Located in Lào Cai and lying silently among those trees of the perched way up high Northwest, hills, and mountains, Sapa, an upland town, embraces many of the natural wonders that one could ever explore. Join us in Sapa Tours for the Best Days Ever!

WHEN: All the tours are operated DAILY (except only one specific tour due to destination opening hours). However, you are expected to book in advance due to the limited number of pax on the tour.

THINGS TO BRING

• Warm clothes, scarf, hat, and cap because the weather in Sapa is unpredictable. It is normally cold in September, October, November, December, January, February and March
• Due to the altitude of Sapa, it is sometimes foggy in December, January, February, and March.
• Trekking shoes, sun glasses, sun cream, insect repellent are also necessary. You should take cash with you in Vietnam Dong because the banking system in Sapa sometimes doesn’t function well. US Dollar, Euro, Australia Dollar are accepted in Sapa.
• You should take medicine with you although there are some chemist’s shops in Sapa in case you get sick.

Send your inquiry to Email: mazevietnam.info@gmail.com
or Message Facebook us: facebook.com/mazevietnam (24/7 Available)

2 DAYS 1 NIGHT SAPA (OVERNIGHT HOTEL)

WHEN: DAILY (But you are expected to book in advance due to the limited number of pax in the tour)
Visit: Sapa, Cat Cat, Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van

Day 1: Hanoi – Sapa by bus with a short trek to Cat Cat village (L/D)

6.30 – 7.00: Pick up from your hotel/stay, get on the big sleeping bus and depart for Sapa.

9.30: Follow the highway to Lao Cai city with the first comfort break

11.00: Second comfort break at Lao Cai city before approaching Sapa

13.00: Arrive Sapa Town with colorful traditional costumes of H’mong, Dzao, Tay ethnic People.

• Welcome drink and itinerary briefing
• Enjoy the lunch with local Vietnamese dishes, check-in procedures

14.30: A short drive to the gate of Cat Cat village which is home of Black H’mong ethnic people and is located near the bottom of a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak. Our local guide will show you the daily life activities of the locals, trek down to the valley bottom to the waterfall where the French built a Hydraulic Power Station; stop for a photo with bridge and waterfall then you will walk uphill for the bus to pick up to get back to Sapa in the afternoon.

Trekking distance is about 2.5 km and it lasts for 2 hours

17.00: Come back to Sapa Town. Have dinner and overnight in the hotel with night activities.

Meals included:  Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Sapa – Hanoi by bus with a long trek Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai – Ta Van (B/L)

7.00 – 8.00: Have breakfast at the hotel, check out the room and pack light for trekking. (Big luggage can be kept in hotel store)

8.00: A short drive to Y Linh Ho then trek through the rice terraces and along Muong Hoa Stream to the Black Hmong village of Lao Chai to see the spectacular landscape of Hoang Lien Son Mountain after that heading to Ta Van village – home of Dzay ethnic people.

Trekking distance is about 9 km and it lasts for 3.5 hours

11.30: Bus picks you up at Ta Van Bridge to Sapa.

12.30 – 13.30: Have lunch in the hotel.

13.30 – 14.45: Relax and leisure on your own, have a shower in the public bathroom in the hotel if you want.

14.45 – 15.00: Meet all group members at the hotel to get ready for Hanoi.

15.30: Get on the bus to go back to Hanoi with two comfort breaks.

21.15: We say goodbye to you at your hotel/stay. Trip ends.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

2 DAYS 1 NIGHT SAPA (OVERNIGHT HOMESTAY)

• Modern air – conditioning sleeping bus from Hanoi – Sapa and return
• 2 bottles of water /2 ways/person on bus Ha Noi – Sapa – Ha Noi
• Modern bus in Sapa with experienced drivers
• English speaking tour leader escorted during the bus trip Hanoi – Sapa – Hanoi, local guide escorted in Sapa
• Meals as 2 lunches, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast with local dishes
• All entrance tickets to indicated sites
• Single basic bed with a mosquito net at homestay http://theyenhomestay.com/accommodation
• Public bathroom with hot water in the homestay
• Insurance during the time using the bus

• Beverages, travel insurance, VAT, personal expenses
• Others not clearly mentioned above

2 DAYS 1 NIGHT SAPA (FANSIPAN PEAK)

WHEN: DAILY (But you are expected to book in advance due to the limited number of pax in the tour)

Visit: Sapa, Cat Cat, Fansipan Peak

2 DAYS 1 NIGHT SAPA (BAC HA MARKET)

WHEN: Depart on Saturday Only, and you are expected to book in advance due to the limited number of pax in the tour

Visit: Sapa, Cat Cat, Bac Ha, Pho Village

Day 1: (Depart on Saturday) Ha Noi – Sapa by bus with a short trek to Cat Cat village (L/D)

6.30 – 7.00: Pick up from your hotel/accommodation, get on a big bus and depart for Sapa Town.

