Sa Pa: Our 10 Highlights in Northern Vietnam

The area around Sa Pa is one of the most beautiful regions in Vietnam. You can expect impressive peaks in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range and rice terraces as far as the eye can see. For outdoor enthusiasts, Sa Pa is a must on any journey to the north of this Southeast Asian country. If you have enough time, you can explore the remote mountain villages on a multi-day trek. But even if you only have one or two days, a visit is worth it. Here we present our personal Sa Pa highlights.

The most famous attraction in Sa Pa is Fansipan. At 3,142 meters, it is the highest mountain in Vietnam and was only accessible by foot in two to three days until a few years ago. Today, you can comfortably 'climb' the summit via the cable car.

The journey starts right in the town of Sa Pa. The ride with the funicular over the long valley bridge is already spectacular. At the first middle station, you switch to the Fansipan Legend. The record-breaking cable car covers more than six kilometers and an altitude difference of about 1,400 meters.

From the mountain station, around 600 steps lead to the actual summit, which is considered the roof of Indochina. Alternatively, you can take another funicular that saves you the uphill climb, which is sweaty but rewarding.

The view is tremendous: Up here at over 3,000 meters, you will find a huge Buddha statue, temples, and many other imposing structures. Of course, there is also food and drink available - for example, in one of the many cafes. At the summit, you can pose with a Vietnamese flag against the impressive backdrop.

The round trip costs approximately 40 euros per person (as of February 2024), which is not exactly cheap. However, if you are in Sa Pa, you cannot miss Fansipan and its unique views.

Another highlight is the large market in Sa Pa. Members of the Hmong, a mountain ethnic group, come to town every Sunday to sell vegetables and meat, as well as knives, pipes, bags, and dyed fabrics. The sizzling sounds and various aromas fill the air.

Of course, there are endless photo opportunities here. Be sure to keep an eye out for the northern specialty, the black chicken. The chickens have black feathers, lay black eggs, and even have black skin.

The most famous mountain village around Sa Pa is Cat Cat Village. Here, one stall follows another as you walk up the steps into the village. Many Asians rent traditional garments to take photos in this beautiful place.

We were particularly impressed by the old houses. Some resemble small museums. For instance, there is an old linen production facility where fabrics are dyed and sold. Down in the village, there is also a waterfall. Additionally, there are water wheels powered by the river. The entrance fee is 150,000 Dong, which is about six euros (as of February 2024).

Cat Cat Village is very touristy. If this does not bother you, a visit to the village is recommended. We really enjoyed it.

The Love Waterfall is located about 15 kilometers from Sa Pa. From the parking lot, you hike about 20 minutes through beautiful landscapes and soon reach a river, which you follow steadily. The path leads you directly to the Love Waterfall. You can first reach an observation platform via stairs, from which you have a great view of this natural wonder in the jungle. You can also descend to the foot of the waterfall.

The name comes from a love story, according to which a young man and a fairy found each other.

The entrance fee is 70,000 Dong, which is about three euros per person (as of February 2024).

The Silver Waterfall (Thac-Ba Waterfall) is located right by the road. Countless steps lead up to the main waterfall. Along the way, there are observation platforms. Near the entrance, there is a small market where the Hmong sell meat, vegetables, and homemade products.

The entrance fee to the waterfall is 20,000 Dong (0.20 euros, as of February 2024) per person, which is extremely cheap.

The so-called Heaven Gate is located on a mountain pass about 15 kilometers northwest of Sa Pa. The stone gate is part of a kind of amusement park. The difference is that there are no rides here, but rather great views (we unfortunately had fog) and plenty of artificial photo spots - such as a staircase that leads into nothing or a forest with colorful fairy tale characters. Personally, Heaven Gate was not much for us, but if you're traveling with kids or want to take some funny photos, the entrance fee of 125,000 Dong (4.60 euros, as of February 2024) is worth it.

Absolutely worth seeing and less known is the Sa Pa Sakura Tea Plantation. Green tea is grown on the plantation. You can walk through the fields and capture some beautiful photos.

The plantation is huge, and one terrace of green tea follows another. The entrance is free, but you should leave a small donation.

A bit outside of Sa Pa, on the way to Cat Cat Village, the Moana cafe-restaurant draws hundreds of tourists every day. The grounds feature giant statues and funny photo spots, such as a piano on a water surface. None of this is historically or culturally valuable, but it appeals to Asians!

The entrance fee is 80,000 Dong (3 euros, as of February 2024), which includes a small bottle of water. If you want to take great photos, this is the right place. If you're more interested in culture, you can safely skip this spot.

If you have more time in Sa Pa, you should book a trekking trip. There are day trips to Hmong villages, as well as multi-day tours. Here, you stay with the Hmong in their home or in charming homestays. Often, you can engage in typical work with the families, such as decorating and dyeing fabric with patterns using beeswax in the traditional way. Particularly beautiful villages include Muong Huong, Cao Son, and Coc Ly. For these two- to three-day tours, you need a guide, which you can book spontaneously in Sa Pa.

The flower market at Bac Ha takes place every Sunday morning. Here, the Hmong come in their colorful clothing to sell flowers, vegetables, and household items. However, the journey is long. It takes about three hours by car or motorcycle from Lao Cai to Bac Ha. From Sa Pa, it's a day trip that involves long travel times on winding roads. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to visit the market.

To see the rice fields around Sa Pa, you need to take a trip. You can either take a taxi, travel by bus, or book an excursion, such as trekking through the rice fields.

You can reach Sa Pa from Hanoi by bus or train. The train is definitely safer and more comfortable. We recommend a two-person compartment (about 80 dollars or 75 euros per person as of February 2024). This way, you will arrive comfortably with the night train.

The train ride to Lao Cai takes about eight hours. From there, you need about another hour to get to Sa Pa with a shuttle (which you can book on the train or at the station). The shuttle costs about 60,000 Dong per person, which is around two euros (as of February 2024).

The best time to visit Sa Pa is at the end of March and beginning of April. Then, the rice fields are green and the weather is quite mild, allowing you to truly enjoy your stay in the mountains. We visited Sa Pa in early March and were grateful for the fireplace in our accommodation. At night, temperatures dropped to around ten degrees.

At Cong Ca Phe, you can enjoy delicious coffee while looking out from the balcony onto the greenery and the large plaza in Sa Pa.

Additionally, we recommend our hotel Eco Palms House for dinner. They serve fish, meat, and vegetarian dishes. The cocktails are also fantastic!

This trip was made possible by the generous support of EVA Air.