessed to be able to help to provide for them. I am so happy to be able to share my experience and to help to send visitors to have the amazing experience of trekking and homestay in Sapa.

I really recommend you to read all you need to know before you go on a homestay in Sapa, as you will learn exactly what you need before you go, and complete the 3-day hiking in Sapa article I wrote to help you to understand the itinerary.

If you are interested to hire Bau as your guide, please leave a message here and I will share her contact information – Also, after you go on your Sapa trekking and homestay,m I would love to hear about your experience too!

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76 thoughts on “Sapa Ethical Travel: 7 Reasons You Should Book With an Independent Guide”

  1. Hi!
    I would like to get in touch with Bau. I know all too well how important it is to hire a local guide directly. I am a tour director and know how little of the fees we pay trickles down to the locals.
    Thank you!
    Best regards
    Sonja
    FB: sonja on tour

  2. Hello ! I’m interested in doing a one day trek here in sapa. Can you please provide me with contact information for Bau ?

    Cheers!

  3. Hello Kelita – thanks for contacting me. I am sending you Bau’s contact, she is a great guide and a very kind person. I wish you safe travels!

  4. Hi Sonja – Thanks for reading my article and for your interest on my friend Bau, she is a great guide and I hope you have an experience of a lifetime in Sapa!

  5. Hi Paula! I am interested in connecting with Bau for a 3 day 2 night tour, would you be able to give me her contact information? Thank you in advance. I also want to thank you for writing such detailed posts about traveling in Sapa, I’ve read a couple of them already and they’re all so helpful!

  6. Hello Hualy. Thank you and I am glad you found the information helpful. Hopefully you will also have an amazing time in Sapa with Bau and her family.

  7. Hi Paula. I would love to do a tour with Bau can you please send me her contact details. Really enjoyed reading your posts. Thanks.

  8. Hello Richard – Absolutely I can share it with you and I am so happy you enjoyed the post. I hope you have a phenomenal time in Vietnam, and enjoy your trip to Sapa. Say hi to all my friends there, please.

  9. Hello Paula,

    Thank you for sharing an awesome alternative to tour companies. I’m planning a trip to Vietnam, please share Bau’s contact with me, much appreciated!

  10. Hi Paula,

    Came across your post and enjoy reading it, thanks!

    I’m visiting Sapa in June 2022 and is currently looking for a guide. Could you share Bau’s contact number with me please. Is she able to communicate in English via Whatsapp?

  11. Hi Paula, I have read your article and am very interested in booking a homestay if SaPa in early May 2022. Now that Vietnam has opened up again, is this something that has opened up as well. I would love more information on a two or three day hike and homestay. Thankyou

  12. Hello Paula! Thanks for sharing your experience in Sapa, it’s been really really usefull. Could you please share with me her contact? Thanks in advance!!

  13. Hi Iker, yes, absolutely I will be more than happy to share her contact with you. I am sending it to your email.

  14. Hola Paula, felicidades por el Blog y por explicar con tanto detalle tu experiencia. Vamos a ir en setiembre a Sapa y me gustaría saber si me podrías facilitar el contado Bau u otras personas de allí para la experiencia. ¡Muchas gracias!

  15. Hi Paula! I would love to do a tour with Bau on my honeymoon. Can you please send me her contact details. Really enjoyed reading your posts. Thanks.

  16. I am glad you found my email and that you are interested on go hiking with Bau. She is amazing and will show you the best of Sapa. I sent you an email with her information.

  17. Hello Anna, I hope you got the email I sent to you with Bau’s information. I hope you have an amazing experience.

  18. Hi Paula, enjoy reading your post and thank you very much the information. I would like to contact Bau for my trip to Sapa in Sept.

  19. Hi Agnes – I am so glad to hear you found my article and it is helpful for you to plan your trip to Sapa. I sent you all the information to your email. Let me know if you need anything else. Safe travels!

