When I think of Vietnam, I think of a nice big bowl of pho overlooking mountains carved with endless rice fields. Sa Pa is the perfect place to visit if that is your vacation vision. We made the journey from Hanoi to spend 3 days in this beautiful mountain town. Below are a few tips I learned in my research and experience there. Want the full itinerary? Get that here!
Getting There
This is going to be the biggest decision you'll need to make. There are a few different routes you can take from an overnight bus to a private van. What always helps me make my mind up is how much time will it take and will I still be able to see and/or enjoy the place I am visiting, money is not necessarily the biggest factor (especially in Vietnam where the USD goes so far). But if it is for you, see the options below to help you get an idea of what works best for you.
Option 1 - 6-hour Bus Ride
This is the option we decided to go with, specifically the Sa Pa Express. There are A LOT of companies to choose from in Hanoi as you walk around the Old Quarter. I booked ahead through Expedia just to be 100% sure we wouldn't be out of luck if there were all booked up. It was a bit of a wake-up call, the bus leaves at promptly at 6:30am. They do not wait, BE ON TIME. They also stop at little markets on the way so you can still get fresh food. I also liked that we would be dropped off in town in the afternoon and could figure out a taxi to our hotel at a reasonable time. We also took this route to return back to Hanoi. We booked the afternoon bus on the way back so we could sleep in and not stress about getting back into town early. We paid $25 per person, you can find cheaper tickets with 12GoAsia if that is out of your budget.
Option 2 - Night Bus
Some people like to take a night bus so they can sleep while they are traveling to their next destination. I didn't like how early in the morning or late at night it would arrive into town. We were staying 30 minutes outside of Sa Pa and I didn't want to stress about being stuck until taxis were available.
Option 3 - Private Taxi
This will be the most expensive option, but also the fastest. They will not stop as many times as the bus, unless you ask them to obviously. You can book a private car through some hotels, on Expedia, or 12GoAsia. These will range from $150 to $200 depending on how big the vehicle is.
Where to Stay
There are TONS of hotels in Sa Pa Town, we wanted the view of the rice fields the entire time and to have some time to unwind after the high energy of Hanoi. There are quite a few resorts just outside of town and there are plenty of taxis to get you back into town to explore for a day.
We decided to stay at the Eco Palms House. This is a family run resort that offers fresh cooked meals, amazing cocktails, and a beautiful location that overlooks the rice fields right outside your bungalow door. One morning we woke up to water buffalos grazing 3 feet from our porch. The staff goes above and BEYOND to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. The only thing I will say is it is more of a rustic experience than I was expecting. The bed is on the floor and they don't have a great shower situation. However, I am just not that type of traveller. I like to have a bit more of the comforts of home unless I am full on camping. It was still a great experience. The fireplace in the lodge was an amazing place to warm up after a fun day exploring and they have the cutest dog, Julie, who will become your best friend.
When to Go
We went to Sa Pa at the beginning of December. The nice part of that time of year is it is much quieter. It's not their high tourist season. BUT there is a reason for that, it can be very cloudy/misty the majority of the time and you can't see anything. Like seriously, there were a few hours we couldn't see out our window more than 2 feet. We were sitting in the clouds and it was COLD! If we had been a bit more prepared it would not have been bad weather wise. But we did not have proper rain gear or a warm enough jacket. I'd recommend the Patagonia Nano Puff with a rain jacket if you want to go this time of year. The best time to visit is September when the rice is turning the mountains are light up gold and the weather isn't as harsh.
All that said, we did have a good time and I don't feel like it ruined our experience. The mist/clouds cleared for the majority of the time and we were able to enjoy the amazing views.
What to Do
There is lots to do in town, explore the lake, park, and town square. There is a big market and of course, lots of amazing restaurants to check out. They also have a cable car that takes you to the top of Fasipan Peak for a better view of the entire valley. Because it was so cloudy, we decided to just hang out in town. But if we had a clear day, this would have been on our list.
What we did end up doing is a Sa Pa Trekking Tour through Eco Palms. This tour takes you down into the Muong Hoa valley to the smaller villages of Lao Chai, Ta Van, and Giang Ta Chai where you can see how they make traditional clothes, farm, and make amazing food. My favorite part was seeing how they made their textiles from hemp plants, dying it using the indigo plant and creating beautiful patterns with beeswax. The indigo plant creates the most beautiful color. This plant and dying process will turn the women's hands blue and this is an identification of what tribe they are from.
After seeing the villages, we went to our guides home where she cooked us lunch and we got to enjoy the view from the other side of the valley. Once we refueled, we continued our hike through the last village and through a bamboo forrest. That was such an experience with how misty it became. We decided to go the easy route so we could take our time and enjoy the views. It was about 4 miles total with a few big hills. If you are more active, I would go with the medium level trek to see a bit more, but honestly the easy route was perfect.
I highly recommend adding Sa Pa to your trip to Vietnam. It is such a unique place and allows you to see the northern most part of the country and what it's like to live in the mountains. Check out my post about Vietnam Travel Tips and Exploring Hanoi for more ideas to plan your trip! Want the full itinerary? Get that here!
Here are a few more photos to get you excited!
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