The primary trekking product in Sapa is a three hour trek, for the most part descending into Tavan. For many years this has been the route for tourists and Tavan has seen rapid development. But along the way, Lao Chai has merely become a place where many have lunch in Vietnamese owned restaurants set up along the trail, and take pictures of the quaint Black Hmong village communes.
There is yet to be a network of true Hmong homestays for the intrepid traveller who truly wants to be cultured. In recent years, the Capilano University / Hanoi Open University community-based tourism project funded by CIDA built capacity of some Red Dao residents in Taphin. The homestays, although not as busy as the ones in Tavan, have been an enormous success with the locals who have set them up, the tour operators, and the tourists.
Over the next two years, the Sapa Authority has asked if Capilano University would agree to bring some of that expertise and knowledge to the Hmong people in Lao Chai. With enthusiasm we have agreed, focusing only on homestay development. Members of the Lao Chai Hmong community have also expressed their enthusiasm.
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