Is Sapa Worth Visiting: Pros, Cons & Expert Guide

We love Sapa, and it’s right at the top of our list of the best places to visit in Vietnam. The town is everything you don’t expect to see in Vietnam. Because of that, we think Sapa is worth visiting.

The town’s history is fascinating. From being one of the smallest towns, nestled between the highest peaks in Vietnam, to being transformed into a French Alpine village. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the Hôtel de la Coupole, the city’s fanciest accommodation, with proper French architecture.

We were drowned there by the endless hikes, through ricefields and waterfalls. Sapa is a cultural experience, into the local way of life, and tasty food. We stayed in four different accommodations. Within Sapa town and the surrounding little villages.

We don’t lie when we say it was like stepping into an old postcard. I know it sounds naive and romantic, but that is why we always suggest Sa Pa in our itineraries.

Is Sapa worth visiting?

Yes, absolutely! If you’re a backpacker and love some adventure, go up north, in Vietnam, suspended through the mountains and the ricefield. This laid-back town was what we needed after over 1 month in Vietnam.

We found in Sa Pa everything we needed, unspoiled beauty, great culture and heritage, but also budget-friendly options.

In this sapa guide

This guide overview

Our experience in Sapa as backpackers

Sapa wasn’t originally in our plans for Vietnam—or, I mean, wasn’t for five days. However, we had to replan our itinerary, as Ha Giang was experiencing flooding due to heavy rain.

It is easy to jump on a bus for 6 hours from Hanoi to Sapa. We were right into town, and to be fair amazed at first sight. Sapa is pretty, not a conventional. We love mountain villages, but Sapa felt special. At night, the atmosphere is even crazier, romantic too, if I have to be honest. The entire town is lit up with lanterns and music.

The combination of genuine Vietname architecture, with quirky French Alpine vibes, it’s unusual, yet charming. We were locked into that. Couldn’t miss to stare from the tiny window of the Cong cafe in the main square.

What will surprise you even more to know, is that Sa Pa is one of the most visited places in Vietnam. Very popular among Chinese and local tourists. This makes the town very crowded, day and night. However, as we always dig deeper in place, we found our secret spots here too, like Ta Van valley.

We stayed in local guesthouses, often run by minority tribes. The best of all was Sapa Soul, right on the top of the ricefields of Ta Van Village.

10 Reasons you shouldn’t skip Sapa

The landscape seems unreal

Sapa is synonymous with its terraced rice fields. Hiking through these terraces is a must and the obvious reason for backpackers to flock for a few days’ adventure through the midst and mountains.

We assure you the trails are for everyone, even for us, not hikers nor well-trained. Every walking path ranges from easy walks to challenging treks and even climb points. The most favourite trekkers is the Muong Hoa Valley trek.

The scenery is otherworldly, and the sense of accomplishment at the end is unbeatable. For an easy one, visit Ta Van and start trekking on your own from the bridge. It is easy, and the path is not very well signed, but it is the same way to return if you don’t want to get lost.

If you want to support locals, try to book your trekking in advance or contact the one we suggest below. It is cheap and is one of the best experiences in Sa Pa.

Stay in a local H’mong house

Staying with a local family offers an authentic glimpse into the hill tribe’s cultures and is among the best things to do in Sapa. There are several tribes in SaPa Valley, the most popular being the Hmong, Tay, Dzao, Dzay, and Xa Pho. We stayed with a Hmong family not far from Ta Van Village.

Their unique guest house is the real soul of Sapa. H’mongs are warm hosts, preparing hearty meals, and you might also get the chance to learn about their daily lives. One of the most unforgettable experiences.

Just remember, homestays are cosy but basic; some of them don’t use bed frames, and the mattress is just laid down on the floor.

Explore Hidden Sapa

Beyond the popular spots, there’s a hidden side to Sapa that’s worth exploring. Hire a local guide to take you off the beaten path, and maybe get into a local house to meet Indigenous people. When we arrived in Sa Pa with the bus, we went straight for lunch.

At that point, a local old lady, dressed up in her unique heritage clothes, started to chat with us in perfect basic English. It was our first interaction with a local tribe right in the centre of Sapa. You will get a lot of this staying even just a couple of days.

Mama Lily invited us to discover her village, which is about two hours of trekking among the rice fields beneath Sa Pa town. Rarely do tourists adventure alone in that part of the country. There, you can discover secluded waterfalls and remote villages away from the tourist crowds.

We will leave Mama Lily’s contacts to support her, the family, and the local village and get in touch with her for a unique experience.

Climb Mount Fansipan

Known as the highest peak in Indochina, Mount Fansipan is the highest peak in Vietnam. The view from above is rewarding, but the trip is long and might not give you the best landscape.

It is always cloudy, and the chances of rain are high. There are two options for getting to Fansipan: a challenging trek through the forest with overnight camping or an easy cable car ride.

If you’re not up for the trek, the cable car is pricey but worth the effort and offers a unique view. Unfortunately, on our visit to Sapa, the clouds covered the Fansipan all day, and due to the expensive ticket, we were taught to get the funicular to 2K, mid-point, before the cable car.

Well, plans got in the middle, and we only visited the station before changing the daily schedule.

Sip a coffee with a view of Sapa Town

After a day exploring Sapa, maybe on an exciting trek, nothing is better than sipping a cup of coffee in a cosy café. Luckily, there are many unique spots in Sapa, and we visited a few to sort out our daily caffeine intake.

In Sapa town, we suggest heading to one of our favourite Vietnamese coffee chains, Cafe Cong. The rustic style, with windows extended to give the best view, offers unique quality coffee, the right service and reliable wi-fi if you have to sort your inbox.

