What activities to head to Sa Pa for and what did we do in town?
Trekking
Sa Pa is the hub of tourist activities in northern Vietnam. One of the best ways to experience the surrounding mountains and local life is by hiking.
Especially popular are treks with local guides through the villages of indigenous ethnic groups, which will give you a chance to peek under the hood of traditional life. Climbing Vietnam's highest mountain - Fan Si Pan (3,143m) - is also popular.
If you only want to go on a day trip around Sa Pa, you can definitely go on your own. On your own, you can take the road to Cat Cat village or follow the trails through the Muong Hoa valley to Ta Van village. The specific trailheads for each trail can be found on the map below. In practice, you can also just follow a group of hikers led by a local woman at a distance and the trails are easily reached. Local women guides offer their services all over Sa Pa town, so just step out onto the street and you'll already have countless offers. The following routes are the most popular:
- Muong Hoa Valley Trail (10km) - runs from Sa Pa through Lao Chai village to Ta Van village, the following trails can be used:
- Route 1 - by road from Sapa (officially need ticket and guide for 45000 vnd)
- Route 2 - around Ham Rong Mountain by the northern route (no ticket)
- Route 3 - through rice fields and villages on the southern route (no ticket)
- Route to Cat Cat village (2 km) - a tourist village that can be reached by road from Sapa, ticket needed for 150000 vnd
- Route to Ta Phin village (12 km) - less touristic village of Dao ethnicity, ticket needed on main entrance routes for 40000 vnd
The starting points of all trails are marked on the map below.
If you plan to trek through the villages for several days, you'd better book a guide to accompany you. Accommodation and meals are included in the package in this case and run by local mountain ethnic families. You can book a two-day trek around Sapa from 700 000 vnd per person.
A special permit is required to climb Fan Si Pan mountain, which will be arranged by the guide. The trek can be completed in one to four days depending on the length of the route.
Motorbike/scooter tours
Sapa itself is a hugely touristy place with plenty of attractions and sights, but some travellers will miss the authenticity of Vietnam. If you want to enjoy the unique atmosphere of northern Vietnam, there's nothing easier than renting a motorbike or scooter and taking to the local paths and roads to visit forgotten villages and rice paddies.
You can rent a scooter for the day anywhere in Sapa from 120 000 vnd per day. When renting a scooter, always check its condition thoroughly and never leave the ID you need as a deposit.
From the more touristy spots, you can take a motorbike to the breathtaking Tram Ton Pass (1,996m above sea level) or along the main road to Ta Van village. However, we recommend leaving the most famous places and exploring the area on your own. Our favourite spot was a small road south of Sapa town (see map), which winds up into the mountains and takes you to beautiful rice fields and even an authentic local restaurant.
For the adventurous, the Duong Sin Chai road from Tram Ton Pass to Cat Cat village is very interesting. The scenery here is very picturesque and you will pass through authentic villages, but be careful - the road is rutted and even dangerous for inexperienced drivers.
Traditional markets
To experience the traditional markets of the ethnic minorities of northern Vietnam, head to Ha Giang province. However, you can also visit some markets around Sapa that, although relatively popular with tourists, are sure to appeal to you. Some of the most popular markets include the following:
- Sapa Daily Market - Right in the center of Sapa town, you will find the town market where you can buy fresh produce as well as traditional handicrafts. Prices are of course many times higher for tourists.
- Sunday market in Muong Hum - The market is not that far from Sapa town (50 km) and can be reached by scooter, the most famous ethnic group here are the famous Hmong.
- Sunday market in Bac Ha - The most famous large market in the whole province of Lao Cai, which is visited by tourists in greater numbers.
- Tuesday Market in Coc Ly - The traditional market of the Flower Hmong ethnic group about 80 km from Sapa takes place every Tuesday and offers a wide range of traditional products.
Some websites also mention the Love Market, where young people from hill ethnic groups meet. This market used to take place in Sapa on Saturday evenings but has gradually disappeared and moved to smaller villages around Sapa. Some markets (such as the one in the centre of Sapa) you can go to on your own, others are less accessible and we recommend using a guide or a local agency.
Head to a traditional ethnic minority market!
Tourist attractions
As Sapa is a very touristy place, the town and surrounding area also offers a number of tourist attractions and sights. Most of them cost quite a bit extra, so it's up to you whether you want to visit them or you'd rather choose to trek to one of the villages or travel by motorbike.
The most popular tourist activities around Sapa include:
- Taking a cable car to the top of Fan Si Pan (3,143m above sea level) - You can take a train and then a cable car directly from Sapa town to the highest mountain in Vietnam for beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.
- Waterfalls - There are several tourist waterfalls around Sapa, including Silver Waterfall and Love Waterfall.
- Glass Bridge - The Glass Bridge is located 500 meters above the surrounding mountains and you can enjoy beautiful views of the local mountains and valleys.
