Unique Activities To Do In Sapa, Vietnam With 3 Day Itinerary

Sapa is a quaint rural mountain town surrounded by endless terraces of rice paddies and gorgeous valleys. There are a few popular things everything traveler should add to their Vietnam itinertary including a homestay with an ethnic community or climbing to the summit of Mount Fansipan.

In this guide we share what we like and don’t like about Sapa including a 3 day itinerary to help you make the most of your time. It’s a very picturesque destination in northern Vietnam where you can learn so much about the local culture and region if you plan well.

Our Experience

We spent 4 days in Sapa during October 2018 as part of our 18 month honeymoon. During this trip, we spent almost 30 days in Vietnam so we had plenty of time to venture into the mountains and beautiful valleys near Sapa town. However, some visitors may skip this entire region if they’re short on time because it’s located so far north.

But for those travelers who make it, Sapa can be a mixed bag. We say this in the beginning of our guide because many travelers visit with false narratives in their heads often created from social media. This mountain town has boomed with tourism over the past decade and we think it’s important you know what you’re getting into before you arrive.

Overall, Sapa is a unique travel destination because it offers stunning mountain views and the chance to interact with various ethnic groups who call this region home. But we think Sapa is best enjoyed by getting out into the countryside. If you just stay in town, you’ll see the worst of Sapa and probably leave with a bad taste in your mouth. Our goal is to help you experience the best Sapa has to offer. Read more about us.

How To Get To Sapa

To reach Sapa, you’ll need to head northwest from Hanoi. Sapa is located on the slopes of the Hong Lien Son mountains close to the border with China. Access is limited and you’ll pass through meandering mountain roads. Bus and trains follow a similar route as far as the border with China to a town called Lao Cai. From Lao Cai, there is only one direct road up and down the mountain to town.

This road bends its way up the mountain for what feels like an eternity. Everyone on board the bus is given a paper bag, just in case. Our interactive map above shows where the Sapa Express bus departs in old quarter Hanoi, Lao Cai and Hanoi train stations as well as the Sapa drop off point. Zoom in on the winding road up the mountain to get a feel for the area.

Budget, convenience and availability are the major factors when booking transport. Check prices and times on 12Go Asia to see whether the train or Sapa Express bus is a better fit for your schedule. Both the bus and train were priced at US $12 per person when we visited. But remember you’ll pay for a bus connection if you take the train to Lao Cai.

Our recommendation is to travel with Sapa Express. Ironically, despite the vomit inducing roads up the mountain, this was the best sleeper bus we took in Vietnam. We didn’t see the benefit to traveling by train and changing in Lao Cai. Especially when it’s cheaper by bus. Plus, the bus left Hanoi closer to where we were staying in the old quarter.

READ: How to survive the Sleeper Bus in Vietnam

What You Need To Know Before Visiting

Another important consideration for visiting Sapa is the weather. It has a whirlwind of varying weather patterns including a distinctive subtropical highland climate. There’s no way you can plan your entire Vietnam trip based around perfect weather conditions, but the optimal month for visiting Sapa is September.

Let’s take a look at the various seasons in northern Vietnam:

Fall (September to November)

The autumn season offers cool and dry weather with temperatures ranging from 10-20°C (50-68°F). This time of year, the skies are clear, temperatures are perfect for hiking and the golden rice terraces are at their most picturesque. September is the only time of year you can see the famous golden rice fields and by October, most of the harvest has been collected. We visited towards the end of October and had a mix of beautiful skies along with rain. Unfortunately, the rice paddies were also very waterlogged. By November, the temperate begins to get colder and the rice fields are significantly less beautiful.

Winter (December to February)

During the winter season, temperatures plummet and fog moves in across the mountains with temperatures ranging from 0-10°C (32-50°F). It’s very common to see snow on the highest peaks and the average temperature is not good for hiking. The nights are very cold and you’ll have to be prepared for difficult conditions. But this is the low season for tourism with cheaper prices and small crowds.

Spring (March to May)

Another popular time to visit Sapa is the spring season because it’s warm and dry with temperatures ranging from 15-25°C (59-77°F). This time of year, the beautiful flowers are blossoming throughout the hillsides and valleys. But you won’t see the famous golden rice terraces because the fields are green with rice seeds which is the trade off. Since it’s a popular time to visit, you can also expect higher prices and more crowds.

