Walking villages
Cat Cat is the nearest walk. Ta Phin is the other village you can see without a guide.
Cat Cat
The village is named both thôn Cát Cát, xã Tả Van, and San Sả Hồ commune. The 2025 xã Tả Van absorbed xã Hoàng Liên, which is where the scenic-fee decision still places the waterfall. Hours are given as 06:30–18:00, as 07:00–18:00, and as 6:30–17:30.
Farther down the valley
The older route is town–Ý Linh Hồ–Lao Chải–Tả Van. Ta Van is about 12 km from the center, a walk of 8–12 km in 3–5 hours, with Mong, Giay, and Red Dao communities. Xã Lao Chải was not merged in 2025. The Lao Chải–Tả Van gate is 75,000 đồng for an adult and 50,000 đồng for a child on a 2023 table. Ta Phin is the other village. Tả Phìn–Sín Chải–Hầu Thào is 40,000 đồng and 20,000 đồng on that same table.