Sapa, in the Northwest of Vietnam is one of those bucket list places that seems to be at the top of a lot of people’s lists when they mention Vietnam. There is something about the intrigue of the mountains, rice fields and the slowness compared to bustling cities that feels really different.
We spent just under a week in Sapa on our six-week trip of China and Vietnam and fell in love with what this area has to offer. We fitted in a lot but loved it. If you love trekking and time outdoors, we just know you’ll love it too.
From the treks we experienced to quiet downtime in homestays perched in the mountains, and time spent learning about daily life for the people who live there, Sapa felt like a special part on our longer trip.
We were stunned by the high mountains mixed with rice terraces that looked incredible in either fog or full sunshine (and everything in-between, which we absolutely experienced).
This guide is for anyone who is looking for ideas of things to do in Sapa, Vietnam. Whether you’re looking for some quick skim ideas or a deeper dive and are well into planning mode, we’ve got you covered.
Our guide covers our personal experiences, what we loved (and not so much) and everything you need to know to go into your trip to Sapa knowing exactly what to expect.
We’ve organized our guide to make it easier for you to find exactly what interests you, from nature and adventure through to cultural experiences and how to get a feel for local life (and let’s not forget food).
If you love adventure, Sapa will give you a unique experience. We think that after spending time here, it should be more than a one day stop on your itinerary, and we’ll show you why below.
The Best Things to do in Sapa, Vietnam
Whilst it may seem like there are a couple of key ideas of things to do in Sapa (trekking, Fansipan etc.) there are actually a whole range of experiences to be had if you look that little bit further.
Sapa is quite touristy, and it can feel like you need to scratch beneath the surface a little bit to find something a bit more authentic. Which is why we think, if possible, it’s better to spend more than a day here.
Many of the tours you’ll find from places like Hanoi will offer you a two-day one-night trek, and while these can be a great way to see the area if you’re in a hurry, they’re not the only way. We’d recommend staying longer.
We’ve divided our guide up below by interest, so it makes it easier for you to get a feel for all the different places and things we got to experience that made our trip so memorable.
Experiencing Nature & Adventure in Sapa
When you see pictures of Sapa, or even when you arrive, you’ll see why it’s one of the adventure centers of Vietnam. The mountains that frame this whole region are some of the highest in Vietnam and form the wall of Indochina between China and Vietnam.
What we found was that this gives way to a really unique experience. Microclimates created by high mountains hugging weather means you can experience fog and rain lower down (perfect for rice growing) and the most mesmerizing cloud inversions above.
This all means that you’ll get to experience something unique. We can absolutely say we’ve never hiked anywhere that feels like Sapa before.
If you love adventure, there are so many different things to do in Sapa. It doesn’t all have to be ‘full on treks’ too. There are plenty of more connective, easier going experiences to explore as well.
Here are the adventures that stood out to us the most in Sapa that we think are worth adding to your plans.
Enjoy Trekking Through Mountains & Rice Fields
One of the most incredible experiences you can give yourself in Sapa is to go trekking. Having researched in advance, we noted that most of the Sapa Vietnam hiking would need a guide, and we’re glad we used one to get a real experience and lots of local knowledge.
One of the main reasons you need a guide for most (but not all) of the hiking in Sapa is because the trails aren’t that well marked. They’re likely a lot less so than what you’re used to.
If you want to get the full experience of Sapa rice fields and rice paddies, then going with a guide will give you a better, more authentic experience. However, going with the right one is important.
There are plenty of Sapa, Vietnam hiking tours out there, but we booked onto a locally run, eco tour with a local company (Phuc Quoc) through GetYourGuide. This is the exact tour we booked and we would recommend it to anyone – it was one of the most incredible days we experienced in Sapa.
This gives you a great opportunity to experience the mountain views of Fansipan and the surrounding peaks, view the iconic rice fields, experience local villages and eat some delicious food along the way.
On the day we headed out, it was foggy higher up and cloudy, but not raining. However, the previous night it had rained heavily so as we set out on the trail in our small group with the guide, the trails were quite fun!
Our guide told us a lot about this region of Vietnam that we didn’t actually know. The key highlight for us was heading through the Muong Hoa Valley. We were absolutely mesmerized by the rice fields (rice paddies), the smell and the sense of atmosphere from the fog.
This trek struck a really lovely balance for us. Hiking, learning, and visiting local villages that would have been hard to reach otherwise was fantastic for us.
If you’re on the fence about a trek in Sapa, we would say go for it, you won’t regret it. However, keep in mind that it can be quite a full on trek depending on your level of fitness. Sapa is at altitude as well, so this naturally makes you feel more out of breath.
We found this trek was paced relatively well, but the guides do move quite quickly! The trails are less distinct than you may be used to, and exactly the reason why going with a guide is important.
There are of course plenty of tours out there, but this is the one we’d recommend from our experience.