9.30: Follow the highway to Lao Cai city with the first comfort break

11.00: Second comfort break at Lao Cai city before approaching Sapa

13.00: Arrive Sapa Town with colorful traditional costumes of H’Mong, Dzao, Tay ethnic People.

• Welcome drink and itinerary briefing
• Enjoy the lunch with local Vietnamese dishes, check-in procedures

14.30: Bus picks you up to the gate of Cat Cat village which is home of Black H’mong ethnic people and located near the bottom of a deep valley at the foot of Fansipan Peak. Our local guide will show you the daily life activities of the locals, trek down to the valley bottom to the waterfall where the French built a Hydraulic Power Station, stop for a photo with bridge and waterfall then you will walk uphill for a bus to pick up to get back to Sapa in the afternoon.

Trekking distance is about 2.5 km and it lasts for 2 hours

17.00: Come back to Sapa Town. Have dinner & overnight in a hotel with night activities.

Meals included:  Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Sapa – Bac Ha market – Lao Cai – Ha Noi (B/L)

6.15 – 7.00: Have breakfast at the hotel. Check out the room and bring all your luggage for Bac Ha market.

7.00 – 14.00: Take 2.5-hour drive to Bac Ha Town – home of Flower H’Mong ethnic People

• Visit Bac Ha market – the most typical weekly market with inhabitants of the Ethnic minority
• Have lunch at a local restaurant
• A short walk to Hoang A Tuong’s palace which was built in 1914 with

French – Viet architecture and visit “Pho” village of Flower H’Mong People.

Trekking distance is about 3 km and it lasts for 2 hours

14.00: Take a 1.45-hour drive back to Lao Cai city, have a shower and relax in the border gate city. (Do not come back Sapa town)

16.30: You are welcomed to shuttle bus back to Hanoi with two comfort breaks.

21.15: We say goodbye to you at your hotel/stay. Trip ends

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Price: USD 150/ Person (3 stars hotel); USD 159/ Person (4 stars hotel)

Single supplement at 3-star hotel is 15 USD/night; Single supplement at 4-star hotel is 25 USD/night

Inclusions

• Modern air – conditioning bus with comfortable seats from Hanoi – Sapa and return
• Modern air – conditioning bus from Sapa – Bac Ha – Lao Cai and in Sapa with experienced drivers
• 2 bottles of water 2 ways/person on bus Ha Noi – Sapa – Ha Noi
• English speaking tour leader escorted during the bus trip Hanoi – Sapa – Hanoi, local guide escorted in Sapa and Bac Ha
• Meals as 1 dinner, 2 lunches,  1 breakfast with local dishes
• All entrance tickets to indicated sites
• Hotel room in Sapa View Hotel or similar on twin sharing basis
• Insurance during the time in the bus

Exclusions

• Beverages, travel insurance, VAT, personal expenses
• Others not clearly mentioned above

Note

When you come back to Lao Cai city from Bac Ha Market, we will arrange for you to have a shower in a restaurant then you need to wait for a shuttle bus from Sapa to Lao Cai. If you want to visit somewhere, our local guide will take you there; taxi or transport fee is paid by you.

OTHER TOURS

Sapa Tours

The Top Sapa Tours 3 Days 2 Nights

CONTACT US

Please contact us if your preference does not match with any above! Thank you!

Please check tours in other destinations here

Contact us now:

Email: mazevietnam.info@gmail.com
or Message Facebook us: facebook.com/mazevietnam (24/7 Available)

The post The Top Sapa Tours 2 Days 1 Night appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

WHEN: All the tours are operated DAILY (except only one specific tour due to destination opening hours). However, you are expected to book in advance due to the limited number of pax on the tour.

