Sapa Complete Travel Guide 2017

Jul 24, 2017

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You have figured out a great trip to Sapa, Vietnam for a long time, haven’t you? But, you have got stuck in information from various internet sources, confusing you so much. Then, Sapa Travel Guide 2017 is exactly a resolution for you at once!

When to go

It is strongly advised that you ought to experience a trip to Sapa in the summer when the weather in one day is divided into four different levels: the warmth of the spring in the morning, pleasant sunshine of the summer at noon, the cool of the fall in the afternoon, and the cold of the winter at night. The yearly average temperature in Sapa is 15 degree Celsius. In the summer, it is about 20 °C – 25 °C in daylight while it falls down to 13 °C – 15 °C at night. In the case that you adore landscapes dotted with snow, the winter is the ideal time for such a trip.

How to get in

Motorbike

Hanoi – Hoa Lac – Son Tay – Thanh Son – National Route 32 – Nghia Lo – Mu Cang Chai – Sapa (420 kilometers). There are also other routes to hit Sapa, yet the suggested one is surely the best way since it will take you through magnificent views of the mountainous areas.

Sleeper Bus

Queen Café: the bus fare is VND220,000 – 250,000/ticket. There are two routes daily. The bus departs from University of Language and International Studies – Pham Van Dong Street, Cau Giay District, Hanoi at 7:30AM or 10:30PM. It arrives at the 72 Ngu Chi Son – Sapa Town. Tel: (84) 439.036.036 / (84) 936.33.00.66
Sao Viet: the bus fare is VND240,000/ticket. There are seventeen routes daily. The bus departs from the Sao Viet office – 7 Pham Van Dong Street for 69 Xuan Vien – Sapa Town. Tel: (84) 439.036.036 / (84) 936.33.00.66
Camel Travel: the bus fare is VND200,000/ticket. There are two routes daily. The bus departs from Hoa Binh Park for 34 Ngu Chi Son – Sapa Town. Tel: (84) 439.036.036 / (84) 936.33.00.66

Train

It is possible to say that train is the most convenient and safest means of transport to get to Sapa. The train fare falls between VND250,000 and 650,000/ticket. No need to directly come to Hanoi Railway Station at 120 Le Duan Street, but still get one ticket to Sapa , Lao Cai. Just go to http://dsvn.vn/#/ and pick your expected one.

Where to stay

VietTrekking Homestay: the price is VND200,000/single room and VND 300,000/double room. It may cost more at the weekends. Tel: (84) 90 212 12 34
Gem Valley – Sapa: the homestay is 3 kilometers from Cat Cat Village. The price is from VND200,000 to 250,000/room. Tel: (84) 91 284 97 53.
Tabalo Sapa: the homestay is just 250 meters from Holy Rosary Church. You can take a rental motorbike at the price of VND50,000-60,000/day. Tel: (84) 975116694 or (84) 966946045.
Sapa Hostel: It costs VND100,000/one night. Address: No.1 Hoang Lien Son Street, Sapa Town. Tel: (84) 915351817.
Sapa Paradise View Hotel: the price is VND 700,000/night. Address: No.18 Pham Xuan Han Street, Sapa Town. Tel: (84) 203 872 683.
Legend Hotel: located at 011 Muong Hoa. Phòng đẹp. The price is VND 600,000-800,000/night. Tel: (84) 983889798.

Where to visit

Holy Rosary Church or Stone Church

Holy Rosary Church was erected in 1895 and supposed to be the most complete example of the ancient French colonial architecture kept in Vietnam until now. And it has become an excellent symbol of the fanciful Sapa town when it comes to the mountainous areas of Northwest Vietnam.

Ham Rong Mountain

Ham Rong Mountain is next to the Sapa town and surrounded by green jungles home to the diverse species of flora: vines, bushes, coniferous trees, broadleaved evergreen, etc. With the landform of Casteur, making up the unique surface of the mountain and the diversity of flora species, it will be a must-visit destination when you make a trip to Sapa.

Cat Cat Village

Cat Cat is seen as a village of the H’mong ethnic community, not far from Sapa Town. Cat Cat Village was settled by a group of ethnic people in the 19th century. They earn their living by cultivating rice and corn right on the hillside. A visit here enables you to explore interesting things about their cultural and spiritual life.

Ta Phin Village

As a village of the Red Dao people, Ta Phin always appeals to lots of travelers due to of its untouched charm. Not only that here is where you can find exciting points in cultural traditions of the ethnic community in Vietnam.

Lao Chai Ta Van and Sin Chai Villages

Just like Cat Cat and Ta Phin, Lao Chai Ta Van and Sin Chai Villages are home to unspoiled mountainous landscapes and especially smiling ethnic people. It will be amazing to go for a stroll along small paths to the villages and perceive the rural flavor.

Muong Hoa Valley – Ancient Stone Field

The most special point of the Ancient Stone field is that it the ancient stones are engraved with various images, characters, lines estimated to date back thousands of years. With those unique shapes, the ancient stone field nowadays is recognized as a national relic site – the remaining relic of ancient Vietnamese people. Locate nearby is Muong Hoa Valley, where there is a beautiful stream running through. It is an absolutely fabulous painting amongst the skype of Sapa.

Fansipan Peak

Fansipan is seen as the highest mountain peak of Indochina – 3,143 meters, and positioned in Hoang Lien Son Mountain range. To conquer the peak, follow some local or the guide of some travel company or take a cable car from the longest cable car system in the world. The trip lets you to explore valuable medicinal herbs and fine wood, trees for precious wood, and a diversity of fauna. More excitingly, it is a chance to challenge yourself to the “Indochina rooftop”.

Besides, it will be with great regret you ignore spots, such as Silver Waterfall (Thac Bac Waterfall), Heaven Gate, O Quy Ho Valley, Hoang Lien National Park and Bac Ha Market. There are lots of stimulating things waiting for you to discover there.

What to eat

Once you have made a trip to Sapa in order to experience its magnificence, one thing you never want to neglect is that the diversity of specialties carrying the strong flavor of the mountainous area in Vietnam. Not only do you savor the delicious taste of each dish made from rural ingredients, but also perceive unique and fascinating traits in the cuisine of the ethnic people in the Northern Vietnam. It is worth tries at thang co – a soup of horse meat and local herbs, pho khan – special noodle soup, meat with ginger, thit lon cap nach – pork cooked in various ways, mam da (a kind of vegetable just found in Sapa from September to April.

You can have a glance at the suggested places for Sapa must-try delicacies below: