Sapa has a beautiful location in the high mountains, as well as the best choices of accommodation and guided tours than any other place in the North of Vietnam.
Travelers to Sapa have a good choice of adventure activities, cultural tours and unique travel experiences, in addition to travel accommodation, that varies from luxury hotels to home-stay
experience in the local hill tribes village.
Some travelers, however, may find Sapa town crowded, “touristy” and less authentic then it used to be as a remote holiday destination until just a few years ago.
For travelers, seeking for more authentic experiences, Sapa can be a base for trips to mountain villages, or travelling to more remote places in the Northern mountains, such as Lai Chau, Dien Bien Phu and many others.
Interesting facts about Sapa
• Sapa is located in Lao Cai province of Vietnam, a few kilometers south of Vietnam’s border with China.
• The permanent population of Sapa is less than 10.000 people, which is at least 20 times lower than the annual number of local and overseas travelers vistting the town.
• Mountain valleys around Sapa are considered to be the highest (by elevation) in Vietnam.
• The settlement of Sapa was established as a French hill station around 1890, during the colonial period. In the first decades of the 20th century, Sapa’s settlement became a small but famous mountain resort for wealthy French. Most of the original resort buildings in Sapa (constructed in the first decades of the 20th century) are not seen in town these days, the current town architecture is only a few years old.
• Fansipan mountain, the highest mountain peak in Vietnam, and Indochina, is located only a few kilometers west of Sapa, and can be easily seen from the town itself.
• The majority of the town’s population are ethnic Vietnamese. Minority tribes, living in nearby villages around Sapa, come to town mainly to shop or to sell their products.
• Mountains around Sapa had about 15 days of snow in the last 30 years. Sapa is one of the very few places in Vietnam to see snow.
• Tram Ton mountain pass between Sapa and Lai Chau, located at nearly 2.000 meters (6.500 feet) is the highest mountain pass in Vietnam.
Plan your travel to Sapa
Accommodation in Sapa
Travelers to Sapa have many accommodation choices, including
• Queen Mountain House from $30 per night
• Many three star hotels, including Holiday Sapa, Bamboo Sapa, Royal View Sapa Hotel and others, from $50 per night
• Several dozens of budget hotels, guesthouses, and hostels, from $10 per night.
• Home-stays in villages around Sapa, $5 - 15 USD per night.
Tours in Sapa
Sapa offers many choices of organized activities, including hiking trips, visiting local villages and markets.
Local tips/advice for your travel
• Prices of accommodation and Sleeping bus tickets, Limousine luxury van tend to be slightly higher on a weekend then on week days, and considerably higher before the Tet/New Year and other holidays.
• The best option to have a lunch or snack during the day, for the price and authentic experience, is to visit food stalls at the local market. The lunch costs no more than 2-3 USD per person. Restaurants in Sapa tend to be overpriced, and the quality of food varies greatly from one place to another.