THINGS TO BRING

• Warm clothes, scarf, hat, and cap because the weather in Sapa is unpredictable. It is normally cold in September, October, November, December, January, February and March
• Due to the altitude of Sapa, it is sometimes foggy in December, January, February, and March.
• Trekking shoes, sunglasses, sun cream, insect repellent are also necessary. You should take cash with you in Vietnam Dong because the banking system in Sapa sometimes doesn’t function well. US Dollar, Euro, Australia Dollar are accepted in Sapa.
• You should take medicine with you although there are some chemist’s shops in Sapa in case you get sick.

Send your inquiry to Email: mazevietnam.info@gmail.com
or Message Facebook us: facebook.com/mazevietnam (24/7 Available)

3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS (1 OVER HOTEL 1 OVER HOMESTAY)

3 DAYS 2 NIGHTS (OVERNIGHT HOTEL)

The post The Top Sapa Tours 3 Days 2 Nights appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Lies in the misty highlands of Lào Cai, Western North (or Tây Bắc, as the Vietnamese call it), nearly 300 kilometers away from Hà Nội, is a small town called Sa Pa (Sapa).

Sa Pa is one of the first places in the highlands to be discovered. Upon the arrival in Vietnam, the French built mansions on the high mountains of Sa Pa, alongside with Đà Lạt for the holidays due to the cool temperature they had. At present, these 2 places have many vintage-styled buildings for visiting, and sometimes, ‘ghost seeking’.

How to get to Sapa?

Sapa is a nice place for you to travel, far away from the exquisites of the crowded cities, hence lots of new things to explore.

Where to go in Sapa?

For anyone looking to experience the local lifestyle, Sapa has hill-tribes along the mountains.

A common thing of the Northern Highlands is that they are home to many Vietnamese ethnic minorities like Tày, Nùng, Dao Thái Mông, etc. The locals make their living by farming, specifically growing crops. What makes it special, is the contour farming method that they use. Along with the harvest, these ladder-organized crops, together, build up unique land structures, creating the enticing landscapes of Vietnamese mountains. Therefore, the highlands are best known for 2 things: the agriculture, and the picturesque mountain scenery that it has.

Sa Pa is filled with attractions. You can have nostalgic goosebumps in the old mansions, or take a trip through the farmlands, which are colorized with the light yellow of malt crops in the harvest. But don’t miss one thing: the highest place of Vietnam, the Fansipan mountain peak, is located here. The so-called ‘Indochina Rooftop’ now has cable cars to transport, but if you want to be more adventurous, climbing up the mountains is another way. But remember to be well-prepared though, as danger and myths that lie beneath the rocks awaits.

After a trip in eyegasm, remember that Sa Pa is home to many minority ethnics? Get to the small villages. This is where the locals welcome you and give you a tour through the farmlands. If possible, buy the old women’s handmade souvenir crafts as a ‘thank you’.

Note: do not buy the children’s one, as it may encourage them to drop school in order to sell these.

Read our full Travel Guide to SAPA here. It covers advice and suggestions from accommodations, tourist attractions, local foods to nightlife activities and more.

SAPA TRAVEL GUIDE

To see more photos, check the open album below or go to Flickr:
Photo Album Flickr
(Please use the left/right arrows to navigate in the files of the open album)

Photos and words by Khoi Nguyen

The post Breathtaking Landscape Photographs of Sapa appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Before you decide to buy anything, please read these tips first. They are very useful tips provided by a lot of experienced travelers who have come to Sapa:

You should not buy restorative, Lingzhi (Ganoderma Lucidum) and False Gingseng along the way to Hàm Rồng Mountain since they are all originated from China and even the sellers do not know well about what they are going to sell.

You can buy souvenirs in the night market near the Sapa Stone Church but remember to bargain smartly to get reasonable price.

Bottles of water, beers and cigarettes in Sapa are far more expensive than in Hanoi.

Now for the question about what to buy in Sapa, here are some suggestions:

Đào “rọ” (Basket Peach): This is a very famous kind of specialties in Sapa that tourists usually buy as a gift for its light sour and refreshing sweet tastes. Beside the markets in Sapa, you can also buy this from hawkers on the streets, along the pavements in the town or on the way from Sapa to Lào Cai. You should also buy a basket to carry the peaches instead of using plastic bags since the peaches can be easily crushed.

