Sapa is a popular but quiet mountain town in Lao Cai Province, which is on the northern Vietnamese-Chinese border. It is located about 350 kilometers northwest of Hanoi, on Fan Si Pan mountain, which is the highest peak in Vietnam! Sapa is very close to the border of China and is a part of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range.
When the French arrived in the Tonkin highlands in the late 1880s, the name Sa Pa was added to the national map. This area was first inhabited by an unknown group of people who left in the entire valley full of hundreds of rock engravings, mostly of which are made of lines, which archeologists believe originated in the 15th century. There are more than 200 boulders with these ancient carvings in Sapa. Known as the “Area of Old Carved Stone in Sapa,” these carvings are extremely interesting to see and wonder about the ancient people who once lived here.
Today there are many ethnic minority groups who inhabit the small villages close to Sapa town. There are five main ethnic groups in Sapa. The bigger populations of these ethnic groups include the Hmong, Dao (Yao), Giáy, Pho Lu, and Tày people. Every day people from these groups trek to Sapa town to sell their handiworks in the local marketplace.
Sapa is known for its exquisite rice paddies stacked like stairs from the valleys to the mountain tops. There are amazing forest treks to take and the entire area is full of magnificent natural beauty!
Sapa didn’t open up for many local or international tourists until 1993 due to governmental policy. However after it has opened up for tourism it has been progressing very quickly to become a prominent vacation spot for those who wish to explore the mountainous region and the ever so friendly inhabitants.
Thousands of tourists come to Sapa each year so the economy is booming now and locals can live a more prosperous life but still keep to their very traditional lifestyles. The locals are more than happy to provide trekking adventures for people of all ages. There are literally hundreds of miles of trails for trekking around all surrounding Sapa town, in between and around the villages of the Hmong village of Lao Chai and Cat Cat or the Dao villages of Ta Van and Ta Phin.
When I’m in Sapa I love to start off by renting a motorbike to take some adventurous and beautiful trips around town and in the outside villages. Renting a motorbike sets me back about $5 a day, which is normal for most of Vietnam. Motorbikes are available at most hotels and guesthouses. The hotel or guesthouse provides a map of the local area making it easy to find my way around.
My favorite village is Lao Chai. It’s a small village about 15 minutes away or so, from Sapa, by motorbike. It’s a picturesque Hmong village with the iconic rice paddy staircases and a beautiful river.
Just a short 4 kilometer ride outside of Sapa town is Love Waterfall. This spot is popular amongst all tourists! This is one of the most beautiful, awe-inspiring spots in all of Vietnam! The landscape is just breath-taking! I could stay here forever!
To know more about Sapa, i recommend: