10 Best Things To Do In Sapa

1. Climb up Fansipan Mount

A huge summer adventure is fulfilled with a journey to Fansipan Mount, the roof of Indochina. If you're up to challenges, you can choose a 2-day strenuous trek ascending to the summit. This excursion will pass through a lot of beautiful tropical landscapes and allow you to witness the diverse flora and fauna system. Alternatively, more leisure and safer option is to hop on a cable car to the peak which takes only about 1 hour. The best time to take up this adventurous journey is in spring from March to May and in autumn from September to October.

2. Take photos of Sapa Stone Church

Set in the heart of Sapa Town, Sapa Church is one of the most attractive sightseeing places in the town. Built in the 20th century on a flat wide area, this catholic stone church was designed in French architectural style and adorned with a cross-shaped bell tower. A lot of ethnic people wearing traditional costumes gather here to sell hand-crafted items and souvenirs. From this quaint building, you will have direct look to the main square where many festivities and love markets are taken place.

3. Soak up busy and unique Sapa Market

The best way to get a real taste of local culture is to get lost in bustling markets. Undoubtedly, Sapa Market provides tourists fanciful experiences of bargaining embroidered items, trinkets, ethnic clothing, medical herbs, and fresh fruits. In addition to buying souvenirs, visitors should also try dishes like "men men" (steamed corn wheat), corn wine, and "thang co" (horse soup). This open-air market is only taken place every Sunday with the participation of many H'mong, Red Dao, and many other minorities.

4. Biking in Muong Hoa Valley

A hassle-free biking journey in Muong Hoa Valley is a memorable experience for leisure travelers. Bicycle rental service is available at a reasonable price. There are many trails that you can hike through such as dirty tracks to Hang Da Village and small hamlets of Black H'mong people. This kind of tour can be tailor-made depending on your strength and preferences. 

5. Go trekking through ethnic villages 

Sapa Town has a variety of long-distance walking routes through pastoral hill tribe villages and mountainous terrain. Slow trekking adventures offer intrepid travelers stunning cloud-shrouded mountain scenery of well-known villages namely Cat Cat Village, Ta Van Village, and Sin Chai Village. Tourists will also have an opportunity to see stilt houses, meet local people, and get to know about their cultures and daily lives. A great trek should combine with an overnight stay in a homestay and savor traditional cuisines.

6. Motorcycle trip on O Quy Ho Pass

As one of Vietnam's four greatest passes, a motorcycle ride to O Quy Ho Pass will blow your mind. Only skillful drivers can conquer the pass yet marvelous views pay off. Winding roads carved into rugged verdant mountains are often covered in clouds. On the way, for a little romance, you can stop over Mong Mo Sapa Rose Garden, check in the Heaven Gate, and Silver Fall.

7. Sample local specialties

Just plumping for a mountainous retreat in Sapa Town, you will absolutely wish for tasting the extraordinary cuisine of the region. The top priority should come to Thang Co, a traditional hotpot of H'mong minority. This dish is a bit weird using horsemeat as the main ingredient and eaten with sub-tropical vegetables. Besides, salmon hotpot and bamboo sticky rice are delightful choices for tourists.

8. Filming beautiful rice terraced fields

Just like ladders towards the sky, massive rice fields in Sapa amaze tourists at the first sight. A new crop is prepared in summer. And in autumn, those fields turn from bright green to brilliant yellow. Coming to Sapa at this time, you will marvel at the most astonishingly spectacular views ever and have a chance to see local people cultivate ripen rice.

9. Visit Silver Waterfall

About 30 minutes of driving from the center of Sapa towards O Quy Ho Pass, you will see Silver Waterfall on the side of national road 4D. Silver Waterfall is about 200m high rushing down from a vast mountain. This is known as one of the most famous tourist attractions in Sapa and still retains natural beauty at present.

10. Sip a cup of coffee with cloudy views

Either you're fond of Western-style coffee or authentic Vietnamese coffee, you can enjoy relaxing moments of sipping with incredible views. There is no dearth of cafes in this town and some of the to-go places are Sapa O'Chau Cafe, Cong Caphe, Le Petit Gecko, and Fansipan Terrace Cafe. All offer mesmerizing views of Hoang Lien Son mountain ranges, rustic villages, tropical forests, and subtle clouds in the early morning. Those coffee shops are also ideal for brunch as you can order some snacks and cakes.