trek 2 jours sapa

How to Spend 2 Days Trekking in Sapa, Vietnam + Trekking Tips

Sapa is a fantastic spot in North Vietnam to go hiking.

Located 6 hours from north of Hanoi and in the Lao Cai Province, it has plenty of beautiful hiking trails through the green mountains and endless rice terraces .

If you have limited time and only have two days to trek in Sapa , then you’re at the right place.

With many treks to choose from, we recommend taking a 2 days trekking tour from Sapa to Lao Chai, Ta Van, Giang Ta Chai, and Supa villages .

It’s an easy to moderate-level hike through the breathtaking landscapes of the Muong Hoa Valley. The trek passes through ethnic minority groups (Hmong, Dao, Xa Pho, Tay, and Day) who live in the area.

You also get a chance to stay overnight at a local homestay. 

In this guide, we’re sharing how you can spend 2 days trekking in Sapa through Lao Chai, Ta Van, Giang Ta Chai, and Supa village, how to choose a tour guide, what to bring, and other helpful trekking tips. 

Check out this Sapa trekking guide for more details.

Looking for other ideas on things to do in Sapa? Check out our posts:

• How to Hike Mount Fansipan in 1 Day
• Explore Sapa in 3 days
• Visit Heaven Gate
• Check out Love Waterfall & Silver Waterfall
• How to Get from Hanoi to Sapa

*Disclaimer: Visiting Sapa? This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. If you click on them and make a purchase, we receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you. Appreciate the support.

Before starting your Sapa trip, it’s recommended to buy a SIM Card at Hanoi Airport (Noi Ba International Airport) or set up a Vietnam eSIM before your Vietnam arrival . You’ll want to have access to data during your trekking experience.

For those in the U.S. looking for an international phone plan , consider Google Fi (formerly Google Project Fi). We have used this plan since 2016 and would recommend it. We get access to data and text in 200+ countries, including Vietnam, without additional roaming fees. Read more and try it for free here.

Lao Chai – Ta Van Village – Giang Ta Chai – Supa Trek Overview

The trek isn’t too difficult, yet there are some hills to climb. Luckily, you can take your time so there aren’t any time constraints. Plus, your guide will also wait for you.

Check out our post on training for a hike here.

• Challenging level: Easy to Moderate
• Distance: 6 – 7 miles (9.6-11 kilometers) per day 
• Time to complete: 6 hours per day
• Helpful tip: Wearing hiking boots is a must when hiking through the area. 

See incredible landscape views and rice terraces along your 2 days trek in Sapa.

How to Book a 2 Days in Sapa Trek 

Choosing a trekking guide is no easy task. You can either choose to pre-book a trek or inquire with your hotel accommodations or tour operators when you arrive in Sapa. 

The criteria that we looked for in a trekking guide were: 

• A local guide living in the area
• A private tour versus joining a group tour
• Cost per person per day
• Number of meals included 
• Hiking distance per day

*Our Recommendation*

We opted for pre-booking a tour with Zaazaa Trekking .

Zaazaa is a local female guide who has lived in Sapa for her entire life. Her services are highly recommended in Ho Chi Minh City’s Female Expat Facebook group. 

We can vouch for her excellent customer service . Contact her on her Facebook page and she’ll provide a WhatsApp phone number to continue the conversation. 

It was super easy to communicate with her over WhatsApp. Zaazaa is in high demand so you must contact her in advance. If she has a conflict on a specific day, one of her family members will trek with the group.

If you decide to go with her, she asks for a small deposit into her Vietnam bank account. If you don’t have a Vietnamese bank account, you’ll need to ask a friend or inquire with her about another way to send payment. 

Zaazaa may also request that you pay in full in Vietnamese currency on the day of the trip.

How Much Does the 2 Day Sapa Trek Cost?

We paid $60 USD per person for the 2-day private tour to Lao Chai-Ta Van-Giang Ta Chai-Supa. The final payment is in Vietnamese currency. 

The trek included a guide, 1.5 L water bottle per day, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, 1 night at a local homestay, luggage transportation to the homestay, and a taxi ride to Sapa hotel.

The trek does not include tips, travel insurance, or extra drinks and snacks.

While tipping your guide isn’t required or expected , it’s a nice gesture to thank your guide for the hard work and effort to arrange the trip. It’s also a way to give back to the community and support the ethnic villages.

