SAPA TRAVEL GUIDE: FROM A TO Z

Located on the Northwest of Vietnam, Sapa has many wonderful things to offer from beautiful landscape to hospitable people. The cloudy town is attractive to visitors due to breathtaking scenery and interesting experiences in exploring ethnic minorities.

SAPA TRAVEL GUIDES

Sapa is a mountainous province of Lao Cai which is a simple, quiet and peaceful land with many wonderfully natural landscapes. The natural landscape combined with creation of people and mountainous terrain and green forest make this land a beautiful watercolor painting which is not only romantic but also colorful. From the central town, you can have a panoramic view of endless mountain ranges…

Traveling to Sapa, visitors will have fabulous chance to explore the famous Fansipan’s peak or just to visit hill tribe meeting ethnic minorities dimly loomed in the fog. The majestic sceneries of forests with beautifully colorful flowers will totally lure any visitors.

WEATHER OF SAPA

Sapa has a priceless resource which is cool and mild weather with a variety of forms. Located on the altitude of 1,500 – 1,800 meters, Sapa more or less has temperate climate with the average temperature of 15 – 18oC. From May to August, Sapa has much rain. At the end of year, during winter, temperature can drop below 0oC with snow sometimes.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT SAPA?

The best time to travel to Sapa is from September to November or from March to May. During these periods, the weather here is quite stable with warm in daylight and coldness at night.

Between April and May, it is the time for ethnic minorities harvesting on terraced rice fields. Also, this is the time for flowers blooming so the scenery is very beautiful.

Between September and October, it is time for ripen rice which makes Sapa yellowish. During this time, Sapa seems changing to a new color. You should travel from late September and early October where many fields are being harvested.

From December to February, it is very cold and sometimes you can see snow. This is also the time for peach flower blooming.

HOW TO TRAVEL TO SAPA?

Sapa town is located 38km from Lao Cai and 376km from Hanoi. To access this land, you can either travel by train or car.

Travel to Sapa from Hanoi

By bus

Viet Bus: VND 230,000 (USD 10)

Sao Viet: VND 210,000 (USD 9)

Ha Son: VND 250,000 (USD 11)

By train

There are many trains from Hanoi to Lao Cai and vice versa with some type of seats from, hard or soft seats, A/C soft berths…Trains depart from 9pm or 10pm and arrive at Lao Cai railway station in the early morning next day.

Fares: from VND VND 150,000 (USD 7) to VND 2,000,000 (USD 95).

Note: Sapa is a favorite destination so almost agencies will keep good seats especially at the weekend and during peak season so you may be able to buy hard-seat tickets if buy directly at the railway stations. To have good seats, you should buy tickets through agencies with the higher prices from 8-10%.

Train tickets for route Hanoi – Lao Cai can booked easily, but for the train Lao Cai – Hanoi, it is more difficult so you should book tickets in advance.

HOW TO TRAVEL IN SAPA?

Option 1: in Sapa, you can hire a motorbike with the price of VND 120,000 (USD 5) to VND 180,000 (USD 8)/ motorbike exclusive of petrol (from 6am to 8pm) to explore the town.

Option 2: you can find “xe om” drivers and ask them to take to some destinations. The price is about VND 150,000 (VND 7)/4-5 destinations around Sapa.

There are some reliable taxi companies for your travel including Mai Linh, Thanh Cong, Huu Nghi, Tay Bac, Sapa…

WHAT TO VISIT IN SAPA AND NEARBY?

Ham Rong (jaw of Dragon)

On the top of the mountain, you can see whole Sapa, Muong Hoa valley, Ta Phin village dimly loomed in the fog. In Ham Rong, you may find lost in the wonderland with colorful flowers.

Location: at central Sapa

Sapa stone church

The church was built in 1895 and is the only undamaged architecture of the French. This church has been renovated and preserved and become a symbol of Sapa.

