13 Must do’s in Sapa | Vietnam

Sapa is located in the far north of Vietnam, enclosed between mountains covered with gigantic rice terraces. Make some beautiful hikes, take a breather at spectacular viewpoints, pass authentic villages and many more. Here are my best things to do in Sapa. 

P.S. You can see more photos on my Instagram!

1) Trekking: Muong Hoa Valley

Trek through the Muong Hoa Valley with a guide. You will see the most beautiful places in the valley, visit villages, and meet locals. The minority groups that live here are the Hmong, the Dao, and the Tay. The groups are distinguished from each other by differences in language, clothing, and customs. During the hike, you will see beautiful rice terraces, cross rivers, and learn a lot about Sapa.

2) Mount Fansipan

Want to feel like you’re in heaven? Mount Fansipan is located above the clouds. Take a ride on the longest non-stop cable car in the world to the top of Mount Fansipan at an altitude of over 3000 meters. Walk through the beautiful temple complex and be sure to walk up the 600 steps because after this, you are really at the top of Mount Fansipan. 

Fun Fact: On good days, you can see China in the distance! 

Tip: You can also climb Mount Fansipan! 

3) Alpine Coaster

Near Fansipan is the Alpine Coaster. Ride through the forest with sharp curves, tunnels, and stunning viewpoints along the way. It’s fun, fast, and safe — and you control the speed!

4) Ta Phin Village

About a 30-minute drive from Sapa, you will find the village of Ta Phin, which is surrounded by rice terraces and herb plantations. Have a cup of coffee at Ta Phin Cottage while enjoying the view over the valley or take a herbal bath at Dao’s Spa.

Tip: Stop on the route from Sapa to Ta Phin Village at the remains of this French church. This is a beautiful ruin surrounded by greenery

5) Tram Ton Pass

The Tram Ton Pass stretches across the Hoang Lien Son mountain range and is also called Heaven’s Gate Pass. This 1900 meter high mountain pass is a 20 minute drive from Sapa, and the best way to explore the pass is by scooter. 

Silver Waterfall

The Silver Waterfall is located right next to the road, so this 200 meter high waterfall cannot be missed. Walk around the waterfall via the wooden path and see how the water plunges down the mountains. 

Love Waterfall

A little further from the main road is another beautiful waterfall called Love Waterfall. To get to this waterfall you have to make a 30 minute hike. This makes it a lot quieter than The Silver Waterfall and perhaps even more fun to visit. 

Glass bridge

Five kilometers further you will find this gigantic bridge that is almost completely made of glass. 

Chu Va Viewpoint

This is about another 13 km drive from the Tram Ton Pass and the view here is incredibly beautiful.

6) Cat Cat Village

Vietnam has a large number of ethnic groups, of which +50 are ethnic minorities. They mainly live in the mountains of Northern Vietnam. The traditional village of Cat Cat village is located 3 kilometres from Sapa and at the foot of the Muong Hoa valley. During a visit you will get a glimpse of the Hmong traditional lifestyle. Cat Cat Village is focused on tourism and you therefore pay a small entrance fee to walk through it. 

Tien Sa Waterfall

Tien Sa Waterfall runs right through Cat Cat Village. You have to go up and down quite a few steps to get there, but once you arrive, you can enjoy the beautiful waterfall. 

7) Moana Sapa

Moana Sapa is a dream location for content creators and photographers. Take a photo where golden hands hold you up in the sky, Bali-style swings, and stunning panoramic mountain views. Arrive early to avoid crowds!

8) Quảng Trường Hồ 

On weekends, this town square comes alive with street performances, traditional markets, and food stalls. Try a cup of hot corn wine.

9) Sapa Park

This small park breaks from the buzz of Sapa town. 

 Fun fact: Locals use this park for tai chi in the early morning hours.

10) Notre Dame Cathedral

This French-colonial stone church, built in the early 20th century, is one of Sapa’s most iconic landmarks.

11) The Glass Bridge

One of Sapa’s newer attractions, the Glass Bridge (Cầu Kính Rồng Mây) offers a thrilling experience — suspended over 2,000 meters above sea level! You’ll feel like you’re floating above the clouds, with sweeping views of the Hoàng Liên Son mountain range.

12) The Lonely Tree 

This single, windswept tree standing alone has become an iconic photo spot. Surrounded by vast skies and valleys, the Lonely Tree is perfect for a peaceful escape and dramatic photos.

13) Markets in Sapa

Sapa has a lot of markets with livestock, vegetables and fruit but they are far out from Sapa Center. We didn’t do these as we only had 2 days in Sapa. 

How to get to Sapa? 

We came by night bus from Hanoi. 

Best time to visit Sapa?

You can visit Sapa all year round, but not every season is recommended. 

December to February are the worst times to visit Sapa with cold temperatures and fog. March to May has an average temperature of around 15 degrees. June to August are the warmest months, and also the busiest months. It can rain more often in these months, but this makes the rice fields green. The harvest season is from the end of August to the beginning of October. The rice fields are at their most beautiful in these months, and the temperatures are also pleasant. But don’t go when they have just harvested everything.

Food in Sapa

Some options to eat in Sapa: The Mist Sapa, Sapa Sky View restaurant & bar, Viettrekking Coffee & Restaurant, Good Morning Vietnam Restaurant, Yummi Restaurant.

Where to stay in Sapa?

My advice? Stay in a hotel a little out of the center to wake up with an amazing view of the mountains and green rice terraces. We stayed in a luxury lodge: Laxsik Ecolodge. We love this lodge. You look out over the rice terraces from the swimming pool, and your bungalow has the same amazing view! 

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