Buzz
Located in the Northwestern part of Vietnam, Sapa is a highland district in Lao Cai province, a land hiding many wonders of nature and people. Sapa tourism, a town in the clouds, captivates travelers with majestic mountains, the challenging Phan Si Păng peak, and a unique experience with the lives of ethnic minorities. For the most fascinating insights on your backpacking journey to Sapa, Mytour shares these useful tips:
Climate
Sapa possesses the invaluable resource of a cool and fresh climate with diverse shades. Situated at an average altitude of 1500m – 1800m, Sapa's climate somewhat reflects a temperate region, with an average temperature of 15-18°C. From May to August, Sapa experiences frequent rainfall. Towards the end of the year, as winter arrives, temperatures in Sapa can drop below 0 degrees, sometimes accompanied by snowfall.
Best Time to Visit Sapa
Visit Sapa in late August, during September, the terraced fields are exceptionally beautiful, or venture here after the Lunar New Year to admire the blooming cherry blossoms, and lush green fields. In general, the ideal time for travelers to explore Sapa is from September to November or from February to May. During this period, the days are sunny and dry, while nights are cool, making it convenient for exciting journeys in Sapa.
Experience the Chills of Winter
Getting to Sapa
The town of Sa Pa is 38km away from Lao Cai City and 376km from Hanoi. To reach Sapa, you can choose either the train or a passenger car.
From Hanoi
By Passenger Car: Sleeper buses range from 230,000 – 280,000VND/ticket/way, departing from My Dinh Bus Station, Luong Yen or Gia Lam (Hanoi) straight to Sapa after 8 – 9 hours. Bus companies: Hai Van (Phone: 0203.872.606), Ha Son (Phone: 04 66.62.62.62), Hung Thanh (Phone: 0989.294.294), VietBus (Phone: 043-627.27.27). Each company has multiple trips to Sapa, with the earliest departure at 17:00. The advantage of taking the bus is reaching Sapa directly without any stops, and buses also run night trips similar to trains. However, road travel may encounter challenges during the rainy season. Additionally, the road to Lao Cai, Sapa has many winding mountain passes.
Renting a Travel Car: If you're traveling in a large group, you can rent a private passenger car that will take you to the hotel and various sightseeing spots upon request. In Hanoi, there are many companies offering travel car rental services, such as Thuexe.net (04 66.80.85.87), Tuan Linh Travel (04-22168007)… Rental fees vary depending on the size of the car and travel time. For example, a 3-day trip to Sapa with a 12 – 16 seater car costs 6,300,000VND, including driver's salary, fuel, and toll fees.
Traveling by Train: If opting for the train, there are various seat types such as soft seats, air-conditioned beds, on regular passenger trains or tourist trains. Trains usually depart at 9 or 10 PM and arrive early in the morning the next day. Ticket prices vary, starting from 250,000VND/person. Hanoi station address: 120, Le Duan, Hoan Kiem, ticket booking phone: 0.43.9423697. From Lao Cai station, take a passenger car to Sapa (30km) for approximately 50,000 – 60,000VND/person. Note that taxis are available at the station, and for a more budget-friendly option, take a bus from the main road for about 10,000VND/ticket, but you'll need to walk a bit and wait for the bus. The most comfortable option is a taxi from Lao Cai to Sapa, costing around 350,000VND. This allows you to enjoy the scenery and experience the winding roads in Sapa. It's important to note that train tickets from Hanoi to Lao Cai are easy to obtain, but purchasing tickets from Lao Cai to Hanoi can be more challenging, so it's advisable to prepare in advance.
From Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)
If starting from HCMC, you can travel to Hanoi by train, car, or plane.
You can book train tickets to Hanoi at Saigon station: 01 Nguyen Thong, Ward 9, District 3, HCMC, Phone: 08. 39 318 952. Currently, ticket prices vary, starting from approximately 782,000VND/ticket/person.
For those choosing to travel by car, you can opt for companies like Hoang Long (Phone: 0988 259 568), Mai Linh (08 39292929), Tan Dat ( (08) 218.1056 – 090.66.88.567)… Departing from Mien Dong Bus Station, seats and sleeper beds range from 550,000VND, including meals and drinks. Travel time by car is approximately under 60 hours, as the vehicle stops for meals, making it longer than the train journey.
Airplane is the fastest mode of transportation to Hanoi, though it comes with a higher price tag. The flight time is 1 hour and 45 minutes, with an additional 2 hours for waiting and check-in procedures. The total time from HCMC to the center of Hanoi is around 5 hours. Flight ticket prices from HCMC to Hanoi have various tiers, ranging from 1.2 million VND/ticket/person and above.
Once in Hanoi, you can choose transportation to Sapa as recommended by Mytour above.
