Sapa

Sapa overview

Located in the northwest of Vietnam, Lao Cai province, Sapa – “the town of fog and cloud” is known for its charming, picturesque scenery. The area overlooks terraced rice fields and verdant valleys with long mountainous ranges lying side by side. Let Asia Private Travels take you to the most beautiful destinations here!

Sapa Overview

Sapa’s charm can also be seen in its cultural wealth of different ethnic minorities. As soon as you reach Sapa, you will understand why Sapa is considered one of the most stunning destinations across the country.

Sapa’s history

Originally, Sapa was the residential area of Black H’mong, the name “Sapa” is said to come from the two words “Sa Pả” in H’mong language. The area first appeared on Vietnam’s map in 1903 and then later was developed as a resort station under Colonial French rule.

The small town became little Chapa based on the translation version of H’mong language. Sapa has long been devoid of tourism-related activities; instead, only the local population has contributed to the construction and economic growth. Until 1991, new visitors flooded into Sapa as soon as Vietnam opened the door to economic integration and tourism.

Although Sapa has seen significant transformation since that time, the locals' traditional culture has been carefully preserved.

Sapa’s ethnicity

In addition to its exceptional natural beauty, this region is famous for having the highest concentration of ethnic groups in Vietnam. From the information in 2018, Sapa is the home to over 82,000 residents. It is one of the very few areas in Vietnam where the majority of the population are H’mong people (51.6%).

Working scene of H'mong people in Sapa

Other ethnic groups like Yao (24.0%), Kinh (17.91%), Tay (4.4%), Day (1.36%), and Xa Pho (1%) can also be found in the town. While many ethnic groups live in Sapa town and earn their living by offering various types of travel services and unique souvenirs, a significant portion of ethnic groups are farmers who go across the area to work and survive.

A memorable experience that will stay in your mind throughout and long after your trip is engrossing yourself in the colorful life of local people. You can see many older women make souvenirs for tourists manually, including floral blankets and clothing of various ethnicities. It can be very rewarding to have a small conversation with the residents here, you will be amazed by their excellent English speaking skills.

Khen dancing, a cultural value of the H'mong

Moreover, make sure to participate in the pipe-singing performance of local people. This is a style of romantic duet singing between a man and a woman. Pipe-singing is so named because the couple uses a bamboo pipe to perform their songs. Gathering around the fire, singing, and dancing in colorful ethnic costumes will be a memorable experience across the journey.

Sapa’s weather

There are 4 distinct seasons in the town, and the daily high is 15.4 °C. However, Sapa is also famous for its seasonal weather, as citizens claimed that tourists can experience “Four seasons in one day” when coming to Sapa in April. Getting up early in the morning in chilly winter, immersing yourself in springtime when the sun has risen, experiencing summertime when the afternoon comes, and finally living through the cold at night.

The terraces in the open water season

The best time to visit this mountainous area is in the spring, which lasts from March to May and is when the wildflowers are at their brightest. Hill tribes exhibit their distinctive culture in multiple festivals in springtime. In Winter, Sapa’s weather is extremely cold and humid with no clouds, thick fog, and snow, and the temperature drops to under 0° occasionally.

When going at that time, there are fewer things to do, however, in a tropical country like Vietnam, admiring the beauty of hills and mountains covered in white layers of snow can be considered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Sapa’s travel tips

To make use of the best of your time in Sapa, make sure to prepare all of those things before your trips.

Identification: When traveling around Vietnam, especially in Sapa, most of the hotels here will have ID check requirements. However, you can replace it with your passport or driver's license if anything bad happens. Moreover, if you have the intention to hire transportation, a driving license is a must.

Travel map or online map: A map is an essential tool for you to avoid wasting time getting lost around the area. Google Maps can also be used if you have a smartphone. Bear in mind that Sapa is a mountainous area so sometimes the signal may be weak, therefore, you should download your offline map to use it as a reference.

Clothing: As mentioned before, Sapa is the place where you can experience “four seasons in a day”. Therefore, bringing suitable clothes is an important thing to consider. Our recommendation is to bring light but warm clothes and you may want to bring some the accessories like hats or gloves.

