Sapa travel guide and tourist information

Sapa is situated in the north west of Vietnam, very close to the Chinese border. Sapa, as well as Halong Bay, is one of the main excursions from Hanoi. Travellers who have enough time to spare can complete a circuit of the northwest highlands, taking in Mai Chau, Son La, Lai Chau and ending up in Sapa, before returning to Hanoi. This trip takes around a week to be fully enjoyed.

Most visitors travel in this area by private vehicle or public bus. It can be very dangerous to travel during the wet season, due to landslides. The best time to tour the area is: March to May; or September to December.

Sapa is a vibrant town due to the diverse range of cultures residing there. The Hmong and Dzao tribes come to the town each day to sell their produce and goods. Visitors will find a pleasing array of clothes and handicrafts for sale in the markets.

The truly magical scenery lies outside the town, around Tram Ton Pass. This 1900m elevation is the highest in Vietnam and the 100m tall Thac Bac waterfall is also in the area. The scenery in this region is stunning, with almost vertical rice fields and magnificent mountain peaks providing an enchanting backdrop.