Northern Vietnam
Sapa
Rice terraces, misty peaks and the villages of the Hmong, Dao and Giay people.
About Sapa
Walking Country In The Northern Mountains
Sapa sits high in the Hoang Lien Son mountains, close to the Chinese border and below Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina. The town itself has grown busy, but a short walk takes you into valleys of hand-carved rice terraces, bamboo forest and wooden villages where Black Hmong, Red Dao and Giay families have farmed for generations.
We love Sapa on foot. Our treks follow farmers’ paths rather than roads, stop in family homes for lunch and end with a night in a village homestay, when the day walkers have gone and the valley grows quiet. Treks are graded so you can choose an easy wander or a full day in the hills.
The weather in the mountains changes quickly, and the same valley can look completely different from one season to the next: flooded mirrors in spring, deep green in summer, gold before the harvest and wrapped in mist in winter. Your guide, usually from one of the local communities, knows which paths to take in each season.
Best time to visit
March to May for green terraces and mild weather; September to early October for golden rice before the harvest. Winter can be cold and misty.
Getting there
About 5 to 6 hours from Hanoi by road on the highway, or by night train to Lao Cai and a one-hour drive up the mountain.
How long to stay
2 to 3 days, ideally with one night in a village homestay.
Good for
Trekking, photography, hill tribe culture, homestays.
Highlights
What We Love About Sapa
The Muong Hoa valley
The classic walk past Lao Chai and Ta Van, with terraces on both sides and Fansipan in the background.
Village homestays
A night with a Hmong, Dao or Giay family, sharing dinner cooked over a wood fire.
Quiet back valleys
Su Pan, Sa Seng and Hau Thao, where trails cross streams, bamboo forest and suspension bridges.
Bac Ha Sunday market
One of the most colourful markets in the north, with Flower Hmong traders, textiles and livestock.
Indigo and embroidery
Women dye hemp cloth with indigo and stitch the patterns that tell each group apart.
Golden harvest
In September the terraces turn gold, one of the most beautiful sights in Vietnam.
Tours
Sapa Tours
From three-day treks with homestays to journeys that combine Sapa with Mu Cang Chai, Bac Ha or Halong Bay.
Sapa
Sapa in Depth: Village Trekking Trail
Trek through rice terraces and stay overnight with Hmong and Giay families in Sapa.
New Sapa
Mu Cang Chai to Sapa: Tea Hills and Rice Terraces
Five days on the mountain roads of the northwest, with homestays, valley walks and the O Quy Ho Pass.
Sapa
Sapa and Bac Ha Hill Tribe Trek
Three days of trekking through terraced valleys and hill tribe villages around Sapa and Bac Ha.
Sapa
Sapa Trekking and Homestay Adventure
Trek through Sapa's rice terraces and valleys, staying overnight with a local Giay family.
Plan Your Trip To Sapa
Tell us your dates and interests. We will reply within 24 hours with a personal itinerary and a clear quote.