What to Bring on Your Sapa 2 Day Trek

Luckily you don’t need to bring your luggage or overstuff your backpack. Just bring things that you need for the day of the trek.

Our luggage was sent to the homestay so you’ll need to inquire with your trek operator to see if they’ll do the same. 

Here are some hiking accessories to have on hand:

• Rain jacket or poncho – You may encounter rain during your trek, so it’s better to be prepared with a rain cover. Here are the rain jackets that we love: men / women . 
• Jacket – Any lightweight jacket would work
• Backpack – Having a lightweight backpack is key to the weight on the shoulders and back. Here are our favorite men and women backpacks that we use. 
• Sun hat – Cover your head and face with this hat .
• Sunglasses – Here are our favorite sunglasses for hiking.
• Sunscreen – Wear sunscreen to prevent sunburns. The sun still peers through the clouds when it’s cloudy.
• Hiking poles – This isn’t required, but it would be helpful when going down muddy paths.
• Umbrella – Use the umbrella for sun protection or rain
• Extra cash  

If you’ll be hiking during the summertime when it gets hot, you may need extra hydration. Read our post on hiking in hot weather for more tips .

If you forgot to bring something for your hike, Sapa has plenty of stores that sell rain jackets and trekking gear . You’ll see tons of North Face jackets and backpacks for sale.

Heads up – Most aren’t authentic products. But if you need something now, then these are your only options.

What to Wear on Your Trek

It’s best to wear layers since the Sapa weather changes often. 

• Technical t-shirt or long-sleeve shirt  
• Hiking pants or any long pants 
• Hiking boots – This is necessary to have on hand. Otherwise, you may injure yourself on the muddy paths. We use these hiking boots (men/ women ) . 
• Hiking socks 

Trekking Schedule

The schedule is mostly flexible as it depends on the speed of your hiking.

On the first day, the trek starts at 9:00am with pick-up from your Sapa accommodation and ends around 2:30pm.

On the second day, the schedule is similar and includes a taxi drop-off at your Sapa hotel in the afternoon.

Sapa Trekking: Day 1 – Sapa to Lao Chai and Ta Van

After hiking Fansipan mountain the previous day, we started the hike at a reasonable time at 9:00am.

**For those who do not want to hike Fansipan, take the more convenient route by riding a cable car and funicular to the peak .

Zaazaa was away on another tour, so we met Zaazaa’s sister-in-law, Zal, promptly at our hotel, My Boutique Hotel & Spa . She wore a Hmong outfit with a colorful tunic top, black pants, and socks. 

My Boutique Hotel is an ideal place to stay in Sapa since it’s located close to the entrance of the ethnic village. It saved us walking an extra 10-15 minutes through the Sapa town.

Five minutes into the walk, an elderly woman wearing a basket on her back also joined us and stayed with us until our lunch spot. 

We walked through muddy rice terraces and rice fields as the rice was already harvested a few months ago. The trail also hasn’t been frequently used due to fewer hikers visiting Sapa during the country’s travel restrictions. (We hiked this trail in November 2020).  

The start of our 2 day trek in Sapa was foggy.

Two hours into the trek, we had a rest stop at a small cafe. It overlooked the gorgeous view of the valley.

By this time, the morning fog cleared up so we had pretty views of the iconic rice terraces .

The cafe was cute as it had cobs of corn hanging from the ceiling area and adorable puppies. 

The rice terraces are a must see in Sapa. You’ll see plenty of rice terraces along your trek.

After drinking hot ginger tea, we went off to continue our trek.

At this time, we walked along a flat, paved path or dirt path for another 1.5 hours.

Zal mentioned that we were in the Lao Chai area where the majority of the Hmong people live . Houses were either along the main road or tucked in the forest area.  

The hillside was too beautiful. Every few kilometers required a photo stop since the landscape was unreal .

While many visitors come to Sapa when the rice terraces are golden in late August/September, yet, it was still impressive to see in late November. 

Sapa’s landscapes are unreal and so gorgeous!

One of the saddest moments along the trail was when we passed by a family preparing to eat a dog for a meal. The dog had its legs tied up and whimpered out of sadness.

We know that Vietnamese people eat dogs since they’re a type of meat and have seen shops in the rural area selling dog meat.

