Sapa, Vietnam
Sapa - Town in Northwest Vietnam
Fansipan Cable Car
Cat Cat Village
Sunworld Fansipan Legend

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Stone Church of Sapa
Muong Hoa Valley
Ta Phin Village
O Quy Ho Pass
Silver Watefall
Fansipan Mountain

Sapa

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4 Days / 3 Nights

Hanoi and Sapa Tour for 4 Days

Hanoi(2N) → Sapa(1N)

$223/person
7 Days / 6 Nights

Experience Vietnamese Luxury Tour for 6 Nights ...

Hanoi(3N) → Halong Bay(1N) → Sapa(2N)

Agent Logo Travoyore By Omsim Travels
Star 5.0 (2 reviews)
$ 876
9% off
$794/person
6 Days / 5 Nights

6 Days Vietnam Journey Across Northern Wonders ...

Hanoi(4N) → Sapa(1N)

$ 814
9% off
$740/person
10 Days / 9 Nights

Offbeat Vietnam Itinerary 10 Days: Muong Hoa Va...

Hanoi(2N) → Sapa(1N) → Halong Bay(1N) → Da Nang(2N) → Ho Chi Minh City(3N)

$ 993
7% off
$917/person
13 Days / 12 Nights

Vietnam Super Highlights: 13 Day Tour Package

Hanoi(4N) → Halong Bay(1N) → Sapa(1N) → Hoi An(3N) → Ho Chi Minh City(3N)

$862/person
10 Days / 9 Nights

All-Inclusive Vietnam Package: 9 Nights / 10 Da...

Sapa(2N) → Hanoi(2N) → Halong Bay(1N) → Danang(3N) → Ho Chi Minh City(1N)

Agent Logo Bluestone Travels
Star 4.9 (261 reviews)
$ 1,987
8% off
$1,811/person
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Sapa Travel Essentials

Rating:

 
4.2 /5 (25 ratings) Rate This Destination

Ideal duration: 1 day

Best Time: March to May Read More

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"Vietnam’s mountain retreat with rice terraces and ethnic tribes"

Sapa Tourism

Situated atop the Hoang Lien Son Mountains, Sapa is a colonial-era town in northwest Vietnam overlooking the terraced rice fields of Muong Hoa Valley. At an elevation of 1,500 metres, this small market town shares its border with China and offers some of Vietnam's best trekking. Arguably offering the most authentic bucolic experience in the country, Sapa is rapidly becoming a mainstream destination.

Sapa's top trekking destinations are Dragon Jaw Mountain and Heaven's Gate, featuring colourful flower beds, waterfalls, tropical foliage, natural rock formations and man-made stone monuments. For those who do not enjoy climbing, cable car trips at Fansipan offer panoramic views of rice terraces. Back in Sapa town, unwind with great Vietnamese food platters and noodle soup at Little View Restaurant, Fansipan Restaurant and Bombay Indian Lounge.

Hill tribes like the Hmong, Tay and Dao comprise Sapa's local population. You can peek into their lives at the quaint Cat Cat Village, where Sapa Town Park displays manicured gardens. Seek blessings at the French-Catholic Holy Rosary Church, admire Town Hall'sHall's French architecture, and learn about Sapa'sSapa's past at the Cultural Museum.

Quang Truong Square is the town centre with a vast cemented field, close to which is Sapa Lake for amazing boating trips. Visitors often take home handicrafts and silver and metal trinkets from Sapa Marketplace and Cau May Street Market.

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Must Know Before You Travel to Sapa

1. Due to improved roads, it is now easy to travel to Sapa from Hanoi within 4-5 hours by toad. Taxis and other private vehicles for hire directly ply between the two.

2. Buses can also be availed which usually head via Lao Cai to Sapa and this journey also takes a little over five hours.

3. Hiking and walking around Sapa requires comfortable and sturdy walking shoes as the terrain can sometimes be tough.

4. While it is easy to rent a motorbike to travel in and around Sapa, the hilly surroundings and rough outskirts can be a tough challenge for those who are not accustomed to them. 

Things To Do In Sapa

Fansipan Cable Car

Fansipan Cable Car
Cat Cat Village

Cat Cat Village
Sunworld Fansipan Legend

Sunworld Fansipan Legend
Stone Church of Sapa

Stone Church of Sapa
Muong Hoa Valley

Muong Hoa Valley
Ta Phin Village

Ta Phin Village
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Top Hotels In Sapa

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View All Hotels In Sapa

More on Sapa Travel

Nightlife in Sapa

Defined by the local ethnic minority's lifestyle and scenic mountains, Sapa's nightlife is strikingly unique compared to other Vietnamese destinations. Besides pulsating nightclubs, pub crawls, live music and folk performances, Sapa also offers bustling night markets, a tranquil lake, and restaurants with lake and valley views.

