SAPA → Travel Guide + Tips + Map

ℹ️ Information about Sapa
🚍 How to get to Sapa
☀️ Weather in Sapa
🏡 Accommodation in Sapa
🔍 Interesting places in Sapa
📍 Map of interesing sites
🎫 Book a Tour in Sapa
🎫 Book Tickets to Sapa

Sapa: Ethnic Hmongs and Tourists.

• • Please read carefully this article if you want to still keep protected this beautiful area without the impact of mass tourism. Approximately 140,000 inhabitants live in this area. The first people to inhabit the city are largely unknown. In the whole valley they left hundreds of petroglyphs, mostly formed from circular lines. The experts believe that they date from the 15th century. People of the ethnic minority Hmong and Dao then came to the mountains. You can meet them in Sapa and the neighborhood, but also when you are hiking through the stunning mountain ranges and valleys, and the off-the-grid villages. Sapa is about 1,600m above sea level.

You can hike Fansipan, but since February 2, 2016, you can go in a cable car.

• • One of the most popular treks is to the highest mountain of Vietnam – Fansipan (3,143 m, Hoang Lien National Park), or through the valley of Muong Hoa. This cable car was opened on February 2, 2016. Measuring 6,282 meters, the Fansipan Sa Pa has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s longest three-rope cable car route. You can go to Fansipan in 20 minutes with this cable car. Ticket (up-down) costs 750,000 VND for adults, VND 550,000 VND for children up to 1.3 meters tall and children below one meter tall can travel for free.

The best option for exploring this area is to rent a motorbike.

• • The cable car to Fansipan is probably the main attraction in Sapa. I recommend renting a motorcycle and visiting villages in Lao Cai province and around Sapa. For example Ta Phin, Sin Chai, Hau Thao, and Thanh Kim villages. Getting to the Tavan, Cat Cat, Lai Chau, and I Lin Ho villages you can go through the beautiful Valley of Muong Hoa. It is necessary to buy a ticket, but it is not expensive, it costs 2 USD and a visit is definitely worth it. To visit the Tavan village you will need to have a ticket.

Accommodation in Sapa ➜

Several ethnic minority groups – mostly Hmong, Dao, Giay, Xa Pho, Tay.

• • Lots of women from the ethnic group Hmong and Dao offer a guiding service and homestay accommodation in the villages. In Sapa town you can meet them in the central square, talk to them and go. No agency fees. This is the best way to explore the area and try homestay accommodation and observe their culture. Women from these ethnic groups can speak English quite well, so there is no problem in agreeing on anything. And it is also important that they know the neighborhood very well.  Check out the video when you want to see a homestay in Sapa might look like.

To buy the tourist trips to nearby villages in the agencies does not make sense!

• • For example, someone decided that when you want to go to Tavan village, you have to go with a certified guide – but you can get there more easily with a local guide. There is a lot of homestay accommodation available in these villages, with local ethnic people, and it is the greatest experience – you must try it. Some homestayes are created for the tourists and travellers, but a genuine homestay of local people is possible.

How to get from Hanoi to Sapa? >>> Hanoi to Lao Cai (Sapa) – Train schedule + Hanoi to Sapa – Bus Schedule

Trekking in Sapa is amazing – it is a fantastic surrounding.

• • I highly recommend you try a homestay with the locals, you can spend all day and night with them. You will be watching their everyday life and they will prepare very good meals for you. These people can also lead a trek into the surroundings with you. You will find great locations to create really nice photos. Rice terraces, valleys and mountains sometimes shrouded in mist and friendly ethnic minority people. Lots of homestay accommodation is in the Muong Hoa valley, but there are a lot of tourists, and some accommodation is more like a tourist cottage than a genuine local home. Sapa is an ideal place for trekking in Vietnam.

Sapa is a tourist destination frequented by foreign tourists.

• • Sapa is among the top 3 most visited places in northern Vietnam after Hanoi and Ha Long Bay. Remember it ! If you really do not like places full of tourists, it is worth considering skipping this place. However, you can go to the north of the area (Y Ty, Bat Xat), and almost no tourists come here.

Experience an authentic homestay and watch the life of ethnic people.

• • The prices for homestay accommodation varies – it can be for 10 – 30 USD / per person. The average price is about 10 – 15 USD / per person and includes a light trek, food, and 1 night in a village with local people. The Tourist Center in the city also offers homestay for a price of about 25 USD / person, including the trek and 1 night + food, but it is not authentic homestay accommodation.

