If you think of Sapa as a mountain village full of traditional houses, local eateries and people in traditional dress, you might be surprised.
Sapa has long since ceased to be an ethnic village and is now more like a tourist resort with billboards, neon signs and elaborate decorations on every corner.
Even so, Sapa is the place where it's easiest to meet the mountain ethnic people of northern Vietnam. If you only have a few days to visit northern Vietnam, Sapa can be a great base for exploring it. You'll also find a wide range of nice hotels and many restaurants serving Vietnamese and Western cuisine.
What not to miss in Sapa?
We would tend to avoid Sapa town centre itself and spend our allotted time for this area in the surrounding villages and mountains. Even so, there are a few places in Sapa's centre that are worth a visit. Check out these places during your visit:
- Town Market - Sapa has a traditional market every day with fresh food and handicrafts and nice souvenirs. The prices are of course a bit higher than in the regular Vietnamese markets, but a visit to the market is still an interesting experience.
- Sapa lake - Right in the center of Sapa you will find this lake, which is surrounded by hotels and restaurants. A bridge runs directly across the lake, and the waterfront is also lined with a number of selfie spots.
- Ham Rong Mountain - Directly from Sapa you can take a short hike up Ham Rong Mountain which has views of the Sapa area, you pay an entrance fee 70000 vnd.
- Main Square and Church - The Main Square is more like an amphitheatre after its redevelopment, but it's still the centre of the town and well worth a trip to explore. In addition, next to the square you will find the Catholic Church, which is widely used by the inhabitants of Sapa.
Accommodation Sapa
There is a wide range of accommodation in Sapa, so there is something for everyone. You will find luxury hotels, but also many nice guesthouses in the middle price category. If you want to stay with locals in a homestay, choose one of the surrounding villages such as Ta Van or Ta Phin.
You can get very nice accommodation in a clean, simple room starting from 350000 vnd:
But you can also get some very nice hotels relatively cheaply, for example these great hotels can be found within 1200000 vnd:
Transportation around the centre of Sapa
Sapa town centre is quite easy to get around on foot, and you can also reach all the attractions on foot.
You can also use the local public buses, but there are no timetables, the hotel can provide you with information on specific routes. Taxi services are also available for a good price.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Sapa.
