Best Time to Visit
In terms of weather, the best time to visit Northern Vietnam is during the dry season from September/October to April/May with milder temperatures and less rainfall. However, since Sapa is located in the mountains, it can get chilly and temperatures may dip below zero degrees in the winter months from December to February.
No matter the season, Sapa is locally known as “Town in the Clouds” and the clouds creeping through the valleys around the mountains make the weather unpredictable and quick changing. Sometimes there is thick fog in one village while there is blue sky in another.
The view of Sapa’s terraced rice fields is most beautiful when the rice blooms to its fullest in golden colours during September and early October.
The most ethnic minority festivals are held around Vietnamese Lunar New Year holidays (Tet holidays) usually taking place between mid-January to late-February.
(Source: https://meteoatlas.de/vietnam/sapa-90861)
Recommended Time to Stay
Depending on your individual travel style and what you want to see, you should plan from a minimum of at least two days up to a full week to explore the town, trek the surrounding ethnic minority villages, visit ethnic minority markets, climb Fansipan Mountain and whatever else your heart desires. Take into consideration that most trekking tours last from one to three days.
Equipment
At all times we advise you to bring breathable, waterproof clothing and comfortable, sturdy trekking shoes. During the summer months make sure to bring sunscreen and mosquito repellent. During the winter months make sure to bring layers of warm clothing and a pair of gloves. Additionally, on rainy days a rain poncho or umbrella are useful accessories, both available in town at affordable prices.
Getting There
To get from Hanoi to Sapa you basically have two options to choose from: bus/minibus or train.
The most affordable options are day- as well as overnight-buses/minibuses commuting frequently between Hanoi and Sapa town centre (300.000-500.000 VND per ticket per way). There are many different bus operators offering various services from standard seats to sleeper seats to more exclusive VIP cabins. The bus journey takes about 6 hours with toilet/snack stops along the way.
Alternatively, you can take the overnight-train from Hanoi to Lao Cai and transfer from Lao Cai to Sapa (550.000-1.000.000 VND per ticket per way). There are three main train operators Vietnam Railways (VNR), Chapa Express and King Sapa Train. Vietnam Railways (VNR) is more budget friendly while Chapa Express and King Sapa Train are more comfortable and luxurious. The train journey takes about 8 hours with stops in Dong Anh, Viet Tri, Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Bao Ha and Pho Lu. The transfer roughly takes another hour.
Getting Around
Sapa town is small and everything can be reached by foot. Nevertheless, if you prefer more convenience, taxis and shuttles are available at every corner (~25.000 VND/km). Adventure seekers can rent a motorbike (~100.000 VND/day) or mountain bike (~200.000 VND/day) to venture the trails along Muong Hoa Valley.
Local Specialities
In Sapa you can try many local specialities. While you are here, a must-try is Chestnut Cake (Banh Hat De), made of roasted ground chestnuts, fried in oil until golden brown, sprinkled with sesame, sold at many street food stalls. Apart from that, you shouldn’t miss out on having Barbeque at the streets or enjoying Hot Pot with salmon and sturgeon which is thriving in the milder mountainous climate.
For local produce visit Sapa Market, open every day from 6:30 am to 6 pm. On the ground floor and outdoor areas, you can find many local goods from fresh to dried to spices to plants and flowers. On the upper floor you can find clothing and accessories, including traditional ethnic minority dresses. At the back of the building is a food stall where you can eat at low prices. When the market building closes down in the evening, Sapa Night Market takes place on the left side right next to the building.
For grocery shopping stop by Xuan Troung Supermarket, open every day from 8 am to 9:30 pm. It’s the largest supermarket in town with a wide selection of foods, snacks, fruits, vegetables and even bread and pastries. Many locals buy there thus the prices are fair and on top you don’t need to haggle.
Behaviour towards Ethnic Minority Street Sellers
On Sapa’s streets you are likely to be approached by ethnic minority villagers and children trying to sell you their handmade crafts or performing dances for tips. They can be really pushy at times, following you along, not leaving you alone until you finally give in buying something from them.
At this point some advice from our side on how to deal with those situations:
First of all, emphasise with the villagers who are often born into poverty and rely on street selling as only source of income. Traditionally selling agricultural produce, nowadays as a consequence of Sapa’s booming tourism more and more choose to target tourists instead.
However, this does not mean you should buy from them directly as this only further encourages begging. Especially avoid giving money to children because this can encourage parents forcing their children to sell/perform on the streets instead of sending them to school, reducing their opportunities for having a better future. Parents increasingly use their children as a means for catching tourists’ pity, hiding close by.
So, if street sellers approach you, be firm but polite and calm in turning them away. Better support responsible businesses which in turn empower the villagers by employing them as tour guides, helping them to build homestays, investing in education, participating in health prevention etc.
