When researching for a trip to Vietnam, one of the many places that will begin to pop up on your radar is Sapa. This mountainside town in the clouds has risen rapidly in popularity in recent years, thanks mostly to instagram and other social media. But is Sapa Vietnam worth visiting?
In this Complete Guide, I will take you through everything you need to know about Sapa Vietnam, as well as some tips and hints that will make your visit easier and more efficient.
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Table of Contents
- About Sapa
- Sapa Vietnam Weather
- Things to do in Sapa Vietnam
- Best tours and day trips from Sapa
- How to get around in Sapa
- How many days are enough for Sapa Vietnam?
- How to get to Sapa from Hanoi
- Where to stay in Sapa
- Can I visit Sapa on a tour?
- So, is Sapa Vietnam worth visiting?
About Sapa
Sapa is a small mountainside town, nestled in the ranges of North Western Vietnam. Located about 5 to 6 hours drive from Hanoi, this beautiful and charming little town is home to several cultural backgrounds, and populated by people from nearby hillside villages.
Sapa is known as the land in the clouds, and with good reason. The mountain peaks surrounding the town soar into the sky, and the clouds, when not wafting around the peaks, flow like living rivers down the valleys. Rice terraces adorn the mountain sides, sweeping down into the depths below. The views from Sapa itself are gorgeous, and there is no wonder that hikers, photographers and adventure seekers can be found strolling the streets and filling the cafes at all times of the year.
Sapa Vietnam Weather
Sapa has become famous in recent times as the only place in Vietnam to see snow. It is true that in Winter, several times a year they will see snowfall, turning this already picturesque mountainside town into a fairy tale village.
The best time to visit Sapa Vietnam is in the Autumn or Spring months. This is when the town is at its most beautiful, with the fresh foliage of spring or the colors of Autumn adorning her streets and the mountain surrounds. Temperatures are also at their most amiable during this time, and hiking season is at its peak. Summers in Sapa can be very hot and humid, while Winters are cold and dry, with snow falls possible when conditions are right.
Things to do in Sapa Vietnam
Sapa is a beautiful mountain town, and most of the things to do here revolve around views, hiking and discovering the local village culture. Here are the best things to so in Sapa.
- Visit Cat Cat Village – This quaint little village may seem really geared up for tourists, but it’s also very fun, picturesque, and a generally great day out. Hike down the road or grab a ride in a local shuttle to the ticket office. Cat Cat Village features a couple of beautiful waterfalls pouring into a lovely river that flows past cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops. It’s not a huge day out, but unmissable if you are in Sapa.
- Go hiking – This is probably one of the biggest drawcards for visitors to Sapa. From the moment you walk into the town, people will be offering you guided treks. You simply can’t avoid them! Choose from a simple trek around the surrounding countryside, a hike through the rice terraces, or challenge yourself with a blood pumping climb up the mountains.
- Visit Fansipan Peak – Head to the station in the middle of town and take the short train ride up to the base station of the gondola. Then, enjoy the heart pumping ride up the mountain to the highest peak in not only Vietnam, but also Laos and Cambodia. The views make the trip worth it!
- Hike to Love Waterfall and Silver Waterfall – Located 14 Kilometers north west of Sapa, these falls are reached by road, so you may have to hire a scooter or taxi to get there. Silver Waterfall is right beside the road, while Love Waterfall is accessed via an easy 30 minute, gorgeous hike along a fully paved path.
- Soak up the Views – The views from Sapa itself are amazing. You can head to one of many cafes such as White Cloud Coffee, or take a short hike into the surrounding hills to find some awesome viewpoints.
- Visit some local temples and pagodas – Grab a local guide to take you on a hike through some local villages, and discover some of the temples and pagodas scattered around the surrounding hills.
- Enjoy the town – The town of Sapa itself is very picturesque. Take a stroll around the lake, and visit the quaint but beautiful church. At the end of the day, try visiting the local night markets, or one of the barbeque restaurants where you can cook your own meals right at your table!
- Visit Heaven’s Gate – Tram Ton Pass is a famous mountain pass near Sapa that is very popular due to its spectacular views. It is reachable via road from Sapa, and some local tours will take you there on the same trip as to Love Waterfall.
