The Complete Sapa Travel Guide - Practical information and things to see

By Ngoc Tu Dinh - September 27, 2024
The Complete Sapa Travel Guide - Practical information and things to see

Regarded as "a Citadel in the clouds", Sapa attracts so many visitors every year, both domestic visitors and travellers from around the world. Because of its special features, Sapa is always listed among the most desired destinations in Vietnam. Let's discover this country with Izitour to learn practical Sapa travel guide and know about the best things to see in Sapa.

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I- Need to know before leaving to Sapa

1. Where is Sapa located?

Located in the mountains of northwestern Vietnam, Sapa is a district of Lao Cai Province, about 380 km from the capital city of Hanoi and 38 km from downtown Lao Cai. The town is located at the altitude between 1500 and 1650 m above sea level, so it is covered with fog all year round, so it is known as a citadel in the clouds.

travel to sapa in winter

2. Why is Sapa so fascinating?

Pleasant weather & climate

Sapa's climate is cool all year round, the average temperature is between 15 - 18oC, especially in winter, the temperature could climb below 0oC and snow also appears. Therefore, as soon as the French first came to the area in the early 20th century, they built a tourist citadel to escape from the extreme heat of the tropical country in the summer.

guide to travel to sapa vietnam

Breathtaking landscapes

Being located in the high mountainous area and having a temperate climate, Sapa offers stunning sceneries that take every traveller's breath away. At any time of the year, Sapa has its own distinct beauty. The harmony of mountains, natural forests, valleys, streams, waterfalls with the simple houses of the locals and French architectural works creates a captivating charm. Visitors can lose their eyes between the green colour of nature and the colour of local life.

Unique rice terraces

Terraced rice fields are a masterpiece that demonstrates man's hard work and nature's creation. In Sapa, these terraces have existed for hundreds of years, created by ethnic minorities in the area to grow rice on the mountainside.

Because of the harsh winter climate, they can only do one harvest a year in Sapa. Normally in late April and May, they fill the terraces with water, making all the terraces become a giant mirror on the mountain. From June to August, the verdant rice plants grow, and from late August to September, you can already smell the scent of rice in the air.

guida viaggio sapa cosa vedere terrazzamenti riso

Beauty of ethnic minorities

Not only known for natural beauty, Sapa also converges the cultural diversity of many ethnic minorities such as H'Mong (occupies the majority of the local population), Tay, Red Dao, Giay. By travelling to Sapa, visitors will have more opportunities to explore the culture and customs of some ethnic minorities, and discover the simple but always joyful life of the highland people. Fortunately, they still dress their very colourful and attractive traditional ethnic costumes and maintain their customs quite well despite the development of tourism, especially in recent years. Therefore, visiting the ethnic villages in Sapa is always one of the must-do things when you come to the area.

visit sapa and explore local culture

Cooking with mountain flavours

Perhaps because of its clear and cool climate, the cuisine of Sapa has a very unique flavour. Each specialty here gets its own uniqueness. You can't miss the opportunity to taste Sapa's roasted skewers, armpit pork, five-colour sticky rice, smoked meat or Thang Co-the area's special hot pot,... 

Now in the Silver Waterfall area, there is also salmon cultivation so salmon dishes also become the specialties of Sapa.

3. When is the best time to visit Sapa

things to do in sapa vietnam

  • Spring (February - May)

February - May is the time when many tourists choose to come to Sapa. The spring air covers the citadel of Sapa, a colourful shirt of peach blossoms, apricot blossoms.

April - May would be the time when people in Sapa start sowing and planting rice. Therefore, if you come to Sapa at this time, you will admire the vast terraced fields filled with water

  • Summer (June - August)

June - August is the ideal time for those who want to escape the sweltering heat of the big cities. The whole country of Sapa is covered in the colour green, from the verdant forest to the growing rice terraces.

  • Fall (September - November)

In mid- or late September, Sapa is most attractive with golden ripe rice, which spreads enormously over the terraced fields, all over the mountains and hills, bringing enchanting scenery. This is the best time for photographers to hunt the gorgeous photos of Sapa.