Brocade: You should choose decorating brocades or cloth with brocade textures like bag, scarfs, bag-packs skirts, shirts and blanket. There are some very good stores on the Cầu Mây Street that sell brocades such as Mrs. Nguyễn Lăng Vân’s, Hue Silk, Sapa Brocade Store or Sapa Orchid Brocade Store. At a small corner on the second floor of the Sapa market, brocades are also sold with different textures that represent Mông’s ethic culture.

Souvenirs: You can buy some accessories made of gold, silver or arts and crafts from shops on Cầu Mây Street, Mường Hoa and Fansipan at Viet Silver, Mường Hoa Shop, Sapa Silver or Woodcarving Shop.

Vietnamese traditional medicine: Apart from liquorice, lotus seed, False Gingseng and other kinds of tonics, camellia, honey and Lingzhi can also be bought in Sapa oriental medicine stores.

Here are some shop addresses in Sapa
Forest Orchid Shop
Address: Cầu Mây Street, Sapa town, Lào Cai
Tel: (+84) 203 871 665

Lương Thủy Shop
Address: #25 Cầu Mây Street, Sapa town, Lào Cai
Tel: (+84) 203 871 446

Khánh Huyền Shop
Address: #17 Cầu Mây Street, Sapa town, Lào Cai
Tel: (+84) 977 943 63

Phố Núi Shop
Address: #13 Cầu Mây Street, Sapa town, Lào Cai
Tel: (+84) 203 871 712

Mường Hoa Shop
Address: #25 Mường Hoa Street, Sapa town, Lào Cai

Viet Silver
Address: #34 Fansipan Street, Sapa town, Lào Cai

Sapa Shop
Address: #48 Cầu Mây Street, Sapa town, Lào Cai
Tel: (+84) 203 871 439

Indigo Cat
This is a Hmong-owned handicrafts shop offering wonderful choices of interesting local crafts
Address: #46 Fansipan Street, Sapa town, Lào Cai
Tel: (+84) 982 403 647
Website: http://indigocat.asia
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm

Hemp and Embroidery
A super-friendly arts and crafts shop owned by a charming Hmong lady, selling gorgeous textiles made in Sapa.
Address: #14 Mường Hoa Street, Sapa town, Lào Cai
Tel: (+84) 165 552 3850
Website: http://www.facebook.com/hempandembroidery
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 8:00 pm

The post Shopping in Sapa appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

The layers of the cold fog are gone away with the night wind all over the rooftops, the streets, the swaying leaves and the beautiful girls are all in such charming traditional costumes. Along the floppy hills between the two towns, in the blurry light of the night lanterns, the gentle fog dispels the deep darkness. It seems that “the town in the clouds” is getting more and more strange and mysterious as the dark gets heavier when the time passes by. At night, though silent and calm, Sapa is still awake with its sleepless people joining in such intriguing activities:

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Night Festival
There are not so many night festivals in Sapa but annually in mid-fall there will be flower garlands and colored lanterns hung in the Mid-Fall Night Festival. Participating in Sapa’s Mid-Fall Festival, you will wallow in thousands of vivid and colorful lanterns with various shapes and sizes. Especially, the splendid lantern parade will go around in all central streets and it will definitely bring you an exciting and romantic culture feast.

Night Snack Market
This is actually the Cuisine Market in Sapa with the grilled skewered food. This is very popular at night since tourists or the local people usually wander around the street and drop by these small food stalls on the side to enjoy some delicious skewers, especially in the winter. The light from hundreds of small bulbs in the food kiosks along with cloth roof, plastic tables and chairs is enough to bring up the heart warming atmosphere in the cold night.

Street Wandering and Sightseeing
Only by going a little bit farther to the Rattan Bridge can you feel the wilderness of each line of trees and this Northwest mountain area. The whistling wind and the cold fog are the only things going through your ears at that moment.  Sometimes, you will catch sight of some lovers hand in hand walking along the streets, talking, cuddling and kissing. If you take the trip with your beloved one, do not forget to make use of Sapa’s romantic night to have some unforgettable moments!

Credit: Kai (Rattan Bridge)

Bar
Going to bars or pubs at night is one of the most favorable activities in Sapa. Usually, bars will open in the evening until 1:00 am the following morning (some close sooner though). Tourists, especially foreign travelers, are always in favor of bars and enjoy getting there most of the time. Partly because the unique atmosphere of Sapa’s bars that attracts every visitor both domestic and international.  Not crowded, noisy, flashy or luxurious, the peaceful and friendly aura from these bars is enough to lure the customers in.
Here are some famous night bars in Sapa:

The post Nightlife in Sapa appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

Motorcycle Road Trip

This maybe the most common choice for every backpacker or solo traveler since the price is considerably cheap. Besides, it is also a great opportunity for sightseeing, exploring the wonderful scenic areas as well as saving your own memorable moments. In addition, travelers can also be more active in time management and planning.  From Hanoi, there are many different routes to get to Sapa but these three main routes are recommended by most motorcycle road-trip travelers.