If you are short on time, and are looking for a shorter trip to Sapa from somewhere like Hanoi, this was one of the tours we had recommended to us on GetYourGuide from some people we got talking to one night at dinner who were on that exact tour and really recommended it.
Depending on the time of year you visit, the trail may be muddier than others depending on rainfall, and some sections can involve crossing water. The guides will help you and look after you completely but bringing waterproof hiking shoes is a must.
We both wore our Keen Hightrail shoes and Danner Panorama Mid, both of which we’ve reviewed in our best waterproof hiking shoes guide which covers options we’ve tried and tested in real world scenarios just like Sapa.
These are shoes we’ve been testing for quite a long while and they gave the perfect level of support and waterproofing for trekking in Sapa. We would seriously recommend bringing waterproof hiking shoes with you to Vietnam if you plan on doing any kind of hiking. They make a huge difference!
We also made quite heavy use of our Rab Downpour Plus 2.0 jackets which we’ve tested and reviewed and have become one of our favorite options. Lightweight rain jackets are a must in Sapa, as you can expect potential rain at any time.
If you’re not sure what would be best in terms of a waterproof jacket for your needs, you may want to read our full guide on the best waterproof rain jackets for hiking. This covers our full hiking testing and includes options for every budget.
Soak Up the Iconic Views from Fansipan Cable Car (Sunworld Fansipan Legend)
We were really excited to take the Fansipan cable car! The highest mountain in Vietnam (at 3,147m/10,326ft) offers a great opportunity to see the top of Indochina without trekking. We couldn’t wait to take photographs from different angles than we’d see from our other experiences in this area.
The route itself seemed a bit confusing beforehand as we’d seen tickets that just included the cable car. From Sapa itself, you actually need to take a train up to it from the station in the center. Then you get onto the cable car higher up. So you need to make sure you get a ticket for both.
You can get tickets in advance, but there isn’t much point. The ticket system is easy enough from the office in central Sapa and then you just get straight on the train and change at the cable car station – it’s all very easy when on the ground.
It is likely one of the priciest things you’ll do in Sapa, and the cost is closer to Western cable car and funicular train rides. However, it’s worth it!
The whole journey to the top doesn’t take that long (about 15-20 minutes), and there are various things you can go explore, like the gardens, on the way. However, we were keen to get to the top and see the views.
If you have an unease with heights, you may find the cable car journey a bit full on, but we absolutely loved it. It was busy and cramped, but well worth it for the views and to see all the details around and below us as we climbed higher and higher.
We’d heard a lot of people complain that there weren’t fully clear views at the top, and it is possible to get this area covered in cloud. However, we had the most amazing clouds peering over sections of the mountains and we spent ages with our long camera lenses just photographing the changing scenery.
The Fansipan Cable Car in Sapa takes you most of the way to the top and then you can either take a short further cable car to the very top (to the Buddha Statue) or walk up the steps. We chose the steps. The views are breathtaking and well worth the effort.
On the way down we stopped at the gardens between the cable car and train, a beautiful spot worth taking time to explore.
It’s worth fitting this into your trip to Sapa on a day without too much cloud, but some cloud won’t ruin the whole experience. We think you can make this work in a couple of hours easily and fit in another activity around it.
We did this on the same day we visited Cat Cat Village and it worked perfectly.
A word of warning, we’d recommend bringing a warmer jacket as it can be quite cold and windy at the summit. You’ve gained a lot of height on your way up. You’ll notice this as soon as you arrive!
We brought the Rab Xenair Alpine Light Jacket and the Salewa Puez Catinaccio 2 jacket which we’ve reviewed in our best down jackets for hiking guide.
These kept us really warm and were easy to stuff into our packs when not needed. They really helped us especially when we were standing still a lot taking photos!
Go Trekking up Mount Fansipan with a Local Guide
Whilst it is possible to get up to the summit of Mount Fansipan via the cable car, trekking to the top gives you a very different experience. We got the chance to do both and are glad we did.
The trek to the top of Mount Fansipan is a full-on hike, with a lot of height gain and you’ll be hiking for around 8 or so hours. The pace is fast and at altitude with long stretches of steep ascent.
We found this to be a challenge, and we have a very good level of experience from our hikes already. The trail isn’t overly technical, but there are plenty of ladders, steep rocks and light scrambles to contend with.
That said, if you are confident with your level of fitness, we think this was probably one of the most rewarding aspects of our time in Sapa and was easily one of the best things to do!
We booked onto this trek through GetYourGuide and our guide Za was really helpful from the start, letting us know everything in advance about pick up times. On the day, we were picked up early (5:30am) and taken to the start of the trail to begin.
Having taken the cable car up Fansipan already, we were happy to have a very different experience. The challenging climb was made worth it with the in detail looks we got of the forests, the landscapes and how this changed as we hiked higher.
We didn’t have clear views out on the day we did this trek, but we had glimpses of the mountains which was incredibly atmospheric. We loved the photos we took on this day, and this experience will stay with us for a long time!
