Sapa is one of the main attractions in northern Vietnam. This charming town was built as a hill station by the French in 1920. Its original name was “Sa Pả” in the H’mong language, meaning “Land”. When French arrived, they wrote “Chapa” because “S” is pronounced almost the same as “Ch” in French, “Sh” in English.
Situated about 1500 meters above the sea, Sapa has moderate and rainy weather in summer, while being cold and sometimes snowy in winter. Surrounded by spectacular gorges and rice terraces, the landscapes around Sapa are some of the most striking in northern Vietnam. Once you enter the lush fields, you will understand the true charm of the Sapa region.
Sapa is home to more than a dozen hill tribes, making it the most culturally diverse region in the country. Five main groups live in the Sapa valleys: Hmong, Yao, Zay, Tay and Xa Pho. Surrounded by mountains and valleys; Sapa is a popular trekking base in Vietnam with spectacular scenery.
Below you will find the 15 Top Attractions You Should Visit in Sapa.
1. Muong Hoa Valley
Located just over 10 kilometers from Sapa, the emerald green valley of Muong Hoa (Thung Lũng Mường Hoa) features some of the most breathtakingly picturesque landscapes in Vietnam.
This valley is home to many ethnic groups such as H’Mong, Tay… with the Muong Hoa stream which extends for 15 km, crosses the towns of Lao Chai, Ta Van, Hau Thao and ends at Ban Ho.
The Muong Hoa Valley is one of the largest rice-growing areas in the region. Emerald hills, epic views, and fascinating traditional villages are just part of what greets travelers who choose to hike here.
2. Mount Fansipan
With a height of 3,143 m, Fansipan is the highest mountain on the Indochina peninsula (including Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia), hence its nickname “roof of Indochina”. Mount Fansipan is part of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range and watches over rice terraces and ethnic villages.
Conquering the peak of Fansipan is the goal of many trekking enthusiasts. There are several options for all types of travelers that allow you to see the magnificent peak of Mount Fansipan. It depends on your adventure level, fitness level, and schedule. Hikes last from one to four days. If you want to complete the trek in one day, you must be ready to leave early with your belongings ready and you must be in good health.
If you don’t like hiking, there is always the cable car option. For some of you, this Fansipan Legend cable car may also seem like an adventure since it spans 6,292.5 meters, making it the longest three-rope, non-stop cable car. Additionally, it also holds the record for the highest altitude difference with 1,410 meters for three-cable cable cars. It sweeps through the clouds with views of the Muong Hoa Valley and across the magnificent peaks of the Hoang Lien Son Range.
3. Ta Phin Village
Ta Phin is a small village located 15 km from Sapa town. Mainly populated by the Red Dao ethnic group and the Hmong ethnic group who still retain the traditional customs and lifestyles of ethnic minorities.
The Red Dao who live there still maintain strong customs: arranged marriages where the bride price can still reach a decent sum of old Indochina silver piastres; the use of roots and plants to dye silk threads bright yellow or dark orange; collect medicinal plants in the jungle to make their traditional herbal bath. The Red Dao’s most distinctive feature is their large red headdress worn by the woman (young girls wear a smaller version).
The Hmong generally live in smaller homes and grow hemp and indigo plants. They turn these plants into beautiful clothing and souvenirs for visitors to the village.
Ta Phin is a great place for trekking. Travel to Ta Phin, you will meet locals working in the rice field, see a traditional house, visit caves and enjoy a traditional medicine bath.
4. Lao Chai Village
Located 6 km from Sapa Town, Lao Chai is home to the Black H’mong people. It is also the beginning of the Muong Hoa valley. This village is covered with large terraces so you can trek through terraced fields and streams, enjoy the fresh air, and learn about the culture of the Black H’mong ethnic group.
Besides enjoying the beauty of the terraced fields, visitors to Lao Chai Village also have the opportunity to explore the daily life of the ethnic groups in the village. Although there are more modern items, the people here maintain their traditional agricultural lifestyle. They still raise pigs, plant cotton, weave brocade and grow rice on terraced fields like previous generations.
Entering the H’mong houses here, you can see their living space is decorated with brocades on the door, on the table and on the floor. Some houses still have old horns, or wooden bells for the buffalo neck… Almost their living space has not changed after decades of living here.
In particular, visitors to Lao Chai Village can also enjoy special dishes made from the materials they cultivate. Imagine yourself in the cold space of Sapa mountains, it is good to taste smoked buffalo meat with corn wine.
5. Ta Van Village
Next to Lao Chai village is Ta Van village. Ta Van village is home to the Giay people, one of Sapa’s ethnic minorities. Located close to Sapa Town (around 12 km) and surrounded by beautiful scenery, Ta Van Village makes it the ideal trekking destination. The pace is slow here, the food is delicious, the locals are curious and friendly, and the homestay options are plentiful.
There are a few routes you can take through the rice fields. Most of them are simple loops around Ta Van village, but the paths can get muddy and slippery during the rainy season.
The major work of the Giay is the cultivation of rice. In addition, they also produce instruments and engraved silverware. They inhabit both stilt houses and communal houses with a solemn central part that serves as a place for the ancestral altar and reception of guests. The Giay’s costumes are simple: women in short dresses, carrying a fabric bag with embroidered flowers; the man also wears pants and a shirt.
Staying with local families will be one of the most unique experiences in Ta Van village. The tribal communities in the village are friendly and accommodating and prepare delicious food!
6. Y Linh Ho Village
This beautiful village is located right next to the Muong Hoa River, about 7 km southwest of Sapa town. It is one of the most visited destinations by tourists and well known for its homestays. Y Linh Ho village is mainly inhabited by Black H’mong hill tribes who live in their wooden and bamboo houses.