As with any culture, please be respectful even if it isn’t the same ideology as what you practice. 

We arrived at a local restaurant in Lao Chai for lunch . Our delicious meal of cucumber and tomato salad, boiled potatoes, fried sweet potatoes, pork and veggies, and rice was ready when we arrived and brought out instantly. 

We didn’t go away hungry during our lunch spot in Lao Chai Village.

Remember how we had an elderly woman follow us for the trail?

Although she helped us a lot with going down the steep parts of the mountain, her main objective was selling souvenirs such as handmade pillowcases, pouches, and handbags.

They were made beautifully and had vivid colors, but we declined the offer as we didn’t need anything. Instead, we gave a tip for her services so she didn’t leave empty-handed. 

Note: Women following a group of tourists are common as our friends had the same experience when they did their trek a couple of years ago. We understand since it’s a way to earn money during difficult times. 

Before we left, we saw a young couple buying a live duck and chicken to bring home.

The restaurant owner has free-range ducks and chicken hanging out in the garden area and had to fetch one of each.

The owner didn’t kill the birds as the local people prefer to kill the animals at home. The duck and chicken’s head popped out from the plastic bag. 

There are ducks and chickens under cages but we were told that it’s questionable how the birds were raised. They could have been on a farm before getting dropped off at a vendor’s shop for sale.  

After lunch, we continued the trek to Ta Van Village for another 2 hours . The village area was quiet as many of the typical souvenir and gift shops were closed.

We passed by rice terraces with water buffaloes and waterfowl grazing in the fields and a few young boys catching eels/snakes living in the mud. 

We reached our homestay at Indigo Snail Homestay after 2:30pm and were welcomed with hot tea.

It’s a cozy homestay owned by Hmong locals. It has with a small garden, rice field, and overlooking the rice terraces.

After saying our goodbyes to Zal, we spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing. Our room was on the second level of the main house and we were the only guests for the day.

We had our own private room at Indigo Snail Homestay, yet, the upstairs sleeping area is cozy.

In the evening, we had dinner with the homestay owner’s family members .

They made a delicious meal with duck egg and tomatoes, pork with veggies, and morning glory with garlic. There was plenty of rice too. 

The rest of the night was spent at our own leisure.

A healthy and delicious dinner with the family at Indigo Snail Homestay

Sapa Trekking: Day 2 – Ta Van to Giang Ta Chai, Supa,   and Sapa Town

WooHoo! It’s our second day of trekking in Sapa.

We woke up early as the roosters and dogs barked at odd hours in the morning. It felt like we were sleeping outdoors or camping.  

We met Zaazaa , the main contact and owner of her trekking company, and her adorable baby boy.

She gave us a warm welcome, shared with us the itinerary for the day as we passed through the Giang Ta Chai to Supa areas, and left the room so we could enjoy breakfast. 

With the yummy dinner the previous night, we knew breakfast would be just as amazing .

The breakfast consisted of tea or coffee, star-shaped banana cakes, a stack of crepes, and bananas. It was a banana festival!

The banana cakes were oh so good as the batter was crispy and inside had chunks of banana. The crepes were yummy with a drizzle of honey.

Luckily we had a long trek ahead of us since we ate a lot of carbohydrates.

We started our breakfast with these star shaped banana banana cakes. The crepes arrived later.

As we exited the homestay, we saw a machine making homemade rice wine . It’s a popular wine that the Hmong people make and has 30% alcohol.

We didn’t try any, yet it was neat to see the wine getting made. The leftover rice husks are used to keep the fire going.  

Zaazaa asked if we prefer the shorter route or the longer route .

The longer route would have better views higher up. Although it was another foggy day, we’re glad we proceeded with the longer route.

The beginning of the route had more hills which was challenging for our tired legs and ankles. 

While we saw more rice terraces, the highlight was seeing a hidden waterfall about two hours into the trek.

The waterfall doesn’t have a name and is only accessible by trekking.

It has small cascades, yet the area was peaceful and clean. There wasn’t a speck of trash left behind from other visitors.

We spent about 15 minutes taking photos and enjoying the falls. 

This waterfall is a hidden gem during our Sapa trek and only accessible by trekking!

Read More: Best Waterfalls to Visit in Vietnam

It was time to descend the mountain and the fog cleared up.

