Seeking Alternatives To Sapa

Hi there one and all. I just have a feeling that Sapa has changed considerably since I was there in 1996 and that it possibly has become a victim of it's own success and popularity. Do you think that's true? Has it lost it's charm and what's it like now going on the short treks now to the outlining villages. Do you get a sense now that either the residents of the villages are sick of tourists, or spoilt by tourism? Or is it still quite wonderful going there? Can anyone suggest some great alternatives to Sapa maybe, which have similar landscape and/or hilltribes or cool villages? Thanking you

Well, there's Ha Giang...

Agree with the above - Ha Giang.

Are you seeking alternatives in Vietnam, In South East Asia or in the world?

Sapa in Vietnam

I found Sapa became a lot busier in the 10 years from 2008-2017, but Bac Ha, also in the far north, hardly changed at all in the same time. Bac Ha is one of my favourite places in Vietnam for that reason. I have only been to Ha Giang province once and it is great too.

Sapa is growing like crazy BUT there are still plenty of possibilities of trekking with few tourists or none around, for example with Olivier-Sapa (3 houses in his tiny hamlet 45 mn walk from Ta Phin, with NO tourists around). If not, Ha Giang is certainly not a choice, very limited trekking, but Bac Ha is definitely a solution : excellent trekking and very few tourists on the trails becausemost people know BH only for the Saturday morning market in Can Cau and the big one in BH itself on Sunday morning. Excellent trekkings organized by the best hotel in BH, the Ngan Nga BAC HA, just before the bid Ngan Nga for groups

I forgot, you can go Hanoi- BH and back by a direct night bus

3 years ago, the expressway connecting Hanoi to Laocai was put to use. A journey from Hanoi to Sapa is very convenient because the length of travel shorten from 10 hours to 5 hours and passengers have many transport options to get there such as shuttle bus, train and car. As a result, Sapa is spoilt by tourism and other bad policies from the local authority. Visiting Sapa this time is like being put on construction site with its dusty roads.
I recommend Hoang Su Phi, a district of Ha Giang province. The places belong to Hoang Su Phi that you must see is Phung village, Nhung village where you can enjoy breathtaking views with terraced rice fields, streams and picturesque villages of La Chi, Tay tribe. you may be strange to them because of less tourist there. The local people are very friendly and you are welcomed there

It is true that Sapa is busy busy, but you do not go there to stay in town, you go there to do trekkings all day with nights in mountain homestays, some of them with very few tourists. The region of Hoang su Phi is very beautiful, but not of easy access unlesss you have all the time on Earth. To avoid crowds and of easy access, Bah Ha is much better (night train Hnaoi-Loa Cai + bus LCC-BH or DIRECT night bus Hanoi-BH). The trekkings aorganized by the Ngan Nga BH Hotel are EXCELLENT

Thank you. I will go to Ha Giang next time when I have more time

Thank you for this information. Will definitely go to Ha Giang province on my next visit to Vietnam

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