Sapa is lying in the northern region of Vietnam and known as one of the best places to visit in Vietnam. If you are a nature lover and a fan of hill tribe ethnic culture, Sapa is the place for you. Let’s check out the 15 best things to do in Sapa.
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Get along with local villages
Moving from the modern city to Sapa’s outskirts, you will experience the feeling of going back in time to when life still has a bold connection with nature where many local villages uphold the community lifestyle. When staying in Sapa, you can choose to stay in hotels but we recommend staying in homestays where local people’s houses are offered to visitors to experience life here over local family generations.
Read more: 26 Best Things To Do In Hanoi That You Cannot Miss [2023]
Visit Sapa Museum
- Location: Sa Pa, Lao Cai
- Time: 7:30am-11:30am | 1:30pm-5pm (Daily)
If traditions, all the information about this captivating land from the French colonial period and the origin of hill tribe ethnic are your interests, there is no better place than the Sapa museum for you to visit. You can find this spot near Sapa station, and it costs no entrance fee for visitors and it’s the only museum in Sapa city.
Go Trekking
In Sapa, almost every season is the best time to visit Vietnam. To explain, the atmosphere here is always relaxed and fresh, and the temperature remains from 16-28 degrees following seasons, thanks to the geographical location and the green hills. That’s why it’s become a perfect destination for nature views and villages treks. The trek starts from Sapa centre, going past many massive rice terraces with a background of spectacular mountains magically covered by fogs.
On our way to Ta Van villages, we will pass Lao Chai which is a place with a breathtaking mountain view and famous Sapa ancient rocks. The hikes also offer us an opportunity to stay with a local H’Mong family who speaks English better than their Vietnamese.
Buy Handicrafts from Locals Community
Sapa is home to mainly six ethnic groups Kinh, H’Mong, Dao, Tay, Giay, and Xa Pho. While King people started their small business and worked in different industries, the rest of the ethnic groups mainly did farming, weaving and embroidery. If you like shopping and handicrafts to your taste, Sapa would be a perfect spot to catch a variety of lovely handicrafts. Locals display many unique handicraft products that can be suitable travel gifts at their houses, sell them in the Centre market.
Tips: You might want to support the locals but you might also want to avoid the inadequate quality and overpay. Do ask the price and check the quality before paying for it. Bargaining is a good skill to have here too.
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Have a coffee while surrounded by the clouds
Have you ever wondered what Sapa would look like from above? Having a coffee with a view over Sapa and the spectacular landscapes could be a nice experience. Here we collect some cool spots to enjoy delicious drinks while looking at the majestic scenery.
- Cafe In the Clouds: 060 Phan Xi Pang, Sa Pa, Lao Cai
- Viettrekking Coffee: 33 Hoang Lien, Sa Pa, Lao Cai
- BB Lounge & Cafe: 08 Cau May Lane, Sapa, Lao Cai
- Coóng Cafe: Cat Cat, Sa Pa, Lao Cai
- Lá Dao Spa & Coffee House: Ta Van, Sa Pa, Lao Cai
- Gem Valley Art Gallery: 012 Cat Cat, Sa Pa, Lao Cai
Take a trip to Fansipan
Fansipan is a 3147.3 meters mountain located on the Hoang Lien Son mountain range in the Northwest region of Vietnam where Fansipan- the highest mountain in Indochina located.
There are two ways to conquer Fansipan- the roof of Indochina. Visitors can buy cable car tickets for 800,000 VND per adult and 550,000 VND for children (the cost includes a round trip). You will take the cable car for 15-20 minutes to get to the mountain. To conquer the top of the mountain, you will have to climb more than 600 steps or sign up for a tram for 70,000 VND (one way). The higher you go, the weather in Sapa can change erratically.
For adventurous travelers, sign up for a hiking tour from Ftrip to get the best guarantee for your trip by a 3 days trekking through the beautiful mountain.
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Explore Cat Cat Village
Cat Cat village is one of the oldest villages in Sapa and is home to the H’mong ethnic group. Only 2 km from the center of Sapa, visitors can walk here to visit and learn about the culture.
Because the village is effortlessly accessible, you may be surprised at how crowded it is with domestic and foreign tourists. In this place, you will have the opportunity to try on the traditional clothes of the H’mong people and wander around the street. On top of that, there are many cafes, restaurants, Vietnamese food stalls, and souvenir shops.