Similar to yesterday, the trail had overgrown plants. Sometimes, we had to walk along the water stream.

Be careful with the hidden holes in the ground!

Zaazaa explained that the rice terraces appeared in Sapa within the past 30 years which coincides with the tourism boom in the area.

Since rice is a staple for meals, the majority of the locals have their personal rice fields. Some do export but many of the rice is for personal consumption. 

We saw another waterfall along the way through the Giang Ta Chai area yet the falls were smaller. Since the waterfall is easier to access, we saw more trash left behind such as plastic bottles and used shampoo packets. 

Zaazaa mentioned that the Red Dao ethnic people live in this area. Locals wear a red hat/turban with black clothing. Many women have their heads shaved since it’s considered beautiful in the culture. 

After passing through a bridge and a small village, we eventually reached the main road, Muong Hoa .

It was such a relief to be on a flat, paved road. We saw women selling fresh vegetables and fruits. They also approached us with handicraft items but we politely declined. 

For lunch, we stopped by a local pho shop . Justin and Zaazaa had beef pho.

For a semi-vegetarian version, the chef made one bowl of noodles with rolled egg, similar to the Japanese version of tamagoyaki , and used the same beef broth.

A vegetarian version would be having the noodles dry and without the soup. 

Eating noodles is always a good lunch option.

Zaazaa asked if we wanted to walk another 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) to a taxi pick-up point. Otherwise, the taxi could pick us up at the lunch spot.

We decided to end the 2 days trek at the lunch spot since we would share the road with cars and motorbikes. It was a wise decision since the road also had construction. 

After a 10-15 minute drive, we arrived at a different hotel in Sapa, Sapa Relax Hotel & Spa .

We said our goodbyes to Zaazaa and thanked her for her efforts in planning a successful trip and trek.

What a memorable way to end our Sapa trip!

Thank you Zaazaa for a fantastic trip!!

Final Thoughts

Would we trek in Sapa again? Yes, we would!

We had an incredible two days trekking through Sapa and can see why it’s one of the best things to do in Vietnam .

Since there are other ethnic villages to explore, we would return to Sapa in a heartbeat.

Plus, we would visit during the rice harvest season so we can see the vivid golden colors in the mountains.

**As an update, we returned to Sapa in May 2023. We did another hiking trip with Zaazaa and had a fantastic time. We also did a side trip to Bac Ha Market , the largest traditional market in the Lao Cai Province.

For other hikes/treks in Vietnam to try, check out the following: 

• Bidoup Nui Be National Park
• Cat Tien National Park
• Chua Chan Mountain near Ho Chi Minh City

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I'm Jackie - world explorer, hiker, and wanderer. I love planning things whether it is a trip or an upcoming event, exploring nature, hiking up mountains, and seeing new places. I'm notorious for getting lost, so you may see me circling a place a few times.

5 Convenient Transportation Options from Hanoi to Sapa, Vietnam

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Trek Sapa, guide complet de trekking et 9 destinations de randonnée à Sapa

Outre les superbes rizières en terrasses, les vues spectaculaires sur les montagnes, les marchés colorés des tribus montagnardes ou le célèbre mont Fansipan – « le toit de l’Indochine », Sapa est l’un des plus beaux sites de trekking du nord du Vietnam, avec un réseau dense de sentiers de montagne. Une randonnée à travers des villages de minorités ethniques, en passant par des rizières en terrasses et des montagnes ondulantes, vous donnera l’occasion d’avoir un aperçu des cultures locales et de vous immerger dans la beauté naturelle.

Les différents sentiers de trekking de Sapa , allant du plus facile au plus difficile, vous rendent parfois confus quant au choix de celui qui convient le mieux. Ainsi, cet article d’un guide de trekking à Sapa est une bonne source pour vous d’obtenir des informations plus détaillées et de bien préparer votre voyage à venir.

>>> Vous aimez aussi : Tout savoir sur Sapa Vietnam

1. Quelle est la durée d’un trekking à Sapa ?

Une journée complète de trekking à Sapa est suffisante pour explorer les endroits les plus importants pour ceux qui n’ont pas beaucoup de temps. Mais si vous ne voulez pas manquer l’occasion de faire l’expérience totale du quotidien local et de vous détendre dans la beauté naturelle, passer 2-3 jours sera parfait.