There are of course plenty of treks you can book onto that offer this experience, but the one we did is the only one we can recommend (you can book it here).
Our guide was incredible, and we had some fantastic conversations with him throughout the journey which made us feel safe, welcome and right at home the whole time.
If you want, you can take the cable car and train back down at the end instead of walking back. You do need cash for this, and it isn’t included in the price of the hike. Otherwise, you return the same way you came (this just gave us longer for photos).
We would strongly recommend you bring good hiking gear for this. We’d recommend reading our what to wear hiking guide to help you work out what you need if you’re not familiar.
At a bare minimum though, you’ll need waterproof hiking shoes. The muddy day did make the experience fuller on, and we were glad we had our waterproof hiking shoes with us.
A good waterproof rain jacket and possibly waterproof hiking pants are a good move too. We went for our Rab Downpour rain jacket and pants here which we kept in our bag should we need them. Bring a puffy or down jacket too as it can get seriously cold!
Immerse Yourself in Ban Xin Chai Village
Ban Xin Chai, Sapa is a great village to visit and get a different feel from Cat Cat Village. This village is much less touristy and gives you a more typical sense of daily life in the area, plus some stunning mountain views.
We actually visited Ban Xin Chai after our trip through Cat Cat village, as it is relatively easy to get to. We’d heard you can just ask the taxi driver from outside Cat Cat to take you and that’s what we did.
It only added about 200,000 VND to the trip back from Cat Cat and was well worth it, even if just for an hour. Our taxi driver dropped us at a point just outside the village and we walked in.
We agreed to meet back about an hour later, exchanged WhatsApp, and he was there waiting for us right on time.
The day we visited, there was some low cloud, it was humid, and the air felt close, but walking through the quiet village away from the crowds at Cat Cat village was great.
It’s not something to dedicate a full day to, but if you’re visiting Cat Cat Village anyway, adding a short stop here makes for a poignant contrast.
Other Nature & Adventure Activities in Sapa
We kind of loved the fact we didn’t get to do everything in Sapa when it comes to nature and adventure. There is a lot to explore, and our time there just scratched the surface!
Here are some of the activities we wish we’d had time for and would try if (and when) we go back. If you’ve got the time, we’d recommend checking these out:
- Alpine Coaster Sapa: Whilst we were driving to our Mountain Homestay just outside of Sapa, we saw the entry to this, and it looked like a lot of fun! This tour through GetYourGuide allows you to book it in advance and includes a transfer from your hotel and the coaster ride.
- Paragliding in Sapa: We’d seen this paragliding Sapa tour on GetYourGuide and really wanted to give it a go, but sadly couldn’t make it work with our other commitments due to the weather. It looked absolutely incredible and gives an 8-12 minute paragliding flight (and even includes sport specific insurance which is well worth it). We’d love to do this if we go back!
- Canyoneering at Love Waterfall, Sapa: We saw plenty of tours offered from Sapa itself to Love Waterfall (Thác Tình Yêu) which looked beautiful. So if this sounds good, we’d you’re probably best to book directly through one of the main offices in Sapa. Though we can’t recommend any of them specifically. We just didn’t have time to make it happen. If you’re into canyoneering, the tours on offer rappel and climb down into the waterfall. Great if you want something active that isn’t just trekking.
Take in the Culture & Local Life in Sapa
Whilst adventure, hiking and time in nature are pretty big activities in Sapa, there are also plenty of ways to explore the culture that forms a big part of the identity.
Below, we’ve covered the main things we got to experience in Sapa in terms of local life to give you a better idea of what is possible and what to expect.
Explore Cat Cat Village (Bản Cát Cát)
Cat Cat Village is one of the more touristy things to do in Sapa. It’s well known and you won’t be the only person there. Chances are you’ve seen Cat Cat Village just outside of Sapa on social media, but the reality is, it is quite commercial.
Cat Cat Village is well known because of the Mong women (người Mông), who create clothing, handicrafts and some pretty beautiful products. Now it is a small ethnic village where performances are put on, crafts can be learned about and bought. It’s busy and bustling.
We did enjoy it, but with a few pretty generous caveats. It’s about 2km from Sapa, and you can walk there yourself. This is what we did, and we wouldn’t really recommend it. It doesn’t add much to the journey in terms of excitement, is down a steep hill with cars going past and a taxi is reasonably priced.
We’d recommend taking a taxi as they will take you straight to the parking area for Cat Cat village. This is much better as you can then either walk the rest of the way or take one of the regular shuttles to the village.
If you go in through the entrance where you’d walk down from, there are what feel like endless steps from the entrance to the village. It isn’t a huge amount of fun, and you’re guided really by the speed of people around you.
From the car park entrance, there are still some steep steps down, but there are far less if you enter the village this way. Though, there is no way you can avoid steps completely.