Best tours and day trips from Sapa
As with any location, there are always daytrips and tours available. Sapa certainly has plenty of options available, especially when it comes to visiting some out of the way locations. These also help if you don’t want to hire a hiking guide off the street, as all the options and “guides” harassing you in the street can get rather stressful.
When it comes to easily choosing and booking a day trip from Sapa, both GetYourGuide and Klook make the process extremely easy. You can check out both in the links below which will take you directly to all of the tours that each company provides in the region. Don’t forget to check the reviews! Personally I would recommend a day trip to Love Waterfall, or if you want something a little more strenuous, a trip to local villages that will also give you some trekking and views!
How to get around in Sapa
Getting around the township of Sapa is easy. The town isn’t that big, and everything is fairly easy to find. Having said that, it is also a mountain town, and those with slightly limited mobility might find it difficult walking up hills to get back to their hotels. So, here are the best options for getting around.
- Walking – this is the obvious one. You can literally walk everywhere in Sapa. If you came to the town to hike, then walking around will be simple.
- Scooter – Hiring a motorbike is also a great way to get around. Things will only be a few minutes away when on two wheels. You can also use it to head to Cat Cat Village and places a little further removed such as Love Waterfall. CLICK HERE for easy scooter rental in Sapa.
- Local Buggy – All around Sapa you will see the local buggy services. These are like taxi’s, but look like oversized Golf buggies. Organize a price with the driver before you get in, and enjoy the open air ride around the town. This is an easy way to get from the town center to your hotel, or even as far as Cat Cat Village. Some of the larger hotels even have their own buggy to shuttle you around.
- Taxi – There is no GRAB ridesharing options in Sapa, but the taxi’s are pretty good. I recommend only using them as a last resort option though.
How many days are enough for Sapa Vietnam?
This depends upon what you will be doing in Sapa. Are you a serious hiker? Or are you simply visiting to see the views, frequent the cafes and visit a couple of local sights? The answer to this will determine how many days are enough for Sapa Vietnam, for you personally.
If you are the latter, and are just a visitor, then 2 or 3 days is plenty. You can spend a day visiting Cat Cat Village, and afterward explore Sapa township a little more, enjoying the lake and a couple of cafes. Then, on the second day, take the train and gondola up to Fansipan Peak and enjoy the incredible views from the highest point in Vietnam.
This will only take up a couple of days, and still leave you plenty of time to have coffee in the mornings at places such as White Cloud Café or Viettrekking for some of the best coffee and views in the area.
If you stay for a third day, consider hiring a scooter/motorbike and heading up to Love Waterfall and Silver Waterfall, which are only around 25 minutes drive from Sapa.
For hikers, decide how many hikes you would like to do, and tack on the required days for each. This will, of course, depend upon if you are opting for day hikes from Sapa or multi day hikes.
For the average visitors though, I would say that 3 days in Sapa Vietnam is the perfect amount of days to visit.
How to get to Sapa from Hanoi
Getting to Sapa from Hanoi is rather easy. Easier than getting to many other places from the Vietnamese Capital, actually. This is because it is rapidly becoming a much sought after destination, and sees plenty of tourists coming and going at all times of the year.
There are several ways to get to Sapa from Hanoi. Here are the best, along with my personal recommendation for what YOU should do.
But first, a bit of open honesty here. There are many travel blogs that will tell you the wrong way to get to Sapa Vietnam. I don’t know if this is because they made a mistake and are trying to convince themselves that they really didn’t (go figure), or if they are just trying to make money selling you something. My guess is the second. Below, I will tell you which options are best, and hopefully you will understand.
- Train – This option is, for some reason, touted by travel bloggers. Now, around Vietnam I am a fan of the train over bus. For a Sapa trip though, it is only 5 – 6 hours travel, and train is not a good option. Why? Because it doesn’t take you all the way to Sapa! It terminates at Lao Cai, and from there you have to prearrange a bus or taxi. And guess what? The bus is most likely coming from Hanoi to Sapa anyway! So your train fare has nearly doubled by the time you get to Sapa, especially if you opt to taxi from Lao Cai to Sapa and have a “not exactly honest” taxi driver.
