If you’ve ever wanted to hike through rice terraces and sip smoothies with mountain views— Sapa, Vietnam is calling. Tucked in Northern Vietnam near the border with China, Sapa is like nature’s version of a spa weekend: relaxing, scenic, a little damp, and full of unexpected surprises (like buffaloes casually blocking your hiking trail).
This 4-day itinerary will take you through exactly how we explored Sapa — how to get there, what to do, where to stay, and how to enjoy the mountain town without falling into every tourist trap along the way.
We spent one month in Vietnam so check out some of our other blogs about Hanoi, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Phong Nha, Nha Trang, and Saigon (coming soon)!
Curious about other destinations on our journey? Check out our blogs on Laos, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand or the Philippines!
Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission if you make a purchase—at no additional cost to you.
TLDR 🫣
Sapa is a dreamy mountain town in northern Vietnam, famous for its terraced rice fields, dramatic valleys, and rich cultural tapestry of ethnic minority groups like the Hmong and Red Dao. Over four days, we soaked in misty mountain views from an infinity pool, trekked through remote villages with a local guide, took a cable car through the clouds to the top of Fansipan Mountain, and devoured hot pot like champions.
Itinerary
- Day 1: Took the luxury bus from Hanoi to Sapa, checked into Lady Hill Sapa Resort, and spent the afternoon poolside with epic valley views before dinner at Red Dzao.
- Day 2: Hiked through Lao Chai and Ta Van with a local Hmong guide, visited Moana Sapa (for the 'Gram), and ended the day with coconut coffee and Korean BBQ.
- Day 3: Rode the cable car to the top of Fansipan, explored waterfalls and Heaven’s Gate, and stuffed ourselves with hot pot at the hotel.
- Day 4: Took it slow with egg coffee and mountain views before catching the bus back to Hanoi with full hearts (and stomachs).
Pro Tips:
- Book the luxury sleeper bus from Hanoi — NOT the sardine-stuffed three-row ones. Your spine will thank you.
- Bring sunscreen! Just because you’re in the mountains doesn’t mean the sun won’t roast you.
- Don’t underestimate hotel breakfast buffets — Lady Hill’s kept us full until dinner.
- Visit Moana Sapa only if you're craving Instagram content. It’s pretty, but it’s not exactly cultural immersion.
- Pack layers — the weather flips between a hot summer and a rainy spring depending on altitude and time of day.
- Don’t skip Fansipan — the cable car alone is worth the price of admission.
- Always say yes to hot pot.
Top Awards:
- Best Experience: Trekking through Lao Chai and Ta Van with a Hmong guide — real culture, jaw-dropping views, and mango smoothies with a view.
- Best Eats: Red Dzao House — traditional Red Dao flavors that made us consider moving in with the chef.
- Best "Bang for Your Buck" Hotels: Lady Hill Sapa Resort — luxury vibes, a killer view, and a buffet that’ll change your life (or at least your appetite).
- Best e-SIM: Airalo (You can use our referral code “CELINA4205” to save $4.50 CAD OFF your first purchase).
So… What Even Is Sapa?
Sapa is a highland town nestled in the Hoàng Liên Son Mountains of northwest Vietnam. Think rolling green rice terraces, misty mountain peaks, and locals from diverse ethnic minority communities like the Hmong and Red Dao. It’s a place where every postcard view is real, and every trail could either lead to a waterfall or a really photogenic water buffalo.
How to Get to Sapa from Hanoi
First things first — unless you’ve figured out teleportation, you’ll be making the trip from Hanoi to Sapa. You have options: train (slow and scenic), private car (expensive and windy), or luxury sleeper bus, which we highly recommend. And it’s affordable!
We booked our round-trip bus through Michael — shout out to the legend and owner of our Hanoi hotel. For just $87 CAD total for two people, we got reclining seats, air-con, Wi-Fi, and enough leg room to avoid losing circulation. Pro tip: Don’t book the buses with three tiny rows of sleeper beds — unless you enjoy intimate shoulder time with strangers and waking up with a neck cramp.
Our luxury bus left Hanoi at 6:10 AM, (I know, early!) but we wanted to get to Sapa before sunset as the weather forecast was looking good. We were in Sapa by early afternoon — rested, hungry, and just a bit motion sick. The bus drivers in Vietnam really have no concerns with speed limits.
Where to Stay in Sapa
We stayed at Lady Hill Sapa Resort, and let us just say: WOW. This place is fairly new, so those Instagrammers haven’t invaded it yet, but already one of our favorite stays in all of Vietnam. Picture an infinity pool overlooking emerald rice fields, sleek modern rooms, and a staff so lovely they could probably fix your emotional trauma with a smile.