Getting Around and Sightseeing in Sapa
In Sapa, you can rent a motorbike for around 120,000 VND/bike, excluding fuel, to explore various attractions on your own. Note that a day in Sapa is calculated within a specific timeframe (6:00 AM - 6:00 PM), so renting in the morning or afternoon incurs the same daily rate, and the bike must be returned by 6:00 PM, with a late return possible until 8:00 PM.
Alternatively, you can negotiate with a motorcycle taxi driver, asking them to take you to a few popular tourist spots, usually around 100,000VND for 4 – 5 nearby locations.
Another option is to rent a vehicle or join a tour provided by local service providers in Sapa. You can inquire at your hotel or ask locals for more information on these services.
Accommodation
Sapa boasts a diverse range of hotels with relatively good services. At Mytour, hotels ranging from 1 to 5 stars in Sapa have room prices starting from 257,000VND/night and above.
Famous Landmarks in Sapa
After seaside vacations, switch it up with a tour in Sapa. Travelers to Sapa will have entirely different experiences. Around the town of Sapa, there are some renowned places that can be reached on foot or by motorbike, such as Ham Rong Mountain, the Sapa weekend market held on Saturday and Sunday evenings, and the Cat Cat tourist area...
Some attractions requiring longer journeys and considerable effort include Fansipan Peak and Hoang Lien National Park, Silver Waterfall, Heaven's Gate, Ma Tra village of the H'Mong people, Ta Phin village of the Red Dao people, O Quy Ho Pass, Lung Khau Nhin Market held on Thursday mornings, Hoang A Tuong Palace, Cao Son Market, Muong Hum Market...
See more: 10 Attractive Tourist Spots in Sapa
What to Do in Sapa
Traveling to Sapa will bring you incredibly fresh experiences. The itinerary to Sapa awaits you with exciting activities, holding many surprises and challenges such as conquering Phan Si Păng peak, visiting Bac Ha market, crossing the border to China, exploring ethnic minority villages, trekking to discover Sapa, experiencing the traditional bath of the Red Dao people (60,000VND/person without massage, 140,000VND/person with massage), and strolling through the mountainous streets of Sapa at night...
Ticket Prices for Some Attractions in Sapa
(Updated as of February 2012)
ATTRACTION TICKET PRICE/PERSON
Ham Rong Mountain 70,000VND
Cat Cat Village 35,000VND
Sin Chai Village 20,000VND
Lao Chai – Ta Van – Ho Village 40,000VND
Ma Tra Village – Ta Phin 30,000VND
Silver Waterfall 10,000VND
Love Waterfall 35,000VND
Fansipan Peak
(excluding insurance and fees) 150,000VND
Dining
Breakfast: There's a local chicken pho restaurant across from the town's bus station, Hoang Ngan (next to the church) or inside Sapa market, there's a delicious pho restaurant on stilts.
Lunch and Dinner: Head to Anh Dung restaurant (69 Xuan Vien Street - near the bus station), Suoi Bac restaurant (Tuệ Tĩnh Ward), or Hoa Dao restaurant (033 Xuan Vien). These are culinary addresses where the food is delicious, reasonably priced, and praised by many diners.
Additionally, there's the Sapa food area right by the central square, in front of Sapa church. Before ordering, make sure to inquire about the prices. This area is particularly lively in the evening, offering various grilled dishes such as grilled eggs, grilled organs, grilled stomach, grilled chicken, roasted chestnuts...
Especially, visitors to Sapa cannot miss out on other tempting dishes such as bamboo-cooked rice, Thang Co (a local specialty), Táo Mèo apple wine, Bản Phố corn wine, vegetable hotpot, grilled mountain fish, salmon, boiled corn...
Important Notes
- If you plan to drive off-road, make sure to buy a Sapa travel map for convenience. You can find it at travel agencies or at the ticket counter to Mount Ham Rong. Note that Sapa roads have many steep slopes and are suitable for experienced drivers only.
- If you struggle to buy a train ticket back, you can inquire at your hotel (with a fee of 20k/ticket). For information about Sapa exploration tours, you can ask directly at the hotel's front desk. If you purchase a tour with an overnight stay in the village, check with the hotel if they offer a discount on the room for that night.
- For Sapa travel, avoid wearing high heels, tight pants. Instead, opt for sneakers, loose pants, and a hat.
- If it's not winter, during the day, you don't need overly warm clothes (as the temperature is not too low, and you'll be walking a lot, making it quite hot). Just make sure to wear something warm in the evening.
- Even if you decide to go off-road, consider hiring a guide. They are experienced and will lead you through very interesting routes.
- After exploring various places on foot, to save energy, consider renting a car for the return journey.
- When traveling from Lao Cai to Sapa, the road has a significant elevation difference, so use earplugs to reduce noise.
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Source: Reference from the Internet
List of hotels in Sapa
MytourNovember 23, 2015