Pour les longs trekkings, les touristes choisiront de séjourner chez l’habitant dans les villages ethniques. C’est une excellente occasion de se rapprocher des habitants, d’interagir avec eux et de mieux comprendre leur vie quotidienne.

2. Quel est le meilleur moment pour faire la randonnée à Sapa ?

La météo est l’un des facteurs les plus importants qui peuvent rendre votre trekking plus agréable ou briser l’expérience. Les nuages peuvent gêner votre vue et la boue rend difficile et parfois désagréable la montée d’une pente raide.

La période idéale pour faire du trek à Sapa est donc de mars à mai et de septembre à novembre. Vous pouvez tout à fait faire du trekking en été ou en hiver, mais ce n’est pas vraiment parfait.

– Mars – mai (printemps) : Le temps est sec et ensoleillé avec une température modérée pendant cette période, créant une bonne condition pour une randonnée. De plus, c’est le moment où les plantes et les fleurs commencent à fleurir. C’est aussi la période de l’année où les minorités ethniques locales plantent du riz.

– Septembre – novembre (automne) : C’est la période de l’automne à Sapa et le temps est relativement bon et sec. Vous aurez la chance d’apprécier les rizières en terrasse dorées qui seront les plus photogéniques avec de belles nuances de vert et d’or. Cependant, c’est la haute saison à Sapa et il y aura donc plus de monde.

– Juin – août (été) : C’est l’été mais aussi la saison des pluies à Sapa. Vous pouvez certainement faire un trek pendant cette période où vous trouverez une campagne verdoyante. Les fortes averses peuvent parfois affecter votre voyage mais il ne pleut pas toute la journée. Vous bénéficiez toujours d’un temps ensoleillé entre les deux.

– Décembre – février (hiver) : Il fait assez froid à Sapa pendant l’hiver avec une température variant de 8 à 15°C, voire même jusqu’à 0°C. Vous aurez peut-être la chance de voir de la neige sur les hauts sommets.

3. Niveaux de trek à Sapa

Sapa propose 3 niveaux de trekking qui conviennent à tous les voyageurs :

– Trekking facile : Un itinéraire de trekking facile vous emmènera normalement dans des villages ethniques à proximité de la ville de Sapa, ce qui vous donnera une brève compréhension de la culture locale. Pour ceux qui sont pressés par le temps ou qui ne sont pas familiers avec la randonnée, c’est un choix judicieux. Vous pouvez passer une demi-journée à une journée entière pour un trekking facile.

– Trekking moyen : L’itinéraire du trekking moyen à Sapa est assez similaire à celui du trekking facile, mais dure plus longtemps. Cela vous conduira à des sentiers hors des sentiers battus qui ne sont pas faciles d’accès en voiture ou en moto.

– Trekking difficile : Le trekking le plus difficile est absolument le trekking jusqu’au sommet du pic Fansipan. Il n’est recommandé qu’aux randonneurs expérimentés car il requiert des compétences spécifiques et une bonne santé physique. Pour les treks faciles à moyens, vous pouvez vous déplacer seul sans guide. En revanche, pour les treks difficiles, vous devez être accompagné d’un guide local ou d’un porteur, qui connaît parfaitement les lieux pour éviter de se perdre. Normalement, vous aurez besoin de 3 jours de randonnée pour terminer le trek, mais cela dépend de la piste que vous empruntez.

4. Treks populaires à Sapa

4.1. villages de lao chai et ta van.

Cette randonnée vous offre un paysage spectaculaire de montagnes enveloppées de nuages et la chance de traverser des villages traditionnels de tribus montagnardes et leurs rizières environnantes. Le trek suit d’abord une petite piste, traverse la rivière Muong Hoa et passe par des rizières en terrasses bien entretenues et les maisons étalées des villages de Lao Chai et Ta Van. Vous y apprendrez comment le riz est cultivé, la vie des minorités ethniques telles que les Hmong noirs, les Zay, les Dao rouges.

• Durée de l’excursion : 1 jour
• Niveau du trekking : Facile – Moyen
• Distance : 6-8 km.

4.2. Villages de Cat Cat – Sin Chai

Ce sentier de trekking ressemble plus à une promenade qu’à une randonnée. Cat Cat est un vieux village du peuple H’mong noir qui est célèbre pour son artisanat de tissage de brocart ainsi que pour sa fabrication de bijoux en or et en argent. La promenade vers le village et ses collines voisines permet de voir les fermes et les techniques utilisées par les habitants de la région.