- Taxi – Anyone that catches a taxi intercity is either rich or just downright lazy and can’t be bothered researching. But, yes, taxi is an option if you have money to burn.
- Limo bus – These buses are all over Vietnam and are very popular. But for a short trip like this, do you really need a “limo”. Unless of course you NEED to be pampered. Oh – make sure you don’t sit in the front two seats in a limo. There’s more leg room in a super budget local airline than in those things.
- Bus – Yes, this is where I was leading. The bus is the best way to get to Sapa from Hanoi. Try Sapa Express as a very good option. You can book easily online (I use Bookaway) and they have their office in Old Quarter. You will stop at Lao Cai on the way (and probably pick up some disillusioned train passengers) for a break and then head onto Sapa. The views are amazing on the way up, and the trip only takes about 5 hours, depending on conditions. Also, you leave around 7am so you get the entire afternoon to enjoy Sapa when you arrive.
The Sapa Express Bus will also stop at Noi Ban Airport if prearranged. So if you are heading to Vietnam and want to go direct to Sapa, this is a great option. Also if you are heading direct to the airport after leaving Sapa.
Where to stay in Sapa
Sapa is a great place to visit, but as is the case when you visit a place for the first time, where you stay can make or break your trip. I really suggest staying centrally within Sapa itself. This is so that you can reach most other places easily, and you don’t have too far to walk to find a decent restaurant or cafe. Also, it just makes sense being central on your first visit.
There are other areas to stay as well. You might read some blogs that talk about Cat Cat Village, or the Fansipan Mountain area. While these are great for a themed boutique experience, if it is your first time in Sapa, you really want to be somewhere that you can explore.
If you want to just jump right into it, try the link below for all hotels around the Sapa area from Booking.com.
Now, here is a selection of the best places around Sapa, depending upon your budget.
Luxury
Hôtel de la Coupole – MGallery
Absolute luxury in Sapa, with brilliant views and a beautiful pool area. The interior of this hotel is a wonderful fusion of modern and French Colonial, and still somehow manages to bring the Sapa Local Hilltribes into the decor. This is luxury plus in Sapa, and highly recommended.
Silk Path Grand Sapa Resort & Spa
Wonderful Luxury hotel located away from the main street, ensuring peace and quiet. Central to the town area – even though it is walking distance the hotel still offers a free buggy service for guests. Delicious breakfasts, and amazing, hands on hospitality makes this place a real stand out.
Mid Range
ALIANA Boutique Sapa Hotel & Spa
A four star hotel in Sapa that performs way above expectations. Perfectly located to assure stunning panoramic views, this place offers all the amenities and facilities that you could possibly require. Staff are wonderful, and are willing to assist with anything from booking tours to scooter rentals.
Sapa Horizon Hotel
Beautiful hotel very centrally located right near to the train station servicing the Fansipan Gondola. Staff are extremely accommodating, and will assist with tickets at no extra charge. Delicious breakfasts are raved about by guests, and the spacious rooms, along with convenient location make this hotel a sure fire winner.
Budget
Thien Phuong Guesthouse
Well priced guesthouse located right in the very center of everything, and walking distance to anything else. This place is all about location! Hosts are extremely nice, and helpful with anything you might need.
Saigonese Trekking House
Clean and comfortable hostel that is perfect for backpackers. Showers are very hot, which is a bonus in Vietnam and especially in Sapa. Great common areas, cozy in the winter and perfect for sitting in the common areas during summer.
Can I visit Sapa on a tour?
Yes you can! In fact, you can do a lot of hiking and see many of the local attractions on a tour from Hanoi. Most of the best tours are multi day, beginning at a 2 day trek and out to 5 days that can include other destinations such as Ninh Binh or Halong Bay. Once again, GetYourGuide and Klook are the best providers. Both represent all of the very best companies, making it easy for you search and book with ease.
To make it easier for you, here are easy to follow links to both companies tours to Sapa.
So, is Sapa Vietnam worth visiting?
Sapa is an amazing place to visit, so the answer is a resounding yes! If you love hiking, seeing incredible panoramic views, and are interested in exploring the culture of small, local hillside villages, then you will have an incredible time in Sapa Vietnam.
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