You pay to enter the village – which is roughly 150,000 VND and is subject to change. So, we’d advise bringing cash for this, the shuttle and the taxi. We used cash rather than card. It’s open from about 9am until 6pm.
We personally felt the valley and village were beautiful, but it was very staged. We hate to say it as we know this has been a positive thing for the village, but we found it a bit difficult.
We will say it’s worth it if you want to see it, and you could give yourself about two hours for this or so, it fits into a half day easily. However, we’d recommend trying to work this around other things and not have this be a full highlight. You could also tie this in with a visit to nearby Ban Xin Chai Village which we covered earlier.
Stay at a Traditional Mountain Lodge
There are some incredible traditional mountain lodges in Sapa and more unique homestays perched on the cliffs of the mountains. We wanted to stay in one to get a bit of a balance away from our other experiences and we’re glad we did.
We’d found this place called Rock Garden Homestay Round House on AirBnb which was about a 30 minute drive outside of Sapa itself. There was only one taxi driver the host recommended who would drive there as the road was basically a dirt track.
This didn’t put us off, and it shouldn’t put you off either as it was such a gorgeous experience. When we arrived, the host, who were the family who owned the lodge, welcomed us like we were family.
We were blown away by the incredible experience of walking down the steep steps to find our round house cabin which had panoramic, unspoiled views over the mountains and valley in front of us.
We spent a lot of time exploring the grounds, walking up and down different areas to take photos, playing with the cats that would come to see us and spending time watching the views change from our room.
The hosts also run a food service where you can order your dinner, and it will be brought down to your room so you can eat it while watching the views. It was delicious and we just felt like we were taken such good care of.
We stayed for one night here and we thought it was enough. It is not somewhere that’s easy to just pop back into Sapa, so it was about unplugging for a night and then heading back into Sapa (to return to Hanoi for our onward flight).
What it offered was tranquility, time in nature and a totally different experience. We had time to stop and enjoy nature, which was really nice in the midst of a long trip with a lot of moving parts.
This was one of the most special experiences we enjoyed in Vietnam and would recommend it in a heartbeat. Perfect especially for a little romantic pause.
Experience Vietnamese Culture with Local People
Having spent time in the North of Vietnam on a previous trip, some of that spent with a local family who really shaped our memories of the area, we were keen to seek out what cultural activities could be done in Sapa.
We actually didn’t have this booked before we arrived, but once we visited Thong Dong Café and found out about their tours, particularly their Culture Discovery Tour, we made space and made it happen.
This tour is really one full day, but starts at around 1pm, stays overnight in a homestay and brings you back to Sapa the following day in the morning. So, you can fit something in like this and still have time for plenty of other activities.
We really loved the ethos of Thong Dong, both as a café and a tour operator as they put back some of their profits into developing the villages you visit on their tours. They’re also really lovely people.
This tour took us to some incredible places – we went to Ta Van Village where we learned about native dress. This was really interesting and had plenty of opportunities to get involved.
We then enjoyed a Red Dao herbal bath and learned about its cultural significance. These are very popular in Sapa, and we felt this was much more of a ‘down to earth experience’ version.
One of our favorite parts of this tour was into the evening where we had an interactive cooking session at the homestay. We had so many lovely conversations that just made this whole thing feel magical.
The next day, we finished off by learning about incense and how to make it. It was just such a wonderful experience and the whole thing felt very calming, relaxed and warm.
We would recommend this experience to anyone, and it’s a perfect way to experiencing the way of life here without trekking. Thong Dong offer a number of different experiences, but this one is the one they recommend to families too.
Relax with a Red Dao Herbal Bath in Sapa
Red Dao herbal baths in Sapa are quite popular with tourists, but there are more to them than this as they are culturally significant to the Red Dao ethnic minority in the Sapa region.
It’s believed that a Red Dao bath is great for relieving things like muscle pain, but they also play a role in certain ceremonies and help keep people connected to nature. They’re also a great bonding experience.
They’re usually performed in wooden tubs and the herbs are collected together to create the basis of the bath – often from the surrounding mountains. It’s a pretty wonderful experience and something we’d recommend.
If you’re looking for a wellness experience in Sapa, then a red Dao Herbal Bath is something you will enjoy.
We had planned to do one in Sapa, but we enjoyed one within our tour with Thong Dong (which we’ve covered above). This was such a great experience that we felt this was enough.
There are numerous places in Sapa offering them, some through beauty salons, and you may even find your hotel offers them too. They’re sometimes referred to as a Sapa herbal bath.
We would recommend trying out a more authentic, back to basics experience like the one through Thong Dong if possible. Some of the trekking tours we saw to Fansipan include Red Dau baths too, so worth looking in advance if you want to experience this.
Food & Drink in Sapa
Food is part of the experience when you spend any time in Sapa. Having just come straight from Hanoi, we admittedly found that the food was not quite as varied.
This is likely due to the fact that Hanoi has much better access to fresh ingredients and Sapa is very much tucked away in the mountains with a humid and wet climate.
