Top 10 what to do in Sapa

Sapa has been always a must-see destination for travelers wishing to hike or simply walk to admire some of the most beautiful rice terraces of North Vietnam. Perching at an altitude of 1650 meters in a grandiose mountainous setting its neighboring valleys shelter a tremendous ethnic diversity fiercely attached to its traditions. Make your stay a success by taking inspiration from our 10 unmissable activities in Sapa.

1. Admire the beautiful rice terraces

Sapa and its neighboring valleys offer a beautiful natural setting where impressive rice terraces tumble down cascading mountains. A vertiginous picture that wakes any traveler up even the most jaded. To better appreciate this masterpiece we advise you to go to Sapa from the end of April until the end of September when rice is planted and then grown and finally harvested.
>>>Read more about the rice terraces in Sapa HERE

2. Go hiking

With its fabulous landscapes, Sapa has quickly become a paradise for hiking. A simple walk for a few hours or trekking of several days with nights at the inhabitant takes the full measure of the rugged beauty of the rugged mountainside rice terraces. It is also an opportunity to meet the many ethnic minorities that populate the Sapavalleys. An exceptional experience in an exceptional place!

3. Meet with ethnic minorities Sapa

Sapa and its neighboring valleys are the territory of a beautiful ethnic mosaic. Among the many ethnic minorities that populate Sapa, there are the Black Hmong and the Red Dao that . During your meeting with these two hill tribes, you will distinguish them by observing the traditional costumes that they wear with pride every day. The black Hmong wear sober and dark indigo-dyed cotton costumes while the red Dao wears more colorful costumes including their red headdress which may be a simple scarf or an imposing headdress adorned with old silver coins which first appeared from the French colony. Women of two ethnicities love to adorn themselves with silver jewelry to beautify themselves and display their wealth.
>>>Ethnic groups in Sapa Vietnam
>>>Stop by Ta Phin – Sapa to explore the Red Dao culture

4. Sleeping at a homestay

Sleeping in a homestay has been always a unique experience during your trip to Vietnam and especially to Sapa where you can enjoy mountain at its fullest. And even if the conditions can be spartan, still it is an excellent opportunity to soak up the local culture. There's no better way to get to know a place than living the life of the local people.

5. Discover the ethnic markets of the region

Rich in ethnographic diversity, the Sapa region is home to many ethnic markets which can give you the comprehensive picture of the local economy. Be sure to visit one of them to enjoy the incredible atmosphere, immerse yourself in the local culture and admire the shimmering costumes proudly worn by women of different ethnicities. If Bac Ha Sunday market is the best known, other more confidential deserve to go there to contemplate this living spectacle that makes all the richness of this captivating region.

6. Go to Mount Fansipan by cable car

Who has not dreamed of going to the roof of Indochina, Mount Fansipan which rises to 3143 meters of altitude? If climbing to the top Fansipan Mount used to take 2 to 3 days, now it is possible to get there in 45 minutes thanks to the installation of a cable car system. If the weather is not too cloudy, once at the top you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the Tonkin Alps and the Hoang Lien Son mountain range. The cabins pass through a series of tunnels and viaducts allowing you to admire the picturesque landscapes of Muong Hoa Valley with its ethnic minority villages below.
>>>Conquering the rooftop of Indochina – Fansipan Vietnam 

7. Buy local crafts

Sapa has a rich local handicraft due in particular to its great ethnic diversity. At the market, in some shops or simply on the street you can be tempted by the magnificent brocades of ethnic Hmong and Dao, colorful embroidery, ethnically inspired clothing, silver jewelry or wood carvings. What else can bring and stimulate original memories of Sapa better than its local products?

8. Taste the specialties of Sapa

The gastronomic scene of Sapa is not without interest with its ethnic influences and the generous nature of the surroundings which brings mushrooms, roots, aromatic herbs and different kinds of veggies. After a long day trekking, a Vietnamese fondue flavored with these nature offerings from Sapa which bear the soul of the neighboring valleys here. What a treat !!!
>>>Sapa Food Guide

9. Go to Mount Ham Rong

Easily accessible on foot from Sapa town center, Mount Ham Rong offers a beautiful panoramic view of Sapa and its surroundings. Along the way, you can also visit its garden of orchids, roses, rhododendrons and hydrangeas. The park often organizes artistic programs around the culture of ethnic minorities populating the region. You can enjoy varied shows composed of songs, folk dances and traditional instruments.

10. Relax by taking a traditional herbal bath

It's the perfect relaxing break after a good day walking on the beautiful streets of Sapa. A traditional Sapa herbal bath, a specialty of the Dao ethnic group, have relaxing, invigorating and therapeutic effect that allows a complete rest for the body. It is also an opportunity to experience an ancestral ethnic custom and to encourage the maintenance of the traditions of the Red Dao ethnic group that inhabit the Sapa valleys.

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