Located in the middle of breathtaking landscapes and known as a city in the fog is SAPA.
The place has been a popular destination to visit for many travelers. Sapa offers many wonderful scenery and ethnic cultures to discover.
This trip will provide you a glorious feeling while experiencing the journey up to the mountainous town.
The real experience lies in walking through the valleys and seeing the locals everyday life.
- Highlights
- Points of interest
- Suggested Activities
- Getting There
- Dining
- Shopping
- Nightlife
1. Highlights
- Fansipan Mountain also known as ‘The roof of Indochina’, the peak is 3413 meters high and the tallest mountain of Vietnam.
- Amazing view and popular destination to hike and bike: Silver Waterfall.
- The Notre Dame Cathedral, inspired by the Roman architecture and located right in the city center.
- Local ethnic groups such as the H’mong, Dao, Tay, Giay and many more.
- Take a look at Sapa Square where tribes sell their crafts
2. Points of interest
3. Suggested Activities
- Trekking next to rice terraces
- Climbing the mountains
- Visiting local villages to see their lifestyle
- Spending a night at a family home-stay
- Going for a cable car ride to Fansipan
4. Getting There
Sapa is one of the top most visited destination in Northern Vietnam. The travel distance is around 320 km if you are departing from Hanoi. Train and bus are the most common transportation to get there.
There are not any trains going directly to Sapa instead they ride until Lao Cai, a place 30 km away from the city.
Keep in mind that you still need to go by taxi or bus to arrive at the actual destination. A taxi trip will cost around VND 400.000 and a bus ride VND 50.000.
The recommended option is to go for a day or night bus which takes approximately six traveling hours.
Book directly via a bus company rather than a travel agency as they mostly charge higher. The cost is about VND 500.000 for a one-way ticket.
5. Dining
Thanks to the French influence in the past, many of its cafés and restaurants still remain in Sapa. Imagine freshly baked bread or sweet tarts with a nice cup of tea.
Restaurants serve local and mainly French, Italian and American dishes. There are plenty of choices when it comes to food and drinks.
A must-try specialty is the salmon hot pot, warming you from the inside out. Served together with fresh vegetables the steaming broth results in a great meal.
6. Shopping
In the northern mountains, Sapa is rising as a top shopping location. Most of the goods are locally made such as accessories, clothing and jewelries characteristic by its patterns.
The local ethnic groups are also involved in some souvenir business by standing randomly on the streets. They sell goods varying from authentic attire to small pocket bags.
For the real experience, Muong Khuong Bird Market might be the place to be. Various tribes show up in their traditional clothing where you can see the real difference. They come to this market to socialize with each other, enjoy an outing and trade their goods.
7. Nightlife
Sapa appears to be more mysterious and charming by night. Though the streets are very lively with many foreign tourists joining in different kind of activities.
They leisurely stroll around the city and take pictures. Bars attract many visitors because of its peaceful atmosphere, it is not too crowded and very welcoming.