Location: at central Sapa

Cat Cat village

This village is a long-standing hill tribe of H’mong people. Cat Cat is the place remaining handicrafts such as, cotton and linen growing and weaving. Cat Cat is now a famous tourist village in Sapa

Location: about 2km from center

Ta Phin village

There are beautiful sceneries in this village with rich culture and custom of Dzao people. To Ta Phin, you can visit a nearby cave. Inside the cave, there are many beautiful stalactites with many strange shapes such as, sitting and dancing fairies, rice fields, sparkling forest…

Location: 5km from center

Ta Van village

Travel along road 4D to Southeast, Ta Van is 8km from center. In this village, you can explore the Giay people’s life style. The road to this village is quite small with beautiful terraced rice and corn fields on both sides.

Location: 8km from center

Sin Chai village

Sin Chai (San Sa Ho commune) is located 4km from center. This village has not been quite popular for visitors so it still has remained untouched. This village is the home of the black H’mong people with about 1400 people. Besides growing rice and hybrid corn, the locals often choose the mild-slope mountain to grow herbs which help them have more income.

Location: 4km from center

Muong Hoa valley – ancient stone field of Sapa

The most wonderful thing of the ancient stone field is the variety shapes of stones which located amongst trees and rice fields of ethnic minorities. Hundred sandstones with different drawings and strange characters have not been defined until now. In Muong Hoa valley, there is a beautiful stream with the length of 15km running through Lao Chai, Ta Van, Hau Thao and Ban Ho.

Location: in Hau Thao commune (8km from center to Southeast). From the center of Sapa, cross a pass and go along the high mountain range, you will reach this valley.

WHAT TO SEE OUTSIDE OF SAPA?

Hang Tien tourist place

Go upstream of Chay river about 6km from the central commune of Bao Nhai, you will travel by boats passing Trung Dong ancient citadel. Hang Tien is considered as a little Halong Bay which is associated with Ba Co (three girls) shrine in Bao Nhai. Many tourists to this place will swim to immerse the beautiful landscape and to ask for heath, luck and prosperity.

Location: 6km from Bao Nhai’s center (Bac Ha district)

Conquering peak of Fansipan – house roof of Indochina

Fansipan is the highest mountain of Indochian (3,143m), located in the center of Hoang Lien Son mountain range. You can join a tour of Vietnam travel agency or arrange a “do-it-yourself” trip guided by local people of H’mong, Dzao ethnic minorities. On the way, you will see the diversified fauna and sauna system.

You also can take cable cars which was operated in 2016 helping thousands people to conquer the peak of Fansipan. This cable car system has two records of Guinness. The time to reach the peak of Fansipan is cut down from 2 days to 15 mintues.

Location: 9km from Sapa’s center to Southwest

Bac and Love waterfall

From the center of Sapa, head out to the West about 11km on the way to Lai Chau, you will see Bac waterfall flows from the height of 100m into the stream in the valley of O Quy Ho which makes the jungle’s sound more wonderful. However, during the dry season, you should consider to come here because the fall is almost dry. Go further about 3km from Bac waterfall, you will reach Cong Troi (Heaven gate) where you will enjoy the beautiful valley of Lai Chau and grandiose Fansipan’s peak. If you want to walk, you can stop at Tram Ton and then go through Hoang Lien national park about 1km to arrive at love waterfall.

Location: from Sapa, going to the west about 12km, on the way to Lai Chau.

Cong Troi (Heaven Gate)

Road to the Heaven Gate on the middle of mountain is quite winding. This road is named as Tram Ton through the grandiose mountain range of Hoang Lien Son and the Heaven gate is the peak of this pass. Stand on the Heaven gate, you will have a wonderful panoramic of the enormous valley and green terraced rice fields underneath.

Location: 18km from Sapa to the North

Coc San

Coc San is a system of waterfalls and caves with different sizes. From the road 4D, there is a small path to Coc San with the length of 1km. The road to Coc San is very tortuous, dark and covered by large stones. The beauty of this place is totally untouched and pristine. There is a special thing is that there is a cave at the bottom of each waterfall. When reaching this place, you will find the magnificence of each waterfall and cave.

Location: Coc San commune, Bat Xat district, 7km from Lao Cai

Hoang A Tuong palace

The architecture of this palace is the combination of Asia and Europe with the layout of closed rectangle which makes its harmonious beauty. This reflects the mountainous architecture.

