I spent three nights and four days with my family at Cat Cat Village in Sapa, Vietnam. One of Sapa's most famous destinations, this place is steeped in history and tradition. So, today, I'll share five things about Cat Cat Village and some helpful information to know beforehand.
1. What is Catcat Village?
Characteristics of Catcat Village
Cat Cat Village is located at 1,500 meters above sea level and is home to the traditional Hmong ethnic minority.
Famous for its beautiful terraced rice fields, wooden houses, and traditional handicrafts such as weaving and dyeing, travelers can enjoy the lives of ethnic minorities and traditional performances, as well as beautiful waterfalls and nature.
Reasons to visit Cat Cat Village
If you are planning a trip to Sapa, you may have heard this story. “It’s already full of shops, so it doesn’t look like it used to.”
When I listened to the stories of people who visited Cat Cat Village 10 years ago, it was clear that many things were different.
But has it changed as much as downtown Sapa? Of course, from the moment you enter to the moment you leave, the villagers are mobilized to sell souvenirs and other goods.
However, I think it is definitely worth a visit because the way they live and their living conditions are the same as before.
- Observe the lives of the Hmong, an ethnic minority group
- There is a place where traditional houses are turned into exhibition halls.
- You can also observe children playing and farming.
- Traditional performances can be viewed
- You can enjoy beautiful natural scenery and waterfalls, different from Sapa city.
2. The village of Catcat that I visited in person
As a YouTuber, I recorded the entire journey (about 50 minutes) from the ticket booth in Cat Cat Village to Sapa City by motorbike to commemorate and remember Cat Cat Village.
✏️ Things you can see in the video
- The entrance ticket booth at Cat Cat Village
- People wearing traditional costumes
- Traditional house in Gatgat Village
- Items for sale
- Appearance of each photo zone
- A waterfall and villagers
If you want to vividly experience the sights, sounds, and scenery of Cat Cat Village, 🎥 Check it out in this videodo!
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3. Top 5 Must-Know Tips for Cat Cat Village🍯
1. Admission fee
The entrance fee is 150,000 dong per person(KRW 7,500). There is a ticket booth right in front of the entrance to Cat Cat Village. You can enter by showing your ticket at the entrance. Your tour of Cat Cat Village begins here.
2. Clothing and attire
Cat Cat Village is much larger and more expansive than you might expect, and there are a lot of stairs to climb and narrow, bumpy paths to navigate, so it's best to wear comfortable, walking shoes that are easy to walk in for long periods of time. (Slippers are a pain ❌)
Sapa's weather is cool, so you won't sweat or feel tired, but we recommend dressing comfortably. From the start to the end, there are almost 901 steps.
3. Photo zone
There are photo zones set up throughout the village where tourists can take pictures. In particular, the one shown in the photo below ‘The photo zone that looks like 'Howl's Moving Castle' is the most famous, and it is the only one that has an admission fee.Receive.
It's cheap at 10,000 dong (500 won in Korean currency), but I didn't go because I didn't think it was worth spending money on the photo zone. There are many other great photo zones, so you might want to try another one.
4. Traditional costume rental
The area around the entrance to Cat Cat Village is lined with traditional costume rental shops. There are truly countless rental shops, and even within Cat Cat Village itself, there are plenty.
It's an indescribable joy to take pictures wearing traditional clothing that suits the place and come out really pretty.
However, as mentioned before, in the structure of the village of Catcat, where you have to constantly climb up and down stairs, wearing traditional clothing with heavy accessories can be very difficult and uncomfortable.
So the one at the very bottom We recommend renting costumes and taking lots of photos at the Cat Cat village and waterfall.Please remember that it can be difficult and physically exhausting to rent in advance.
5. Precautions
Because the village is structured so that you have to keep going down stairs, those with knee problems or legs that tire easily may need to think twice before visiting.
Since it is a place where you cannot even push a stroller, I think it would be difficult to bring a child who cannot walk for a long time.
4. Travel Tips (Transportation)
How to get to Cat Cat Village
- Go on foot
Transportation to Cat Cat Village can be a bit tricky.
For those who enjoy trekking or simply enjoying the scenery, the walk from Sapa Notre Dame Cathedral is approximately 2.6 km and takes 40 minutes, as it is a continuous downhill climb.
- Taxi or motorcycle
Unless it is a Vietnamese national holiday or a time when there are a lot of tourists, You can get to the Cat Cat Village ticket office in 10 minutes by taxi or motorbike.do.
How to get back to Cat Cat Village
Because Sapa city is located at a higher altitude than Cat Cat village, It's a continuous uphill climb, so I recommend using a motorcycle rather than walking.It is recommended to do so.
On the way back from Cat Cat Village Waterfall, there are a lot of motorbike touts waiting for you. The price for Vietnam National Day is 100,000 dong per motorcycleI came back after paying.
5. Conclusion (better viewed with YouTube)
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🍀 Father and son traveling the world Necessary travel information is continuously updated! Please look forward to it~
In closing
My idea of travel is to focus on healing through experiencing beautiful nature. Sapa, however, boasts some of the most beautiful natural scenery I've ever seen in Vietnam.
A beautiful place where you'll want to sit and admire the scenery all day! I highly recommend a trip to Sapa!
