Silver Waterfall Sapa Guide: Everything You Need to Know in 2026

As we reached the Silver Waterfall, you can clearly see from Alessia’s face in the below picture we were excited. Thac Bac waterfall, as called in Vietnamese, is by far the best we saw on our half-day road trip from Sapa.,

The superb falls are close to the centre of town, which makes it one of the best things to do around Sapa. Although the drive wasn’t easy, on top of one of the highest mountain ridges on the continent, it was fun.

This guide to the Silver Waterfall Sapa will share useful information, handy if you are planning to visit this unique spot.

We will cover the best way to get there (by scooter for us), prices, opening times and useful tips from our experience.

Where is the Silver Waterfall in Sapa

The Silver waterfall is the best Sapa waterfall, located about 8 miles away (12 KM – 30 minutes riding a motorbike). It’s a very rural area of Lai Chau Province.

You’ll be driving on the National Road 4D, through the O Quy Ho Pass (A great alternative to the popular Ha Giang Loop – Safer too). The waterfall is located on the right side, driving toward the border with China.

While the road is pretty busy, winding on top of the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range. To be honest, there is not much in between Sa Pa, Lai Chau and Lai Chai, apart from a couple of residential areas spared here and there.

Worth mentioning is a stop along the way to a pretty cafe – Roadside Coffee with a View – which offers a fantastic Vietnamese Black Coffee for just 100K VND and an amazing view of the rice fields.

How to get to the Silver Waterfall in Sapa

The Silver Waterfall is located about 15 kilometres from Sapa town. We took about 35 minutes to get there, no stop, cruising on average about 40 km/h (25 miles per hour).

There is only one road heading there, so there is no possibility of getting wrong. About 2 kilometres from the waterfall, you can see it cascading from the 200-meter top at an altitude of 2,200 metres.

Be careful on the road as it gets rainy, windy and of course, mist will take the peak. Besides getting on your own, there are three ways to get to the Silver Waterfall. All of them have different prices, pros and cons, delivering slightly different experiences.

Driving to the Silver Waterfall

Driving on your own is fantastic; we did that, actually, twice, once by ourselves and the day after with a bunch of friends we met in Sapa (You know, the old-fashioned way of backpacking).

The mountains get taller and more cloudy around here, so drive cautiously, it gets slippery. The road is well maintained but is far from an easy drive. On the way back on the second day, one of our friends slid almost into the guard rail in turn and got very badly injured.

Remember, it is important to have travel insurance while travelling in Vietnam; it only costs $1 per day! We suggest the best in this guide.

You can easily rent a scooter in Sapa town for 120,000 VND ($5 | £3.70 | €4.40). Remember to have a full tank before the trip, as there are no official gasoline stations along the route.

Silver Waterfall Tour

If you aren’t used to driving in Vietnam (One of the most risky countries where we have driven a motorbike), it’s better to go with a local tour guide. This tour with Klook takes care of everything (Transportation, tickets and lunch included).

The tour we suggest will take you to the Silver Waterfall early in the morning to skip the other tours, and then drive to the Love Waterfall. This last is less known but still beautiful, with a series of cascades in the tropical, mountainous jungle.

Get a taxi to the Silver Waterfall

Getting a taxi to the Silver Waterfall is a reliable alternative for a round trip. You can negotiate with drivers for a few hours of service, with typical rates of around 400,000 VND for visits to multiple attractions, including the waterfall.

We have seen many people arranging a taxi to get around Sapa and discovering every corner. Once, we saw travellers (clearly not backpackers on a budget like us) taking a taxi driver through the narrow “roads” of Ta Van Village.

Silver Waterfall Opening times and tickets

Going on your own, you must take care of the tickets for the entrance, which costs 20,000 VND ($0.80 | £0.6 | €0.70). Thác Bạc SaPa is open to the public every day from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Where is the entrance to the silver waterfall? On the side of the main road. You can park your bike or car near the shops, like we did. Passing the first bounce of spots, there are parking spaces on the side of the road for scooters or inside the square for cars.

What to do at Thac Bac waterfall

Apart from the impressive waterfall, clearly visible from miles away, you can also hike the stairs and bridges to the top. The Silver waterfall is 200 metres high, which gives an insane view on a clear day.

You can walk through the small falls at the base and get some splashes and fresh air. He isn’t allowed to swim at the Silver Waterfall.

However, from the entrance point, it takes about 20 minutes to walk up to the steel-arched bridge (The furthest point reachable).

That’s a pretty easy walk, possible for everyone.

Our experience at the Silver Waterfall

To be honest, the view of the Silver waterfall was already something incredible for us. Even though it was raining, we had to make it, and the water falling from the mountain will leave you in awe.

While the hike to the bridge isn’t an unmissable thing, you must stick around the shops.

Here is the true essence of rural Vietnam, what makes us passionate about the north of this country. If you are in for more reading, check our guide to North Vietnam.

We sat on the floor, got hot, fuming corn and some chestnuts, tried local dishes, and played with locals. It didn’t cost much for a couple of hours of resting.

After the Silver Waterfall, we weren’t yet done with our day out in Sapa, and continued toward the China Border. Didn’t make it, but saw the other side. It is more spectacular than you expect, and driving the motorbike was liberating.

Best time to visit

We recommend visiting between November and February when the weather is cool and dry. The waterfall is particularly impressive during these months, though be prepared for temperature variations, rain and potential mist at higher altitudes. For more read our first-timers guide to Sapa.

What to bring

• Comfortable hiking shoes
• Warm jacket (temperatures can be significantly cooler at the waterfall’s elevation)
• Camera for capturing the spectacular views. (We didn’t fly our drone because it was too windy)
• Small denominations of Vietnamese Dong for entrance fees

Useful Tips for visiting Silver Waterfall

• Combine your visit with other nearby attractions for better value
• Book transportation in advance during peak seasons
• Visit early in the day to avoid crowds
• Consider joining a guided tour that includes the Silver Waterfall in their itinerary

Where to stay in Sapa

If you are still planning your Sapa itinerary, we have a few tips on where to stay for you. Check out  our guide about the best area to stay in Sapa for more.

In the meantime, these are our top suggested accommodations in Sapa.