Shoes: If you plan to have a wonderful time wandering around Sapa on foot, then a comfortable pair of shoes may be the best choice for you.

How to get to Sapa?

Sapa is close to the Chinese border, therefore, no airport can be found in this area. However, if consider Ha Noi as the starting point, there are two main ways for tourists to consider based on your budget and interest.

By train: The 315km Ha Noi to Lao Cai journey often lasts for about 8 hours when you go by train. The last destination of the train is Lao Cai Railway station, many minibusses will be waiting outside the station to transport you the remaining distance to Sapa from there.

There are overnight train services that provide soft beds for customers. Prices vary depending on the type of seat and the time of year you travel. Booking in advance is recommended, especially during the Vietnamese holiday season like the Tet holiday or 2-9.

By bus: Although it is less pleasant, taking the bus from Hanoi to Sapa is a faster and more option. From Ha Noi, it takes about 6 hours to go to Sapa. Numerous brands offer daily bus services from Hanoi to Sapa. Sao Viet, Interbuslines, Sapa Express, and Good Morning Sapa are a few of the most famous operators. It’s best to book your ride in advance to get a better idea of bus schedules, prices, and departure & arrival destinations.

Sapa’s exceptional cuisines

There is a diverse selection of restaurants on Sapa that can offer its famous cuisines. If you do not know what to eat, here are our suggestions.

Thang Co: Thang Co is a traditional cuisine of the Hmong ethnic group in Sapa, and it is said to have first appeared more than 200 years ago. It is known as a weird but beautiful delicacy with a very strong smell. Thang Co is known as the soup cooked and steamed in a large pan.

Thang Co

The ingredients of this cuisine include more than 20 botanical herbs (cardamom, citronella, ginger, star anise, cinnamon twig,...) blend with the meat, bones, and internal organs of the horse, hog, and buffalo. Thang Co was only cooked and served for festive occasions before, however, due to the increase in tourism, nowadays, you can find the steaming pot of Thang Co everywhere in Sapa.

Men: One of the Hmong people's most common dishes is called Men Men. The H’mong people live in high mountainous areas, where the weather is harsh and rice cannot be grown, making corn their primary food source. And to utilize and consume what they have grown, H’mong people make Men Men dishes by steaming the mashed corn.

Tao Meo wine: The Hmong people create the Tao Meo wine, which is well-known in Sapa and northwest Vietnam. It is made from Assam apples, a fruit that naturally grows on Hoang Lien Son Mountain. Although it's usually used to create wine, you can buy fresh Assam apples during the harvest season.

Tao Meo wine

Sapa’s famous tourist attractions

Fansipan peak: Fansipan - “the roof of Indochina” is a tourist destination that you do not want to miss when coming to Sapa. It is estimated to be 3,143 meters high and is located in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. “Hoang Lien Son” is the name that originated from the Hoang Lien tree, a unique medicinal herb that can only be found in this mountain range.

Snow falls at Fansipan peak

The adventurous journey to Fansipan peak presents hikers of all skill levels with totally leave you a memorable experience with breathtaking views of verdant valleys and majestic mountains.

Bac Ha market: Bac Ha is the largest ethnic market in Vietnam's northwestern area. This is a terrific location for local people to interact and exchange their handicrafts and colorful ethnic clothes. This place offers visitors an amazing opportunity to learn about Sapa's rich cultural diversity.

Cat Cat village: Cat Cat is Sapa's most ancient town with traditional wooden houses, flowing streams, and friendly, passionate locals. By spending time within the village, you can gain an understanding of the Hmong people's lifestyles and cultural practices while also immersing yourself in the warm welcome of the whole community.

Cat Cat Village

Above are some of the information related to Sapa tourism. If you want to know more about charming destinations of Vietnam, check out Hanoi the capital, Ninh Binh the ancient citadel in Northern Vietnam, or other attractions across the country! For more information or if you want to book Sapa tours, you can contact us via our website, fan page, or call. We are always available and willing to bring the most enjoyable experience for our tourists.