1. General introduction to Ban May (Sa Pa)
Ban May is a convergence of cultures of ethnic minorities in the Northwest region. (Source: Collection)
Ban May is located within the Sun World Fansipan Legend tourist area, in the cable car station area. From the clock tower, visitors only need to walk about 100m to reach Ban May, and it is about 300m from the rose valley. Thanks to its convenient location, Ban May has become an ideal stopover on the journey to explore Sa Pa.
This place converges the unique culture of 5 ethnic minorities in the Northwest region: Hmong, Tay, Giay, Xa Pho, and Red Dao. Visitors can admire wooden stilt houses, brocade fabric walls, enjoy the vibrant Hmong Khen dance, or listen to the warm Tay Dan Tinh melodies. Ban May offers an opportunity to experience authentic and lively local culture.
When autumn arrives, Ban May is adorned with a peaceful and romantic beauty. The sky is clear blue, fluffy white clouds drift lazily over the mountainsides, and the terraced fields around the village are brilliantly golden with ripe rice.
2. Ideal time to visit Ban May (Sa Pa)
Layers of fluffy clouds embrace the terraced fields stretching out in Sa Pa. (Source: Collected)
Ban May (Cloud Village) always has its own charm throughout the 4 seasons, so you can visit anytime of the year. Each season brings a different experience: spring with vibrant peach and plum blossoms; summer with lush green terraced fields; winter covered in mystical mist.
However, autumn is considered the most beautiful time to visit Ban May (Cloud Village). At that time, the hillsides and terraced fields are adorned with the golden hue of ripe rice, while white clouds gently embrace the village, creating an unforgettable poetic scene.
This is also the season when many traditional festivals take place, among which the most prominent is the Ban May Golden Season Festival – where visitors can immerse themselves in the joyful atmosphere, enjoy ethnic song and dance performances, and fully experience the highland culture.
3. How to get to Ban May (Sa Pa)
3.1. From Hanoi and other localities to Sa Pa
The journey to Sa Pa is always a memorable experience as you admire the winding mountain passes, deep green forests, and villages peeking through the mist. Visitors can choose various means of transport to get to Sa Pa, such as: coach, train, private car…
3.1.1. Sleeper bus
The travel time is about 5–6 hours, and the bus will take you directly to the center of Sa Pa town.
Reference ticket price: 250,000 to 300,000 VND/person.
This is a popular and economical way to travel to Sa Pa. From Hanoi, there are many high-quality sleeper bus companies departing daily from stations like My Dinh, Giap Bat, or Nuoc Ngam. For more comfort, you can opt for a spacious limousine bus with door-to-door pick-up service.
Comfortable sleeper beds on a sleeper bus to Sa Pa. (Source: Collected)
3.1.2. Train
Travel time: About 7–8 hours (from Hanoi to Lao Cai station), then add about 30 minutes to travel from Lao Cai to Sa Pa.
Reference ticket price: From 350,000 – 700,000 VND/person depending on the seat type or sleeper cabin.
The train is a great choice for those who love a relaxed feeling, enjoying the natural scenery on both sides of the road. The train departs from Hanoi station in the evening and arrives at Lao Cai station the next early morning. From here, you can take a bus, taxi, or hire a private car to get to the center of Sa Pa. Some high-class trains also have comfortable sleeper cabins, suitable for a gentle and safe overnight journey.
3.1.3. Private Car
Travel time: About 5–6 hours.
If you love being proactive in your journey, traveling by private car is a very reasonable choice. The modern Noi Bai – Lao Cai expressway makes the journey easier than ever. Along the way, you can stop to rest, take photos, or enjoy specialties of the Northwest mountainous region.
3.2. From Sa Pa Center to Ban May
The journey to Ban May starts at Sa Pa station, located on the 1st floor of the Sun Plaza building – a work with a strong European style in the center of Sa Pa ward. From the hotel, you just need to take a taxi or electric car for a few minutes to easily reach the destination.
The Muong Hoa mountain train offers an experience of admiring the majestic mountains and forests. (Source: Collected)
Here, visitors will board the Muong Hoa mountain train to continue their journey to Ban May. The vibrant red train carriages stand out against the mountain scenery, taking you through the majestic Muong Hoa valley. Through the clear glass windows, you can admire the terraced fields stretching like golden silk ribbons, small villages nestled on the mountainside, and white clouds drifting at eye level.
The train journey ends at the Fansipan cable car station; you only need to walk a few more minutes to reach Ban May.
4. Highlighted experiences at Ban May (Sa Pa)
4.1. Discover the life of the Tay Bac ethnic groups
Tourists take photos with ethnic people at Ban May. (Source: Collected)
Stepping through the gate, visitors feel like they've entered a miniature, peaceful highland village amidst the clouds of Sa Pa. Ban May is where the culture of 5 ethnic minorities converges: Hmong, Tay, Giay, Xa Pho, and Red Dao.
Here, you can meet and chat with local people, learn about their daily lives, traditional crafts, as well as the unique customs and beliefs of each ethnic group.
You can visit the space where Red Dao women meticulously embroider colorful dresses and shirts, while in another corner, the scent of kitchen smoke from Hmong homes drifts, where simple dishes are cooked with skillful hands.
Notably, ancient wooden houses with po mu roofs are restored authentically from remote villages, creating a vivid and genuine atmosphere. You don't have to travel to distant villages, because Ban May itself fully and richly gathers the cultural life tapestry of the ethnic groups.