Summer (June to August)

The summer season is a busy time for domestic tourism in Sapa. It’s extremely humid, hot and wet with temperatures ranging from 20-30°C (69-86°F). This is the time of year when rice terraces are lush green, but you might spend your whole visit being rained on. The air can also be dusty, hazy and with poor visibility which is not ideal for hiking.

We’ll briefly touch on the best things to do in Sapa before showing you how to make the most of your time in a structured 3 day itinerary. If you like being outdoors, you have several different options including a homestay, trekking and learning about the local communities.

Here are the main reasons people come to town:

1. Trekking In Sapa

One of the most popular activities involves hiking into the surrounding region. There are a few different ways you can do this including hiring a guide, finding a homestay or attempting to hike on your own.

Since we were new to the region, we decided to book a 2 day 1 night trek with a local guide. The benefit to this option is you’ll most likely stay with people from a local community. For us, it was members of the Hmong ethnic group. For visitors who don’t have a lot of time, you can also book a day tour which typically consists of 6-8 hours.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, you can read our guide about trekking in Sapa to see everything we did during our tour. We’ll tell you exactly what we liked and didn’t like about it so you can decide if this is something you want to do yourself.

While we had an overall great experience, many travelers have reported bad experiences trekking. We originally booked a tour with our hotel, but we got really lucky and it seems things have changed since we visited a few years ago. So to have the best time possible, we’d recommend booking online in advance so you can read the expected itinerary and previous traveler reviews.

Here are some of the top rated options:

2. Fansipan

Fansipan is the highest mountain in the Indochinese Peninsula including Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. It’s often referred to as “the Roof of Indochina”. You can hike to the summit of Fansipan or use the cable car which takes about 20 minutes.

The Fansipan Sapa cable car was built in 2013 and it hold a Guinness World Record for the longest non-stop three-rope cable car (6,292.5m or 3.91 miles). Since we were short on time, we opted for the cable car and it exceeded our expectations.

Before reaching the entrance to Fansipan, you can take the Muong Hoa mountain train. This is a funicular railway and one of the longest of its kind in Vietnam. It’s a short five minute ride that crosses four viaducts and travels through two tunnels. At the end, you’ll be welcomed by the Sun World Fansipan Legend Yard.

When you first arrive into Sapa town, you’ll notice the brightly colored Sun Plaza. This is also Hoang Lien Station. You can purchase tickets for the Fansipan cable car and mountain train here on site. Or you can purchase them here prior to visiting. The cable car typically runs from 7:30am to 5:30pm everyday with each car holding up to 35 passengers.

When we visited, we had an entire cable car to ourselves which was really eerie because we kept going through dense clouds. But when it cleared, we were able to see the terraced rice paddies from above and it was absolutely stunning. The cable car ends at a beautiful garden complex where you can choose to take the stairs or another small funicular railway to the very top of Mount Fansipan.

If you want to hike to the top, here are great tour options:

Travel Tip: It’s get cold and windy at the top of Fansiapn so we’d suggest you bring an extra layer to stay comfortable.

3. Cat Cat Village

This next Sapa activity is either loved or hated by visitors. Cat Cat Village is located about 1.5 miles (2.4km) or a 45 minute walk from Sapa town (Google maps location). It was founded in the 19th century when the HMong and Dzao groups came together to cultivate corn and rice in the area. Today, visitors can enjoy traditional handicrafts, cultural opportunities and various waterfalls. Compared to other villages such as Ta Van and Ta Phin, Cat Cat is easily accessible.

There is a small entry fee to visit the village which goes back into the local communities who have opened up their homes to visitors. It costs 150,000 VND (about US$ 6.00) for adults and 70,000 VND (about US $ 3.00) for children between 1 and 1.3 meters tall. Children shorter than this are free. The village is typically open from 6:00am to 9:00pm.

After purchasing a ticket, you’ll walk down into the valley via a stone-paved road. You’ll pass traditional wooden huts overlooking mountainside rice field terraces. There are several places to eat and local shops selling handicrafts and clothes. We think two of the main highlights are Tien Sa Waterfall and Cat Cat Rose Garden so try to find them if you have time.

During our visit, there were a few children trying to sell us crafts, but we politely declined and headed towards the village. Overall, we thought it was unique community, but it’s become very commercialized. Many travelers complain about the lack of authenticity, while some really seem to enjoy their visit. We’d recommend reading recent reviews on TripAdvisor and managing your expectations before visiting.

