Located on a mountainside 1,500 - 1,600 meters above sea level, Sapa is a small town in Lao Cai province, 40 km from the province center and 376 km from Hanoi. With such a favorable location, Sapa has a tropical climate with four diverse seasons, and is especially one of the rare places in Vietnam with snowfall in winter.
Combined with majestic, lyrical natural scenery, diverse ethnic cultures, sincere and hospitable people, Sapa is a great destination whether you are a tourist who loves to explore or are looking for a vacation. perfect vacation spot
Ideal time to travel to Sapa
You can go any time you want. Although the town is still divided into four distinct seasons, Sapa's average temperature rarely exceeds 25 degrees Celsius, even in summer. Coming to Sapa in any season of the year, you can enjoy a unique scenery, each season has its own beauty, and will easily "captivate" any visitor.
Spring
From the end of December, peach blossoms in Sapa have bloomed, lasting until February, covering this place in brilliant pink. From February to March, you will admire the forests of apricot and plum flowers blooming white on the horizon.
Continuing until March - April is the time when all kinds of flowers bloom, when the weather is warm in spring. This is the time when the whole town is filled with white banyan flowers and buckwheat flowers
Summer
It is also the rainy season in Sapa, but don't think summer is not suitable for traveling to Sapa. Early summer and late summer are two great times for you to make a self-sufficient trip to Sapa, if you have always been fascinated with the majestic terraced rice fields.
April - May is rice planting season, also known as pouring water season. This is the time when people start the new crop season, Sapa is immersed in the green of young rice fields. But the most beautiful moment is the moment of sunrise or sunset, when the orange-yellow sunlight spills over the fields, reflecting sparklingly on the water surface.
Late August - September is the season of ripe rice. Coming to Sapa at this time, you will have the opportunity to watch the golden rice season on winding terraced fields meandering in the cool air of late summer and early autumn.
Autumn
Fall is a favorite time for self-guided trips to Sapa, because this is the famous buckwheat flower season. Starting from mid-October to the end of November, the entire Northwest mountainous region is immersed in the pink color of buckwheat flower fields.
In particular, the last two weeks of October is also the time to organize the Buckwheat Flower Festival with many interesting cultural discovery activities.
Winter
Sapa is one of the rare regions in Vietnam that gives you the opportunity to watch snow fall. If you want to experience the cold of the high mountains, and admire the scenery of white snow covering this small town, do not hesitate to come to Sapa in the winter months. Besides, from the end of November to the beginning of the new year is when the canola flower fields in Sapa bloom, welcoming tourists.
What is the nearest airport to Sapa?
The nearest airport to Sapa is Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). It's about 250 kilometers away, so getting to Sapa takes about 5-6 hours by bus or car
How to get to Sapa?
Only 376 km from Hanoi, there are many ways to get to Sapa. Tourists often visit Hanoi's ancient streets before starting their self-sufficient Sapa trip.
Bus: Is the simplest and most economical means of transport for self-sufficient tours of Sapa. Companies such as Sao Viet, Sapa Express, Inter Bus Line all have sleeper buses, priced around 10USD - 20USD/trip.
Train
If you want to experience the train for about 40USD/way. To experience a luxury private cabin, you have to pay around 160 USD for two berth cabin. The train will run to Lao Cai station first, then you will take a bus or private car to Sapa. Running time is only about 45 minutes.
Where should you stay when coming to Sapa?
As a famous tourist destination in the Northwest mountains, the hotel system in Sapa is also extremely diverse. You can find a luxury resort hotel or a homestay to immerse yourself in the life of local people in Sapa very easily.
If you want to enjoy the most complete vacation feeling in the middle of a mountain town and cold weather, Sapa resorts are a choice that is hard to refuse. Some typical resorts include Sapa Jade Hill Resort And Spa, Topas Ecolodge, Aira Boutique Sapa Hotel & Spa, Pao's Sapa Leisure Hotel, Golden Town Hotel, Nomadtrails Boutique Hotel or Freesia Hotel.
