Buzz
Many say that Sapa is becoming more crowded and bustling, but amid the chaos, you can still find incredibly private spaces for yourself. Discover with Mytour!
Ensure your Sapa journey covers all 15 exciting destinations!
Cat Cat Village
Located about 3km from the center of Sapa town, on the path towards Mount Fanxipan, Cat Cat Village awaits. Nestled in the San Sa Ho commune, it is a hub for the H'Mong ethnic community. It tops the list of must-visit places in Sapa tourism.
Situated at the foot of Hoang Lien Son mountain, Cat Cat Village hides itself, snugly enveloped by Mother Nature. The green of the fields, hills, and the small houses of the residents blend together, creating a colorful and dreamy natural painting.
Rose Valley
Sapa always captivates travel enthusiasts, not only with its stunning landscapes but also with a dreamy world, especially when visiting the enchanting Rose Valley in hamlet 1, Muong Hoa street, Sapa town. Covering an area of about 22 hectares, the valley is formed between the Ham Rong and Fanxipan mountain ranges.
Visiting Rose Valley gives a feeling of stepping into a fairytale garden with hundreds of thousands of Sapa roses, French roses, and American crispy roses. The best time to explore is from November to March each year when hundreds of flowers compete in fragrance, creating a magnificent painting.
O Quy Ho Pass
Known as the most majestic pass in the North, stretching nearly 50km connecting Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces, O Quy Ho Pass sits at an altitude of 2,000m, winding through towering mountain cliffs and deep abysses. Overcoming fear and reaching the summit at nearly 2,000m, you'll have the chance to admire the sky and clouds as if in a fairyland. That's why it's also called the Heaven's Gate.
Conquering Fansipan Peak
Fansipan, the highest mountain on the Indochina Peninsula (3,143m), stands at the center of the Hoang Lien Son range. Despite being just 9 km southwest of Sapa town, conquering this peak on foot takes 3 to 4 days. Nowadays, both professional and amateur climbers seek ways to conquer Fansipan, either through organized tours or self-guided with local guides.
Alternatively, you can opt for the cable car. The Fansipan cable car route, operational since early 2016, has allowed tens of thousands of tourists to reach the summit, marveling at and conquering the highest roof in Indochina. This cable car route holds two Guinness World Records: the cable car with the largest height difference between departure and arrival stations in the world (1410m) and the longest three-rope cable car in the world (6292.5m). The time to admire Fansipan's peak is now shortened from 2 days to just 15 minutes.
Coc San
Located in Coc San commune, Bat Xat district, about 7 km from Lao Cai city, Coc San is a system of waterfalls and various caves. From National Highway 4D, there's a small dirt road of just over 1 km leading to Coc San. Despite the rugged, dark, and rocky path, the beauty of Coc San remains untouched. What makes it unique is that almost beneath each waterfall, there is a cave behind the cascading water. Coc San's landscape is harmonious and rich in minerals. Most visitors here feel the mystical wonder emanating from the waterfalls, rock formations, and caves.
Heaven's Gate
Leaving Sapa town, heading north about 18 km, the winding road to Heaven's Gate traverses the majestic Hoang Lien Son mountain range. This pass is called Tram Ton, weaving through the grandeur of the mountains. And the Heaven's Gate is the summit of this pass. Standing at the Sapa Heaven's Gate, you can overlook the vast valley below with lush terraced fields, winding roads, and in the distance, the Silver Waterfall. It's at this gateway that you truly sense the grandeur of Fansipan against the backdrop of the sky and the deep abysses below.
Silver Waterfall – Pass Summit
Heading about 12km west from Sapa town on the road to Lai Chau, visitors will encounter the Silver Waterfall cascading down from a height of over 200m into the stream below the O Quy Ho Valley, creating an impressively mountainous forest sound. However, in spring, visitors should consider the water flow as it tends to be minimal. Just 3 km further from Silver Waterfall, travelers reach the location known as Pass Summit. Here, a breathtaking view of Fansipan awaits, with a solitary road leading towards Binh Lu below.
Mùong Hoa Valley – Sapa Ancient Rock Field
Muong Hoa Valley in Hau Thao commune, approximately 8km southeast of Sapa town. Crossing a mountainous pass, you'll arrive at Muong Hoa Valley. Its unique feature is the ancient rock field adorned with various carvings, nestled amidst the lush vegetation and terraced fields of the ethnic people. Hundreds of sandstone rocks bear mysterious carvings and symbols whose origins and meanings remain unidentified. Today, this ancient carving site has been classified as a national relic, a distinctive heritage of the ancient Vietnamese. Muong Hoa Valley also boasts a beautiful, meandering stream stretching about 15 km, passing through Lao Chai, Ta Van, Hau Thao, and concluding at Ban Ho.
Ham Rong Mountain
Observing the town from the 1,800m high peak of Ham Rong Mountain is a fascinating experience that everyone visiting Sapa should try. The town takes on a different perspective, with roads, hotels, and tourist areas suddenly appearing tiny at your feet. Moreover, on Ham Rong Mountain, you can admire colorful flower gardens and glimpse through small rock crevices at the Thach Lam Rock Garden.
Sapa Stone Church
The Sapa Stone Church, situated right in the center of Sapa town, was constructed in 1895 and is considered the most intact French colonial architectural landmark still standing. The church has been carefully preserved, becoming an iconic image when mentioning the misty town of Sapa.
Ta Phin Village
Ta Phin Village is primarily inhabited by the Red Dao ethnic group and H'Mong people, located on the outskirts of Sapa town. The road to Ta Phin winds along the mountain slopes amidst lush green terraced fields. Cherry and plum trees along the road blossom with vibrant flowers in the chilly Sapa weather, welcoming visitors.
Sin Chai Village
Sin Chai Village, in San Sa Ho commune, is over 4km away from the town center of Sapa by road. This village has not been extensively influenced by tourism, preserving its original and rustic charm. Home to the Black H'Mong people, the village has a population of around 1400. Apart from cultivating rice and hybrid maize, Sin Chai villagers choose the gentle slopes of the mountains to grow medicinal plants, providing a significant income source in this ancient valley.
Ta Van Village
Heading southeast on National Highway 4D, about 8 km from Sapa town, you'll reach Ta Van Giay village. Here, travelers have the opportunity to learn more about the style and lifestyle of the Giay people. The road into Ta Van Giay is small, narrow, and unpaved. On both sides of the road, lush green terraced fields adorned with the vibrant colors of corn and young rice paint a picturesque scene.
Gem Valley
Almost always mentioned first when talking about cafes in Sapa, Gem Valley is a highly popular spot for both domestic and international tourists. Located approximately 2 km from the center and right at the beginning of Cat Cat Village, Gem Valley is easy to find.
Outside the cafe, a myriad of climbing flowers covers everything. The combination of colors from old bricks and wood gives Gem Valley a rustic, cozy, and mountainous feel. Inside, the space showcases paintings by an artist from Hanoi, and if you're interested, you can enjoy the art and learn the stories behind them. The balcony features lovely wooden tables where you can sit with a cup of coffee and gaze down at the entire rice valley of Cat Cat. Looking a bit further, you'll see the majestic Fansipan peak.
San San (Compilation)
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
MytourFebruary 14, 2017