Hà Nội – Lào Cai route: For this route, there will be two ways that you can choose from
The first one is: Hà Nội – Vĩnh Phúc – Việt Trì – Phong Châu – Đoan Hùng – Yên Bái – Lào Cai – Sapa (360km). This is an easy and fast way to get to Sapa. With just 2 times of filling up your fuel (about 150.000vnd), you can go for a distance of approximately 400km.
The second one is: Hà Nội – Hòa Lạc – Sơn Tây – Trung Hòa Bridge – Phong Châu Bridge – Đoan Hùng – Highway 70 – Lào Cai – Sapa (370km).

Hà Nội – Yên Bái route: Hà Nội – Hòa Lạc – Sơn Tây – Thanh Sơn – Highway 32 – Sapa (420km). If you desire to conquer the longer, harder roads and want to be a part of an extremely adventurous journey, this is just the route that you should take in consideration. On your way, you will get the chance to conquer two of the Four Great Mountain Passes: Khau Phạ (30km) and Ô Quy Hồ (50km). Also on this route, when getting near to Sapa, you will pass through the beautiful Mù Căng Chải suburban district located in Yên Bái province and the great Hoàng Liên Sơn National Park. Beside the two mountain passes waiting for you to conquer, you can also take a chance to visit the Love and Silver Waterfall.

Notes
For motorcycle travelers, there are a few important notes that you should write down before you can officially start your journey. Below are some notes arranged by priority from high to low.

Weather: This is the most important factor that you must consider before deciding to start your trip. Weather can excessively and directly affect your choice of routes or your itinerary. Therefore, for your own safety as well as the trip’s success, check the weather forecast carefully before you make your plan. You should also avoid going around July or August since it is the rainy season and is very dangerous to travel.

Transport: “Every rider has that special horse” and so do you. In the long run, a good motorbike means a good companion. Get your motorbike fixed, give it refreshing look, a strong engine and get ready for the ride. In case any problems with your motorbike might suddenly happen during your trip, remember to bring along spare tyre, tube and some fixing tools. Extra cans of fuel are also needed in case there is no gas station on the way when you are in need.

Money: After planning your trip, make a calculation of the amount of money that you will spend and remember to always bring more than what you have planned.

Blue Card and License: Driving license and the blue card must always be in your pocket as you can be requested to hand it in at anytime. ID/Passport is also needed for room booking.

Map: For road trip travelers, map is something that you can never forget to bring along. With a map, you can know exactly about the route that you take as well as the whole itinerary. It is also important in case you get lost and have difficulty in finding the right way.

Belongings: When you make your trip’s plan, note down how many days you will stay then prepare a list of outfits that you will wear for each day. You should also bring other belongings that you need during the trip but remember to consider how many you will take in order of priority for convenience.

Sunglasses, face mask and gloves: These are needed to protect your own health when you travel the long way.
Camera: If you want to save such beautiful photos of the great mountain that you will go through, do not forget to bring your camera.

Train

This used to be a common transport for traveling  because of its reasonable price and convenience. Since the new expressway’s establishment, this is less in favor than before and you will have to catch a bus or a coach to keep traveling to Sapa after getting off at Lào Cai Station. Hà Nội Train Station is the main station in Hà Nội.

These are the train codes of Hà Nội Train Station: SP3, SP7, SP1, LC3, YB1/YB2.

SP3, SP7, SP1 and LC3 trains will take you straight to Lào Cai. From Lào Cai Station, you can catch a bus (50.00vnd/guest) to continue going to Sapa.

YB1/YB2 train will drop you off at Yên Bái Station, from there you will have to continue traveling on another train, bus or coach to Sapa. On normal days, the train will depart at Long Biên Train Station. On holidays, Saturdays and Sundays, the train will leave at Hà Nội Train Station.

Most of these trains leave in the afternoon and in the evening; the others leave in the morning.

