Every tourist will definitely have places that get under the skin. Sapa in Vietnam is one of those that you should give it a try whenever you come to Vietnam.
Sapa is a lovely hill station town in Northern Vietnam near the Chinese border. The region as also known as “the Tonkinese Alps” and it’s culturally rich with different hilltribe minorities, lush mountain ranges, rice fields, and overall, breathtaking views! Once there, you’ll easily understand what the hype is all about.
Although you can discover the entire town by simply walking around, we would recommend that you should do that by motorbike if you can, as there are numerous places to explore in Sapa
Here’s something you should know about Sapa Vietnam to prepare for your trip:
2 ways to get to Sapa Vietnam
Basically, you can either get to Sapa by overnight train or by bus depends on your preference. It takes around 9 hours for the overnight train to go from Hanoi Station to Sapa. After arriving at Lao Cai station, you can hire a shuttle bus or a taxi to go into Sapa town.
Overnight train to Lao Cai
Additionally, there are sleeper buses that you can book through your hotel from Hanoi to Sapa Station.
See more: Getting to Sapa by motorbike, train or bus?
Spacious hotel room in Sapa Vietnam
With little room rate, you can easily rent a nice and spacious hotel room in the center of Sapa town. It is possible that a room for a single person can include 3 beds!
Hotel room in Sapa
Moreover, you can hire a trekking guide directly from your hotel to guide you through the excursion in Sapa without having to find a local guide.
Sapa has a problem with touts
You’ll hear on the streets some speeches such as “You Buy” and “Buy from me”. The Black Hmong women and children can be seen everywhere in town, stalking tourist hotels to sell their goods for earning livings. If you buy from one child, beware! You’ll tempt more children, who want you to patron their products as well. It’s a real problem – the kids come all the way from their villages to sell souvenirs to help support their families and sometimes they sleep in the market or don’t attend school.
Hire a trekking guide
If you haven’t guessed by reading my Vietnam posts, Sapa Valley is known for its hilltribe and trekking. The hilltribe minorities make up the majority of trekking guides in Sapa. After all, they’re showing you their backyard. In this case, it’s best to hire directly through a hilltribe agency group in Sapa versus your hotel or a Vietnamese trekking agency, as the hilltribe will only get a small fraction of that money.
Read more:
- From Hanoi to Sapa – What to expect
- 10 reasons can’t wait to travel Sapa Vietnam
- 10 Markets Why you should visit in Sapa
It is recommended to hire a guide during your excursion
