For many foreign visitors especially those come to Vietnam for the first time Sapa is a must-to-visit place. But Sapa is a mountainous district with high and difficult topography. Moreover, many visitors may be confusing how to go in Sapa. In order to help you plan a good itinerary, here are some places for you to go in Sapa:
1. Fansipan Mountain – the roof of the Indochina
With the height of 3143 meters, located in the central of Hoang Lien Son Mountain range, Fansipan is the highest mountain of Indochina. To conquer the height of the mountain, you have to spend 6 or 7 days because it is very difficult to trek on the mountain. Fansipan is on the top of must-to-go places for many trekkers and adventurous people. The mountain is about 9 kilometers from the Sapa town to the Southwest. You can be received the help from the ethnic people here to go to the mountain, they even guide you to the mountain if possible.
2. Ham Rong Mountain
Ham Rong Mountain is 3 kilometers from Sapa town so you can walk to it. Ham Rong Mountain is compared as a beautiful eden with many colorful flowers of all kinds and floating clouds. From the view of the mountain you can see all Sapa town, Muong Hoa valley, Ta Phin village.
3. The ancient church
Being built in 1895, the ancient church is the only remain in Sapa of French. It was renovated and preserved by local people in Sapa and become an attractive place to see.
4. Cat Cat village
2 kilometers away from Sapa, Cat Cat village is the place where Mong people live. The village has preserved many traditional of Mong ethic people from long ago with many crafts like weaving; cotton growing … The village is also an attractive place to go in Sapa
5. Ta Phin village
5. Ta Phin village
Ta Phin is also an ethnic village of Sapa which is famous for its traditional handicrafts and beautiful scenes. It is the village of the Red Dao people who are well-known for their skillful with their fine brocades. The people here are also friendly and hospitable. You can also come to Ta Phin cave, the cave looks like a palace with many stalactites in various shapes. To go to the village from Sapa town, you travel about 17 kilometers to the Southeast.
6. Muong Hoa valley – the old rocky area
6. Muong Hoa valley – the old rocky area
From the town, you travel across a pass along the mountains you will come to Muong Hoa village which is 8 kilometers to the Southeast away. In the valley, you will see an old rocky area with hundreds of sand rocks which have strange sculptures that are unexplainable. The rocky area was listed as National Heritage, a precious heritage of the ancestor. In the valley, there is also a beautiful stream which flows over Lao Chai, Ta Van, Hau Thao and Ban Ho village.
7. Bac waterfall – the Pass Peak
Bac waterfall is a famous place of attraction in Sapa which is 12 kilometers away to the path to Lai Chau province. From 200-meter height, Bac waterfall like a silky hair of a fairy in the old tale. However, it is recommended that you should not travel to Bac waterfall in spring because the lack of water. Further 3 kilometers, you can go to the Pass Peak where brings you a fantastic view to Fansipan Mountain and the road to Binh Lu beneath.
8. Paradise gate
18 kilometers to the North is the road to the “Paradise gate” which is windy and snaky over the mountains. The road called as Tram Ton, it is the pass along mighty Hoang Lien Son mountain range and the peak of the pass is the Paradise gate. On the Paradise gate, you can embrace all the views of Sapa in your eyes; many terraces, mighty Fansipan Mountain, Bac waterfall … are in your eyesight. Only by being in there can you feel the beauty of Sapa completely.
9. Fairy cave
Fairy cave is a famous sightseeing in Bao Nhai commune, Bac Ha distric. To go there, you have to travel on Chay River over the ancient Trung Do citadels. The cave is described as a miniature of Halong with its origin related to a legend of Ba Co Temple. Each year, many visitors come here to enjoy the beauty of the scene as well as pray for health, prosperity and beauty.
10. Coc San cave
Famous for its natural beauty, Coc San cave is a rock cave in Coc San commune, Bat Xat district which is 7 kilometers away from Sapa. Although difficult topography, many people are attracted to Coc San to see the scenes of waterfalls and caves system here. It can be said that the beauty of Coc San is mysterious and magical that it seduces all the people coming here.