Travel Tip: When you pay for your ticket to Cat Cat Village, be sure to ask for a village map so you know where everything is located.

4. Explore Sapa Town

Last but not least, your remaining time can be spent exploring Sapa town. The area itself isn’t very big, but it features an artificial lake in the center of the small city. Around the perimeter of the lake, there are many footpaths and cafes including beautiful views of the mountains. Sadly, we did see a lot of trash in town so things can definitely be improved.

During our first day it poured and we didn’t get to do much in town. But here are a few places you might want to check out if you have time:

• Notre Dame Cathedral – Built by the French in 1895, this small church features Roman Gothic architecture and a bell tower.
• Sapa Culture Museum – A free museum with exhibits about the history and ethnic groups living nearby. It’s small, but it also has a gift shop with unique pieces.
• Silver Waterfall (Thác Bạc) – About 15km (10 miles) from town, this is one of the most visited waterfalls in Vietnam. It’s a 200m high cascade mixing perfectly with the surrounding forest. Follow National Road 4D from the center of Sapa or book this combo tour to see the Cloud Dragon skywalk too.
• Love Waterfall (Thác Tình Yêu) – Another beautiful waterfall about 14km (about 9 miles) using the main roads. But it can easily be reached with a 30 minute walk from town and entry is 70,000 VND per person.
• Sapa Night Market (Chợ đêm Sapa) – Located next to the bus station, this is a popular local market selling fresh produce. We thought the prices seemed a bit inflated, but there is a variety of different foods if you want to find something new. It opens around 6:30pm daily.

Travel Tip: You will be approached by many locals in town selling goods. It’s important to stand your ground and politely decline if you don’t want to purchase anything. This was what we didn’t like about visiting Sapa.

Three Day Sapa Itinerary

We think 3 days is enough to see Sapa. But with such unfavorable weather conditions in the mountains, we added in an extra day which really helped our itinerary. The day we arrived, the entire town was enveloped in a dense cloud of mist and we delayed our trek. This itinerary is pretty fluid and it can easily be switched around to account for weather. Another option is to book a homestay in the countryside if you don’t want to base yourself in Sapa town.

Here are top rated homestays in Sapa:

• Eco Hills Homestay – Public bath, restaurant, shared kitchen, free wifi, car rental and sun terrace
• Hmong Sister House and Trekking – Fishing, restaurant, free wifi, terrace and hiking guide available
• Hoa’s Homestay Sapa – Family rooms, 3 restaurants, room service, bar, terrace and clean rooms
• Hmong House Sapa – Shared lounge, pool table, private parking, free wifi, shared kitchen and tours
• La Beauté Sa Pa – Recently renovated, shared lounge, free wifi, coffee shop and tours
• My’s Homestay – Shuttle service, shared kitchen, free wifi, public bath, restaurants and tours
• Sapa’s Soul – Private entrances, sun terrace, restaurants, free wifi and tours

Travel Tip: For more homestay options, use booking.com. Filter by homestay and look on the map to the southeast of Sapa town.

Sapa Itinerary – Day 1

For our first day, we visited Cat Cat Village and then Fansipan. We picked this order because Cat Cat Village opens earlier than Fansipan so we had more time later in our day. The morning was also very cloudy and it cleared up in the afternoon so we could see more at the top of Fansipan.

From town, we walked to Cat Cat Village and it took about 45 minutes. Since we visited early in the day, the roads were really quiet and it was very peaceful. If you don’t want to walk, you can hire a motorbike or take a taxi.

There will be shops selling local goods along the main road, but you need to take a left turn down a narrow passageway that is signposted for Cat Cat. Make sure you pay the 150,000 VND entrance fee before heading downhill.

We followed the dirt path down to the village and politely declined anyone selling food or homemade products along the road. You’ll walk back up this section on your way out so you can always shop later.

Once you reach the bottom of the stairs, you’ll instantly see why Cat Cat village is popular. As you look around, you’ll be fascinated by wooden houses, boardwalks, bamboo water wheels and of course, beautiful waterfalls. When we first laid eyes on it, the village almost seemed like a mirage in the middle of the mountainside.

Take your time as you explore the spectacular views over the rice terraces and don’t miss Tien Sa Waterfall. There are also many places to shop for handmade goods or try local foods. We liked to rose garden and the large bamboo water wheel too.