En montant dans la montagne, vous atteindrez Sin Chai, un village du peuple Red Dao, qui offre de nombreux paysages magnifiques. En traversant le village, les touristes sont le plus souvent accompagnés par les enfants de la région. Ils ne sont probablement pas très instruits, mais restent extrêmement hospitaliers et enthousiastes. En plus de cela, vous aurez également la chance de profiter des fleurs comme les pêchers, les pruniers, les glaïeuls, les poiriers, les roses… si vous venez ici au printemps.

• Durée de l’excursion : Une demi-journée
• Niveau du trekking : Facile
• Distance à parcourir : 3-5 km.

4.3. Can Ho B – Village de Ta Giang Phinh

Situé à environ 25 km de la ville de Sapa, le village de Can Ho B – Ta Giang Phinh est un endroit magnifique et intact. Après une heure de route le long de la région sauvage de la forêt pluviale épaisse sur les hautes montagnes, parsemée de vallées ondulantes et de villages locaux, vous atteindrez la terre de Ta Giang Phinh.

Votre trek commence souvent à Can Ho B, où vit le peuple Red Dao, puis continue vers Ta Giang Phinh, un village H’mong bleu. Ce village n’est pas encore influencé par le tourisme de masse, de sorte que les maisons locales et les modes de vie restent authentiques. Pendant le trekking, vous êtes chaleureusement invités à visiter n’importe quelle maison locale pour avoir un meilleur aperçu des cultures locales et apprendre comment les costumes traditionnels sont fabriqués à partir de chanvre et teints par la plante indigo. Les gens ici sont très amicaux et aiment partager leur vie. En outre, les paysages de grandes rizières en terrasses et de ruisseaux paisibles sont magnifiques et parfaits pour les photos.

• Durée du séjour : 1 jour
• Distance : 5-7 km.

4.4. Villages de Sa Seng – Hang Da – Hau Thao (12 -15 km)

Sa Seng, Hang Da et Hau Thao sont les villages de la tribu Hmong à Sapa. Ils sont situés à environ 10 km de la ville de Sapa et sont moins visités et intacts. Ce trek vers le village de Hang Da, qui se trouve à 1 800 m d’altitude, vous offrira une vue magnifique sur la vallée de Muong Hoa. En chemin, vous traverserez quelques villages ethniques et pourrez visiter les maisons locales pour comprendre leur mode de vie et profiter des paysages, sans oublier de prendre les meilleures photos.

• Niveau du trekking : Moyen – Difficile
• Distance : 12-15 km.

4.5. Village de Ta Phin

Le trekking est un excellent moyen d’interagir avec les populations ethniques locales et de découvrir leur mode de vie.

Le village de Ta Phin est situé à environ 12 km de la ville de Sapa. Le village des Dao rouges et des Hmong possède une riche culture qui n’a pas été endommagée par la vie moderne. Les Red Dao sont connus pour leur expertise dans la médecine par les plantes ainsi que pour l’utilisation des plantes de la terre pour traiter de nombreuses maladies.

En vous promenant dans la campagne environnante, vous apprécierez le paysage pittoresque des rizières spectaculaires, des montagnes, des ruisseaux et des maisons des tribus des collines. Il est agréable de passer quelques heures à errer dans le village, à explorer la vie locale et à communiquer avec eux.

• Durée : Une demi-journée à une journée entière

5. Que faut-il emporter pour le trekking à Sapa ?

Pour votre trek, vous devez garder votre sac aussi léger que possible :

– De la nourriture et de l’eau : Assurez-vous d’avoir suffisamment de nourriture et d’eau pendant votre trek car il n’y aura pas beaucoup de magasins sur votre chemin. Certains aliments doivent être emportés tels que : pain, snacks, saucisses, conserves…. et eau.

– Une veste légère : Quelle que soit la période de l’année à laquelle vous allez faire du trekking à Sapa, vous aurez besoin d’une veste chaude. Les nuits peuvent être fraîches même pendant les mois les plus chauds. Si vous vous rendez à Sapa pendant les mois les plus froids, vous aurez besoin de plusieurs couches pour rester au chaud, et il sera plus facile de s’adapter à la température lorsqu’elle change pendant la journée.