Accommodation in Bac Ha / Lao Cai ➜

The sunday market of Flower Hmong people in Bac Ha town.

• • At this market you will meet the people from ethnic group Flower Hmong, Phu La, Dao Tuyen, La Chi and Tay. They come here to buy or sell their produce of food and animals. It is necessary to take a bus or a car by a tour operator. Bac Ha is about 80 km from Sapa. There you can visit other local markets, for example Coc Ly or Can Cau. However, even in Sapa, there is a bustling market every Sunday, but this market is more commercial than other ethnic markets in northern Vietnam. When you go to Bac Ha, I recommend you stay here at least 2 nights.

Black Hmong are the largest ethnic group in Sapa and Lao Cai.

• • Black Hmong – they are the largest ethnic group in Sapa, you can meet them every day in the town. In the vicinity and in the province of Lao Cai, however, there are more ethnic minorities of Vietnam, but this is the largest group of this region. Black Hmong came to northern Vietnam about 300 years ago from China. They are easily identifiable – clothes are made from hemp and indigo dye used as coloring, in shades of dark blue to black. Some Hmong people no longer wear their original clothes, but modern clothes.

A great experience is to see the Hmong community at their festivals.

• • A lot of women in this ethnic group earn extra money by manufacturing decorative accessories, blankets, bags or clothes to sell in Sapa. They also offer guide services and homestay in their home and villages. Men perform more physically demanding and difficult jobs, for example construction of houses in the villages. Hmong maintain a series of celebrations and festivals throughout the year. The most important for the Hmong is TET (New Year) which is celebrated almost throughout the whole month. Boys and girls play musical instruments, sing, dance and the whole community meets frequently in one place.

Experienced travelers can go to the less visited far north of Vietnam.

• • Far north from Sapa, about 45 km, in the town of Muong Hum a Sunday market is held (6.00-13.00), less frequented by tourists but more authentic. Here you will meet people of the ethnic minorities Giay, Dao, White Hmong and a small Ha Nhi ethnic group. Taste good local beer. Be careful with taking pictures, it is better to ask in advance and then show the photo, which is true almost everywhere in the north. If you decide to go for this challenging trip, stay at least two days at this place. Some tour operators from Sapa offer 2-days trips.

Y Ty town in the poor Bat Xat district is inhabited by the Ha Nhi ethnic people.

• • The town of Y Ty sees practically no foreign tourists where you can feel like being in a lonely outpost , mainly only travellers from Vietnam arrive here. It is located about 80 km from the town of Sapa, however, it is difficult to get there and the roads are in bad condition. Y Ty neighborhood is often shrouded in clouds, the whole area is surrounded by mountains that reach up to 2,700 meters above sea level, so it is also called “misty island“. Y Ty is mainly inhabited by the Black Ha Nhi ethnic minority, the Ha Nhi ethnic group has only approximately 20 000 people in Vietnam (Lai Chau, Lao Cai province). Foreigners who want to stay overnight in Y Ty have to pre-arrange a permit in Lao Cai and when arrive in Y Ty, have to present at the border patrol with passport and ID.

⚠ My opinion about Sapa, recommendations, what to watch:

• • As I wrote, Sapa is a very popular tourist destination, not only for foreign travellers but also for the Vietnamese people. I think if you go out of the town you willmore likely be satisfied.

> Some people wrote, there is a heavy traffic in Sapa.

• • Yes it is true in the town center, but where is this not true in Vietnam? The traffic is without any problems outside the city. Some of the bad roads in the mountains are almostin the whole of Vietnam.

> Everyone says, Hmongs are hired as puppets for money.

• • This is partly true. However, I disagree that absolutely everyone are puppets. Lots of Hmong in remote villages still live according to their life, customs and traditions. And you can spend the night with them, just ask and you will see for yourself, these people are living without any dependence on foreign money and foreign cultural influence.

> Agencies in Sapa say, that you will overnight with real Hmong families.

• • It will probably not be true, there will be fake hired Hmong people (Vietnamese who are playing at being Hmong). Although I cannot speak for all the agencies, I cannot generally recommend a trip or tour with a local agency. You can do it yourself with local ethnic people without difficulty – give it a try.

