Buzz
September to November marks the prime time for admiring Sapa's scenery (Lao Cai province) at its finest. The weather is pleasant, nature and people blend harmoniously, resembling a masterpiece... These unique features of Sapa have captivated travelers for so long. To ensure you don't miss the opportunity to explore this beautiful mountainous town, Mytour helps you compile a list of the most attractive destinations in Sapa.
1. Conquering Fansipan Peak – The Rooftop of Indochina
Fansipan is the highest mountain in the Indochinese Peninsula (3,143 meters), located in the center of the Hoang Lien Son range. Although only 9 kilometers southwest of Sapa town, it takes 6 to 7 days of trekking to conquer this peak. Nowadays, many professional and amateur mountaineers seek to conquer Fansipan. They can either join tours organized by travel companies or self-organize with the guidance of local people, the ethnic minorities of Hmong, Dao (in Cat Cat village).
Along the way to the mountain peak, tourists will discover the fascinating flora and fauna of the Hoang Lien range. There are numerous Hoang Lien trees, a precious medicinal plant, valuable wood species, birds and animals such as jungle fowl, bears, monkeys, serows, various bird species...
Alternatively, you can opt for the cable car. The Fansipan cable car route commenced operation in early 2016, enabling tens of thousands of tourists to set foot on the peak of Fansipan, marvel, explore, and conquer the highest roof of Indochina. This cable car route is also certified by Guinness with 2 Guinness records for the Fansipan Sapa cable car: The cable car with the greatest height difference between departure and arrival stations in the world: 1410 meters and The longest three-rope cable car in the world: 6292.5 meters. The time to admire the peak of Fansipan has now been shortened from 2 days to just 15 minutes.
2. Dragon Jaw Mountain
Dragon Jaw Mountain is located right near Sapa town, just 3 km away, and visitors can hike there. Standing on the summit of Dragon Jaw Mountain, you can admire the panoramic view of Sapa, Muong Hoa Valley, Sa Pa, and Ta Phin hidden in the mist. Nowadays, with human hands' touch, Dragon Jaw Mountain is truly a scenic spot full of flowers and fruits of Sa Pa. Climbing Dragon Jaw Mountain, visitors feel like entering a fairy garden, with clouds embracing their bodies and flowers blooming brightly on the ground.
3. Sapa Ancient Church
Located in the heart of Sapa town, the Stone Church of Sapa was built in 1895 and is considered the most intact ancient architectural landmark left by the French. The church has been preserved and restored, becoming an indispensable image when mentioning the misty town of Sa Pa.
4. Cat Cat Village
This is an ancient village of the Hmong people, 2km from the center of Sa Pa town. This place still preserves many traditional handicrafts such as growing cotton, linen, weaving cloth... Cat Cat Village is near Sapa town, so it attracts many tourists to visit. Nowadays, this place has been developed into Cat Cat tourist area.
5. Taphin Village
Taphin Village is located in Sa Pa district, about 17km east of the center of Sa Pa town. This place boasts beautiful natural landscapes and rich cultural characteristics of the Red Dao ethnic group with their famous brocade weaving craft. When visiting Taphin Village, you can also explore the nearby Taphin Cave. Inside the cave, there are numerous stalactites forming fascinating shapes like dancing fairies, sitting fairies, distant fields, glittering forests...
Moreover, there are many other villages of ethnic minorities for you to visit when traveling to Sapa, such as: Tavan Village – of the Hmong, Giay, Tay, Red Dao people...; Y Linh Ho Village, Lao Chai Village – of the Black H'mong (about 7km southwest of Sapa town, next to Muong Hoa stream); Ho Village of the Tay people; Lao Chai Village of the Black H'mong people (about 8-9 km southeast of Sapa town, on the west bank of the Muong Hoa River); Ho Village of the Xa Pho people...
6. Muong Hoa Valley – Sapa Ancient Rock Field
Muong Hoa Valley belongs to Hau Thao commune, about 8km southeast of Sa Pa town. From Sa Pa town, after crossing a mountain pass (with a toll station of 80,000 VND/person), you will arrive at Muong Hoa Valley. The special thing about this valley is the ancient rock field with many different carvings, nestled amidst grass, trees, and terraced fields of ethnic minorities. Hundreds of basalt rocks are engraved with drawings and strange characters whose origins and meanings are still undetermined to this day. Nowadays, this ancient carving area has been classified as a national monument, a unique heritage of the ancient Vietnamese. In Muong Hoa Valley, there is also a beautiful small stream stretching about 15 km, passing through Lao Chai, Tavan, Hau Thao communes, and ending at Ho Village.
7. Silver Waterfall – Heaven's Gate Peak
From Sa Pa town, heading west about 12km on the road to Lai Chau, you will encounter the Silver Waterfall cascading down from a height of over 200m into the stream below O Quy Ho Valley, creating an impressively mountainous sound. However, during spring, tourists should consider before visiting the Silver Waterfall as it may have very little water at that time. Just 3 km further from the Silver Waterfall, tourists will reach the landmark Heaven's Gate. Here, there is a spectacular view of Phan Si Pan, with a solitary road leading to Binh Lu.
8. Heaven's Gate
Leaving Sapa town, heading north about 18 km, the winding road to Heaven's Gate twists and turns amidst the rugged mountains. This mountain pass road is called Tram Ton, meandering through the majestic Hoang Lien Son range. And Heaven's Gate is the summit of this mountain pass. Standing at Sapa's Heaven's Gate, you can overlook the vast valley below with lush green rice fields, winding roads, and in the distance, the Silver Waterfall. It is only at Heaven's Gate that you can truly feel the majesty of Phan Si Pan towering into the sky, with deep abysses below.
9. Sapa Tourism – Fairy Cave Scenic Spot
Upstream about 6 km from the Chay River, from the center of Bao Nhai commune (Bac Ha district), a boat will take you through the ancient Trung Do citadel with many legends. The Chay River reaches here and contracts to form a calm, serene stream, meandering between two standing cliffs. The Fairy Cave Scenic Spot is a miniature Ha Long Bay, closely associated with the legend of the Three Sisters Temple in Bao Nhai commune. Many tourists come here to admire the scenery, bathe in the Fairy Stream, immerse themselves in the morning light on the flower island, all wishing for blessings for beauty, health, and prosperity.
10. Coc San
Located in Coc San commune, Bat Xat district, about 7km from Lao Cai city, Coc San is a system of various waterfalls and caves of different sizes. From national highway 4D, there is a small dirt road about 1km long leading to Coc San. The road to Coc San is winding, dark, and filled with rocks, yet the beauty of Coc San remains entirely natural and pristine. What's particularly special is that almost under each waterfall, there is a cave behind the cascading water from above. The landscape of Coc San is harmonious and mineral-rich. Whenever people come here, they can feel the mysterious and magical atmosphere emanating from the waterfalls, rock formations, and caves.
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Refer to Mytour Travel Guide
MytourFebruary 13, 2017