That said, it was far from boring in any way. When you lean into what is done really well here, you’ll get to experience some really interesting, hearty food that’ll set you up for treks or whatever you plan to do.
We also found some exceptionally good veggie food, which in amongst a lot of BBQ, was a welcome thing! Here’s what we experienced and learned while eating in Sapa.
Try Local Specialties in Sapa
As we said above, Sapa Vietnam food isn’t quite as varied as what you may experience in places like Hanoi, however there are plenty of specialties that will keep foodies nourished.
The climate is quite a lot cooler than what you’ll experience in constantly smoggy cities like Vietnam, so it makes sense that dishes like the Lao Hotpot (Thắng cố) is eaten a lot.
We shared one for Fay’s birthday at the Little Sapa restaurant and it was delicious. A pot of soothing broth brought to the table to bubble away, with plenty of vegetables, tofu and noodles to add in. As it cooks away, you get bites and different bowl combinations to your taste (much like you would similarly for a Chinese Hotpot).
We learned that it’s fairly popular to have this with sturgeon or salmon, which are native to the area. There are plenty of places in the main city offering this.
BBQ in the form of skewers is also really popular and you’ll see a lot of street sellers setting up in the evening and going on until the early hours.
You choose what you want, and the seller grills it for you. The great news is you can also make this work if you’re veggie. The seller usually has a small seating area, and we’d recommend trying this at least once.
Onto sweet things, we were quite intrigued when we first arrived to see these little dough balls cooking on a few sellers’ stalls. The smell was incredible, and it didn’t take us long before we tried Sapa Chestnut Cake (bánh hạt dẻ Sapa).
This treat originates from Sapa and is usually made of chestnuts, flour, mung beans and sugar. They’re then fried, and they are the most delicious, warm little pockets of joy you can have to end a meal!
In terms of drinks, we didn’t find much by way of a full on coffee scene in Sapa itself. However, we loved the Vietnamese Phin Coffee that Thong Dong Café were serving, this is a great place to sit and enjoy some quiet time (great food too).
If you like tea, you will find plenty of local tea to try in the little markets that surround the city. There are plenty of mountain tea infusions, and different health teas that offer some really interesting things to both bring home or try whilst there.
We would have loved to have done a food tour in Sapa. This is always one of our favorite things to do when visiting anywhere, especially when moving through different regions. We just didn’t have time.
We had found this food tour on GetYourGuide which we had bookmarked, but we sadly couldn’t get it to fit in with our other plans. It looks amazing, and we thought it would be the perfect addition to learn more about local food.
Our Favorite Places to Eat in Sapa
We found some great places to eat in Sapa. We did find the food in Sapa (from our experience) was pricier than any other area of Vietnam.
Likely in part due to it being touristy and a lot of the food options were aimed more at tourists than locals. Also, likely due to access to ingredients.
However, it was still really reasonable, but we would recommend budgeting a little bit more for your time in Sapa when it comes to food. We probably spent about $25 a day on food between us whilst there.
Here were some of the places we ate at that we really liked. We’ve also included a Google Map so you can find them easily. We would recommend saving these to your own Google profile so you can access them easily.
- Little Sapa – great for hotpot, plenty of veggie options
- The Lizard – really nice noodles!
- Le Petit Gecko – just a really nice feel
- Thong Dong Kitchen & Café – delicious, chilled back and relaxed food
- Sapa Classic Vegan – hearty portions
- May Quan – plenty of Vietnamese classics
- SU – tastes really fresh
Our Travel Planning Advice for Sapa
Sapa isn’t the easiest place to get to. There are no direct airports or nearby train systems that you can use. So mostly, travel relies on taking one of the regular bus services on offer.
We’ve put together the information below from our firsthand experiences of traveling to and in Sapa, to help make it easier for you. Including information on what to bring and when is best to visit.
Getting from Hanoi to Sapa
We’ve actually written a full guide on how to get from Hanoi to Sapa which covers everything you need to know about booking, your options and the quirks you should be aware of and is well worth reading.
Whilst it is more effort to get to Sapa than other places in Vietnam where you can get a flight or direct train, it’s actually quite a fun experience. Most people take a limousine bus from Hanoi to Sapa (this is the most common starting point).
This is what we did – they’re spacious and you basically get a bed/cubicle on a bus which will take you from Hanoi to Sapa in about five hours. So, if you’ve already enjoyed the things to do in Hanoi, this is the perfect next step, and it’s exactly how we did it.
You’ll usually be collected from a meet up point in Hanoi Old Town. We found this really simple and the company sent pictures of the location before the day of departure to make it easier.
You can also take most of the buses from Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport, and drop you back there if needed.
There are plenty of companies who offer a service for how to get from Hanoi to Sapa. We used G8 Open Tour as they came really well recommended, and we had a generally positive experience with them.
