A GUIDE TO SAPA, VIETNAM (2025)

Sitting pretty in misty mountains of Northern Vietnam, with a beautiful blend of emerald rice terraces, impressive hiking trails and vibrant culture, it’s no wonder Sapa is at the top of every backpacker’s bucket list. This ultimate travel guide covers what to expect on your own trip to Sapa, how to get there, best time to visit, top things to do when you’re there, trekking tips, and a guideline 3-day Sapa itinerary to help you make the most of your stay. This guide is based off our personal experience traveling to Vietnam in 2025, including adding some spots we would have checked out if the weather/time was on our side. Find our travel diary of our trip to Sapa here.

WHY SHOULD YOU TRAVEL TO SAPA IN 2025?

Sapa is becoming more and more touristy as time goes on and that is evident in Sapa town in particular. That doesn’t mean there’s not still beauty and authentic experiences to be found in 2025. When spending time at a homestay in one of the local villages, you’ll see that its rustic charm still remains. What’s more, with its ever increasing popularity comes improved roads, online travel options and easier communication with tour guides and guesthouse hosts. You’ll be able to hail a grab to take you to the sights, you’ll be able to book buses online and book your stays through popular booking sites. It’s never been easier to visit somewhere that before would have been much more difficult to travel to.

HOW TO GET TO SAPA, VIETNAM

Chances are you’ll travel to Sapa via Hanoi -

By Bus: You can get a 6-hour bus directly to Sapa from either central Hanoi or Hanoi airport. Sleeper buses are becoming the most popular way to travel for backpackers so you can save on a nights accommodation. You can either book online on websites like 12go, or book direct from a whole host of travel companies in Hanoi city. This will likely be the cheapest option. We booked a VIP sleeper bus with a company called G8 and they were excellent.
By Train: You can also get the train to Sapa from Hanoi, via Lao Cai. It’s then an hours drive to Sapa town. You can grab a taxi from the station or book a ticket that includes a transfer. This would be an excellent choice for those who have more time and want a more unique travel experience. Again, these tickets can be booked with any tour company in Hanoi or online via wesbites like 12go.
By Private Transfer: Many travel companies also offer private transfers, usually in the form of Vietnam’s famous, luxury limousine mini buses. This would be the most expensive, but luxurious option.

BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO VISIT SAPA

We visited Sapa in mid-February. Whilst our experience was still enjoyable, we had cold temperatures, mist for the majority of our time there and the rice terraces are much less pretty in the Winter months. You absolutely can travel in the Winter but I think our experience would have been enhanced if we traveled in good weather. We would recommend:

Late spring-early summer (March to May): For clearer skies, cooler temperatures than the rest of the country, flowers and emerald green rice terraces.
Autumn (September to mid-November): For golden rice terraces that are perfect for photography and more pleasant temperatures.
Avoiding June-August: This is the rainy season and you’ll be faced with wet weather and difficulties navigating the hiking trails.

WHERE TO STAY IN SAPA, VIETNAM

There’s a whole host of beautiful places to stay in Sapa, both in the town and further out in the local mountain villages. If you’re not staying long, a stay in the town will suffice. There’s lots of hotels and guesthouses to choose from. We stayed at MOC home sapa center for our first night in Sapa, which was a wonderful, luxurious stay. Our room had a massive comfortable bed and a bathtub to relax in. To get the best out of your stay in Sapa we highly recommend a homestay experience in one of the local villages. We stayed at Sapa Hmong Bungalow Homestay in Ta Van village for a couple of nights. Staying with Asua and his family has remained our highlight during our visit to Sapa. Staying at a homestay is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of those who live in the highlands of Sapa.

TREKKING IN SAPA, VIETNAM 2025

Hands down the best way to explore Sapa is to go on a trek around the rice terraces and villages of the region. There’s so many different hiking options for exploring, whether that be for a couple hours or for a couple days. We highly recommend booking a trek guide to accompany you on your hike. You’ll have someone to help you navigate the terrain but the guide’s will also spend their time sharing stories and wisdom from their culture. We booked ours through our homestay and we had the best time hiking through the villages, whilst our guide Sa shared stories of what it’s like growing up in Sapa. You can solo trek if you wish but you’ll miss out on the invaluable experience the guide’s bring. Chances are you will end up with an unofficial guide regardless as it’s quite common for villagers to follow you on to the trails anyway in the hope you’ll pay them for their time. Stick to booking a guided tour and you’ll have the ultimate trekking experience. You can book through your hotel or homestay, online through travel companies like Get Your Guide or simply by asking unofficial tour guides in the street.