Here is the recent train journey
SP1: 9:40 pm to 5:35 am (about 8 hours – passes through 6 stations)
SP3: 10:00 pm to 6:20 am (8 hours 20 minutes – passes through 10 stations)
SP7: 8:30 pm to 4:45 am (8 hours 15 minutes – passes through 14 stations)
LC3: 6:10 am to 3:46 pm (9 hours 36 minutes – passes through 24 stations – meals are not included in the train fare).
YB1: 1:15pm to 6:10pm (5 hours)

Train fare: 50.000 – 170.000vnd (YB1)
                      100.000 – 600.000vnd (other trains)

Hà Nội Train Station
Address: #120 Lê Duẩn Street, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84) 439 423 697
        (+84) 439 423 949 (online booking)
Website: 

https://dsvn.vn/
http://gahanoi.com.vn

Long Biên Train Station
Address: At the end of Long Biên Bridge, Trần Nhật Duật Road, Đồng Xuân Ward, Hoàn Kiếm District, Hà Nội

Tourists can also check this website for more high-class trains
Green Train Express
Address: 3^rd Floor, #52 Xã Đàn Street, Đống Đa District, Hà Nội (Hanoi Office)
Tel: (+84) 435 162 898
        (+84) 919 473 360 (Hotline)
Website: http://greentrains.net

Bus and Coach

Since the establishment of the new Nội Bài – Lào Cai Expressway, this is considered to be the fastest and the most convenient way to travel from Hanoi to Sapa (4 – 5 hours). Tourists can either book for a coach or a bus with the travel agents or hire your own coach but the price might be considerably higher. Since motorbikes are not allowed to travel on this route, buses and coaches (or cars) are the only transports that can take you from Hanoi to Sapa.

You can book your Sapa tickets with Sleeping Bus from us. Send your inquiry to mazevietnam.info@gmail.com

Green Bus Schedule:

Arrival – Departure

Hanoi – Sapa

7:00 – 13:00
14:00 – 19:45
22:00 – 3:30

Sapa – Hanoi

08:00 – 13:30
13:30 – 19:30
16:00 – 21:30
22:00 – 03:30

Price:

VND 240.000 / way (Random seat)

VND 300.000 / way (Front seat and 1st-floor bed guaranteed)

Good morning Sapa Schedule:

Arrival – Departure

Hanoi – Sapa

6:45 – 12:30

Sapa – Hanoi

15:30 – 21:30

Price:

VND 240.000 / way (Random seat)

Taxi

Traveling for quite a long distance by taxi is not a popular choice for some travelers but it is still possible. Usually, taxi will also take the Nội Bài – Lào Cai Expressway so the average journey time can be 4-5 hours (sometimes longer).

Dichung Taxi
Address: P221, 2^nd Floor, Tower B, Hồng River Parkview Building, #165 Thái Hà Street, Đống Đa District, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84) 432 002 566
        (+84) 934 531 266
Website: http://dichungtaxi.com
Fare: 200.000vnd / guest (Travel in group / Hà Nội – Lào Cai)
           2.700.000vnd (Not travel in group / Hà Nội – Lào Cai)

Taxi Vip
Address: #47, Alleyway 16, Hoàng Cầu Street, Đống Đa District, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84) 473 02 02 02
Website: http://taxivip.vn
Fare: 2.500.000 – 3.400.000vnd

Bicycle

It might sound impossible but it is totally possible. It is exactly the same when you travel by motorbike but the traveling time will be much longer. For bicycle road trip, it is important that you carry as light as possible to save energy, and the notes for motorbike road trip traveling can also be applied for bicycle traveling.

Here comes my favorite quote: “When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” Susan Heller
Good luck and have fun in Sapa!

The post How to get to Sapa? appeared first on Maze Vietnam.

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Sapa’s specialties are what most tourists cannot resist. Sapa has around 14 kinds of specialties that can be enjoyed around the year no matter in which season it is. Among those dishes, there are some that are slightly more popular and only in Sapa can you feel the most genuine taste.

Rượu táo mèo (Docynia indica wine)

Speaking of Sapa, people will be immediately reminded of this wine. Docynia indica is also regarded as “the fruit of love” for its sour, bitter and sweet tastes.

Thịt lợn cắp nách (Hanged armpit pork)

The pork is made of Mường’s breeding pig which is quite small, about 4-5 kilograms. After being cleaned and seasoned, the whole pig will be grilled on the fire. The finished pork is rather mouthwatering with extremely crispy skin on the outside and the juicy, tender meat inside. The taste will be even more attempting if you drink some docynia indica wine while eating.

