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In this article we are going to share the best things to do in Sapa in 2025. Sapa is a beautiful town located in the north of Vietnam around 300 km northwest of Hanoi. Sapa has a well-earned reputation for stunning scenery, amazing trekking and epic food.
We absolutely loved our time in Sapa. There is so much to see and do in the area and prices are very reasonable. We loved the local culture, particularly the opportunity to learn about traditional H’mong culture. There are some amazing homestays in the area and plenty of incredible trekking. People in Sapa are warm, welcoming and friendly.
In this article we are going to share the absolute best things to do in the area, where to do them, how to organize your trip and how much activities cost. We will tell you everything you need to know to plan your own independent adventure and NOT miss a thing.
You may also be interested in out ULTIMATE 10 day Vietnam itinerary. Don’t miss a thing with this step by step guide. AND don’t make these mistakes in Vietnam – READ our genius Vietnam travel tips for an amazing trip
Join us living in a village near Sapa
Join our family living in a rural village near Sapa – find out what it is really like to travel around Sapa with kids…
Summary of the BEST things to do in Sapa
- Go trekking with a local guide
- Stay at an amazing homestay
- Visit a waterfall
- Walk around the lake
- Visit the incredible Fanispan
- Visit Cat Cat village
- Learn about H’mong culture
- But some local craft
- Try the local food
- Stay in a luxury hotel
Map of some of the best things to do in Sapa
What is the best way to get around in Sapa?
If you are staying in sapa town it is possible to walk from place to place because the town is relatively small. However, if you’re planning to visit some of the attractions outside Sapa, we recommend using a taxi. Unfortunately the taxi apps do not work around this area. Therefore, you will need to flag the taxi it at the side of the road and agree on the price. A short journey close to Sapa should cost around 50,000 – 100,000VND. If you are traveling further expect to pay 200,000 – 300,000VND.
What is the best way to travel to Sapa?
There are several ways to travel from Hanoi to Sapa. The cheapest way to travel to Sapa is to take a bus. This takes around 6 – 7 hours. You can take a night bus or day time bus. The long-distance buses are surprisingly comfortable and you can find sleeper buses with beds. Bus tickets generally cost around 300,000VND – 400,000VND (£10 – £15 or approximately $12 – $18). You can also take comfortable limo vans to Sapa. These vans are a little bit faster and more expensive than the bus. The journey costs 5 – 6 hours and costs around 500,000VND (around £17 or $20).
Alternatively you can also take the sleeper train to Sapa. Night trains in Vietnam are very comfortable with secure lockable cabins and comfortable beds. You will need to take the train from Hanoi to Lao Cai and then take a minibus to Sapa which takes around 30 minutes. The train from Hanoi to Lao Cai costs around 700,000VND – 1,000,000VND (£25 – £35 or around $30 – $40).
A few sights in Sapa town
Here are a few things to see in town. The main lake is a very beautiful spot – there are paths all of the way around the lake and very beautiful views. Sapa square and the stone church are also popular attractions in town. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes around town too.
1 Go trekking with a local guide
Don’t miss our FULL guide on trekking in Sapa
One of the best things to do in Sapa is go trekking with a local guide. There are many ways to organize trips. You can pre-book a trek online in advance. Alternatively, you can book trekking adventures with a local tour operator. If you are feeling intrepid and adventurous why not just turn up in Sapa and organize a trek directly with a local guide? Furthermore, it is possible to do single day treks, 2-day 1-night treks or 3-day 2 night treks.
It is likely to cost between £20 – £100 to go trekking in the area depending on the length of the trek and what is included. A single day is likely to cost around £20 if you book in advance. Many pre-booked trips include transport, food and accommodation. Always check exactly what is included before you book. Bring plenty of snacks, water and appropriate footwear. Also make sure you have all of the cash that you need for your trip (there are not any ATM machines outside of Sapa).