Book Tickets from Hanoi to Sapa ➜

⚠ What to avoid and not to do in Sapa:

→ do not buy tourist items from small children
→ do not give sweets to children and money
→ if you can avoid shopping in plastic goods (bags, bottles, waste disposal systems are unfortunately not in many villages)
→ do not enter to the local schools without notice
→ ask people if you can shoot them
→ do not make too much noise in rural villages (you are not on a party)

• • In my opinion, you will be frustrated with the constant offering of goods and services by local ethnic population in Sapa town. Get ready for it! You will also see this in some local villages.
  • do not only stay in the city or nearby within 5 km
  • if you do not wish to buy products or services – ignore the local sell
  • tell them politely if you do not need anyone else to follow in your path
  • Cat Cat and Tavan village are the most visited sites, try to go and visit another villages
  • buy the handcrafted products from local ethnic population (fakes  are in the stores)
    

Let me also say that the Vietnamese government do not regulate tourism in this area. It has been reflected in what a lot of people have written. Several other hotels are being built and I think that’s wrong. But I understand, the money and the moneymaking mentality are for some the number one priority.

Book your Tour to Sapa / Fansipan ➜

🍜 FOOD IN SAPA, where to eat:

• • The best option to eat in Sapa is by street vendors – the tastiest and cheapest type of Vietnamese cuisine. There is a sufficient variety of stalls where you can eat typical Vietnamese dishes (meat, rice, noodles, soups,…). Sapa is not such a big city, so there’s a bit more of a limited menu. Foreign imitation restaurants are overpriced and the food is not at the same level to which we are accustomed. But in Sapa you can also buy pizza or steak with fries or other foreign food. In almost every village surrounding Sapa you can find some kind of mini restaurant.

🚍 HOW TO TRAVEL FROM HANOI TO SAPA (Bus, Train):

1. BUSES FROM HANOI TO SAPA

• • The fastest way is to use a day or evening/night direct bus from Hanoi. Buses from Hanoi to Sapa (Lao Cai) depart from various bus stations in Hanoi (check Baolau or 12go.asia). Times, prices and possible reservations of some bus companies you will find below  – eg. Hason Haivan, Inter Bus Lines, Sapa Express, EcoSapa, Grouptour, Hung Thanh, Sapa Shuttlebus…
  • travel by bus from Hanoi to Sapa takes about 6 hours
  • cheap bus tickets from Hanoi to Sapa, prices start already at $9-18/pp
  • sleeper or seats comfortable tourist buses (+luxury minivans)
  • Book and buy bus e-tickets from Hanoi to Sapa online on Baolau ➜ or 12go.asia ➜
  • you can also check – Hanoi to Sapa – Bus Schedule (buses, vans, sleeper buses…)
  • you can also travel from Noi Bai Airport to Sapa by tourist bus or private car/taxi

2. TRAINS FROM HANOI TO SAPA (Lao Cai town)

• • Many travelers go to Sapa (Lao Cai Railway Station, 30 km from Sapa) on a night train. From Lao Cai to Sapa you can travel by local public bus. Trains may be Vietnam Railways with the less comfort (ofic.viet.railways) or also from the private tourist companies (2,4,6 – bert cabin). With double cabs in train, but also more expensive (Orient Express, King Express, Fansipan, Sapaly…). Read the all information before you book and buy bus or train tickets online.
  • travel by train from Hanoi to Lao Cai takes about 8 hours
  • train tickets from Hanoi to Lao Cai – prices start already at $7/pp (soft seat – Vietnam Railways)
  • Book and buy train e-tickets from Hanoi to Sapa online on Baolau ➜ or 12go.asia ➜
  • this is a top travel route in northern Vietnam – recommended – book and buy your e-tickets online!
  • you can also check – 10 Luxury Trains from Hanoi to Lao Cai

Vietnam Railways trains – SP1, SP3, SP7, LC3:

• • you can book hard or soft seat – price for one-way ticket from 120 000 – 160 000 Viet.dongs / 1 person
  • hard bed (6-bed cabin) or soft bed (4-bed cabin) – price for one-way ticket from 270 000 – 400 000 Viet.dongs / 1 person
  • SP = new trains, LC3 = old train, carry-on baggage – 20 kg
  • seat and berth selection is available on Baolau

Tourist and private train operators (added to SP1 + SP3):

• • Livitrans, Violette Train, Oriental Express, King Express, Sapaly, PV2, Fansipan Express, Victoria Express
  • price from 700 000 – 1 200 000 Viet.dongs / 1 person – soft bed
  • better quality and service, 2 or 4-bed cabins, carry-on baggage – 20 kg
  • the most deluxe train – Victoria Express Train (price for ticket from 2 500 000 – 3 500 000 Viet.dongs)
  • more information about the tourist luxury trains to from Hanoi to Lao Cai

 For bookings with Royal Railway and private railway companies Victoria Express, Fanxipan Express, King Express, Orient Express, Sapaly Express, Chapa Express and Saigon Golden Train, you will be required to complete the payment before submitting your order. Your reservation will be processed and you will receive a voucher by email to collect the physical ticket at the station before boarding the train.

