Sapa Tours – Sapa Tours From Hanoi

Has been one of the destinations for the leisure of French during the colonial time in Vietnam, Sapa, which is known as “The town in the mist”, nestles in sublime Hoang Lien Son mountain range with all the best of a mountainous tourist attraction: awe-inspiring natural beauty, mild weather and unique local culture. Having a new appearance with diverse service from eco to luxury service, Sapa nowadays welcomes a diverse range of visitors come here to explore this exotic land.

Location: Sapa is a district of Lao Cai Province with the centre is Sapa Town. Sapa is around 300 km far from Hanoi to the NorthWestern, near the border with China.

Population: approximately 62,670 (mentioning Sapa District, including Sapa Town)

Area: around 681 km2 square kilometers

Average Temperature: varies from 19 to 27 Celcius Degree in the Summer while just around from 7 to 14 Celcius Degree in the Winter.

Highlights: Stunning natural beauty, pleasant weather, trekking/ hiking routes, local ethnic minority culture.

Sapa Travel Map - Sapa Trekking Map

No matter when you arrive, Sapa won’t let you down. However, for the majority of visitors, the ideal months to go are March through May or September through November. The weather is moderate throughout the day, there are fewer tourists, and there is less rain during these months, making it the most unhurried and genuine time to visit Sapa.

The best time to photograph ripe rice fields is in October if you want to get beautiful pictures. Peach and cherry blossoms are in bloom in February. The terraces turn green with newly planted rice paddy in May.

Travel between April and early June, or September and early October if you’re a hiker. You will enjoy the greatest views from the mountain tops during these months, and the routes will be dry and simple to ascend.

Trekking along rice terraces, tribal villages and mountainous terrains

Mountainous areas of northern Vietnam are among the best places all over the country for trekking, and Sapa is not out of this bucket list. Taking a trekking route in Sapa is the possibility to help you get out of the tourist trails, lead you to explore remote places, which are completely off the beaten track. Natural dramatic scenery in Sapa must be one of the most spectacular views that you've ever witnessed in your life. In case you prefer a less challenging journey, a short hiking route within a day or to nearby villages, along popular main roads is also a great option. As Sapa offers a wide range of trekking and hiking routes from easy to hard level, you can choose the route which is the most suitable for you, depending on your trekking skills and ability.

Explore the indigenous culture

Local culture is a unique charm that Sapa attracts tourists beside the amazing landscape. The distinct living condition has helped local ethnic communities here create their own traditions and customs which are different from the others. You can easily experience Sapa’s lifestyle through local markets, the fair for all trade among locals and only take place on specific dates in a month. To get to closer to their daily life, don’t hesitate to try visiting tribal villages through your trekking route, tasting local food, staying overnight with locals in rustic stilt houses and directly seeing how local costumes and traditional handicrafts are made. Their very unique way of life harmoniously associated with nature in Sapa is always tempting for you to come and explore.

Herbal Bath – Authentic Therapy in Sapa

Well-known as a healthy treatment which is signature therapy by Red Dao People in Sapa, a traditional herbal bath can be the most outstanding experience with Sapa locals ever. Depending on using purpose, the number of ingredients in Red Dao herbal water can vary from 10 to even 100. Average time to take a herbal bath is around 20 - 30 minutes with the warmth of water must be around 35 Celsius Degree. Not only as a popular refreshing remedy helping the entire body recover from fatigue, but Red Dao’s herbal water also has many other positive effects on blood circulation, bone suffering and skin detox. Soaking in herbal water and immerse yourself in relaxation will be good therapy for your health after a busy day exploring Sapa.

Visit numerous places for amazing sights

There are numerous places which are ideal for having a bird’s eye view overlooking Sapa’s breathtaking scenery. You can easily set off some of them in your trip, which are not forcing you have a trekking route such as: Tram Ton Pass – Heaven’s Gate (a superb place to see panoramic view of great valley below and O Quy Ho Pass – one of four greatest passes in NorthWestern Vietnam), Ham Rong Mount (ideal location to enjoy the imposing panorama of Sapa town and a part of SunWorld Fansipan Legend leading to Fansipan Peak) or just a cafeteria along Fansipan, Violet and Muong Hoa Road, which has balcony or outside terrace to witness the great view of Sapa’s beauty, etc.

Take a cable car ride to Fansipan Mountain (Indochina Summit)

Being Indochina Summit with the height of 3143m above sea level, Mount Fansipan is a truly tough challenge for anyone who dreams of standing on top of Indochina once in a lifetime. Instead of climbing from two to four days before, the cable car journey operated by Sun World Fansipan Legend has shortened the time conquering Fansipan within around 15 minutes. The cable car ride is not too long, but it is enough for you to admire the beautiful natural landscape which is thousands of meters away underneath. After arriving at the cable station on the top, it will take about 20 – 30 minutes to climb 600 more stairs to reach Fansipan peak, the roof of Indochina. Standing on the Peak, which is over 3000 metres above the sea level – an unimaginable altitude, and widen your eyes to surrounding mountains peaks among a sea of the clouds is indeed a priceless moment of your whole lifetime. You’d better spend half of a day to explore Sun World Fansipan Legend which is a huge complex of spiritual, recreation, cuisine and sightseeing in Sapa.

