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How to Tour Sapa, Vietnam on a Trip from Hanoi
For epic walks through some of Vietnam’s most scenic countryside, Sapa makes for a great 2-day trip from Hanoi. Definitely consider including in the itinerary for your tour in Vietnam. In Sapa, you’ll find sweeping, panoramic views of rice terraces, mountains, waterfalls, and winding rivers.
Winter is a good time to go, when the weather was cool and pleasant during the day. I took this trip one December, when the weather remained in the 50s and 60s Fahrenheit during the hike. The only drawback to a winter visit is that the post-harvest foliage colors may not be quite as vibrant then as in other seasons.
It’s a long way from Hanoi to Sapa, so I’d recommend planning to arrive in Sapa the night before a day-long adventure. Read on for a summary of what an overnight Sapa 2-day trip looks like.
Trip Planning and How to Get to Sapa Vietnam
It’s easy and affordable to hire reputable tour and transport companies for your Sapa tour. You can hire one to set up your hike and another to take you from Hanoi to Sapa and back.
Sapa O’Chau is a good choice for a tour company that can set up a hike. Expect to pay around $60 for a solo trip and a little more than $30 for each person if you’re traveling in a group of two or three.
Eco Sapa and Sapa Express are good choices for transportation companies. A one-way drive should cost under $30 per person.
Eco Sapa will send a minivan to pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi. The vehicle I rode in was comfortable overall, but it’s a bumpy ride if you’re sitting in the back. Seats were large, lighting was good, and there were even USB charging outlets and free WiFi on board.
Be aware that it’s a long ride from Hanoi to Sapa—around seven hours. We had two rest stops en route and arrived at the reasonably priced Sapa Central Hotel (under $15 for the night) late in the evening.
Sapa in December is cold for Vietnam; the temperature was in the 40s Fahrenheit upon arrival. Fortunately, each of the beds had an electric blanket and the hot water worked well.
What to Bring
It’s a good idea to wear comfortable hiking shoes, and to bring sunscreen and a hat. Take an overnight bag with a change of clothes and toiletries too. Insect repellent is another good item to have unless you’re traveling in the winter, when bugs are less of a concern.
What to See in the Sapa Countryside On a Ta Phin Trek
Start off your day early and check out the Sapa Museum if it’s open. Then check in with Sapa O’Chau or whatever tourism agency you’ve booked today’s tour with.
If you’re taking the Ta Phin Trek (which is one of the most popular hikes), you’ll meet your guide at around 8:30 a.m. Ours was a member of the black Hmong (so named because they often wore black) ethnic minority. The Ta Phin Trek is a 14-kilometer hike through the Sapa countryside.
Town of Sapa
The town of Sapa barely existed in the early 2000s, but over the years, tourism dollars have built up the region considerably. Billboards may advertise plans for skyscrapers in the near future.
Early on in your trek, you’ll see hostels that flank the roads and a pretty church in the center of town.
Make your way north and leave the town of Sapa behind for a vast rural area.
Suoi Ho Village
As you proceed, rice terraces carved into the side of hills will come into view. Usually crops in the area are planted in April and May and then harvested in September. If you visit during the winter, the fields and terraces may be comparatively barren. There will be some unusual sights from time to time, like a guy on a bike carrying a pig.
You’ll pass a small waterfall and perhaps a few pigs rooting around in the earth before arriving at the village of Suoi Ho, home of the Hmong. The village has a population of around 1,000, including a few shamans; you might hear one of them chanting something in one of the homes. The village now has electricity, but this was not the case at the beginning of the 21st century.
Past the village, you’ll have views of rice terraces, bubbling creeks, and pools of plant-filled water.
A few of the villagers might tag along as you proceed. We had an entourage of five or six costumed Hmong and Red Dao women trailing us with baskets of handicrafts on their backs.
Matra Village
The second village you’ll see is Matra. The rolling hills of rice terraces will become even more impressive as you hike north. Resort construction may be underway. You’ll also the remains of a church from the French colonial period in the early 20th century.
Some places in the area have water buffalo for agriculture and others have fields of indigo; a water buffalo here sells for around $1,000 and an indigo plant goes for $200.
Ta Phin and Lunch
By noon you should arrive in Ta Phin for a lunch stop. Our lunch consisted of rice, chicken, vegetables, spring rolls, and water.
The views from the restaurant tables are perhaps the grandest of all, a sweeping panorama of mountains and terraces.
After lunch you’ll hike another 30-60 minutes to a pickup point in Ta Phin, where a driver will take you back over bumpy roads to Sapa.
Sapa Museum
If you missed it this morning, this afternoon is your chance to visit the Sapa Museum. The first floor of the museum has an odd collection of lizards, birds, and grubs pickled in some kind of liquid. Various handicrafts are on sale here
The second floor has the bulk of the museum’s holdings, and is dedicated to the region’s ethnic minorities. Exhibits show the typical dress, homes, and belongings of these groups. A particularly interesting display explains some of their customs: whistling should be avoided, as it might summon the devil, and one shouldn’t pat children on the head because doing so may cause their souls to flee, making them sick!
Return to Hanoi
By mid-afternoon you can head over to the bus stop for Sapa Express or whatever bus company you plan to use, then depart. Sapa Express uses a giant double decker bus with fully reclinable seats and a bathroom. Be warned that the restroom shakes violently when the bus is driving, so be careful if you use it. Everyone is also expected to remove their shoes upon boarding and put them in plastic bags.
You’ll enjoy some more good views of the rice terraces initially. Plan to be back in Hanoi by around 9 p.m. if you take the 2:45 p.m. bus.
Other Sapa Tours
If you’d like to explore other options besides the 1-day Ta Phin Trek, keep these other treks that Sapa O’Chau offers in mind:
- Nature View and Village Trek (2 days)
- Farm Visit and Homestay Package (2 days/2 nights)
- Hmong Homestay Trek (2 days)
- Sapa Village Package (2 days/3 nights)
- Red Dao Homestay Trek (2 days)
- Muong Hoa Trek (3 days)
- Daily Life in Northwest Vietnam (3 days/4 nights)
Onward from Sapa
While you’re in the Hanoi area, you’ll have plenty of other short adventures to choose from in and around Hanoi. For another good short trip, think about taking a cruise on Halong Bay or Lan Ha Bay near Cat Ba Island.