What To Do In Sapa?
Consider trekking, visiting ethnic villages, trying herbal bath and street food for a start
As one of the most prominent tourist destinations in Vietnam, Sapa offers travellers various choices of activities, depending on your hobbies and budget. Here are some for you to consider:
Trekking
For trekking enthusiasts, Sapa remains an excellent choice with its diverse trekking routes ranging from easy to challenging. Tourists can spend a few hours exploring tribal villages situated along the mountainsides, such as Cat Cat, Ta Phin, and Ta Van Village, or embark on a three-day expedition to conquer Fansipan Peak, the “roof of Indochina,” which reaches an impressive height of 3,147 meters. The breathtaking, untouched beauty of the valleys, towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, and terraced fields will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression. Trekking tours can be booked at numerous hotels and travel agencies throughout Sapa.
Read more about Trekking in Sapa.
Visiting An Ethnic Village
Sapa is also home to various ethnic minority groups, including the Yao and Hmong, who live in tribal villages within the surrounding mountainous regions. Tourists can enhance their trekking experience by integrating cultural travel, allowing for the exploration of both natural and historical wonders. Visitors have the option to spend a night or several days in local homes, immersing themselves in the daily lives, customs, gastronomy, and crafts of the ethnic communities.
Villages such as Cat Cat and Ta Phin are popular visits.
Photo: buiquyet.com - Cat Cat village
Photo: mytour.com
Taking Dzao Herbal Bath
The Dzao people in Sapa are renowned for their secret herbal bath therapy. After long days of travel and trekking, visitors can rejuvenate with a couple of hours in a herbal bath. Medicinal herbs, sourced exclusively from their mountainous environment, are meticulously selected and blended to address specific health issues, typically incorporating 12-14 different herbs in each remedy. These herbs are boiled for 3-4 hours to extract their essence. A herbal bath is known to alleviate stress, relieve fatigue, promote relaxation, and restore overall well-being.
Photo: Internet
Sampling Street Food
If you are seeking unique culinary experiences, Sapa delivers a delightful array of options. Both Vietnamese and Western dishes are widely available in various restaurants and hotels in the area. Additionally, visitors can discover exceptional local foods at Sapa’s vibrant markets and along the streets. Enjoying hot grilled chicken, pork, fish, mushrooms, and eggs is particularly enjoyable against the backdrop of Sapa's cool climate. Notable local specialties include "thang co" (horse meat), five-color sticky rice, and locally produced wines, which continue to attract tourists.
Photo: toplist.vn
Trekking in Sapa - A Starter's Guide
Mountainous area of northern Vietnam is among the best places all over the country for trekking. Depending on their trekking skills and ability, tourists can choose the trekking route which is most suitable, as Sapa offers a wide range of trekking spots from easy to hard level.
Fansipan Mountain Hike
There are three popular routes to conquer Fansipan, with the starting point is Tram Ton pass, Cat Cat ethnic village or Sin Chai; in which Sin Chai route is said to be the most beautiful but the most dangerous also.
Nightlife in Sapa
Sapa is a beautiful, mountainous town in northern Vietnam.