From October to November, Sapa starts to get cold. This is also the water season in Sapa, so the waterfall will flow strong, very lively and majestic.

  • Winter (December - February)

From December to February, it is very cold in Sapa; in some places, the temperature even drops below freezing and it snows, especially at night and early in the morning. 

The best time to visit Sapa is from May to September.

4. How to get Sapa from Hanoi

With a distance of 380km, the journey by car from Hanoi will take about 6-7 hours while for the transfer by train, it normally moves in the night. The train leaves around 10PM in the evening and arrives at Lao Cai station around 7PM the next day.

>> See more: How to get from Hanoi to Sapa ?   
>> You may also like to see: Visit Sapa or Pu Luong Nature Reserve? 

II- Top most interesting attractions in Sapa

1. Ham Rong Mountain - Mount of the Dragon Jaw

Mount Ham Rong is located right next door in the centre of the citadel, just behind the ancient stone church of Sapa. Its name "Dragon Jaw" is taken from a story of a small Dragon who lost his way back to his home. 

On the climb to reach the top of the mountain, there is a chance to enjoy the wonderful sceneries such as royal gardens, the cloud courtyard, the gateway to heaven... It seems that visitors are lost in a fairy tale.

top attractions in sapa

  • Opening hours: 07:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Entrance fee: Adult: 70,000VND - Child: 20,000VND

2. Mount Fansipan - the rooftop of Indochina

Mount Fansipan is not a strange name for visitors who want to visit Sapa. This "roof of Indochina '' is located in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, just 9km from downtown Sapa at an altitude of 3,143m above sea level. To conquer Fansipan Peak, in the past, visitors had to travel many dangerous roads, the journey could take between 2-5 days depending on the person. Now, the fastest and easiest way to reach the peak is by cable car with a 15-minute ride, then about hundreds of stairs to do. The panoramic scenery on the peak will grade all to be stunning as you are walking in the clouds.

fansipan mountain sapa top things to see in sapa

  • Opening hours of cable car: 08:00 AM - 17:00 PM
  • Entrance fee: Adult: 800,000VND - Child: 550,000VND

October - November and March - April are the best times to visit Mt. Fanxipan

3. Cat Cat Village

Cat Cat Village is located in San Sa Ho commune and is the residence of ethnic black Hmong. Only 3km away, Cat Cat is the closest village to the centre of the citadel. You can reach the village by car, scooter or even on foot easily. At the entrance of the village, there is a map and directions of the village landmarks, including the waterfall, art area where you can listen to the ethnic dance show for free, traditional house, stalls with traditional handmade products,...

sapa travel guide to cat cat village

  • Opening hours: 05:00 AM - 10:00 PM
  • Admission fee: Adult: 90,000VND - Child: 50,000VND

4. Ta Phin Village

About 15km from the centre of Sapa, Ta Phin Village has a peaceful and very quiet beauty. Ta Phin is the main residence of two ethnic groups: the Red Dao and the H'Mong. Coming to Ta Phin village, you can meet local people who still dress in local costumes and do their daily chores. In addition, there are also many other things such as the traditional medicinal water making of ethnic Red Dao, the ancient stone courtyard, Ta Phin Monastery, the caves,...

sapa travel guide to ta phin village

  • Opening hours: all day long
  • Entrance fee Adult: 40,000VND - Child: 20,000VND

5. Muong Hoa Valley

You cannot say you have visited all the landmarks of Sapa without putting your feet in the Muong Hoa Valley. Located about 8km from Sapa town, the valley is surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Hoang Lien Son Range. Possessing the pristine landscapes and fresh air, the valley is home to many ethnic minorities. Among the best-known villages in the valley like Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai - of the Black Hmong, Ta Van - of the Giay, Giang Ta Chai, Ban Ho of the Red Dzao, travellers can choose one of them to visit. Coming to the Muong Hoa valley, in addition to the poetic villages, one also admires the cloud bridge, the gentle Muong Hoa stream flowing through the villages. The journey to Muong Hoa valley touches all travellers' senses with the sound of flowing water, the scent of the earth, the beautiful landscapes,...