3-DAY SAPA ITINERARY SUGGESTION (2025)

DAY 1 - Exploring Sapa Town & Cat Cat Village

Morning: Your journey will more than likely begin with an overnight train or sleeper bus from Hanoi. You’ll arrive to Sapa early in the misty morning to cool air and to the town slowly waking up. Most of the hotels and guesthouses allow you to drop off your bags before check-in so head to your accommodation to do so before heading out to explore. Start the day with a taste of Vietnamese coffee and breakfast. There’s lots of options in the town but our favourite is The Mist , a relaxed spot serving up the best coconut coffees and bahn mi’s. After you’ve fueled up, take a stroll through the town, where you can find The Stone Church in the centre, as well as a lovely lake to walk around and plenty of places to grab some handmade souvenirs crafted by the local villagers.

Afternoon: Head over to Cat Cat Village, a Hmong village famous for its waterfall-laden valley, bamboo bridges and picturesque mountain views. You can either choose to walk there from the town or take a taxi. The walk down into the valley is filled with artisans selling their crafts, jewellery and embroidery, and there’s even a couple of restaurants to try some local food. Cultural performances are held at the village center, so make sure to stop and watch a show or two. The village is very much catered to a tourist experience and may not seem that authentic, but don’t let that stop you going. The town is still an interesting insight into Hmong culture.

Evening: Spend some time checking in to your accommodation after your visit to Cat Cat Village and have a rest before getting out for dinner. There’s heaps of options to choose from in the town. We recommend a chilled out spot called Yummy Restaurant where they serve up fresh coconut curry and crispy vietnamese spring rolls among many other delicious dishes.

Day 2- Fansipan Mountain & Homestay Living

Morning- Spend your morning grabbing coffee and breakfast before checking out the local market in the town. Fresh produce is sold here daily, as well as other goods, such as handmade crafts. It’s an interesting place to wander and simply observe the hustle and bustle of daily life here. Spend some time choosing some souvenirs to take home with you and to show your support to the locals. We also highly recommend tasting chestnut cakes, a delicious local snack served hot.

Afternoon- Weather permitting, take the cable car up to Fansipan mountain, Vietnam’s tallest peak. A train from sun plaza in sapa town will take you to Muong Hoa Station where you’ll then transfer to a cable car that takes you to Fansipan. Once you reach the top you’ll be treated to incredible views of the rice fields and the surrounding mountains. Take some time to explore the giant buddha and pagoda. You can also hike to Fansipan, should you wish to elevate the experience. Make sure to check the weather forecast before you go as visibility can change quite often due to the cooler climate in Sapa.

Evening- Transfer to a homestay in one of the local villages. Spend some time getting to know your hosts and settling in. You’ll likely be served a family-style meal alongside other travelers and members of the host family as you join together to connect and share stories. The intention of the homestay is to simply be welcomed in to learn more about the life and culture of those who live in the highlands of Sapa. Get an early night as the following day you’ll embark on your trek.

Day 3- Trekking In The Rice Fields

Morning & Afternoon- Prepare for an entire day of trekking by joining your homestay family for an early breakfast. Joined by a guide you’ll be taken on a muddy adventure through the rice fields and valleys of Sapa to explore village life. You’ll pass multiple waterfalls, epic mountain views and dense bamboo forest as your guide shares stories from their culture as you go. You’ll meet families in traditional dress going about their daily business, water buffalo grazing in the rice fields and picture-perfect scenes beyond every bend. In the afternoon you’ll stop for a simple lunch joined by other community members as you learn even more about village life in the highlands. Read more about our own trek here.

Evening- You’ll return by early evening and you’ll rest your tired legs over yet another family-style meal. Toast to your day of adventure with some homemade rice wine that will undoubtedly make an appearance at some point during the evening. The perfect remedy for an excellent nights sleep after a long day of trekking. Return to the town the next morning to get your bus or train back to Hanoi.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Cash is king- Cash is the preferred method of payment in Sapa. There is ATM’s in the town but they are not always reliable. Bring enough cash for your trip here.
Support the locals- Make sure you make an effort to support the locals by buying some homemade crafts or souvenirs and paying well for trekking guides.
You will be approached- A lot of the locals will approach you to sell their time or goods, as it’s one of the main ways they make money. It can be overwhelming, so make sure you prepare for this to happen. Support where you can. Bring cash with you even when you’re out on treks as locals will approach you there too.
Avoid giving money to children- Some children are put to work in the streets selling or dancing. By not giving them money, you’re making sure to discourage this from continuing.
Travel mindfully- It’s a privilege to be invited in to explore another’s culture, behave with respect at all times.

WHAT TO PACK FOR SAPA, VIETNAM

Waterproof shoes and coat for trekking
Layers for the cooler climate
Bug spray and suncream
Powerbank
Cash

FINAL THOUGHTS OF SAPA, VIETNAM

Between the dramatic landscapes and the deeply rooted traditions of its people, Sapa lingers with us still as one of the most memorable places we visited on our trip to Vietnam. We highly recommend a 3-day stay as a minimum as there’s so much to do and see. Our top suggestion would be to book on to a trekking tour as it’s simply the best way to get fully immersed within the magic of Sapa. Thinking of visiting Sapa in 2025? Use this guide to help you make the most of your stay.