– Chaussures de trekking : Une bonne et confortable paire de chaussures de trekking est absolument indispensable. Vous devrez marcher dans des collines boueuses, traverser des rochers glissants dans des ruisseaux et il y a beaucoup de montées et de descentes abruptes.

– Crème solaire/chapeau/lunettes de soleil : Ce seront de bons amis pendant le trekking en été.

– Appareil photo : Vous en aurez besoin pour prendre des photos des belles scènes.

– Anti-moustique/ spray anti-moustique

Source : Internet

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Je m’appelle Van Pham. Quand j’étudiais le français à l’université des langues étrangères de Hanoi, j’ai rêvé de travailler dans le secteur touristique et d’avoir l’occasion de visiter tous les magnifiques sites vietnamiens. Pour que davantages de voyageurs francophones découvrent mieux mon beau pays, je me suis joint à Atypik Vietnam. Je voudrais partager mes expériences de voyage intéressantes avec vous. J'espère que mes connaissances pourront vous aider de bien préparer votre voyage au Vietnam.

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Sapa Trekking 2 Days 1 Night

A Guide to the Best Trekking in Sapa 1 Night and 2 Days

Greetings from the hiking world!  Trekking in Sapa  is the best option if you’re seeking for a thrilling and unforgettable trip. This book will provide you all the details you want to successfully organize a two-day, one-night journey across the breathtaking Sapa Valley. We’ll go through important advice on how to pick the best route, what to carry, and how to take full advantage of the local landscape and culture. So let’s get going!

Best Sapa 2 Day Trek Experiences

Mountain views & Muong Hoa valley trek

📅 2 days 1 night 🎗️ Trekking & hiking From: 70USD 21 reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rice Terraced Fields & Homestay Experience

📅 2 days 1 night 🎗️ Trekking & hiking From: 60USD 28 reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Explore Nature View and Homestay Experience

📅 2 days 1 night 🎗️ Trekking & hiking From: 85USD 1 reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Se Everything in Sapa by Motorbike

📅 2 days 1 night 🎗️ Motorbike experince From: 70USD 2 reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mount Fansipan 2 Days Trek – Roof of Indochina

📅 2 days 1 night 🎗️ Trekking & hiking From: 120USD 2 reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What should I see over my two days and one night in Sapa?

Anyone seeking a distinctive and unforgettable experience in Vietnam must go to Sapa. This region is a haven for hikers and environment lovers alike because of its breathtaking mountain views, verdant valleys, and rich cultural legacy. It might be challenging to choose what to see and do with only two days and one night to explore the region. To help you make the most of your vacation, here is a recommendation to the greatest two-day, one-night walk across Sapa.

Learn first about Sapa’s Red Dao and Hmong hill tribes. The two primary ethnic minorities that have resided in the region for generations are those two. There are several opportunities to interact with locals, discover more about their culture and way of life, and take in some of their distinctive handicrafts. There are many mementos you may bring home as a reminder of your vacation, ranging from beautiful jewelry and craftwork to traditional attire.

Visit Muong Hoa Valley next to see its well-known rice terraces. The Hmong and Red Dao hill tribes built these terraces to farm the land and support their people. You may spend a few hours wandering around the nearby towns or take a cable car up to the mountaintop for a breathtaking view of the valley below.

Take an overnight walk the next day to learn more about the area’s geography. This is a fantastic chance to get off the main road and discover Sapa’s breathtaking landscape and diverse animals. Additionally, you may dine with residents in a few of the smaller towns.

Finally, take part in Sapa town’s exciting nightlife. There are many of pubs, restaurants, and live music places to enjoy after a day of hiking and touring. Don’t forget to sample some of the local cuisine and beverages, and end the evening with a traditional dance show.

On a two-day Sapa trip, these are just a few of the sights and activities you may take part in. There is so much to see and do that you won’t be let down!

How Do I Get From Hanoi To Sapa?

You might be asking how to travel to Sapa if you’re planning a two day, one night hiking trip there. Fortunately, there are a few different ways to travel to Sapa from Hanoi, and they are all rather simple.

Traveling to Sapa via rail is the most well-liked option. Daily trains go from Hanoi to Sapa , and the trip takes around 8 hours. The train is a convenient and inexpensive method to go to Sapa. Along the trip, you’ll also get to take in some breathtaking vistas of the countryside.