2 Stay at an amazing homestay
Looking to immerse yourself in Culture? Why not stay in one of the dreamy Sapa homestays. This is a perfect way to slow down, disconnect from tech and reconnect with nature. Homestays around Sapa can be quite basic. For example, there may not be WI-Fi or internet access in the area. Bring a warm layer as they can be cold. There are absolutely loads of homestays in the area. Some homestays are located in Sapa town, other homestays are located in the hills around this area.
Homestays in Sapa tend to cost between £10 – £50 per night, with many properties at the lower end of this range. In general, homestays include comfortable accommodation and breakfast. Some places may offer additional activities or experiences. Some of the home stays around Sapa actually have outdoor swimming pools. If you are planning to stay in a homestay outside of town, we recommend bringing plenty of cash. There are not any ATMs in the countryside villages around Sapa and many places do not accept card payments.
Here are a few of our favourite homestays: Mintu Home, Tatu homestay, Amica House, Chapa Farmstay and Plum Eco House
3 Visit a waterfall
If you are looking for Intrepid things to do around Sapa, why not visit one of the amazing waterfalls in the area? There are several impressive waterfalls in the hills surrounding Sapa. Here are a few waterfalls you could visit in the area:
- Nhà hát waterfall located in Cat Cat village
- Quy Khach waterfall near Giang Ta Chai village
- Love waterfall – impressive cascade
4 Try Vietnamese coffee by the lake
If you are visiting Sapa we highly recommend trying some amazing Vietnamese coffee by the lake. Sapa has a large lake in the middle of the town. There are several small cafes, restaurants and coffee shops located close to the lake. This is a great place to slow down, relax and enjoy a Vietnamese coffee. One of our favorite coffee shops in Sapa is Le Geckgo Cafe.
They serve a tempting selection of drinks and food. On the menu they offer both local dishes and international foods such as pizza, pastas and burgers. The food is very tasty and the portions are generous at this cafe.
5 Visit the incredible Fanispan
Fanispan is the tallest mountain in the region and towers at an impressive 3,147m (high enough to experience altitude sickness so go steady!) The peak of Fanispan is often veiled in cloud. However, in the right conditions you can see panoramic views over the mountains of north Vietnam with clouds swirling in the valleys. The trek up Fanispan is is very challenging. If you want to trek we recommend going with a local guide. Alternatively you can use the funicular railways and cable car to reach the summit of Fanispan. The prices are as follows:
You can purchase tickets at the Sapa Station – located in Sun Plaza, right next to the Sapa Square (Ga Tàu Leo Núi). In total it is likely to cost around 1,000,000VND for an adult to visit Fanispan. The prices are as follows: Muong Hoa Funicular return ticket 99,000VND, cable car return ticket 737,000VND and the Fanispan funicular tickets 100,000VND (one way).
Keep it simple -You can BOOK your tickets in advance on Klook.
6 Visit Cat Cat village
If you are looking for cultural things to do in Sapa but don’t want to travel too far from town, why not visit Cat Cat Village. Cat Cat Village is located a couple of kilometers southwest of Sapa. This lovely little village has small shops selling art and craft, beautiful home stays, rice paddies and a stunning river located in a small valley. In this area you can enjoy viewpoints, coffee shops, local food and you can even watch cultural performances and learn local games. We recommend allowing at least half a day to visit Cat Cat Village and be prepared for some walking up and down hills. You do need to buy a ticket to visit Cat Cat village. You can buy tickets from the office on arrival. Tickets cost 70,000 VND for adults and 30,000 VND for children.
7 Learn about H’mong culture
If you are looking for cultural things to do in Sapa make sure that you spend some time learning about the local H’mong culture. This vibrant mountain culture can often be recognised by their bright beautiful clothing. There are different ways to learn about this beautiful mountain culture. You can sample some of their local food, visit the local market or take a guided trek. You can also see local dance and music performances in Cat Cat Village.