Thắng cố

This is one of the special dishes of Mông Ethnic with beef, pork, buffalo meat and horse meat cooked together. The unique thing about the dish is that there is a total of 27 kinds of spices mixed together to create such unforgettable taste. The dish is greasy and eaten with "forest vegetables" added in as extra flavor. Especially in the winter, it is such a heart warming moment when you gather with your friends and the locals in the wooden house, eating thắng cố and drinking some corn wine.

For Sapa’s Specialties, there are some places and restaurants that are recommended:

Sapa’s Grilled Skewered Food

Grilled skewered food in Sapa may be one the most special treats that all visitors wish to try at least once. Sapa’s Grill Food has made its own brand that cannot be mistaken with anywhere else. People usually say that if you come to Sapa but not having tasted the place’s grill food then you have just missed the most unique kind of food of Sapa’s cuisine. In Sapa, grilled food is served almost everywhere from the market to the church, even in small alleyways. Just a table, a few plastic chairs and a warming coal stove are enough to create a “Grill kiosk”.
Sapa offers a variety of grill dishes from potato, cassava to grilled egg, grilled balut and grilled pork stomach. Food in Sapa is not expensive but you should still ask for the price first.

Breakfast

Vietnamese people are used to eating Phở for breakfast. Although Phở is not a specialty of Sapa but you should try to see how its taste differs from that in other regions. There are also various dishes that you can choose for your breakfast in Sapa

Café

Almost all of backpacking tourists and foreign visitors like going to Sapa’s bars at night. If you visit Sapa in winter, it will be a fantastic idea to take a ride to one of Sapa’s bars or café to have some hot drinks.

Gem Valley Café
Gem Valley Café is very popular for the locals as well as foreign tourists. The café is out-standing for its spectacular view of the beautiful terraced rice fields.

Address: Cát Cát Village, Sapa, Lào Cai
Tel: (+84) 912 849 753
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
Price: 20.000vnd – 30.000vnd

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The Stone Church and the Ancient Monastery
The Stone Church of Sapa, built in 1895, is the imprint of the most complete French architecture that still remains. Lying in the center of the Sapa town and behind Ham Rong Mountain, the church opens its view to many other sites as well as the two French constructions: Chủ Cầu Villa (known as Hoàng Liên Hotel now) and the old district party committee (known as Lào Cai Tourist Information Center now). The church’s architecture is based on the ancient Roman Gothic style with glass dome windows illustrating the life of Christ. You should come here on Saturday in order to see the traditional music show at the stadium next to the church.

Being a part of Tả Phìn mountain village of Dao Đỏ ethnic, The Ancient Monastery was constructed in October 1942 for nuns of Christianity. Situated on the road from Sapa to Tả Phìn, the Monastery bears an ancient and mysterious appearance of the French architecture, covered by layers of green moss. Visitors can ride motorbike here since the site is located about 12 kilometers from the center of Sapa.
Entrance fee (for the Monastery): 30.000vnd per person

Mường Hoa Valley
As a special part of Hầu Thào Commune and located 8 kilometers away to the Southeast of Sapa, Mường Hoa Valley is a must-see destination for whoever sets foot to Sapa – the Heaven on Earth. On the way from Sapa to the Valley, thousands of high hills and mountain slopes will be there waiting for tourists to conquer and admire this breathtaking scene. As far as entering the hollow Valley, travelers will get a chance to see wonderful images of the Black H’Mông, Dao Đỏ and Dzáy Villages. With all their hospitality, the local residents will take you to see the terraced rice fields and how the villagers do their farming.

Mường Hoa River, which is 15 kilometers long across Lao Chải, Tả Van and Bản Hồ towns, is also a part of the Valley. Walking along the terraced rice fields in the Golden Grain Season, you will be amazed by the poetic vision of the golden rice reflecting their image in the water, yellowing the whole still river. Romantic as it is, no wonder why in spring, young couples usually come here hand in hand to catch fish.