The best part? An all-inclusive breakfast buffet that kept us full till dinner. No joke. We were basically feral by evening from not needing lunch — just snacked and caffeinated our way through the day. 10/10 would stay again.
Pro Tip: It’s cheaper to stay during the weekdays. But more importantly, the weather was going to be ideal during these days. So if you can book your stay at Lady Hill Sapa and the weather is in your favor, then it’s a double win!
Getting Around Sapa
Sapa town is walkable-ish… if you’re okay with hills that make your thighs question your life choices. For anything further, like treks or viewpoints, book a tour with transport included or hire a driver through your hotel. Grab also works in town but isn’t as reliable as in bigger cities.
The only issue with Lady Hill Sapa is that it is far from the town, and up in the mountains. So be prepared for a ~15-20 minute hike each way.
ITINERARY
Day 1: The Journey to the Mountains and Poolside Bliss
Our adventure began bright and early at 6:10 AM as we boarded a luxury sleeper bus from Hanoi to Sapa. We booked it through Michael, the helpful owner of our hotel in Hanoi — honestly, what a gem. The round-trip fare for both of us was only 87 CAD total, which felt like a steal considering we got plush reclining champagne-colored seats, air-conditioning, USB charging ports, and a surprisingly peaceful ride. If you’re planning this trip, let us be clear: avoid the triple-row sleeper buses at all costs unless you enjoy being packed like a human spring roll.
After about six hours winding through misty hills and scenic mountain roads, we arrived in Sapa in the early afternoon. We checked into our home for the next few nights — Lady Hill Sapa Resort — and it was everything our tired souls could have hoped for.
It’s a fairly new property, but it already feels like a five-star mountain oasis. The modern rooms were spacious and beautifully designed, and the staff greeted us like long-lost friends. The best part? The infinity pool overlooking the rice terraces. It looked like it was plucked straight out of a travel magazine. We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing by the pool in soak cotton robes, soaking in the views of the valley dotted with traditional stilt houses and emerald fields.
As the sun dipped behind the hills, we headed out to town for dinner at Red Dzao House, a restaurant known for serving traditional Red Dao cuisine. The Red Dao are one of Vietnam’s 54 recognized ethnic groups and are known for their herbal medicine and vibrant red headdresses. The food here was rustic, hearty, and packed with flavor — we tried local specialties like stir-fried mountain vegetables, wild mushrooms, and buffalo meat. The bill came to about 27 CAD (we over ordered!), and our taste buds were in love.
Day 2: Village Treks, Culture, and a Slightly Regrettable Instagram Detour
We woke up refreshed and headed down for a breakfast buffet (which honestly kept us full until dinner). There was ANYTHING you could imagine here. A pho station. An omelette station. You name it – there was a station for it!
Then, we got ready for our full-day private trekking tour to the villages of Lao Chai and Ta Van. These villages are home to the Hmong people, an ethnic minority known for their indigo-dyed clothes and intricate embroidery. Our guide, a Hmong woman named Lan, was incredibly kind and shared personal stories about life in her village as we hiked together through the terraced hillsides.
On the way to the starting point of the trek, we made a spontaneous pit stop at Moana Sapa, a modern tourist attraction that markets itself as an “Instagram photo park.”
This wasn’t part of the tour, but we decided to check it out since we were passing by it. Think giant hand sculptures, heart-shaped frames, and views carefully curated for your next profile pic.
Entry cost 160,000₫, and while it was fun to snap a few photos, we quickly realized it was more of a kitschy detour than a cultural experience. Still, we’re not mad — the views were pretty, and the sitting-on-the-giant-hand photo lives on in our camera roll.
Back on the trail, our trek took us past bamboo forests, rice paddies, and the occasional water buffalo giving us side-eye.
The walk wasn’t overly strenuous, but it was long — about six hours in total — and absolutely stunning.
At one point, we took a break to sip mango smoothies at a tiny hilltop café with panoramic views.
Eventually, we arrived at Lan’s home in Ta Van Village where we enjoyed a traditional lunch prepared by a local family. It felt intimate and authentic — such a special way to learn about local customs while breaking bread (or in this case, rice).
The entire tour cost 1,708,000₫, which was more than fair for a full day of guiding, meals, and memories. A lucky us- there was a festival in town too!
Back in Sapa town, and after the tour, we stopped at Cong Caphe, a chain known for its quirky war-era decor and delicious coconut coffee. We ordered two drinks for 110,000₫, then sat on their balcony watching the world go by as golden hour lit up the valley.