Combining both culture and natural beauty into one enticing package, Sapa is definitely worth visiting if you have the chance.

Sapa is a mountain town in northwest Vietnam, famous for its towering peaks, steep rice terraces and picturesque villages nestled between every breathtaking view. It is one of Vietnam’s top tourist destinations. The mountains are home to distinct ethnic minorities who are willing to open their homes to travelers for a chance to learn about their unique local cultures and explore their beautiful homeland. It is also one of the best places for trekking in Vietnam and is home to the country’s largest mountain—Mt Fansipan.

Full of magnificent scenery, wonderful trekking, and unique opportunities for cultural exchange, Sapa is one to add to your bucket list!

Read more to discover our top reasons why Sapa is worth visiting in 2023.

The ideal amount of time to spend in Sapa is 2-3 nights. If you plan on trekking, you’ll need at least 2 full days in Sapa.

Depending on which method of transport you choose, getting to Sapa from Hanoi can be a time-consuming and energy draining process. I strongly recommend including some time in your itinerary for rest – e.g. set aside your first afternoon/evening for recovery.

While it is technically possible to visit Sapa as a day trip from Hanoi, it’s not advisable.

There are very few companies that offer this option, simply because the drive is so long. Even if you left Hanoi at 6am, you wouldn’t arrive in Sapa until after lunch. That would only give you a few hours to explore.

I strongly recommend an alternative day trip such as Ninh Binh (< 2 hours from Hanoi) or even Halong Bay (< 3 hours from Hanoi).

No – there are no flights between Hanoi and Sapa. The closest airport to Sapa is Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport. The only way to travel between the two destinations is by road or rail.

There are several markets in Sapa and around that you can visit. Most markets are held once a week. Bac Ha market, the area’s most famous market, is held each Sunday. If this day does not suit your travel planning, you can visit one of the other impressive markets on other days.

Coc Ly Market (Available on Tuesday only)
Cao Son Market (Available on Wednesday only)
Lung Khau Nhin Market ( Available on Thursday only)
Can Cau Market (Available on Saturday only)
Bac Ha Market (Available on Sunday only)
Muong Hum Market (Available on Sunday only)
Muong Khuong Market (Available on Sunday only)

Sapa is a beautiful town in the northwest of Vietnam, famous for its stunning scenery, rich culture and diverse ethnic groups. There are many places to visit in Sapa, depending on your interests and time. Here are some of the best places to visit in Sapa.

Muong Hoa Valley: A scenic valley with rice terraces, streams and villages of different ethnic groups. You can ride a bike or trek through the valley and enjoy the views and the local life.

Fansipan Mountain: The highest peak in Vietnam and Indochina, also known as the Roof of Indochina. You can hike to the summit or take a cable car and admire the panoramic views of the mountains and clouds.

Local Markets: Sapa and the surrounding areas have many colorful markets where you can buy local handicrafts, souvenirs, trekking gear and food. Some of the most famous markets are Bac Ha, Coc Ly, Can Cau and Sapa Central Market.

Ethnic Villages: Sapa is home to many ethnic minorities, such as Hmong, Dao, Tay, Giay and Xa Pho. You can visit their villages and learn about their culture, traditions and customs. Some of the most popular villages are Cat Cat, Ta Phin, Lao Chai and Ta Van.

Silver Waterfall: A spectacular waterfall that cascades from 100 meters high. You can hear the sound of the water from afar and see the silver spray when you get closer. The waterfall is located near Tram Ton Pass, which is another scenic spot to visit.

These are just some of the best places to visit in Sapa. There are many more things to do and see in this charming town.

We have designed some special itineraries for tourists who only have 2 days, but still want to experience the most distinctive features of Sapa, including its terraced rice fields, ethnic lifestyles and culture, rolling hills, fertile plains, unforgettable treks, lush vegetation...

Route 1. Sapa - Cable Car To Fansipan - Muong Hoa Valley (Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van) - 2 days

Route 2: Sapa - Cat Cat Village - Y Linh Ho Village - Lao Chai Village - Ta Van Village - 2 days

Route 3: Sapa - Muong Hoa Valley (Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van) - Ta Phin - 2 days

Route 4: Sapa - Y Linh Ho Village - Lao Chai Village - Ta Van Village - Giang Ta Chai Village - Su Pan Vilalge- 2 days

Absolutely, you can. It is a great plan to make sapa tour and then travel ahead to Halong Bay overnight cruise. When you take night train from Lao Cai back Hanoi in the early next morning, you can have a short rest before continue trip on shuttle bus around 7.45 -8.30 am or private car to Halong Bay.

The best of Halong Sapa packages

1. Super Quick Halong Sapa Tour 4 days
2. The best of Northern Vietnam 7 Days