Antique Stone Field, which is 1 kilometer away from Tả Van, is also a special feature that attributes to the popularity of Mường Hoa Valley. Hidden among the lush greenery and the rice fields, the Antique Stone Field consists of thousands of rocks with mysterious drawings and signals that are assumed to belong to Đông Sơn civilization dating back around 3000 years ago. This is considered to bear spiritual as well as mental value to the local residents.
Entrance fee (charging station on the way to the Valley): 80.000vnd/person

The Silver Waterfall
After crossing the ancient yet fearful Mây Bridge (Rattan Bridge) over the Mường Hoa stream, visitors will encounter the Silver Waterfall, one of the ten most beautiful falls in Lào Cai. If you are the one who craves for adventure and does not want to take the easy road, you should ride your motorbike here to feast your eyes upon the fantastic valley with the gorgeous pine forests and the Rose fields before climbing 200 stairs leading to an iron bridge of the Silver Fall.

Entrance fee: 15.000vnd per person
Motorbike rental fee: 80.000-120.000vnd per day
Address: #33 Mường Hoa, Sapa Town, Lào Cai
Tel: (+84) 916 053 009 (Mr. Chung)

The Love Waterfall
The name “Love Waterfall” is actually originated from a legendary story of an uncompleted love of a Goddess and a woodman. The road leading to the Love Waterfall is only 1 kilometer from the Silver Waterfall, and is the red earth that runs across the verdant and interminable bamboo forest. As you are walking, sometimes you will hear the gentle sound of the leaves rustling and see colorful rhododendron flowers. Having the height of approximately 100 meters, the fall pours its water from Mount Fansipan to the Golden stream tossing up the white foam. Standing from a distance, tourists will see the fall in the shape of a palm-leaf conical hat with grass green flora and the sparkling Golden Stream below. Especially on the foggy day, the place will be as beautiful as a fairyland. If you take this trip with your beloved one, this is one of the sites that cannot be missed.

Entrance fee: 35.000 - 45.000vnd per person

Hàm Rồng Mountain
Hàm Rồng Mountain is situated in the center of Sapa. With the area of 150 hecta, Hàm Rồng is an ideal destination for sightseeing and relaxation with the beautiful Orchid Garden, Peach Garden and the Cloud Yard. Built in 1996, Hàm Rồng Mountain is considered as a cultural and natural reserve. Standing at the height of 1800 meters, you will be embraced by the floating white clouds of this heavenly garden and can see most of Sapa’s scenic areas. If you want to take some pictures to keep as a memory, this is where you have to come in.

The Heaven Gate
Also known as Ô Quy Hồ or Hoàng Liên Sơn mountain pass, the Heaven Gate is the most superb mountain pass in the North, lying across the highway 4D of Hoang Lien Son mountain range. Since the Heaven Gate lies above the Love Fall, its name Ô Quy Hồ is also derived from the forbidden love story between the Goddess and the Woodman. The Goddess, after not seeing the woodman again, transformed into a golden bird that sang “Ô Quy Hồ” and since then, it has been the name of the place. The Heaven Gate is also known as one of the Four Great Mountain Passes of the Northwest that every backpacking tourist desires to conquer. After passing the Silver Waterfall and climbing up to the height of about 2073 meters, you will be astonished by the sea of floating clouds like in the Neverland, especially when the sky is sunny.

Mount Fansipan
Located 9 kilometers Southwest away from Sapa in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, Mount Fansipan is also dubbed as “The Roof of Indochina” with the height of 3143 meters. The name Fansipan, according to the local calling is “Hủa Xi Pan”, which means “The Giant Tottery Stone”. In the past, it used to take tourists about 2-3 days to climb the mount; at present, thanks to the new advanced cable system, the mount could be reached within 15 minutes. However, to arrive at the up high station with the height of around 2900 meters above the sea level, tourists will have to climb about 600 steps of stair. Despite sitting in the cabin or standing in the station, tourists will be able to join with the floppy clouds and see all the terraced rice fields as well as villages from up high. Visitors are also advised to wear thick clothes even on a sunny day as it is often considerably cold at that height.

Fansipan Sapa Cable Car Services and Tourism LLC (Vietnam)
Address: #89B Nguyễn Chí Thanh, Sapa, Lào Cai, Việt Nam
Tel: (+84) 948 308 888 / (+84) 203 818 888
Website: http://www.fansipanlegend.com.vn
Operating hours: 7:30am – 17:30pm every day
Ticket price: 600.000vnd/ticket (Adults and Children above 1m3)
400.000vnd/ticket (Children from 1m to 1m3)
Free (Children under 1m)

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