Dinner that night was at Chasu, a cozy Korean-Vietnamese fusion spot. We loaded up on grilled meats, rice, and sides, and the entire meal only cost 7 CAD. Yep, 7 CAD! Budget-friendly and delicious? Sapa was officially winning.
Pro tip for future travelers: Don’t be fooled by Sapa’s altitude. We assumed it would be cold since Hanoi was chilly, but instead we got blue skies and sunburnt noses. Bring sunscreen — trust us.
Day 3: Cloud-High Cable Cars and Hidden Waterfalls
After another glorious buffet breakfast (seriously, we’re obsessed), we set out to conquer Fansipan Mountain, the highest peak in Indochina at 3,147 meters.
Luckily, we didn’t have to hike it. Lady Sapa Hill Resort is literally right next to the cable car station for Fansipan Mountain! So, we hopped on the Fansipan Cable Car, an engineering marvel that glides through the clouds and gives you goosebumps — partly from the altitude, partly from the view.
Built in 2016, the cable car holds a Guinness World Record for the world’s longest three-rope cable car. It took us from the Muong Hoa Valley up to the near-summit of the mountain in just 15 minutes.
Once there, we climbed the final 600+ steps to reach the summit pagoda and the giant Fansipan Buddha statue.
Surrounded by mist and clouds, it felt like something out of a dream.
Tickets for the cable car were 88 CAD for two people, and 100% worth it. Reaching the top of the mountain, and exploring hidden sections, was one of the highlights of our Sapa tour!
In the afternoon, we went on a private half-day tour to explore some of the natural wonders surrounding Sapa. Our driver picked us up in a comfy car and took us first to the Silver Waterfall (Thác Bạc), which cascades dramatically from 200 meters high and is a favorite stop for locals and tourists alike.
A short drive later, we visited the more serene Love Waterfall. But, before we got there, we were stopped by a few buffalos!
Fun fact: Love Waterfall is named after a local legend about a fairy who fell in love with a mountain boy playing the flute. Spoiler alert: it ends tragically (as legends do), but the waterfall is stunning.
Next up was the Lonely Tree, a solitary pine that stands guard over the valley like something out of a fantasy film. From there, we headed to Heaven’s Gate, also known as O Quy Ho Pass, the highest mountain pass in Vietnam.
The sweeping views of the Hoàng Liên mountains made us feel like we were standing at the edge of the world.
There is a similar photo op in Bali, Indonesia, but in our opinion, we liked this one a lot more. There’s something about the mountain backdrop and the serenity that made it feel more special and a little less Instagrammy.
This entire afternoon tour cost us 1,610,000₫, and we felt like we saw a dozen lifetimes’ worth of beauty in just a few hours.
That evening, we treated ourselves to a hot pot combo at our hotel, which turned out to be an extravagant spread of vegetables, meats, tofu, and noodles — enough to feed four to six people, easily. We tried our best but had to admit defeat with full bellies and happy hearts. The meal came to 33 CAD, and it was one of our favorite dining experiences in Vietnam.
Day 4: One Last Coffee and a Mountain Farewell
We spent our final morning in Sapa slowly packing and lingering over breakfast while watching the mist roll over the hills. Before boarding our afternoon bus back to Hanoi, we stopped by Coong Coffee for one last caffeine fix. We tried Vietnamese egg coffee — a rich, sweet concoction made with egg yolk, condensed milk, and robusta coffee. It cost 3 CAD, and we were genuinely sad to leave this warm, velvety drink behind. See sad Ryan below.
At 1:30 PM, we boarded our return bus to Hanoi and settled in for the six-hour ride back. Tired but deeply content, we reflected on the trip and already started plotting our return. Because honestly? Four days just weren’t enough. If you’re making the trip (aka enduring 12 hours of bus rides), we’d recommend stretching it out to at least 5 days to truly enjoy the beauty and luxury that Sapa offers!
TOTAL COST for 3 Nights in Sapa (Approximate CAD for 2 people):
Activities (Tours and Tips): $292
Accommodations (4 days/3 nights): $237
Food: $92
Transportation (Grabs, Taxis, Bus Rides): $92
TOTAL: $712 (Roughly $119 per person, per night)
Final Thoughts
Sapa was one of the most beautiful and peaceful places we visited in Vietnam. Between the jaw-dropping landscapes, rich culture, kind people, and perfect weather — it’s an experience that stays with you (and not just in your camera roll).
Whether you’re trekking through villages, floating above clouds on a cable car, or just vibing with an iced coffee at the edge of a cliff — Sapa is magic. Just remember: book the good bus, come on a sunny week, and bring sunscreen.
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