Location: center of Bac Ha district, Lao Cai

Day market of Bac Ha

Bac Ha is the biggest day market of the bordering area. This market is only opened every Sunday which attracts a lot of local people and nearby. Here is the place for buying, selling and exchanging products of ethnic minorities. You can find many necessary tools such as, clothes, mattocks, shovels or furniture.

Location: in the center of Bac Ha district, 60km from Lao Cai.

WHERE TO EAT IN SAPA?

Anh Dung restaurant, 69 Xuan Vien street, Sapa – Hotline: (020) 3871024

Bien May restaurant, 31 Xuan Vien street, Sapa – Hotline: 0203 872 606

A Quynh restaurant, 15 Thach Son street, Sapa – Hotline: 0203 871 555

Hoa Sua restaurant, 10 Thac Bac road, Sapa – Hotline: 0203 871 766

Hill Station restaurant, 7 Muong Hoa street, Sapa

Delta restaurant, 99 Hop Thanh road, Lao Cai – 0203 835 288

WHERE TO STAY IN SAPA?

There is a wide range of hotels in Sapa with the standard from 2 to 5 star. Here are some recommended hotels in Sapa for your choice.

1. Victoria Sapa Resort and Sapa

Address: Xuan Vien, Sapa, Lao Cai

2. U Sapa

Address: 08 Cau May, Sapa

3. Amazing Sapa

Address 44 Ngu Chi Son, Sapa

4. Muong Thanh

Address: 9 phanxipang, Sapa

5. Hoa Phong

Address: 60 Ngu Chi Son, Sapa

HOMESTAYS IN SAPA

Sali House

Located 20 minutes from Sapa at the end of Ta Van village, Sali House is a beautiful homestay which offers a wonderful view of terraced fields and deep blue nature. This will be unforgettable experience for anyone staying here.

During your stay here, you can explore the nearby ancient stone field which is only a 10-minute walk from your homestay. Furthermore, you can conquer surrounding mountains or visit Giang Ta Chai village and especially meet the locals to get deeper understanding about their life…After a day of exploration, you can enjoy the massage theory served by the ethnic minorities.

Many people choose Sali house to stay away from the bustling cities so do not be surprised if you see someone staying here in a week.

Phori’s House

Is a beautiful small house located in Ta Van village, 10km from Sapa. There is a small stream in front of this house so during the bright days, you can read book on big stones. In the late afternoon, you can climb up to the mountain to enjoy the peaceful scenery of the village

Price is about USD 30/ 2 people/night. Surcharge USD 10 per person. The house can accommodate up to 14 people. Price for the entire house is USD 120/night.

The Haven Sapa Camp site

Located on the way to Cat Cat village, 2km from the center, this homestay is very convenient for your exploration. The climate here is quite mild and cool which will brings you comfort and wonderful discovery.

Because its location on Vong Canh hill, you will have an amazing view of the entire Sapa.

The Haven has 2 dorms which can accommodate 30 beds. Price is about VND 150,000 (USD7) /person/night inclusive breakfast.

Eco Palms House

Located in Lao Chai village with the view of Hoang Lien Son mountain range and beautiful Muong Hoa valley. Eco Palms House offers 5 bungalows of which are designed as typical house of ethnic minorities in Sapa.

Nam Cang Riverside Lodge

Located in the Nam Cang village which is the home of Red Dzao people. You will reach this beautiful homestay by crossing the small bridge. This homestay has 7 TWN/DBL rooms and 02 family rooms in furnished condition.

The special thing of the homestay is the view toward to a river. It is really amazing to enjoy a cup of coffee or reading a book next to a river.

Sapa Heavenly homestay

Located in Ta Phin village, 17km from Sapa to the East. Sapa Heavenly is beautifully designed with Fokienia trees which totally protect you from mosquitos.

Lying at a special area, Sapa Heavenly offers you a romantic view of Sapa. During your stay, you can experience many activities with the locals such as, growing rice, cooking local food…