Welcome to Sapa

Talking about Sapa is talking about the spectacular sceneries of mountains, hill-tribes, wet-rice agriculture, and picturesque rice-terraces.

Sapa is a small, mountain town in Lao Cai Province. It is located about 350 km northwest of Hanoi, close to the Chinese border. Here’s where you’ll find the Hoang Lien Son range of mountains, which includes Fan Si Pan—the country’s highest peak. This quiet Vietnamese town is home to different ethnic tribal groups. There are five main ethnic groups in Sapa: the Hmong, Dao, Tay, Giay and Xa Pho. It is said that Sapa was first occupied by the first four groups, since the Vietnamese from the lowlands (better known as the Kinh) did not colonise the highest valleys. These days, Sapa welcomes a diverse range of visitors, attracted by the highland tribes, iconic rice paddies and forest treks.

By taking 350 kilometers from Hanoi, you will be stay in a small town which is called “the meeting place of the earth and the sky”. It is the most north-west city of Vietnam, and also the frontier township, neighboring China. Truly, Sapa is an orientated destination that is the most breathtaking landscape with valleys and mountain covering on all side.

The whole area is blessed with awe-inspiring natural beauty.

Being different with the other of Vietnam, Sapa belongs to the subtropical and temperate Zone. For this reason, there are four typical climates here in only one day. It is similar to the spring in early morning, more sun light and quite hot in the afternoon, cool and comfortable in the evening, and gets a little cold at night. Especially, depending on the season, Sapa puts on itself extremely different color and imagine. When the first days of spring come, cherry blossoms jubilantly all over mountain and forest. In the summer, the immense verdant rice-terraces among the giant Mt. Hoang Lien Son, or the sparkling water of pre-cultivating fields will attract anyone coming here. The winter is freeze and foggy with occasional snowfalls. Above all, it is naturally dyed by the yellow of harvest rice season in the autumn, so this is the most amazing time to explore ethnic villages in Sapa. Though whenever you discover this region, Sapa certainly greets you by an incredible party of dramatic views.

Sapa’s ethnic culture and customs are the most beguiling things to experience. Occupying a majority, H’mong people appears the most in both of the town and the tiny hill-tribe villages, especially in Cat Cat Village. They used to wave brocade as the best traditional craft industry that is descended from generation to generation. Going with the sophisticated textile techniques, the brocade products is arranged for selling in many places in Sapa. Another thing about Sapa’s minority is the Sapa love market (dating market, chợ tình), and it occurs around the Stone Church in every Saturday. Love market have neither love nor lover to trade. It is opened as a place that gives chances to dating for the couples.

Sauntering in Sapa, you will see the spectacular Mt. Hoang Lien Son, which dominated the district. It owns the roof of Indochina – Fansipan Mountain with the peak in 3,143 meters above sea level. Conquering this highest point is an activity that many backpackers want to try once time. With more than 25 kms slope of mountain track, Fansipan seems to be a real challenge for the courageous hearts. If you have not been ready your best, you better should try the other ways. Sapa is both famous as Vietnam’s premier trekking base and authentic home-stay. Either using your foot or a motorbike to go, proceed to the ethnic villages with the immense rice-terraces or corn plant hills, fresh stream, and memorable scenes of rural tribes.

Sapa town, which is likely the biggest market of Sapa District with shops selling tobacco, use-friendly cloths (for traveling) and souvenir crafts will help you take the best relaxing time after trekking mountains, forests and valleys. But frankly speaking that nothing can beats a good massage here. You will be served by the traditional medicine plant leaves of Red Dzao. Sapa town is enough small to be walkable around. Spend the most efficent time you stay here to relax and take the most of touching to the town of variety of Vietnam’s minorities.