SAPA TOUR

DAY 1

Morning

OPTION 1: DEPARTURE FROM HANOI – OVERNIGHT SLEEPER BUS

22:30 (Day 0): Guests gather at My Dinh Bus Station or in Hanoi’s Old Quarter as instructed. After boarding the sleeper bus, players complete the mandatory warm-up step by activating the Challenge Journey – Sa Pa code on the app.

Throughout the overnight journey, the app unlocks the Highland Initiation Mission. Players review the Food Tour Sa Pa overview, understand the mission mechanics, learn how to record taste and emotional data, and receive the digital map for the 3-day, 2-night journey. A short rules quiz must be completed before Day 1 is unlocked.

06:30 (Day 1): Arrival in Sa Pa town. The app automatically activates the warm-up phase, guiding players to a central homestay to store luggage and stabilize their physical condition during the first 30 minutes.

OPTION 2: GUESTS ALREADY IN SA PA

07:00: Meeting point at the central square near Sa Pa Stone Church. Players complete a digital check-in to activate the journey. The app prompts players to quickly record their first sensations while standing in the early morning highland air, creating baseline data for comparison in later missions.

07:30 – MORNING MISSION: BOWL OF PHO IN THE COLD MIST
The digital map guides players to a long-established beef or chicken pho restaurant in Sa Pa. Unlike a regular meal, this mission requires three mandatory steps: tasting the broth before seasoning, adjusting flavors based on personal habit, and observing bodily reactions after eating.
Unlock question:
Why does hot soup not only satisfy hunger but also help the body adapt to highland climates?

08:45 – MORNING  DESTINATION: CAT CAT VILLAGE
Players travel to Cat Cat Village for a focused observation challenge. The app asks players to select one small detail—such as wooden houses, water wheels, fireplaces, or traditional clothing—and observe it intentionally for 15 minutes while moving through the village.
Reflection focuses on how this detail reflects adaptation to terrain and climate.

Afternoon

11:45 – AFTERNOON MISSION: DECODING THE HIGHLAND MEAL
Lunch takes place at a local restaurant serving a traditional Sa Pa meal including grilled free-range pork with mắc khén pepper, cải mèo greens, stream fish, and bone soup. Players divide the dishes into three flavor groups—rich, light, and neutral—and rearrange the eating order to find the most comfortable sequence.
Unlock question:
Why is highland cuisine often bold in flavor yet creates warmth rather than heaviness?

13:15 – AFTERNOON  : SHORT REST & GIGESTION BREAK
Light rest time in town to recover energy and avoid fatigue.

14:15 – AFTERNOON  DESTINATION: FANSIPAN
At Fansipan, the mission goes beyond check-in. Players record three changes while moving from base to summit: temperature, breathing rhythm, and emotional state. Progress unlocks only when these changes are connected to the meals experienced earlier in the day.

Evening

18:00 – EVENING  MISSION: CHARCOAL STOVES & CROWD PSYCHOLOGY
Players explore the Sa Pa night market and enjoy grilled street food such as eggs, corn, and meat skewers. The mission focuses on observing eating behavior in cold, crowded environments and comparing solo versus group eating experiences.
Unlock question:
Why do people prefer hot, fast food and close proximity in cold climates?

19:30 –  FREE TIME
Free exploration of Sa Pa town or rest at the accommodation.

DAY 2

Morning

07:30 – MORNING  MISSION: LONG-LASTING ENERGY BREAKFAST
Breakfast features mountain sticky rice or five-colored sticky rice. Players record fullness levels and compare them with the pho breakfast from Day 1.
Unlock question:
Why is sticky rice common in highland breakfasts but rare in urban daily life?

08:45 – MORNING  DESTINATION: TA VAN VILLAGE
Players begin a light trek through Ta Van Village. The mission requires identifying the most physically demanding segment and recording bodily sensations at that moment, linking them to dietary choices from the previous days.

Afternoon

12:00 – AFTERNOON  MISSION: SALMON HOT POT & HEAT RETENTION
Lunch features Sa Pa salmon hot pot. Players observe how the dish is designed to retain heat through cookware, broth structure, and eating rhythm.
Unlock question:
What would happen if salmon hot pot were eaten in a hot climate?

13:30 – AFTERNOON : REST BREAK
Short rest to regain energy after trekking and a hot meal.

15:00 – AFTERNOON DESTINATION: SA PA STONE CHURCH
Players spend 10 minutes observing human flow around the Stone Church without taking photos, focusing on the interaction between tourism and local daily life.

Evening

18:30 – EVENING MISSION: COMMUNITY DINNER
Dinner features black chicken hot pot or an ethnic specialty dish. The mission focuses on sharing: players must record at least one story, behavior, or interaction observed during the communal meal.

20:00 – EVENING :  FREE TIME
Optional night walk, reflection, or rest.

DAY 3

Morning

07:30 – MORNING  MISSION: DRINKS IN THE MORNING MIST
Players begin the day at a hillside café with warm herbal forest tea or apple cider tea. The mission focuses on bodily warmth and alertness after two days of adaptation.
Unlock question:
Why do herbal drinks often appear at the end of a journey rather than the beginning?

08:45 – MORNING DESTINATION: MUONG HOA VALLEY
Players walk slowly along the terraced rice fields, selecting a viewpoint that feels the most “breathable” and recording emotional responses linked to bodily changes over the journey.

Afternoon

11:45 – AFTERNOON  MISSION: A LIGHT LUNCH OF CLOSURE
Lunch features a lighter version of thắng cố or steamed sturgeon with ginger. Players eat slowly with small portions, focusing on lightness and closure.
Unlock question:
Why does the final meal of a journey often need to be lighter than the first?

14:00 – AFTERNOON DESTINATION: PANORAMIC VIEWPOINT / ANCIENT MONASTERY
Players sit quietly for 10 minutes without using phones and record the first thought that arises. The app unlocks the final step when players compare their mental state with the morning of Day 1.

15:30 – AFTERNOON  LIGHT SNACK: SWEET AFTERTASTE
Players enjoy grilled corn cake, chestnut cake, or hot soy milk. No question—just a gentle ending.

Evening

17:00 – END OF JOURNEY
Departure from Sa Pa, officially closing the Challenge Journey – Food Tour Sa Pa (3 Days 2 Nights).