Established as a hill station by the French colonialists in 1922, Sapa today is the tourism centre of the northwest.
Sapa is oriented to make the most of the spectacular views emerging on clear days; it overlooks a plunging valley, with mountains towering above on all sides. Views are often subdued by thick mist rolling across the peaks, but even when it's cloudy, local hill-tribe people fill the town with color.
If you were expecting a quaint alpine town, recalibrate your expectations. Modern tourism development has seen Sapa's skyline continually thrust upwards. But you're not here to hang out in town. This is northern Vietnam's premier trekking base, from where hikers launch themselves into a surrounding countryside of cascading rice terraces and tiny hill-tribe villages that seem a world apart. Once you've stepped out into the lush fields, you'll understand the Sapa area's real charm.
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Sapa.
Cable Car
Towering above Sapa are the Hoang Lien Mountains, once known to the French as the Tonkinese Alps and now a national park. These mountains include the often-cloud-obscured Fansipan (3143m), Vietnam’s highest peak, regularly dubbed 'The Roof of Indochina'. Fansipan's wild, lonesome beauty has been somewhat shattered with the opening of a 6292m-long cable car, taking people across the Muong Hoa Valley and up to near the summit in 15 minutes.
Museum
An excellent showcase of the history and ethnology of the Sapa area, including the French colonial era. Dusty exhibitions overview the various ethnic groups around Sapa, with information on the region's rich handicrafts, so it's worth a quick visit when you first arrive in town. Located above a handicrafts shop behind the Tourist Information Center.
Market
Turfed out of central Sapa and now in a purpose-built modern building near the bus station, Sapa Market is still interesting, and hill-tribe people from surrounding villages come here most days to sell handicrafts. Saturday is the busiest day.
Viewpoint
The road between Sapa and Lai Chau crosses the Tram Ton Pass on the northern side of Mt Fansipan, 15km from Sapa. At 1900m it's Vietnam’s highest mountain pass, and acts as a dividing line between two climatic zones. The lookout points here have fantastic views in clear weather.
Church
Sapa's small stone church was built by the French and is still a central landmark. It opens for Mass on Sunday and on certain evenings for prayers.
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