A great top-notch cafe we encountered while driving to our second accommodation in Sapa is Lao Chai View Coffee. It was rainy, and the midst was embracing the valley like in one of those movies, but it was real.

If you want other coffee shops with a view of Sapa, check out De Mong Sapa, Tiny Coffee Sapa, La Dao Spa, LoFi Coffee and Camping House, Cafe Chat, Giot Coffee and Tea, White cloud coffee and Restaurant.

Buy Indigenous crafts

Local tribes live off tourism, selling their handmade products. Sapa is home to talented artisans. Apart from street vendors there is a staircase in Sapa you want to visit, and take some unique souvenirs between Sapa Square and the parallel road Ng.

Cau May there is a staircase with local artisans selling their goods. The colours, texture and quality of the products are exceptional. We leave the link to the specific staircase here; go and check it out.

While in Sapa you can also sign up for a local craft workshop, where you can learn about traditional weaving techniques. Supporting local artisans by buying their crafts is a great way to give back to the community.

Drive to China Border

When we arrived at our fourth and last accommodation in Sapa, we met a group of people who invited us on a motorbike trip up north. The day was fantastic, and we went past the Silver Waterfall, stopping to see two other majestic waterfalls and almost crossing the border with China.

You can do that from Sapa, and even if you don’t physically cross the border, it is always fun to drive through the mountains and see the China flag on the other side. I don’t know you, but land borders give us adrenaline rushes.

Apart from that, the day didn’t end well. One of the couples on the group trip fell badly from the bike, and the rest of the day was spent in the hospital.

This always reminds us of the importance of having travel insurance when abroad. Check our review of Safetywing to get an idea of why we are always covered with them. REQUEST A QUOTE HERE!

Thriving backpackers hotspot

Sapa is very touristy, and there is much fun. It is easy to think that backpackers might go away from it as it gets expensive. Sapa is quite the opposite; it is economical and perfect for budget-savvy travellers.

We had the pleasure of visiting multiple accommodations to see what looks like, from the neck bottom of the offering to the high-luxury accommodation. Our stay in Sapa for four nights cost us only $10 per night.

Even eating out was cheap, with average prices you will pay staying in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, actually even less if you dig into local eateries. If you are interested in more details about budgeting, scroll down; also, we have a good share of it on our Sapa backpackers guide.

It’s cooler than Hanoi

We had our jackets on every evening; it was chill and pleasant. We spent over 45 days in Vietnam sweating, and the cooler temperature of Sapa was a relief.

While the rest of Vietnam gets hotter and hotter, especially if you stay within cities up north, it gets chilly, and you need a blanket to sleep on at night. So, if you are heading to Sapa now, don’t forget that cute jumper and also the rain jacket; you never know.

Sapa is perfect for budget travellers

Sapa is a backpacker’s paradise when it comes to budget-friendly travel. Overall, we spent $45.5 per day in Sapa (£35 | €41.70). This included transportation from Hanoi, all meals, accommodation from hostel to luxury rooms, bike rental, fuel and activities for two people – Standing at $22.75 per person per day.

Accommodation ranges from hostels at $3 to $10 per night. Homestays costs between $10 to $20, and guesthouses from $15 to $30. We stayed in them all and just one disappointed.

Eating out won’t break the bank either; street food costs $1 to $3 per meal while going to local restaurants only charge $3 to $5.

We spend a lot of money on coffee. While there are highend coffee place and cheap one, overall the price is decent – $1 to $2 per cup.

Activities like trekking tours range from $15 to $50, while the Mount Fansipan cable car ride is one of the most expensive in Sapa, with a return ticket costing $25. Klook activities are cheaper than bargaining local or booking on Getyourguide.

How to get from Hanoi to Sapa

Getting to Sapa is part of the adventure. You have a few options:

• Train: The overnight train from Hanoi is a classic choice. It’s very cheap, but tickets are always soldout within weeks from release. Book through Klook in advance.
• Bus: Six hours on the bus fly by when the scenery outside your window is incredible. We went to Sapa from Hanoi by bus, and don’t regret it. There are many runs within a day. Check the timetable here with tickets.
• Private Car or Motorbike Rental: For a more comfortable ride, consider hiring a private car with a driver. It’s pricier but offers flexibility. If you are a backpacker, getting a motorbike to Sapa might save some money, but it isn’t worth the effort. Driving in Vietnam is hard, and you will risk driving for many hours.

We took the regular bus to Sapa and then got upgraded to the VIP bus on the way back. Definitely, it is the best option and worth the turns and bumpy road.

Best Time to visit Sapa

Sapa’s weather can be a bit of a diva. The best time to visit is from March to May or September to November. During these months, the weather is mild, and the views are spectacular.

Avoid the rainy season (June to August) unless you enjoy hiking in mud. Winter (December to February) can be chilly, with temperatures dropping to freezing.

Where to stay in Sapa

We stayed in Sapa in four different accommodations. The city has many options for travellers, from budget backpackers to affordable luxury. We took full advantage of it, staying in Pea house, private room for just $3 per night.

Another day, we moved down into the Ta Van Village to explore local tribes, hiking paths on DIY tours and staying with families. There we discovered that we could stay on a $8 per night at Sapa Soul (best view over the valley + Breakkie incl.).

We stayed even better at Supan Ecolodge for $20 per night. The second was a blast, think about infinity pool over the ricefields, clouds passing by and a Spa all for you.

FAQ | Is Sapa worth visiting?