➜ For bookings with Vietnam Railways and private railway companies Livitrans Express and Violette Train, you will be required to complete the payment before submitting your order. Your reservation will be processed and you will receive your e-ticket by email, ready to print or carry in your mobile phone or tablet and present when boarding the train.

BUSES or TAXI FROM LAO CAI TO SAPA:

• • If you’re traveling from Hanoi, the train stops in Lao Cai town, which is 10 km from the Chinese border on the north of Vietnam. The train goes every day and many travellers and tourist go at night (20.30 – 22.00 pm), the train arrives in Lao Cai at 6.00 – 7.00 am.
  • From Lao Cai you must take the bus or taxi, lots of tourist buses wait outside the train station.
  • The public bus station is in the center of town, 300 meters from the station, see the map in this article.
  • I recommend a public bus in Lao Cai town, tourist minibuses at  the train station are overpriced.
  • You can book bus tickets from Lao Cai town to Sapa + schedule on Baolau ➜

☀️ Weather in Sapa:

• • Sapa, located in the northern mountains of Vietnam, has a subtropical highland climate with cool temperatures year-round. The summer months (June to August) are warm and rainy, while the winter months (December to February) can be very cold with occasional snowfall. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Sapa, with mild temperatures and clear skies. However, the weather in Sapa can be unpredictable, so it’s important to bring appropriate clothing and be prepared for sudden changes in temperature and weather conditions. If you want to visit or hike Fansipan Mountain, you can also check carefully this article: Weather in Fansipan Mountain.
  • The main tourist season in Sapa is from September to April. If you like trekking it is recommended in the months from September to November and March to May. In these months its very good weather and temperatures are from 15 to 28 °C and at night from 10-18 °C. Read the article – the weather in northern Vietnam.
    ➜ Current weather in Sapa

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🏡 Accommodation in Sapa:

• • Lots of hotels have standard and even very good quality and service.
  • In the main season (September to April) capacity may be more limited, and it is recommended to book your accommodation online.
  • Prices for hotel accommodation is slightly higher compared to Hanoi, but still low.
  • Single room can cost 10-15 USD, a double room 10 USD / perperson.
  • Prices for shared housing is almost the same as in Hanoi, 5-10 USD / per person.
  • There are also luxury and new hotels, resorts and houses.

➜ Accommodation in Sapa / Lao Cai – Book Here
➜ 15 best homestays in Sapa
➜ 15 best cheap hotels in Sapa
➜ 15 best luxury hotels in Sapa

🔍 Places of Interest in Sapa:

• • trekking or riding a motorcycle to the villages in the area (Tavan, Cat Cat, Sin Chai, Ta Phin, Thanh Kim…)
  • Silver waterfall and Love waterfall
  • Fansipan – the highest mountain of Vietnam (Hoang Lien National Park)
  • Cable car to Fansipan mountain
  • Muong Hoa Valley (homestay, villages)
  • Seo My Ty village and hydro-power dam
  • Tram Ton Pass (O Quy Ho Pass)
  • Market in Sapa
  • Ham Rong mountain (Dragon mountain)
  • Cultural performances in the Cat Cat village
  • Homestay at the local ethnic minorities
  • Sunday market in Bac Ha (take a bus or a tour operator, Bac Ha is approx. 80 km)
  • Sunday market in Muong Hun
  • Y Ty district with the Black Ha Nhi ethnic minority
  • Bạch Mộc Lương Tử (the fourth highest mountain in Vietnam, 3046 m)

📍 Sapa (Lao Cai) – tourist map:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions + Tips about Sapa:

BOOK TICKETS to Sapa / Lao Cai ➜

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BOOK your HOTEL / STAY in Sapa ➜

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➡️ Where to go from Sapa:

You can continue to Lai Chau, Bac Ha, Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai province), Ha Giang, Son La.

⏪ Go back to places of interest

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