The local authorities and management arrange traditional dance and instrumental performances at different times of the day, check the tourist information desk for the schedule.
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Try Sapa BBQ dishes
As word of mouth, the fastest way to warm up is to enjoy a delicious BBQ meal at stalls selling along the way when the night is getting dark and colder. There are many options for meat eaters like chicken, beef, pork, and side dishes like potatoes, corn, eggs, or sticky rice. Everything is prepared hot before it is served.
Climb to Love & Silver Waterfalls (Thac Bac)
To get to the silver waterfall, you will first go past Love Falls which is located in San Sa Ho commune, about 14 km west of Sapa town, and is famous for its waterfalls flowing as smoothly as a silk strip. Visitors can observe the landscape from the observatory on either side. The ticket price to visit Tram Ton – Love Waterfall is about 75,000 VND per person. After that, we can make our way to Silver Waterfall. The waterfall is a upstream of the famous Muong Hoa stream. The ticket price for a visit to Silver waterfall is 20,000 VND per person.
Boat around Sapa Lake
One of the best things to do in Sapa is to rent a boat and spend a few hours on Sapa’s tranquil lake which is located in the town center, a 5-minute walk from the main church.
This is where local families often stop by on the weekends and is also an excellent place for you to stroll around and enjoy the quiet atmosphere of Sapa.
Drop by Sapa Market
There is a collection of essential items such as food and traditional medicine and brocade handicrafts sold here. On the first floor, you will find traditional medicine and a food station. On the second floor is the place for handicraft items and fabric.
Tips: You might want to support the locals but you might also want to avoid the inadequate quality and overpay. Do ask the price and check the quality before paying for it. Bargaining is a good skill to have here too.
Enjoy Ta Phin Commune Spring Festival
Ta Phi commune Spring festival has many unique cultural features, including Tet Nhay; a singing festival for men and women which happens in the wedding ceremony, and the coming-of-age ceremony of young people. This event is usually held in the spring in order to reveal the unique culture of ethnic minorities here.
The maintenance of the organization of traditional festivals aims to promote and preserve the national cultural identity, to encourage people to actively participate in the development of society and tourism in the locality.
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Take photos at Muong Hoa Valley
Located in Hau Thao commune, Muong Hoa is recognized as a must-visit place in Sapa. Although the road to this place is somewhat tricky, visitors will feel that their efforts are justified because of the unique feeling that this place can bring you. Here the terraced fields are equally attractive; the ancient rock fields are ranked as national monuments, many strange drawings with carved stone names dating back thousands of years. All together create a unique point, making the best things to do in Sapa.
Try Horse or Salmon Hot Pot
For a perfect trip to Vietnam, food cannot be missed in any destination that you pass by. Vietnam must try food. In particular, in Sapa, you should try two famous hotpots: Thang Co (stewed horse meat) and salmon hotpot.
Eating Salmon in Sapa sounds strange, but Sapa has succeeded in raising Rainbow trout to serve the local market and it is considered high quality. This dish is so popular that it is now considered a local specialty in Sapa, especially popular in winter.
Tour the Rice Fields
To see Sapa’s rice fields in the most beautiful time, refer to the best time to visit Vietnam. Suppose you want to immerse yourself in the golden rice color of Sapa; the most suitable time will be around September to November.
Visitors can learn how people farm and harvest rice at the most famous terraces with the Ftrip best customized tours.
Frequently asked questions about the best things to do in Sapa (FAQs)
What is Sapa Vietnam famous for?
Northwestern Vietnam’s mountainous hamlet of Sapa is well-known for its ethnic minority populations, immaculate rice terraces, and chilly mountain air. Moreover, this location houses Fansipan, the “top of Indochina.”
What are the top-rated places to visit in Sapa?
Famous places to visit in Sapa: Fansipan, Muong Hoa Valley, Sun World Fansipan Legend, Ta Phin Village, Golden Rice Terraces, Cat Cat village, Thac Bac Waterfall, and Can Cau Market. Flea & Street Markets.
Do the best things to do in Sapa make you eager to travel to this spot immediately? If you answer yes, book a trip to this beautiful land at Ftrip now!