However, we would recommend booking this service directly through GetYourGuide here as their website isn’t hugely user friendly if you don’t read Vietnamese!
This link on GetYourGuide is for the company you book through, and they basically cost the same as if you book directly through the website. We personally found it a lot easier doing it this way (and much easier to get booking confirmations through)!
Before your trip, they text you all the details of pick up and tell you what time to be ready, so it makes working out how to get from Hanoi to Sapa easy. The bus doesn’t have toilets, but they stop twice on the five-hour journey.
We took the daytime bus as it arrived in Sapa at about 4pm and was perfect for checking into our hotel. You can get a night service, but we wouldn’t recommend unless you’re really short on time.
After spending the day on the bus, whilst it is comfortable and you can chill out, unless you’re a heavy sleeper, you won’t sleep through. So, if you’re planning to go straight into a trek, you will likely be tired.
Make sure you also give yourself a few hours on your return to Hanoi if you need to catch a flight. We were catching a flight to Huế after, and the bus absolutely took longer than it said back. Kind of glad our flight was delayed an hour!
How to Fit in or Add Sapa to a Longer Vietnam Itinerary
For our plans and time in Vietnam, Sapa fitted in pretty well between Hanoi and heading down to Huế. From Sapa, we went directly back to Noi Bai International Airport for our next flight.
We found the contrast here was pretty amazing. Hanoi was hot, unavoidably loud, busy, and even though we’d been before a couple of years back, it hadn’t become any less so!
Huế being in central Vietnam was really hot, not smoggy but hot. Sapa was cooler as it’s at higher altitude, atmospheric and green. We found having this time in the mountains gave our trip a real sense of balance.
We think that visiting Sapa makes a lot of sense after Hanoi as it is one of the easiest access points to it, before moving south, or doing other activities in the north.
However, it’s worth thinking about what kind of trip you’re looking for. If you love adventure and time in nature, then it’s a beautiful place. If you don’t enjoy trekking, then you may not feel the same.
A little tip here as well: make sure you give yourself a buffer window if you’re getting a connecting flight after returning from Sapa. The return bus did take a bit longer and cut us a bit fine for our onward flight.
We also don’t think a long-haul flight straight after this bus would be much fun either – the journey would feel endless!
If you’re short on time, you could possibly swap Hoi An for Sapa, but only if hiking and adventure appeal more than the interest, culture and history of this area!
Our Recommendations of Where to Stay in Sapa
Where to stay in Sapa, Vietnam needs to be one of your most important considerations to get the most out of your trip. The area is carved into steep hillsides, and quite a lot of the accommodation available is dotted along them.
So, if you don’t choose wisely, you may end up with quite a big extra hike each day to get to your accommodation. If you don’t mind this, cool, but if not, look at the map of any accommodation you choose wisely.
We find that the map view on Booking.com is really handy for this as you can see the proximity to main streets and get more of a feel for where it will be.
There are options in Sapa to suit most budgets but do keep in mind that some of the more basic options (some of the Homestays) really are basic. So, if you like a bit more luxury, you will want to go for something a little higher budget.
We recommend looking at reviews/rankings on Booking.com of at least 8.5 or higher when it comes to hotels. We stayed in the Amazing Hotel Sapa for the main portion of our time in Sapa and really loved it.
Our room was huge, included breakfast and our bathroom was so nice. It also had a pool and had a rooftop terrace with amazing views out over the valley and surrounding mountains.
We would 100% recommend this location as it is right in central Sapa and puts you at the heart of everything you’ll want to explore. From personal experience, we do think it’s worth paying that little bit more in Sapa for accommodation (but it is still very reasonable).
We also stayed (which we’ve covered above) at an amazing place on AirBnb called the Rock Garden Homestay Round House. We would recommend this of course for shorter stays just to experience it.
It was truly incredible and such a gorgeous stop point to relax in our busy itinerary. However, due to its location, we wouldn’t recommend it for more than a night or two.
There are of course similar properties around, but they all pose a similar problem – they are too far out to enjoy Sapa, so we think if you want to do something like this, break it up into two trips. Sapa proper and then a little R&R time out in the mountains. Rather than using somewhere like this as the base for the whole trip.
When to Visit Sapa
We would recommend visiting Sapa either between March to May or September to November. You are most likely to experience clearer skies within these time frames and the temperatures will be good for most activities.
We visited in early April, and it was perfect. It was between 15-20 degrees Celsius in the daytime, which was perfect for hiking, adventure and seeing the views. Cooler at night, and especially in amongst the mountains.
Though if you want to see the rice terraces in full swing, September and October are perfect for this as they’re ready to harvest.
We planned April and early May as the perfect times for our Beijing and extended Vietnam trip as it hit the perfect sweet spot of all the places we wanted to visit further south too.
It is very popular to visit Vietnam around December and January (which is what we did the first time), but around this period, you will find the weather can be very cold and wet and you’ll struggle to get a bus in this time (many stop around the Christmas period due to traffic delays).