Y Linh Ho is a small commune made up of around ten small hamlets scattered across the very rugged mountainous terrain with high and steep mountains. According to village elders, the name Y Linh Ho was named after Mr. Ly Linh Ho – the first man who founded the village. It is said that several Dao people led by Mr. Ly Linh Ho reclaimed the area surrounding Y Linh Ho village. After a long period of living and construction, a new Dao village was formed and called Y Linh Ho.
After a while, the Dao of Y Linh Ho started to migrate and the Mong arrived in the village, but the name of Y Linh Ho was still the name of the village to commemorate the person who built the village today.
The location of Y Linh Ho village is far from the main road. Therefore, you have to take quite a long, distant and winding road to reach it. However, thanks to the isolated location, the village is rather quiet and peaceful.
7. Sin Chai Village
About 5 km from Sapa, the village of Sin Chai is known for being magically preserved and less touristy than other villages in Sapa town. Like the other villages mentioned above, Sin Chai is surrounded by spectacular natural scenery with fantastic mountain views that could melt even the hardest of hearts. The rice terraces are pristine and make for great Instagram shots. Scattered throughout this breathtaking scene are lovely wooden houses of the locals, the architecture makes it easy to grow and maintain agriculture.
Sin Chai village also has a unique feature. Visit in March, April, September or October and you can have one of the most unique experiences when traveling to this region of Vietnam. Due to its favorable weather conditions, March and April are the months when farmers in Sin Chai start planting their major crops.
You will admire marvelous rice terraces, perfectly layered and completely soaked in water. With a little sun, it will burst even more beautifully into shimmering, sparkling fields. These crops will be ready for harvest in September and October, which will then transform into beautiful golden fields across the mountain range. Take all the time you need to immerse yourself in the scenes and fully enjoy this village.
Sin Chai is a village of the Red Dao ethnic group, whose women wear beautifully embroidered clothing with distinctive silver jewelry and a huge red turban.
8. Ban Ho Village
Ban Ho, 30 kilometers southwest of Sapa, is a charming village where the Mong, Dao, Tay and Giay tribes live. Backed by the poetic valley of Muong Hoa, it is definitely a paradise that encourages relaxation. Plus, the local people here are truly amazing. No fake smiles, no lies, they always express their thoughts and treat you like family.
From the moment you enter this land, you will likely encounter large groups of women weaving in front of the doors of their homes. Weaving is not only for sale, but it is also a statement affirming their preservation of the custom.
At night, people often gather around a fire, singing traditional songs while dancing to the rhythm. Join them to experience the local life! But if you are afraid of dancing, don’t worry, just sip a cup of corn alcohol and you will have enough nerves to make the night your own!
9. Silver Waterfall
Silver Waterfall (or Thác Bạc in Vietnamese) is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Sapa. The winding road north of Sapa to Silver Waterfall is incredibly scenic and you will surely want to stop more than once to admire the breathtaking views of the rice terraces and Vietnam’s highest peak, Fansipan.
Thac Bac Waterfall is formed by water springs from the top of Lo Sui Tong Mountain. From a distance, the waterfall looks like a white dragon looking down from the sky. From here, you can see stunning views of the surrounding mountains and the last forests belonging to Hoang Lien National Park
Thac Bac Waterfall is a breathtaking landscape with flowing water falling from the top. The surroundings are filled with beautiful nature. It is recommended to spend about 30-45 minutes at Silver Waterfall before continuing to see other tourist spots in Sapa.
10. O Quy Ho Pass
A few kilometers from the Silver Waterfall is O Quy Ho Pass – on the north side of Fansipan Mountain, 15 km from Sapa. It is the highest mountain pass in Vietnam at 1900 m above sea level, connecting Sapa and Lai Chau province.
It is considered a dividing line between two climatic zones. On the Sapa side it is often cold and foggy, but go down a few hundred meters on the Lai Chau side and it can be nice and warm. Surprisingly, Sapa is the coldest place in Vietnam, but Lai Chau is one of the hottest.
They called Tram Ton Pass – the gate to heaven because of its picturesque landscapes and magnificence which resembles a gate to heaven. The viewpoints here have fantastic views on a clear day.
11. Stone Church
The stone church is located in the heart of Sapa town built by the French in the early 20th century.
The stone church was built from stone, in the style of Roman Gothic architecture. According to some documents, the church was built with the entrance door facing the sunrise because it is said that the East is the direction to welcome the light of God.
With an area of over 6,000m2, the church area consists of 7 compartments of over 500m2, the bell tower is 20m high. Although it has been built since 1932, until now it has been well preserved and even the words engraved on the surface of the bell are not damaged.
Nowadays, Sapa Stone Church is not only a religious destination for local people as well as tourists, but also a main site for holding many traditional cultural activities of ethnic people here.
12. Hill tribe markets around Sapa
Visiting the local markets is a unique experience when you are in Sapa. When you arrive here, take some time to wander around the market, enjoy the ambiance, and have fun trying out your trading skills with the friendly locals.
A few thousand people from ethnic groups such as the Black Zao, Tay, Phu La and Flower H’mong dressed in their finest traditional clothing come to the market to make it a sort of festival.
The products sold at the market are varied, ranging from embroidered clothes, handicrafts, agricultural products, food… to poultry and livestock such as vegetables, spices, chili, chicken, cat, pig, the dog… In the market square, after finishing their shopping, people gathered in groups at the stalls or drinking corn wine and talking happily.
Markets different local markets around Sapa:
1. Bac Ha market on Sunday
2. Muong Hum on Sunday
3. Coc Ly market on Tuesday
4. Cao Son Market on Wednesday
5. Lung Khau Nhin Market on Thursday
6. Can Cau Saturday Market