4.2. Northwestern Cuisine Experience
Coming to Ban May, visitors will enjoy specialties of the Northwestern mountains such as: com lam, grilled chicken, thang co, five-colored sticky rice... The dishes are delicately prepared by the hands of local chefs, bringing the authentic Northwestern flavor.
Visitors can enjoy Northwestern specialties right at Ban May. (Source: Collected)
Visitors should not miss the dinner buffet at Ban May with its rich menu and dishes full of forest flavors. The feast takes place in an open space, gathered around a bonfire, instead of in enclosed dining rooms. The kitchen smoke spreads and the melodious khen music plays, giving you the feeling of a family reunion amidst the mountains of Sa Pa.
4.3. Experience traditional festivals at Ban May
Ban May is not only a space that recreates the unique traditional rituals and festivals of the ethnic groups of the Northwest. The locals consider it a “second home”, where they keep the cultural fire alive and pass it on to the younger generation.
Here, visitors can witness rituals rich in identity such as the housewarming ceremony, ancestor worship, prayer for a good harvest, or the new rice ceremony of the Tay people – all organized solemnly and meaningfully. On weekends or major holidays, Ban May becomes more vibrant than ever. Visitors can witness a recreated Red Dao wedding amidst the bustling sound of drums and vibrant traditional costumes.
The wedding of the Red Dao people is authentically recreated at Ban May. (Source: Collected)
One of the unique festivals, loved by many tourists is the Ban May Golden Season Festival. It takes place in autumn when rice ripens throughout Sa Pa. The festival recreates the atmosphere of a bountiful harvest season, with rituals praying for a good harvest, folk dances, and the vibrant sounds of khen, drums, and dan tinh.
5. Experience exploring the Ban May Golden Season
The golden season in Ban May is the most beautiful time of the year – when the entire space seems bathed in gentle sunlight, golden terraced fields winding around the mountainside, and white clouds drifting lazily over the dark brown wooden houses. To make your journey of discovery here more complete, you can note a few things below.
5.1. Prepare clothing
Sa Pa's weather is usually cool, mornings and evenings can be chilly, so you should bring a light jacket, hat, scarf, and a pair of sports shoes for easy movement along the winding village paths.
Don't forget to bring a camera or a good phone camera to capture the scene of golden terraced fields, the bright smiles of the locals, and peaceful moments amidst the mountains and forests.
5.2. Respect local culture
Visitors can comfortably participate in traditional games of the ethnic minorities in the highlands. (Source: Collected)
Ban May is the common home of many ethnic groups such as Hmong, Tay, Red Dao, Giay, Xa Pho… Each ethnic group here has its own customs, beliefs, and way of life. When visiting, you can leisurely observe, chat with the locals, and learn about traditional crafts preserved through generations.
Don't forget to show respect for the worship and living spaces of the ethnic groups – that is the most beautiful way to immerse yourself in the rhythm of life in the mountainous region.
6. Suggested 1-day itinerary to explore Ban May
Morning:
Start your exciting new day in the center of Sa Pa, take the vibrant red Muong Hoa mountain train to depart for the Fansipan cable car station. The train takes you gliding through misty valleys and winding terraced fields, opening up the majestic scenery of the Northwest mountains.
After arriving at the cable car station, you continue to Ban May, where the daily life of 5 ethnic groups Hmong, Tay, Giay, Red Dao, and Xa Pho is recreated. Here, visitors can wander around the village, chat, and learn about traditional brocade weaving with the locals.
Visitors should not miss the opportunity to transform into young men and women of the highlands by trying on traditional costumes of the Hmong, Red Dao, Tay ethnic groups… You can take pictures to preserve these beautiful memories.
Noon:
Stop to rest and enjoy lunch right at Ban May. Rustic dishes such as grilled stream fish, local pork, wild vegetables, or fragrant five-colored sticky rice are all prepared by the hands of local people.
Afternoon:
Visitors can visit the rose valley, just about 300m from Ban May, to admire the roses in full bloom in the cool weather. You can also take romantic photos with the blooming buckwheat flower garden.
Tourists take photos with the vibrant blooming rose garden. (Source: Collection)
Leaving Ban May, you can continue your journey to explore the spiritual tourism complex at Sun World Fansipan Legend. This place features magnificent structures amidst the northwestern sky and clouds, such as: the Great Amitabha Buddha Statue, Bich Van Zen Temple, the Arhat Path…
The majestic Fansipan peak amidst the clouds and sky of the Northwest. (Source: Collected)
At the end of the journey, you should not miss the opportunity to check-in at the 3,143 m high Fansipan peak and the national flag pole flying amidst the clouds and sky of the great mountains.
Evening:
Returning to the center of Sa Pa, you can leisurely stroll around, enjoy hot grilled dishes in the Sa Pa night market, and buy souvenirs and local specialties as gifts for your loved ones.
The journey to the golden season of Ban May is an opportunity for tourists to immerse themselves in the village life, learn about ethnic cultures, and fully appreciate the harmonious beauty between nature and people. If you have the chance to visit Sa Pa, don't forget to take time to visit Ban May – to listen to the breath of the mountains and forests and keep for yourself beautiful memories of the 'golden season amidst the clouds and sky of the Northwest'.
