Cat Cat village is a Hmong settlement and about 3 kilometers away from Sapa.

Ham Rong Mountain with 100 ha in area.

H'mong People today still embrace their culture.

Muong Hoa Valley is one of the most famous destination for breathtaking scenery.

Sapa Market is surrounded by beautiful landscapes and scenery.

Silver Waterfall is far about 15 kilometers from Sapa toward Lai Chau.

The school in Ta Phin Village

The local children take the buffalo to the field to feed the grass

Sapa Love Market takes place every Saturday night. Since the market, the place of goods trade and culture exchange, are held only once a week on Sunday.

Sin Chai Village is a village of the Red Dao ethnic people, whose women wear beautifully embroidered clothes with distinctive silver jewellery and an enormous red turban.

Y Linh Ho Village is a small commune composed by a dozen of small hamlets scattering on the very tough mountain terrain with high and steep mountains.

Lao Chai village is 6 km far from the centre town, you will see Lao Chai village where the black H’mong people are living, it is also the beginning of a valley which is called Muong Hoa valley.

Black H'mong People have always been subsistence farmers. In the past, they practiced slash and burn agriculture, which meant that they had to move every few years when the fertility of their fields became exhausted.

Zay People in Sapa.

Sapa overview

Sapa is the most well-known mountainous destination in northern Vietnam where you can meet and speak with ethnic minorities. Tourists have the unique opportunity of learning about the customs of the locals and can even participate in cooking and rice planting with them.

Best time to visit Sapa

Sapa is a mountainous area that is cool all year, so visiting Sapa at any time of year is fine. However, to be able to admire the flowers of Sapa, from hillsides, valleys, and mountain slopes, all the way into town, visit from February to May or from September to November.

How to travel to Sapa

Take a night train from Hanoi to Lao Cai, then catch a local bus or private bus from Lao Cai to Sapa, about 30km, or catch a bus from Hanoi directly to Sapa town, about 4-5 hours.

Attractions in Sapa

1.   Cat Cat village
2.   Y Linh Ho village
3.   Lao Chai village
4.   Ta Van village
5.   Giang Ta Chai village
6.   Ban Ho village
7.   Bac Ha Sunday market
8.   Coc Ly Tuesday market – Ban Pho village
9.   Muong Khuong Sunday market
10.  Fansipan Moutain (Explore by Cable Car or Trekking)
11.  Muong Hoa valley
12.  Ta Phin village
13.  Ham Rong Mountain
14.  Lung Khau Nhin Thursday market
15.  Can Cau Saturday market

Things to do in Sapa

Trek through the terrace fields of Cat Cat, Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van, Giang Ta Chai, Ban Ho Village, or the ethnic villages in Sapa. Meet minority people, try food cooked directly by the locals, and learn about their customs and habits.

The Bac Ha Sunday market is the most unique ethnic market in Sapa, open only on Sundays. This market is dominated by locals, who bring their own wares to sell such as clothing, souvenirs, and buffalo meat. Coc Ly Tuesday ethnic market is also very interesting and fun in Sapa. If you intend to be charitable on your trip, the locals here are very poor with harsh living conditions, and they would greatly appreciate anything offered.

Sapa special foods

Sapa Cap Nach Pork (Thịt heo cặp nách Sapa), Thang Co and Trung Nuong (grilled egg), Salmon Sour Hotpot, Bamboo sticky rice (Cơm lam), Black chicken, Tao Meo wine – a local whiskey of H’moong are the most special foods in Sapa. The various fish dishes are also very tasty and unique.

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      Suggested itineraries featuring Sapa

• 3 Days Best of Sapa & Local Market
• 4 Days Best of Sapa Tribal Villages
• 6 Days Best Northern Vietnam
• 10 Days Best Vietnam from Hanoi
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• 12 Days Best of Vietnam
• 15 Days Best Vietnam from Saigon
• 18 Days Best of Vietnam – Cambodia
• 21 Days Best of Indochina (Vietnam – Cambodia – Laos)

View more suggested itineraries for Vietnam and Southeast Asia

Please contact us about Sapa or any questions for expert planning advice for your memorial trip to Vietnam & Southeast Asia.