8 Buy some local craft
A great way to support locals in the beautiful part of the world is by art and craft work. You will find many people walking around town selling art, craft and small products like bracelets and jewellery. Most products cost 30,000 – 150,000VND. There are many people selling art, craft and local products in Cat Cat village.
9 Try the local food
Make sure that you sample some of the local food. Some of the most popular dishes in Sapa include Vietnamese hot pot which is served with noodles, egg, tofu and meat. Hog roast is also a very common and popular dish served in Sapa. Another popular and unique dish in the area is water buffalo, which is sometimes fried with ginger and onions or served as a smoked or dried meat. One of the cheapest local dishes is Pho soup. This is a mild noodle soup served with garnish, vegetables and meat.
10 Stay in a luxury hotel
If you’re looking for relaxing things to do in Sapa why not stay in one of the dreamy luxurious Hotels in Sapa? Many of these unbelivable places are immersed in lush green rice paddies and surrounded by panoramic mountains – the perfect antithesis between wild and decadent luxury!
It is impressive how far your money can go on hotels in Sapa. There are several very impressive luxurious hotels in the area. These hotels are very stylish, with amazing views, large decadent and luxurious suites and warm heated indoor swimming pools.
They also offer fine dining including local and international cuisine. So if you are looking for a decadent and relaxing experience, the five-star hotels in Sapa provide a peaceful and tranquil environment for you to enjoy this stunning place. Here are a few luxury hotels in Sapa: Hotel De Le Coupole, the Silk Path Grand Resort, KK Sapa hotel, Pao’s Sapa Leisure hotel and Ville De Mont moutain resort.
Where are the best places to stay in Sapa?
There are some very impressive places to stay in Sapa. Here are some of our top pick home stays, guest houses and hotels in Sapa all of these properties are located in or very close to sapa town.
1 Sapa Capsule hostel
Looking for an amazing budget option? Check out the Sapa Capsule hostel. This place is well located in the centre of Sapa town, around a 10 minute walk from the lake. The staff are very helpful and friendly with excellent local knowledge. Whether you want to rent a motorbike or find out the latest conditions on mount Fanispan – they can help you make the most of your trip.They even offer spacious two person capsules. Rooms are generally under £10.
2 Mintu Home
Mintu homestay boasts for of the best views around. This lovely place is located at the south of Sapa town. The walk to town is around 20 – 30 minutes and there are also plenty of taxis around too. Ling and her family run this homestay and welcome guests with warm hospitality. They also include a very good breakfast with a choice of Vietnamese and western food. Rooms are around £20. We strongly recommend booking a room with a mountain view (mountain view rooms may be slightly more expensive but we reckon that it’s worth it!)
3 Sapa Pine Hill Eco Lodge
Sapa Pine offers amazing rooms and villas. We love the wooden interiors – the perfect aesthetic for the lovely natural surroundings of Sapa. This Eco Lodge is excellently located on a hill to the west of the lake affording breathtaking views and convenient access to town. Sapa Pine is only a 5-10 minute walk from the town square and the lake. Book early to avoid disappointment. Rooms range in price between £30 – £170
4 Sapa Horizon Hotel
This is probably the most impressive hotel for a combination of luxury and breathtaking views of the mountains. Rooms are excellently designed with large windows allowing plenty of natural light and giving the best panoramic views of the stunning surroundings. The Horizon has terraces and seating areas that create relaxing spaces to enjoy the stunning views here. The Horizon Hotel is only a few minutes walk from the central square and the lake. Rooms generally range between £50 – £150
5 Hotel De La Coupole
Hotel De La Coupole is one of the most luxurious hotels in Sapa. This hotel has a vibrant eclectic 1900 interior design theme throughout the hotel. There is a heated indoor swimming pool and the food is excellent. Check out the executive King Suite with its rich regal red interiors. Some rooms may include breakfast or dinner – always check what’s included when you book. Hotel De La Coupole is also located in the centre of Sapa town only a few minutes walk from Central Square and the lake. Rooms generally range in price between £100 – £400 per night.