muong hoa valley in sapa vietnam

  • Opening hours: all day
  • Entrance fee: Lao Chai Village - Ta Van: 75,000VND per adult and 50,000VND per child - Ban Ho Village: 40,000VND/person

>> See more: Unveiling the Serenity of Muong Hoa Valley: Sapa's Hidden Gem

6. Sapa's waterfalls: Silver Waterfall and Love Waterfall

Not only does it appeal to people by mountains and terraced fields, Sapa also has waterfalls like ribbons of white silk. Among the waterfalls, the most beautiful are Silver Waterfall and Love Waterfall.

sapa attractions waterfall

The Silver Waterfall is located at the foot of O Quy Ho Pass, from the gulch, the white water flows like a silvery silk ribbon, rumbling with white foam when it meets the rocks at the foot. 

  • Opening hours: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  • Entrance fee: Adult: 20,000VND - Child: 10,000VND

The Love Waterfall is given by a sad love story of the woodcutter O Quy Ho and a celestial fairy. They love each other but are forbidden to be together.

sapa vietnam travel guide love waterfall

  • Opening hours: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Admission fee: Adult: 70,000VND - Child: 30,000VND

>> See more: Sapa Waterfalls : Nature's Symphony Unveiled

7. O Quy Ho Pass

Located 17 km from the centre of Sapa, O Quy Ho Pass is located on the border of two provinces Lai Chau and Lao Cai. It is one of the longest, most dangerous and majestic mountain passes in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam. Besides the name O Quy Ho, it is also known by the extremely poetic name - the Cloud pass, being at the altitude of nearly 2,000 m above sea level, covered with clouds all year round.

guide to travel sapa o quy ho pass

O Quy Ho pass along with Ma Pi Leng pass, Pha Din pass and Khau Pha pass are the four major passes in the Northwest. In addition to the above title, O Quy Ho pass is also known as the longest and highest pass in Vietnam in 2013 by the Vietnam Records Organization with a length of nearly 50km.

8. The colourful ethnic markets in the Bac Ha vicinity

Although most multi-ethnic markets are not found in Sapa, you cannot miss a chance to visit these colourful markets. They are not just a place to trade, the sight in vivid ethnic markets in North Vietnam is a special way to see the culture of ethnic groups.

things to see in sapa bac ha village

Among the beautiful markets in the North, the markets in Bac Ha are most beautiful and closest: Coc Ly market on Tuesday, Sin Cheng market on Friday, Can Cau market on Saturday, and Bac Ha market on Sunday.

  • Opening hours: 07:00 AM - 12:00 PM on specific days
  • Admission fee: free

>> See more: 15 Best Ethnic Markets in North Vietnam 

9. Sapa Town

We have already listed attractions in the vicinity of Sapa with very special beauties. However, the citadel centre also has its own peculiarity, it is like a modern city in the middle of the mountains. Among the modern hotels, in the centre of Sapa Square, you can see the ancient Cathedral of Sapa, and among the chaos of tourists from all over the world, you can feel the quiet corners around the central lake of Sapa and the pictures of street vendors in traditional dress.

sapa town travel to sapa itinerary

In the evening, be sure to make a stop at the Sapa Night Market, where you can sample many Sapa specialties. The atmosphere is strange but very interesting! 

10. Other Sapa attractions off the beaten path

Besides the attractions mentioned above, you can put some interesting places on your list if you have a lot of time in Sapa.

  • The Oolong Tea Hills

sapa oolong tea hill

  • The Hau Thao Village

hau thao village in sapa a stop in sapa trip

  • The Nam Cang Village

nam cang village in sapa

  • Ban Khoang Village - Ta Giang Phinh

ta giang phinh village in sapa

III- Some suggested itineraries for a tour in Sapa

sapa tourist map

Hanoi - Sapa - Bac Ha - Hanoi

Normally tourists do not have so much time to use this itinerary. With this itinerary, you can maximise your time by using the night train for the outward journey so that you can visit an ethnic market in the morning. Note that markets are not there every day so you should note well as we have mentioned in the part of the markets in Bac Ha.

