Go Back
Sapa
Sapa is one of my favourite places in Vietnam to visit. It's in the Northern mountainous region and the town itself is in the middle of some of the most stunning scenery in the country. This is where you can see rice terraces lining mountains, waterfalls, and minority villages that maintain a traditional unique way of life. I highly recommend visiting Sapa while you are in Vietnam and would recommend you to prioritize if you are only doing a short trip. Aside from the natural sights the town itself is charming and full of fun things to do and places to explore.
Fansipan Mountain is the highest mountain in Vietnam. The Fansipan Cable Car at Sun World gives you fantastic views of the mountains in the area and beautiful rice terraces as you ascend. At the top you will see incredible, traditional architecture which includes a massive buddha statue, many pagodas and long staircases lining the mountain side. This is one of the most beautiful places I've seen in Vietnam and that says a lot. The round trip costs about 30 usd but included an all you can eat lunch buffet. I believe the entry to the actual area at the top costs about 4 usd more. I'd say it's definitely worth it for the experience.
Cat Cat Village is the only minority village I really had time to explore on my trip there. It feels like you walked into a fairy tale world. The buildings are decorated with art and are located alongside a stream. The hike down to the village takes you through a traditional village with many souvenir stores and photo taking opportunities. Once you get to the bottom you will see the wooden village that feels like a different world. I highly recommend visiting here. I believe there was an entry fee required that was about 4 usd in 2020.
Love and Silver Waterfalls are two of the main waterfalls nearby the town. I would say the Love Waterfalls are the nicest of the two however you pass the Silver Falls enroute to the Love Waterfalls and it only takes a few minutes to walk up the stairs and back down. The Love Waterfall involves a bit more of a trek though on much flatter ground. It offers scenic views and the waterfall itself is very nice.
O Quy Ho Mountain Pass is a very beautiful stretch of road along the mountains. This offers some extremely scenic views. At the main stopping place (I think it was called Heaven's Gate) you can see traditional architecture and cozy little hotel cabins overlooked the massive valley with mountains along either side. There is a restaurant/ cafe here and it's a great place to drive a motorbike down and stop to take in the views.
Some places I enjoyed eating at were the little Vietnamese barbecue style places alongside the lake in the town. They are on a street called Ngu Chi Son. Pictured below you can see the variety of food and can enjoy a nice meal at a reasonable price. I also enjoyed Namaste Omar's Indian restaurant however I see it's now temporarily closed.
I stayed at The Phuong Nam Hotel and enjoyed my stay. The location was central and if you pay a bit extra for a balcony facing the mountains you won't regret it as the view is awesome. The hotel is relatively cheap and offers nice standard rooms. It's prime for walking around the town and I found the staff to be friendly and helpful. There are plenty of other hotels in Sapa however with modern facilities and great views.
