Sapa - the trekking wonderland in Vietnam by Crossing Vietnam Tour
The mountainous town offers a glimpse into
a world of mysterious minority cultures and luscious landscapes. The Red Dao,
named for their colorful headdresses, take a break during the long trek to the
market.
The Queen of the Mountains in
Vietnam, Sapa, overlooks a
beautiful valley with lofty mountains towering over the town on all sides. The
spectacular scenery surrounding Sapa includes cascading rice terraces which
spill down the mountains like a patchwork quilt. The mountains are often
shrouded in mist that rolls back and forth along the peaks, offering tantalizing
glimpses of what lies in wait on a clear day. The valleys and villages around
Sapa are home to a host of hill-tribe people who wander around town buying,
selling and trading.
Finding Neverland:
It is quite easy to undertake day hikes through the valleys around Sapa without
the assistance of a guide. However, for overnight stays in villages and longer
treks into the mountains, it is advisable to hook up with a minority guide.
There are endless beautiful places for trekking. The villages and the
surrounding landscape are now part of Hoang Lien Reserve Park.
The nearest village within walking distance is Cat Cat, three kilometers to the
south. Like other amazing inhabited areas, it's a steep and very beautiful hike
down. This is a fantastic spot to witness the daily activities of minority group
residents and admire the magic of nature while shopping for local handicrafts.
Another popular trek is to Ta Phin Village, home to Red Dao and about 10
kilometers from Sapa. There are also overnight community-based tours to the
nearby H'mong village of Sin Chai that offer a chance to learn about textiles or
music and dance. Other popular communities to visit include the Giay village of
Ta Van and the Black H'mong village of Matra.
Surrounding Sapa is the Hoang Lien Mountain range, named the Tonkinese Alps by
the French, at the tail end of the Himalaya. These mountains include Fansipan,
not only Vietnam's highest peak but also the Indochina Peninsula's "roof" at a
height of 3,143 meters.
The summit towers above Sapa, although it is often obscured by clouds and is
occasionally dusted with snow. The peak is accessible all year to those in good
shape and properly equipped but don't underestimate the challenge. It is very
wet and can be perilously slippery and generally cold. However, some local
wildlife such as donkeys, mountain goats and birds plus the unique beauty of
nature offers explorers a memorable expedition.
Just a stone's throw from downtown Sapa to the foot of Ham Rong (Dragon Jaw)
Mountain, the journey up to the peak provides a panoramic view of the whole Sapa
where colorful wildflowers bloom almost all year round. Visitors to Ham Rong
Mountain also have the chance to admire the orchid garden and numerous caves and
stones in extraordinary shapes.
The incredible road between Sapa and Lai Chau crosses the Tram Ton Pass on the
northern side of Fansipan, 15 kilometers from Sapa. At 1,900 meters, this is the
highest mountain pass in Vietnam. Even if you are not planning to fully explore
Vietnam's unique northwest, it is well worth coming up here to experience the
incredible views from the top of this pass.
Alongside the road, about five kilometers toward Sapa, is Thac Bac (Silver
Waterfall). With a height of 100 meters, it is one of the highest waterfalls in
the country, and the loop track is steep and scenic.
Unique distinctions:
The main attraction of this area, apart from its natural beauty, is Vietnam's
largest concentration of ethnic groups including Red Dao, H'mong, Giay, Tay, Xa
Pho, Kinh and Hoa. Their dress, buildings, traditions and lifestyles are a big
magnet for visitors.
Sapa would be of considerably less interest without the H'mong and Dao people,
the largest ethnic groups in the region. The billowing red headdresses of the
Red Dao are visible all over town, a surreal sight amid the accelerating
development. The H'mong are more numerous and canny traders. Their villages may
look medieval but most will have a mobile phone and an email address to stay in
touch. Traditionally, they were the poorest of the poor but have rapidly learnt
the spirit of free enterprise. Most of the Montagnards have had little formal
education and are illiterate, yet all the youngsters have a good command of
English, French and a handful of other languages.
Sapa is also famous for its love market, which takes place on Saturday evenings.
This cultural highlight used to be the place for tribal locals to find a partner
and get married.
Tradition has it that young Red Dao hill tribes used to come to Sapa to sing
songs to find their partners. Girls sang hidden in the dark and when a boy found
them - if they liked each other - they disappeared into the forest for three
days. Some of them got married after that.
But with the development of tourism, the real love market does not take place
anymore. Currently visitors can only see a representation of the love market. Do
not miss it, however, anyway if you are staying here on Saturday night.
Food, drinks and souvenir stores can be found near the stone church in the
downtown area. The restaurants here offer a wide range of interesting Vietnamese
and European meals at very affordable prices. The food is delicious and
well-presented. The dining establishments also have respectable wine lists with
French, South American and Australian wines, also at reasonable prices. The
staff are very friendly and welcoming and usually speak quite good English.
With its beauty and unique lifestyle, Sapa is a rewarding destination where all
the hustle of daily life vanishes.
Sapa Budget Tours
- Sapa Day Tours - Sapa Day Excursions - Day Trips Sapa Vietnam
- Sapa Walk and Bac ha Market
- Sapa Hard Trekking Two
- Sapa Hard Trekking One
- Sapa Medium Trek Two
- Sapa Medium Trek
Sapa Trekking and Adventures
- Fansipan peak conquering VIP tour (3 days - 2 nights)
- Fansipan peak conquering VIP tour (2 days - 1 nights)
- Fansipan peak conquering Deluxe tour (4 days - 3 nights)
- Fansipan peak conquering Deluxe tour (3 days - 2 nights)
- Fansipan peak conquering Deluxe tour (2 days - 1 nights)
- Fansipan peak conquering Standard tour (4 days - 3 nights)
Sapa Cycling Options
- Sapa - Binh Lu - Lai Chau(with biking)
- Sapa - Lao Chai - Ta Van - Ban Ho
- Sapa Biking Tour - Ban Ho Village
- Sapa Biking Tour - Binh Lu - Lai Chau
- SaPa - Bac Ha Market with biking
- Pedalling The Remote Sapa\'s Northwest
Sapa Luxury Holidays
Traditional Minority Discovery Packages
- Green Sapa bus (Hanoi – Sapa)
- Eco Sapa Limousine Van (Hanoi – Sapa)
- Private car Hanoi Sapa
- Hanoi Sapa Private Cabin bus
- Coc Ly market with boat trip
- Cao Son market -boat trip on Chay river- Sapa Tours
Sapa Classic Trips
Northern Mountain Discovery Packages
Topas Ecolodge Sapa tours
- Topas Ecolodge and Market Package 3D/4N
- Topas Ecolodge and Market Package-2D/3N
- Topas Ecolodge and Victoria Sapa Package – 4D/5N
- Topas Ecolodge and Victoria Sapa Package – 3D/4N
- Topas Ecolodge Package – 3D/4N
- Topas Ecolodge Package 2D/3N