For example:
Day 00: Overnight train to Lao Cai
Day 01: Ethnic market in the morning and return to Sapa in the afternoon, visit the centre or some ethnic villages
Day 02--Day N: Visit Sapa and its attractions
Day N+1: Return to Hanoi in the afternoon by bus or return to Hanoi by overnight train.

Hanoi - Nghia Lo - Mu Cang Chai - Sapa - Bac Ha - Hanoi

In the summer months, especially from July-September, such an adventure will be ideal for those who love nature and on the hunt for Vietnam's stunning mountain photos. For this tour, you need at least 5 days.

Let's see an itinerary:
Day 1: Hanoi - Nghia Lo
Day 2: Nghia Lo - Mu Cang Chai
Day 3: Mu Cang Chai - Lai Chau - Sapa
Day 4: Sapa - Bac Ha
Day 5: Bac Ha - Hanoi

>> See more appreciated itineraries on this link: Sapa and Northwest Vietnam

Hanoi - Sapa - Bac Ha - Ha Giang - Dong Van- Bao Lac - Ba Be - Hanoi

If you want to combine Sapa with other natural attractions in Northeast Vietnam such as Ha Giang to admire Nho Que River, giant freshwater lake of Ba Be or majestic waterfall of Ban Gioc, what do you do?

In this case, you can make this tour:
Day 01: Hanoi - Sapa
Day 02: Sapa visit
Day 03: Sapa - Bac Ha
Day 04: Bac Ha - Ha Giang
Day 05: You can follow some suggestions HERE.

In case you need more practical tips and a quote, please feel free to contact us via email: sm@izitour.com. We hope that with our shares, you will have detailed information so that you can plan your trip to Sapa.
Enjoy your trip!


Latest Update
12/09/2024
Sapa reopens tourist attractions following stable weather

After a temporary closure due to adverse weather conditions, Sa Pa town has announced the reopening of several tourist attractions. The reopening comes as weather conditions have stabilized and the transportation system has been secured.

The Fansipan Legend Cable Car resumed operations on September 13th. Silver Waterfall, Ta Phin Stone Garden, Green Valley, Dreamy Rose Garden, Golden Stream, Love Waterfall, Ham Rong, and Cat Cat reopened on September 14th.

However, Ancient Rose Hill, Muong Hoa Valley, and Sin Chai will remain closed until further notice as authorities continue to monitor the situation.

See more
08/09/2024
Sa Pa has suspended all tourism activities due to landslides caused by Typhoon Yagi.

On September 8, the People's Committee of Sa Pa town announced the suspension of outdoor tourism activities and visiting relics and scenic spots in the area until further notice. Due to the impact of Typhoon Yagi, many roads and spillways in Sa Pa are currently damaged, not ensuring traffic safety.

See more

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Ngoc Tu Dinh
Travel Expert
I'm Ngoc Tu Dinh, a local travel expert from Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam. Exploring Vietnam has been my passion for years, and I've spent 10 years as a tour guide throughout Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. I hope that my understanding of Vietnamese culture, allow me to offer a unique perspective in this blog. Currently, I am based at IZITOUR. If you're planning a trip to Vietnam, I'm here to help you make the most of it! Feel free to leave your comments at the end of the article. Your feedback is important, and I look forward to responding to you.

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02 Comments

  • Teresa Rizzi
  • Teresa Rizzi
    Italy
Salve a dicembre sarò ad Hanoi e vorrei organizzare due giorni a Sapa con un pernottamento, volevo visitare i punti più salienti, come il mercato colorato, Fansipan, le risaie, posso avere un preventivo ( siamo 4 adulti)
ReplyOct 1, 2024
    • Tracy Tran
    • Tracy Tran
      Vietnam
    Salve, grazie mille per averci contattato. Le abbiamo appena inviato un'e-mail, la preghiamo di controllare! Cordiali saluti, Tracy
    Oct 3, 2024

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