Here is how to enjoy the nightlife in Sapa -

  • Make a stop at Sapa's iconic nightclubs and bars like Bebop Bar, The Hmong Sisters, Mẩy Club, Ninety Pub and Color Bar.
  • Enjoy delectable cuisines and Mountain Pub, Dao Cafe, Wooden PUB, Xin Chao Pub and Relax Bar.
  • Pick up textiles and crafts from Cau May Walking Street. This area is car-free after sunset.
  • Venture to Sapa Love Market on Saturday Nights and purchase handcrafted costumes, brocades, handbags, scarves, trinkets and skirts. Watch traditional dances where H'mong boys blow bamboo pipe-shaped instruments while girls clad in circle skirts dance rhythmically under umbrellas.
  • Stroll Sapa Lake's serene shores, where you can find street-food vendors and souvenir stalls.

Shopping in Sapa

For those seeking authentic Vietnamese handicrafts and the freshest organic countryside produce, shopping in Sapa is a fulfilling experience as it allows you to support the local tribal community and learn about their culture.

Here are the best places to enjoy shopping in Sapa: -

  • Bac Ha is Sapa’s largest, most colourful upland market where ethnic people sell extravagant costumes, handbags, trinkets, baskets and souvenirs.
  • Buy traditional clothing, homeware, jewellery and textiles from Sapa Market, Can Cau Market, Coc Ly Market and Cau May Street Market.
  • Admire the British architecture of Sun Plaza Mall.
  • Purchase world-class mountaineering gear at Clover Trekking and Souvenir Shopping.
  • Quang Truong Square is the Sapa’s centre, boasting upscale boutiques, seafood vendors, bakeries, fountains and walkways.
  • Pick up hand-made brocades, scarves, bags, jackets, carpets and skirts from Ta Phin Village and Sapa Love Market.
  • For antiques and woodwork, head to Linh Handicrafts and Indigo Cat.

Daily Budget & Money Exchange

The daily cost on average would be around VND 892491. This includes meals as well as the cost of transportation and some light drinks.

  • Money can be exchanged at airports for better exchange rates.
  • There are some local restaurants as well as hotels which offer the facility of changing currency.
  • Lots of ATMs can be found in and around Sapa.

Do's and Don'ts in Sapa

  • Never display affection in public places
  • Never touch someone's head
  • While talking don't point fingers rather use your hands
  • Make sure to dress up appropriately in any public place

History of Sapa

Sapa is an old town which was inhabited during the 15th century. The previous history of this town is not known. This place was known to other people only after the French inhabited this place in the 18th century and it was after this that it became world famous as a hill station.

Language of Sapa

Vietnamese is regarded as the official language of this country. However, some of the other languages spoken in this area include Chinese, Kham etc. Some tourist guides and local people might be able to communicate in English too.

Religion of Sapa

In Vietnam, you would find most people practising the native or the folk religion of Vietnam. However, some people also don't practice any religion. Apart from this, some people in the area practice Buddhism, while some tend to practice Catholicism.

Best Time to Visit Sapa

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Lao Cai, Vietnam
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Bac Ha, Vietnam
Bac Ha
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Lai Chau, Vietnam
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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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Ba Be National Park
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Sapa Photos

Sapa, Vietnam
Sapa - Town in Northwest Vietnam
Fansipan Cable Car
Cat Cat Village

+ 18
photos

FAQs on Sapa

What are the top hotels in Sapa?

There are 404 in Sapa which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Sapa are Trung Anh Guest House, samu villa sapa, Enjoy Happiness! Sapa :D, CC VIP HOTEL SAPA萨帕茜茜维普酒店, Nếm Tả Phìn Farmstay, Stone Paradise Homestay. You can see all the hotels in Sapa here

What are the places near Sapa?

The top places near to Sapa are Hanoi which is 252 km from Sapa, Halong bay which is located 380 km from Sapa, Sa dec which is located 16 km from Sapa, Lao cai which is located 31 km from Sapa, Bac ha which is located 53 km from Sapa

What are the things to do in Sapa?

The top things to do in Sapa are Fansipan Mountain, Silver Watefall, Muong Hoa Valley, Sapa Church, Tram Ton Pass, Bac Ha Market. You can see all the places to visit in Sapa here

What is the local food in Sapa?

One of the most commonly consumed food item in this area is rice. People tends to make rice in numerous forms and then consume it along with chicken, beef or pork. There are a lot of spices as well as herbs a part of their normal diet.
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What is the best time to visit Sapa?

The best time to visit Sapa is from September to mid-December, and March to May when the weather is just right and the rainy season has passed. During this time you would have a comparatively milder climate along with a pleasant atmosphere. Average temperatures during September to December range from 15-25℃. The months of December, January and February are the coldest, with temperatures often falling below to 0℃. The town’s tropical climate is at the peak in the months of June-August, as monsoon arrives, The monsoon brings with it increased humidity, but decreased sunshine and heat. The average temperature during the monsoon months hovers between 20-25℃ in the day and around 15℃ at night. Sapa sees all four seasons in a year and provides for something for every kind of season-lover. There isn't really an offseason in Sapa, owing mainly to its highly seasonal climate, with a subtropical climate in the summers and a temperate climate in the winters. Since it experiences all four seasons, Sapa is an attractive destination for all kinds of travellers.
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