"Sa Pa - Insight into Ethnic Minorities of Vietnam" Top 5 Page for this destination Sapa by Brisvegaskid

Sapa Travel Guide: 174 reviews and 661 photos

Sa Pa & Trekking - Sapa
Sa Pa & Trekking

Sa Pa is a fantastic place to visit if you are into being on the ground, amongst the local people. There are tours which will give you a number of options in approach - various types and degrees of trek, including or not, a homestay.

Sa Pa is about 380km from Hanoi and in the mountains where it is often wet with mist or rain, and can be cold. There are many many different ethnic minority groups who maintain their cultural integrity and independence in the villages around Sa Pa. Their diversity is remarkable.

Trekking, you will see the paddi fields, water buffalo and other farm animals, the village life as you walk through and lots of cheeky children in traditional dress. You will see women working with babies strapped to their backs, weaving, spinning, working in the fields, carrying baskets of goods..somewhere. You will see earthen floored bamboo homes, some with concrete floors.

Getting here, you take the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai. This is not hard to do. A bus then takes you 38km from here up the mountain to Sa Pa. This is in itself an experience...much to see on the way. The bus has to travel this road with people on foot, on pushbikes, on motorbikes and occasional other vehicles, notably large trucks. So it's a slow journey and takes about an hour and a half. There are a lot of suicidal children and kamikaze motorbikes to avoid.

Once in Sa Pa, there are many shops, the colourful markets and street vendors selling fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, flowers, and all sorts of other goods, including clothing, local handcrafts and jewellery.

  • Last visit to Sapa: Dec 2006
  • Intro Updated Jan 4, 2007
  • Add to Trip Planner (?)
  • Report Abuse

Reviews (7)

Our homestay hostess - Sapa Homestay - A Never Forget Experience! Things to Do (1)

We stayed with a family in their village home. We enjoyed this very much and it was the highlight of our whole Vietnam... more travel advice

Persistent Vendors in Sa Pa - Sapa Persistent Vendors in Sa Pa Tourist Traps (2)

Sa Pa is becoming a bit of a mecca for tourists, if it not already this, and the locals certainly make the most of it.... more travel advice

'Helpful' Trekking Companions Will Demand Payment - Sapa 'Helpful' Trekking Companions Will... Tourist Traps (2)

When we were trekking with our guide through the mountains around Sa Pa, before very long we were joined by three or... more travel advice

Travelling by Train to Sa Pa Warnings and Dangers (2)

Commonly tourists take a 4-berth soft sleeper train cabin to Sa Pa. So you share with four other people. There isn't a... more travel advice

Comments (4)

  • Reply
    Greggor58's Profile Photo
    Jul 16, 2009 at 6:11 PM

    Great tips Sal....Sa Pa is definitely on the list of "where to explore" this January/February...Cheers!

  • Reply
    dancinbudgie's Profile Photo
    Aug 19, 2008 at 10:15 PM

    Great tips! You have really given some thoughtful advise. Thanks, Tracey

  • Reply
    anoum's Profile Photo
    Nov 23, 2007 at 7:05 AM

    I really like your tips, practical and concise.

  • Reply
    magor65's Profile Photo
    Jan 5, 2007 at 4:29 AM

    I'm planning to visit Vietnam in 2008, so i've read your tips with real interest. Being hosted by a local family must have been an experience.

Brisvegaskid's Related Pages

Sapa Travel Guide

 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Brisvegaskid's Profile Photo

Brisvegaskid

“This will be a great story to tell...”

Online Now

Top 5,000 Travel Writer
Member Rank:
0 2 9 8 4

Badges & Stats in Sapa

  • 7 Reviews
  • 4 Photos
  • 0 Forum posts
  • 4 Comments
  • 1,213PageViews
  • See All Stats
  • See All Badges (3)

Have you been to Sapa?

  Share Your Travels  

Latest Activity in Sapa

Photos in Sapa

See All Photos (4)

Top 5 Pages

See All Travel Pages (9)

Friends

No friends yet.

Latest Sapa hotel reviews

Topas Ecolodge
221 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2013
Chau Long Hotel
240 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 15, 2013
Sapa Hotel
7 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Mar 26, 2013
Sapa Rooms boutique hotel
408 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 19, 2013
Sapa Global Hotel
70 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jan 17, 2013
Cat Cat View Hotel
139 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 20, 2013
Cha Pa Garden Boutique Hotel & Spa
118 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 13, 2013
Bamboo Sapa Hotel
169 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 6, 2013
Lotus Hotel
21 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Aug 20, 2012
Victoria Hotel
313 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2013
Mountain View Hotel
64 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Feb 27, 2013
Sapa Summit Hotel
153 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 18, 2013
Sapa Golden Sea
8 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jul 27, 2011
Sapa Goldsea Hotel
1 Review & Opinion
Sapa Eden Hotel
210 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 20, 2013