If you are a fan of famous hostels and homestays in the self-sufficient Sapa travel community. Famous Sapa homestays with the backpacking community include Sapa Capsule Hotel, Phori's House, Little Sapa, Po Homestay. Prices for homestays are very reasonable, only about 15USD per night
Places to visit when you come to Sapa
Ham Rong mountain
With its magical and misty landscape, Ham Rong Mountain is crowded with tourists. The lowest point of the mountain is 1,450m, and the highest peak is more than 1,800m. From the top of the mountain, you can see most of the famous tourist attractions of Sa Pa town such as Muong Hoa valley, Ta Van village, Cat Cat village...
Ham Rong Mountain is suitable for organizing a climbing picnic, combining eating, shopping, and sightseeing because on the way up the mountain there are countless shops and beautiful flower gardens. The admission ticket to visit Ham Rong mountain tourist area is ~2.5 USD VND for adults and ~1.2 USD for children.
Sa Pa Stone Church
After going to Ham Rong Mountain, you return to the town center not far away to visit Sa Pa Stone Church. This is a symbolic project of the mountain town that was started in 1895. The church was built in the shape of a cross in Gothic style, shown in the roof, bell tower, arches... all of which are pyramidal shapes creating flying features. elegant benefits for the project.
Cat Cat village
Cat Cat village is located 2 km from Sa Pa center, so you can choose trekking or motorbike. This is a peaceful Mong village, still preserving many traditional customs and crafts such as weaving, silver carving, jewelry making...
The road to the village is quite beautiful, you will pass through winding roads, on both sides are terraced fields filled with ethnic houses. Crossing the Si bridge is the center of Cat Cat village, where three streams converge: Tien Sa stream, Vang stream and Silver stream. Visiting the village, in addition to learning about Mong people's life, you also have the opportunity to buy handmade products as gifts and enjoy local products. Tickets to visit Cat Cat village are ~2USD per person.
Lao Chai - Ta Van
From town, you follow the 10 km long road to Ta Van by motorbike, taxi or trekking. The road to Lao Chai - Ta Van is small and narrow, with both sides covered with cool green terraced fields of rice and corn. Although no longer wild and remote, Lao Chai - Ta Van is still a peaceful village with many ethnic groups residing such as Mong, Dao, Giay...
The most impressive thing here, in addition to the local ethnic life, is also the terraced fields spreading across the hillsides. Late summer is the time when ripe rice dyes the entire mountainous area golden. So if you have a lot of time, spend a day here to experience the local lifestyle. Tickets to the village ~2.5 USD per person.
Fansipan peak
To reach the top of Fansipan without losing too much effort, take the cable car and mountain train. In the morning, you line up to buy tickets at the funicular train station opposite Sa Pa town square. Cable car ticket price ~30USD per adult, 25USD per child, mountain train ticket 4USD per person.
To reach Fansipan peak, you follow the mountain train route, then cable car, then another train ride or walk up 600 steps. Each train ride lasts about 6-7 minutes, each cable car ride lasts about 30 minutes. Those who like to walk can leisurely climb the stairs and visit the spiritual complex on Fansipan including Kim Son Bao Thang Tu, 11-storey tower, bronze statue of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, and the largest bronze statue of Amitabha Buddha. Vietnam...
In addition, at the stops of the cable car and mountain train, there are souvenir shops, restaurants... to serve the shopping and dining needs of tourists. Note: you should wear low-soled shoes, bring a jacket, raincoat, or umbrella in case the weather on the mountain top is suddenly cold and cloudy.
Enjoy food in Sapa
Notes when traveling to Sapa on your own
- Sapa is always crowded with tourists, especially during the flower seasons, or the winter-spring tourist peak. You should book the hotel in advance to avoid price increases and lack of rooms on this occasion.
- Before buying goods or using travel services, you need to ask the price first, and pay the price to avoid being challenged.
- You should prepare in advance if you want to buy souvenirs and small-value decorations. If you give even money, the seller may offer to exchange the change for goods.
- Sapa tourist destinations often have many steep hills and require a lot of walking. You should choose comfortable clothes, sports shoes or soft-soled shoes.
- If you see ethnic girls and want to take pictures with them, you should ask in advance because sometimes you will have to pay a fee.
- The average temperature in Sapa is quite low, especially at night, so you need to prepare enough coats, scarves, socks, gloves, and wool hats to keep warm.