Sapa Travel

Visiting Sapa, tourists are impressed by the local villages, where ethnic minorities such as Red Dao, Black H'mong, Giay and other ethnic minority groups live. Hiking and trekking are accessible to almost everyone. Day hikes will take you past women working on amid the rice harvest, friendly children on the road, and enchanting rice terraces snaking up the hillsides. For the more adventurous, multi-day trips can also be easily arranged, highlighted by climbing Mount Fansipan, Vietnam's highest peak.

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Transportation to Sa Pa

Go by train

If you choose to go by train, the train from Hanoi will stop at Lao Cai station. After that, you travel by car about 30km to the foggy city of Sa Pa. The ideal departure time is the night train, you will arrive in Lao Cai early in the morning. 

Chapa Express is one of the best train companies serving the Hanoi - Lao Cai train every night. To buy train tickets, you can access the link below or go to the ticket counter at Hanoi station (Tran Quy Cap gate for trains going to the Northwest). If you go on holiday, you should book early to ensure you get all the tickets.

Take a passenger bus

The price of a bus ticket to Hanoi - Sa Pa is about 250,000 VND - 300,000 VND/person, depending on the quality of the vehicle. Some reputable car brands such as Hung Thanh, Ha Son Hai Van Car....

Means of transportation in Sapa

Motorbikes are the best means of transportation when traveling in Sa Pa, you can rent a motorbike for 100,000 VND - 150,000 VND/day.

You can also choose a motorbike taxi to go to tourist destinations. On average, if you go from 4-5 places close together, the cost is about 100,000 VND/trip. Walking around town and visiting villages can be fantastic ideas when exploring Sa Pa.

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The suitable time to travel to Sapa

Spring from February to April, you can completely admire the wonderful forests of apricot blossoms, plum blossoms, and peach blossoms blooming white in the warm spring weather

Summer is also the rainy season in Sa Pa. April - May is rice planting season, also known as pouring water season. This is the time when people start the new crop season, Sa Pa is immersed in the green of young rice fields.

Fall from late August to September is the season of ripe rice. Coming to Sapa at this time, you will have the opportunity to watch the golden rice season on winding terraced fields meandering in the cool air of early autumn.

From mid-October to the end of November, the entire Northwest mountainous region is immersed in the pink color of buckwheat flower fields.

Sa Pa winter is one of the rare regions in Vietnam that gives you the chance to see snowfall. If you want to experience the cold of the high mountains and admire the scenery of white snow covering this small town, come from November to the end of January next year.

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Tourist routes for guests arriving in Sa Pa

Lao Cai - Sapa route: The most attractive destination in Lao Cai and cool all year round, most beautiful in spring when peach blossoms bloom and autumn when the terraced fields around Sapa are in splendid season. Explore O Quy Ho Pass or conquer Indochina peak.

Lao Cai - Y Ty route: A route for backpackers with a hobby of hunting clouds. From here, you can explore the most beautiful houses in the Northwest when going deep into Hong Ngai.

Bac Ha - Simacai - Muong Khuong route: Follow the provincial road to explore a beautiful land with extremely unique cultural customs and the most beautiful markets in the Northwest.

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Travel tips in Sapa

Do not use discriminatory words, arbitrarily take photos of native people, or give candy to children... are some things to note when coming to Sapa.

Be careful with specialties in Sapa because you may encounter high-priced but poor-quality goods such as lingzhi mushrooms, and medicinal leaves,...

You should not arbitrarily take photos of Sapa people, especially women and children. If they know you're taking photos, they will ask you to pay for taking photos or buy some items.

Be careful of personal property in any tourist area, there are good and bad people, cases of pickpockets, and property robberies,...

If buying items such as carpets, brocade fabrics, etc., bargain a little with the seller.

You should bring an umbrella, insect repellant...

The food in Lao Cai is rich and attractive, but you also need to bring stomachache medicine if you eat unsuitable food. 

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