We have a guide on the best time to visit Vietnam which covers month on month what to expect, which should help you plan in more detail. Especially if you want to work out where would be best to visit based on the time you have available.
How Long to Spend in Sapa
We personally think that a week is a good amount of time to spend in Sapa if you want to really get into the swing of things and appreciate everything on offer.
This was what we gave ourselves as we were interested in hiking and seeing the high mountains, and this felt like a perfect pace for us. We fitted a lot in, but it never felt rushed.
Within this, you can really step back, relax, enjoy time getting to know people, learn about the area and take in amazing views from so many different locations.
This also gives you time to hopefully get a few nice days of weather, in ang amongst cloudy or rainy sections. This can be the difference between really getting to enjoy it or not so much.
The light and atmosphere changes so much in Sapa, that it’s really wonderful to spend some time actually experiencing that. We think that many people who complain about the weather were unlucky, or probably didn’t have the chance to see it shift in the short time they were there.
However, we know this won’t be possible for everyone, but we would recommend at least three days actually in Sapa if you want to go trekking. Just be realistic that you may not get the best weather.
This will give you time to see the main sights and do a rice terrace hike, visit Cat Cat village and head up Fansipan on the cable car. Many tours from Hanoi focus on a one-night trip, which is going to be packed full, but this will limit what you can do.
How long to spend in Sapa will really depend on your interests. If you’re into hiking and adventure, then you’ll want to spend longer. The same with photographers. If you’re not as interested in this side, then you could do a shorter visit much more comfortably.
Is Sapa Safe?
Vietnam is generally considered very backpacker friendly, and as such is really popular. In the time we’ve spent traveling through the country, we’ve experienced travelers and backpackers from all over the world.
Vietnam is also generally considered a safe place for solo female travelers. Sapa seemed no different, and we saw a lot of solo female travelers while there.
Of course, we can only comment on our own experience and not for the lived experiences of people from other demographics or ethnicities. Therefore, you should consider your own personal circumstances in advance of your trip.
Keeping yourself safe in Sapa is just normal common sense you’d have traveling anywhere else really. The only thing to consider if you’re doing a lot of hikes, is whether you should get specific insurance for this.
The insurance we use is SafetyWing as it’s really geared toward travelers taking longer trips, and is one of the most comprehensive (and easy) coverages we’ve had.
There are a few little things to be aware of that are good to know, but just common irritations. Trekking touts love to be persistent; taxi drivers may try to charge you more than you should be and other things like that.
They’re nothing to be scared of, but just good to keep in mind. With touts you can just say no. With taxis, check with your hotel before you leave how much the journey should cost and agree with the driver before.
Is Sapa Accessible
If you have specific needs, Sapa may not be the most accessible place for you. Before you get to Sapa, you need to spend five hours on a bus (or private transfer), but the buses (from our experience) are not the most accessible.
There certainly wouldn’t be the capability to bring a wheelchair on board. Most of the cabins are either low on the floor (which can be hard to get up from) or higher up (like a bunk bed which you need to climb up into).
There are also no toilets generally on the buses, so you do need to wait until they make a stop. The first stop out of Hanoi is about 2.5-3 hours drive away. Then the second stop is a lot closer to the end.
Most of the streets in Sapa are narrow, cobbled and on a gradient. The whole area is generally very hilly. It can be pretty tiring to walk around all day, going up and down steep hills and steps.
These are all important things to keep in mind when deciding if Sapa is the right fit for you, or to help you better plan to be as comfortable as possible during your time visiting.
Things to Keep in Mind: Expectations for Sapa
Vietnam is a really popular destination for travelers, and we know why firsthand – it is an incredible country to visit. It’s extremely varied, the food is amazing, and the people are very kind. This all makes it an amazing experience.
With that, it’s important to keep in mind that Vietnam is a developing country and may be quite different to what you’re used to, especially if you’re visiting from a highly developed country or city.
We’ve seen and heard many people complain about how the infrastructure is frustrating in Sapa. The rubbish by the roadside, the touts desperately trying to get you to go with them for a tour and the general look and feel of things in villages, but you really have to go into this with some perspective.
This gives you an opportunity to think why might it be like that?
We personally believe that travel isn’t about everything being perfect or fitting neatly into an ideal. Sapa is real and developing.
The scenery is incredible. The culture is rich, and the welcoming nature of the people far outweighs any frustrations.
If you can travel with open eyes and a bit of kindness and understanding, we think you’ll have a really memorable and rewarding time (and also a newfound appreciation of some of your home comforts).
Sapa Packing List
Our list below goes over the essentials that we think should make any Sapa packing list. We’ve kept it to the bare minimum as to not overload your overall packing!
You may also want to read our what to wear hiking article. This goes into more detail on what we would recommend bringing on hikes and is especially if there’s a few areas you’re not sure on.