  20. Hello, thank you very much for sharing your experience, it is very helpful for those who are going there next!
    In my case, we’ll take the night bus and will arrive at Sapa at 6am, we will stay there the whole day and will leave the following day by 2pm, so 1 day and a half in total.
    Do you think this is enough time to do a trekking and book a homestay with a local lady? If so, can you share Bau’s contact with me?
    thank you

  21. Hello Judith – I am glad you found my article helpful. I think it would too short for you to hike and do homestay at a village, considering the hike there will take a half day, and the hike back to Sapa town another half day. What you could do is to hike to the homestay, spend the night to have the real experience of living with a Black Hmong tribe, and try to find some locals who could take you back to Sapa town by motorbike. If you do this, it would allow enough time for your hike and one night experience at a homestay. I will send Bau’s contact by email.

  22. Hello Paula,
    I’m interested in doing a one day trek here in sapa. Can you please provide me with contact information for Bau ? Thanks a lot!

  23. HI Shira, I am so glad you are interesting in hiring Bau and to help to provide to the locals. I sent you the contact information. Safe travels!

  24. Hi Paula,

    Thanks for this great article. I would love to book Bau for a 4 day hike in January. Is she still operating?

    Kind regards,

    Clare

  25. hi Paula, would greatly appreciate if you could share me Bau’s contact.

    Looking to spend 3D2N at SaPa, do you think we need a guide to bring us around SaPa?

    I believe we are hiking, may I ask what do we do with our bags and baggages?

    Thanks!

  26. hi Paula,

    Thanks for sharing with us your experience. Can I get Bau’s contact?

    Looking to stay at SaPa for 3 days.
    Which of the few villages you would recommend us to visit?

    Do Bau provide everything from homestay, tour, and transfer?

    Thanks!

  27. Hello Manshin,
    I sent you Bau’s contact directly to your email. You don’t need a guide to visit Sapa Town, but I definitely recommend a local guide to take you around the villages and mountains in Sapa, as they will provide another level to your trip/ hiking. I kept my backpack at my guide’s home during my day hiking. From Sapa Town to the Sapa mountains, I had Bau’s husband take it by motorbike directly to the house, so I just had my day pack with me.

  28. Hello Clare,
    Yes, Bau is offering tours in Sapa – I sent you the information directly to your email. Have a safe trip and please, say hi to my friend Bau for me 😉

  29. Hi Paula!

    Great article. I was in the process of booking with a tour company when I came across your article. Thank goodness I did! I would love to be put in contact with Bau to get an even more authentic experience!

    Best,
    Bryce

  30. Hi Bryce, I am so glad you found my article too! I sent you the contact information, and I hope you have a magical visit and time in Sapa.

  31. Hi, im going to Sapa soon and i am planning to do a two night stay there. May i get Bau’s contact to get a good homestay experience?

  32. Hi there, I will be going to Sapa in early April and I would love to book a tour with Bau. Would it be possible to send me her contact information? Thanks in advance!

  33. Hi, my friend and I are planning a trip to Sapa in April and would love to get in contact with Bau. May I have her contact? Thank you so much

  34. Hello Paula,

    My partner and I are soon heading to Sapa for a 4-day 3-night escape. I was sceptical of organised tours and looking for an ethical alternative, subsequently stumbling across your blog page. Could you kindly share Bau’s contact details such that I can organise an authentic tour of the area with her?

    Thanks!
    Eva

  35. Hi Paula, I’ll be coming to Sapa in March and would appreciate having Bau’s contact details. Could you kindly share them with me? Thanks 🙂

  36. Hello Eva, I just sent you the contact information for Bau directly to your email. Let me know if you have any additional questions. Have safe travels, and please, say hi to my dear friend Bau 😉

  37. Hi Paula, I loved your article and photos, I really appreciate this type of respectful tourism! I’ll be coming to Sa Pa at the end of April: we’ll arrive by train on the April 30 morning, stay 1 night in Sa Pa and then take the train back to Hanoi. Could you please share Bau’s contacts? thank you very much!
    Best,
    Marco

  38. Hi, Paula! We are 3 persons and we are coming in Sapa in April and we are interested in seeing the local life and live the experience to the fullest. I would appreciate if you could send me Bau’s contact details. Can you remind me in which village Bau is staying? Thanks a lot

  39. Hey Paula 🙂 Thanks for the great blog! I was wondering if you could share Bau’s contact information with me? My friends and I are visiting Sapa and are looking for a local family to stay with.
    Thanks in advance!

