Thanh Kim is a good alternative to the overcrowded villages in Sapa.
Thanh Kim is a small village in Lao Cai province, it is about 25 km south of Sapa – a big tourist place in northern Vietnam. Sapa is a starting point if you want to explore local ethnic villages in this area, but it is good to know, that lots of villages are visited by lots of tourists. Thanh Kim village is not so big tourist place like another villages in Sapa area. The only one tourist place we can find there is Topas Ecolodge – it is a luxury accommodation for tourists.
Thanh Kim village and Topas Ecolodge lies above the big rice terraces.
The only way how to get from Sapa to Thanh Kim village is to rent a motorbike or take a mototaxi (Xe Om) in Sapa, if you do not have a private car. Road from Sapa to Thanh Kim is in a good condition, but be carefull. You will be traveling through the Muong Hoa valley, so you can stop everywhere you want. There are also another more visited villages like Tavan, Lao Chai, Su Pan… and beautiful views to the Hoang Lien Son national park on this route.
Village is inhabited mainly by Red Dao ethnic people.
Like another villages in Sapa area, Thanh Kim is inhabited mainly by ethnic people and the whole village has several dozen wooden houses. This village is inhabited by Red Dao ethnic people. These people live there in very modest conditions, but lots of them are very friendly and if you want to try a typical village homestay without tourist attractions you can ask people on the spot. And you will support directly local people. I think they will accommodate you.
Light trekking, walking or trying real village homestay.
There are very nice views to the rice terraces from Thanh Kim village and the village is located in the area without hotels. There is also very nice view to the southern part of Hoang Lien Son national park. You will be in nature and very good idea is to light trekking and walking in surrouding or spending a time with Red Dao ethnic people.
📍 Sapa + nearby places (Lao Cai) – Map:
Mai Chau Ecohouse｜Borders｜Ferry｜Money｜Train tickets｜Kong｜Ha Long – Map｜Sapa – Map｜Ninh Binh – Map｜LuangPrabang｜Battambang