After enjoying some time in the village, it’s time to head back up the hill and back to town. You can walk back or hire a taxi. In town, grab a quick lunch and then head to the Sun Plaza to make your way over to Fansipan. The ticket for the cable car to Fansipan was one of our biggest expenses after spending months in southeast Asia, but we through it was worth it. If you’re on a tight budget, it might not be the best activity for you.

You can purchase tickets firstly at the count of Sun Plaza or from the Sun World Fansipan Legend Complex. Alternatively you can also purchase them online here from Klook which offers various combinations depending on what you want to see. We opted for the mountain train to the bottom of the cable car station and then the famous cable car ride that towers over the gorgeous Sapa Valley.

As you climb in elevation, the birdseye view over the whole mountain region is absolutely breathtaking. We loved seeing the terraced rice paddies from such a unique vantage point.

Overall, the ride was quite smooth and we could tell we were getting very high with every passing second. But it was a bit nerve racking because it was extremely foggy and we couldn’t see anything around us.

Once you step off the cable car, you’ll be released into a beautiful stone garden. It features stone walkways, ancient Azalea trees and 18 bronze statues. If you follow the statues, they lead to to a 20-meter Buddha statue which is the largest in Vietnam.

Flanking the Buddha statue at either side are 2 steep and long staircases which provide a symmetrical perspective which we thought looked incredible.

In order to reach the Fansipan summit, you’ll need to climb about 600 steps. You can also opt to take a smaller funicular railway, but we enjoyed the stairs because the views were incredible. At the top, you can take a photo with the height marker at 3,143m and take your time enjoying the amazing views.

After you’re happy with the photos you’ve taken, head back to town for dinner (restaurant recommendations later in our guide).

Sapa Itinerary – Day 2

For our second and third day in Sapa, we booked an over night trekking tour into the mountains. If this sounds like something you’d like to do, we recommend reading our Sapa hiking guide and booking a tour online so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Or you can book a one day hiking tour from the options listed above if you only want to hike for one day. Another option is to find a hike on your own using AllTrails. Personally, we’d prefer to go with a guide because they’ll know exactly where to go and shield you from the locals selling goods along the road. But this option might work better for some travelers.

Sapa Itinerary – Day 3

If you didn’t book an overnight tour for your time in Sapa, you can use this third day to explore town. Depending on how much time we had and what the weather was doing, we’d walk to Love Waterfall from town or book this combo tour featuring the Silver Waterfall and Cloud Dragon skywalk.

We were pleasantly surprised by the food options because we found a mix of American, French, Italian and local Vietnamese specialities. However, the prices were definitely higher compared to cities like Hanoi. Here are a few popular options:

• Anise Sapa Restaurant – Vietnamese dishes in a cozy setting
• Aliana Sapa Restaurant – International options inside the a boutique hotel
• Le Gecko Cafe – American and European fare with a friendly vibe
• Little SaPa Restaurant – Easy going Vietnamese food with lovely staff
• Little Vietnam Restaurant – Vietnamese options with excellent service
• Moment Romantic Restaurant – Asian fare with good prices and great service
• Red Dzao House – Beautiful setting with hot pots and unique dishes
• Sapa Sky View Restaurant – Stunning views and great food
• Yummy Restaurant – A little far out of town, but excellent food

One of our favorite restaurants was Le Gecko Café which has an extensive menu and decent service. Many travelers congregate here so it’s a great place to meet others.

The Morgan Conclusion

What we liked: Sapa is unique because it’s nestled within northern Vietnam among stunning valleys filled with rice terraces. It’s a great place for hiking and it’s very picturesque. We also really enjoyed the cable car and climbing to the top of Fansipan because we were high above the clouds and the views were absolutely stunning.

What we didn’t like: Sapa has become a very popular tourist destination which has made it very touristy and commercialized. It can be overwhelming to visit because many people will try to sell you things in the streets and they can be very pushy. When we visited, there was also a lot of garbage which is sad to see. Weather can also play a huge factor in your trip because it’s so unchangeable.

Is Sapa, Vietnam worth visiting? Yes, we think Sapa is worth it. Overall, we enjoyed our time in Sapa because we hiked out into the countryside and stayed with members of the Hmong community. It’s very true this region is touristy, but we think if you visit knowing exactly what you’re getting into then you’ll have a great time. Manage your expectations because it probably won’t be like the social media posts you’ve seen online.

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We hope our guide featuring the best things to do in Sapa helps you plan the best itinerary in northern Vietnam!

Please let us know if you have any questions about visiting Sapa in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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