3 / 5 - 3 reviews
How to get there
2hrs by minibus from Lao Cai
When to go
From March to May and from August to November
Minimum stay
1 to 2 days
Sapa (Vietnam)
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Maryam Josheni
Practical information about Sapa
Reviews of Sapa
Sapa is a town perched in northern Vietnam's mountains. Even though it's touristy, Sapa is a still a great destination!
My suggestion:
Put aside two days to hike through Sapa's countryside and explore the region's various ethnic villages.
Summary:
Sapa is one of the best known destinations in northern Vietnam. At first I wasn't too keen on visiting it, but I was quickly won over by the stunning countryside!
I woke up the following morning, surrounded by mountains, above the clouds with a view of paddy fields stretching into the distant horizon. This is a superb place to go trekking through paddy fields and across the region's mountains, be it for one or several days. You can also explore the mountains by motorbike, in some place up to the Chinese border. It's a good way to quickly cover large distances.
During our trek we met loads of kids and villagers, all trying to sell us their wares. Feel free to drive a hard bargain!
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Maryam Josheni
Sapa , a tourist trap...
My suggestion:
Sapa's great for cheap accommodation. Don't spend your money there - rent scooters so you can get out and about.
Summary:
We'd barely set foot in Sapa when street sellers started to swarm all over us... We spent the morning exploring the village, whilst trying to avoid them as much as possible; easier said than done. This little mountain village could be really charming, but it's a tourist trap and geared to make visitors spend money!
After lunch in a 'typical' restaurant, we decided to hire scooters and go on a tour. Riding around the rice paddies was excellent! Even the rain didn't put a damper on things.
In fact the rain and misty clouds over the rice fields was beautifully ethereal...
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flickr cc Arian Zwegers
Sapa is the most tourist-focused town in northern Vietnam and remains the departure point for many hiking trails that offer unforgettable vistas of the mountains and terraced rice fields.
My suggestion:
Don't stay in the town of Sapa but take advantage of its sumptuous surroundings!
Summary:
When I arrived in Sapa, I was immediately put under pressure as I was greeted by Hmong women who either wanted to sell me some handmade craft products like bracelets, bags and necklaces, or take me home with them to go hiking or rent a room from them for the night. Therefore, before reaching Sapa, you need to decide whether you want to go with the flow and follow one of these women, or if you'd prefer to go via an agency.
The town of Sapa is designed for tourists and, to my mind, has little going for it. Too many hotels, shops and restaurants in the streets mean that it's lost its authenticity. Nonetheless, Sapa is the starting point for many hiking trails in the region, which means it's still an important destination. If you love hiking, this is where you need to be!
From personal experience, the encounters I had with ethnic minority people in the Sapa region are some of my favourite memories of Vietnam. Long walks, breathtaking landscapes, encounters with the locals, nights spent in people's homes, and sharing day-to-day life with a local family: it was simply magical and unforgettable!
I enjoyed Sapa Market, which is open every day, where I ate several times - I was never disappointed and it's very cheap!
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Claire GUERIN
189 travellers' photos