  40. Hi Kiki, I just sent to you Bau’s contact information directly to you email. Have safe travels!

  41. Hi Marco, please check your email as I sent the information to you. Please tell my friend Bau I am saying hi!

  42. Hi Paula,

    It’s really helpful to read your article!
    We are a couple who would like to stay 2day 1night in Sapa.
    Not sure if Bau provide 2D1N schedule?
    May I also have Bau’s contact information? Thanks so much for your sharing!

  43. Hi Paula! I just came across your blog today and I’m intrigued. I’m now a follower! I’m planning my trip and want to book a homestay with locals. Can you please share your tour guide’s contact info with me?

    Thanks!

    Lee

  44. Hi Paula,

    I would love to stay with Bau if you don’t mind sharing her info. Thank you so much for writing this as I would want the money spent to visit will go back to help the local community. -Maryann

  45. Hi Paula, we are currently in Vietnam and looking to do a tour in Sapa, are you able to send through Bau’s contact details? Great post as it initially we were looking at a company from Hanoi, but, definitely would prefer to go with a local guide if we can.

  46. Hello Paula,

    I am planning my trip to Sapa and I would love to have Bau´s contact. Many thanks in advance.

    Cheers,
    Rui

  47. Hi Paula,
    I’m planning to go to Sa Pa very soon and I would love to get Bau’s contact. Thank you so much! 🙂

  48. Hi Paula

    Thanks for al the information and advice. I was wondering if you could share Bau’s contact information with me? My boyfriend and I want to do a 3-day hike in Sapa and we would love to have Bau as our local guide.

  49. Hi Paula!

    Thanks for all the information on your blog. Can you share Bau’s contact information with me? My boyfriend and I are visiting Sapa and are looking for a local guide and a family to stay with.

    Thanks in advance!

    Elien and Bart

  50. Hi Paula! Thank you for writing about this. I’m so glad that I came across your blog. I’ll be going to Vietnam in June and I’m interested in doing the trekking with Bau. Would you please share her contact details with me? Thank you so much!

  51. Paula,
    Thanks you for your wonderful articles. I would like to get Bau’s contact information please.

  52. Hi Paula,

    I am planning a trip to Sapa and would love to have Bau´s contact.

    Thanks,

    Chris

  53. Thanks for sharing and I would love to meet Bau and stay with her family on our upcoming trip! Please share her contact! Thank you so much!

  54. Hi,

    I’m heading to Vietnam in March next year, can I please have contact details for Bau.
    Thank you 😊

  55. Hello Paula! Thanks for sharing your experience in Sapa, it’s been really really usefull. Could you please share with me her contact? Thanks in advance!!

  56. Hi Paula! I was searching for ethical trekkings and I think that you are right! I want to book directly with some independent guide. If you can share you guide number I will appreciate so much!

    Thanks! Aina

  57. Hi Paula, thanks so much for your blog. I’m heading to Sapa tomorrow and will hire a local lady to be my guide for a couple of days trekking thanks to your example. I’m going to get some colouring things for any kids in the homestay, but I’m just curious, would period products like tampons or pads be something the lady I hire would welcome? I know period poverty is a problem with a lot of girls and women in remote parts of the world, even in rich countries. Is that the case in the villages around Sapa? Thanks!

  58. Hello Laura, I hope you have a phenomenal time in Sapa and enjoy your time there. That is a good question. But I am not sure if I am the right person to answer this to you. I believe that people that live isolated, adapt pretty well to some things that are essential to us. So with that said, and based on my experience, not only in Sapa but also the places I spent time before, such as tribes in Africa, isolated communities in the Himalayas, and even in some isolated places in Brazil, I don’t see the women struggle with the lack of access to period products.

  59. Hi Paula, I’m planning a trip to Sapa and would like to contact Bau for a guided trek + homestay. Could you please send me her contact details? Thank you!

  60. Hello Paula! Thank you for this article. I would very much appreciate Baos contact information 🙂

  61. Hello Paula, thank you so much for your amazing guide :”) would love to do a homestay with Bau and was wondering if you could share her contact information with me please. Thank you so much !

  62. Hello Paula!

    I am interested in getting Bau’s contact details and would appreciate it if you could provide them to me.

    Thank you so much!

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