Waterproof Hiking Shoes
Waterproof hiking shoes are a must as we covered earlier in our adventure sections. If you’re going to be on any trekking you will find them an essential.
We wore the Keen Hightrail shoes and the Danner Panorama Mid as our options for hiking and they performed perfectly for all the trekking we did. These are shoes we’ve tested in detail on real hikes.
You might find our guide on waterproof hiking shoes helpful as this goes into more detail of what to expect. If you’re on a tight budget, we also have a guide on the best affordable hiking shoes too, with every pair having been tested by us for more than 1+ years.
If you want more support and plan to do a lot of hiking on our trip, you may want to read our hiking boots guide too. Shoes can be great for your overall trip (which is what made us decide on bringing shoes or shorter mids) but you may find that boots are better for you, depending on your needs.
Waterproof Layers
Again, another must bring. It can rain a lot in Sapa, and if you’re hiking, getting caught out isn’t a good thing. We both went for our lightweight Rab Downpour Plus Jackets and rain pants as they didn’t add extra heat.
These have become our trusted rain layers from testing them in detail and loving them over the years we’ve had them as they’ve performed so well on our hikes around the world.
If you want to go into more detail or find either a rain jacket or pants that fit your specific budget, we’d recommend reading our waterproof rain jackets and rain pants for hiking guides.
Every single piece of gear in our guides has been tested in detail on real hikes, with specific information about what each garment is suitable for, so you can feel rest assured that whatever you buy from our recommendations is going to be fit for purpose.
Warm Layers
We both brought our puffy jackets with us to Sapa. We knew we’d be higher up in the mountains and needed to stay warm so this was a non negotiable.
When we felt the wind as soon as we got off the Fansipan cable car for the first time, we were so glad we did, and this was before any trekking.
We brought the Rab Xenair Alpine Light Jacket and the Salewa Puez Catinaccio 2 jacket as these are our favorites in rotation right now. They were perfect for the kind of temperatures you’ll experience in Sapa.
Likewise, if you plan on going to altitude, bring winter hiking gloves and a hat with you. Even if they stay in your bag, it’s better to have them than not!
Daypack
If you plan to do any hiking while visiting Sapa, we’d recommend bringing a daypack that can also work as a travel pack which means you need to bring less stuff with you.
We used our Rab Adrift 24 and Helly Hansen Generator Backpack for our time in Sapa. They were the perfect size to use as carry on and for our time out in the mountains and had more than enough space to fit in everything we needed.
Depending on your specific budget, you may find our guide on the best daypacks for hiking helpful, and also our hyper focused guide to lightweight daypacks that also work well for travel. These cover all the options we’ve tested, as well as sizes so you can see what fits into specific carry on or travel demands of the airlines you’re flying with.
Trekking Poles
We think trekking poles are pretty much a non-negotiable, especially for longer, steeper hikes and we made a lot of use of our Leki Cressida poles in Sapa.
They really take the pressure off your joints, and if you have a few days of trekking planned, can make your recovery a lot easier. Our guide on the best trekking poles covers options for every budget, great if you don’t want to spend much on them.
Hiking poles can be a bit of weird one for travel though, so just be sure to know where to store them for travel. Our guide on bringing trekking poles on a flight goes over where best to pack them based on your airline or country of origin.
Why Trust Our Travel Guides?
We write our travel guides from our first-hand experience of the places we visit. We pride ourselves on experiencing the locations we write about in the same way you will when you travel there.
We take real pride in creating quality guides that are both useful and enjoyable to read.
All of the recommendations we share with you are our real experiences and any links we share are to companies and partners we genuinely use and trust on our own travels. We also keep our guides and links up to date so you can trust the information when planning your trip.
We write honestly about our experiences in the most accessible, digestible but detailed and approachable way possible. Our aim is to give you as much information as we can in one place to make planning your trip easier.
Your trust means a lot to us, and we don’t take that lightly!
Enjoy Sapa, Vietnam
Sapa is one of the best places in Vietnam we visited. It’s perfect for people who love adventure like us, and you really can’t go wrong with the incredible views you’ll get to experience.
We absolutely loved trekking through rice fields, spending some quiet time at the mountain homestay and getting to meet some truly wonderful people who taught us so much about the area.
We think Sapa is a place that, once you visit, will hold a special place for you. It’s unlike anywhere we’ve visited before, it’s unlikely we’ll find anywhere like it again.
It’s the perfect place to combine time outdoors, on an adventure, seeing the incredible sights the area is famous for with learning more about the local culture.
We hope our guide on the things to do in Sapa has left you feeling excited to make this wonderful place a part of your trip. For more guides on the area, you may also want to head to our Vietnam page, where all articles on our time here are linked.
There’s guides on the things to do in Hoi An, things to do in Hue, things to do in Hanoi, the best time to visit Vietnam and key cities to include, with plenty more coming soon.
We can’t wait to go back some day, and we hope you love it as much as we did!
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