Taking the bus is an additional choice. There are many bus departures every day from Hanoi to Sapa, and the trip lasts around 7 hours. The train is more pleasant, but the buses are quicker and more practical.

Finally, you may take a transfer if you’re traveling from Lao Cai , which is the city closest to Sapa. Transfers are an excellent method to go to Sapa quickly and easily and take around 45 minutes from Lao Cai.

Whichever route you take, it won’t take you long to reach Sapa and be prepared to begin your hiking trip.

Accommodations in Sapa

Finding the proper spot to stay is the first step in a two-day, one-night trek across Sapa that will leave you with lifelong memories. There are several lodging alternatives in this lovely mountain town, whether you’re searching for a pricey resort or a cheap hostel.

Make sure to select a hotel that offers a breathtaking view of Fansipan Peak , Vietnam’s tallest mountain, while making your selection. You may also reserve a stay at one of the numerous eco-lodges in the region for an extra special experience. These accommodations provide breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside and a rare chance to reconnect with nature.

Additionally, be sure the hotel you choose has a shuttle to the starting point of the journey. You’ll be able to start your adventure as soon as you arrive because to the time, money, and energy savings.

Find a hotel close to a variety of eateries and other attractions for a really unforgettable stay in Sapa. This will allow you to spend your evenings exploring the town and finding all of its hidden treasures.

Last but not least, make sure to plan your route in advance and conduct your study on the trail’s safety. Your Sapa hiking experience will be one you’ll never forget with the proper planning.

Merchandise to carry on the hike

It’s crucial to be equipped for the weather when walking in Sapa. Having many layers of thin clothes is essential since it may become fairly cold in the highlands. You should choose supportive footwear that has high grip because you’ll be traveling over uneven ground.

To stay hydrated and motivated, pack a water bottle and some food. To protect your skin from the heat and bothersome insects, you must use sunscreen and insect repellent. To carry all of your necessities, a tiny daypack is also a smart choice.

These supplies will make sure your hiking trip is safe and fun. You’ll be prepared to tackle Sapa’s trails and experience its stunning vistas with the proper planning.

The top hiking trails

There is no better place to go hiking if you want an amazing experience than Sapa, Vietnam. Some of the most breathtaking trekking paths in the world may be found in this mountainous area.

It is the ideal location for a two-day hiking trip because of its luxuriant rainforests, breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, and traditional tribal communities.

You should take the varied difficulty levels into account while designing your Sapa trekking itinerary. While some routes are appropriate for novice trekkers, others could call for more seasoned hikers. Pick a route based on your experience and physical condition.

Whatever path you decide to take, be sure to dress and equip yourself properly for safety and comfort. Dress in breathable, light-weight, terrain- and climate-appropriate attire. Bring waterproof clothing and dependable, cozy shoes. Don’t forget to carry an insect repellant, sunscreen, and hat.

Make careful to educate yourself on the regional traditions and cultures of the Sapa people before beginning your adventure. Be sure to respect the environment and wildlife, as well as their way of life and customs.

There are additional overnight hikes offered for those who are more daring. Plan ahead to have food and a place to stay for the night. Bring a trustworthy first aid kit, lots of water to drink, and food for the trip.

A two-day walk in Sapa is likely to be a remarkable experience, regardless of the route you decide to take. It’s the ideal location for an outstanding trekking vacation because of its beautiful terrain, welcoming inhabitants, and plenty of adventure.

Guidelines for a good hike

Are you prepared to embark on an amazing Sapa trekking journey? Any outdoor enthusiast should go hiking in Sapa because of the breathtaking scenery, intriguing culture, and distinctive animals. Here are some suggestions to make your hiking trip as successful and pleasurable as you can.

Start by making a route plan. Make sure you pack a map and do your research on the finest routes and sites to see. This will enable you to stay on task and utilize your time effectively. Asking locals for suggestions on the finest spots to explore is another option.

Second, bring the right gear. Bring food, drink, and any other necessities you believe you’ll need for your walk. Bring the appropriate equipment, such as hiking boots, trekking poles, and a warm jacket.

Respect the environment, third. Keep on the paths and don’t throw anything out. Keep in mind to show respect for the locals as well.

You’ll be well on your way to enjoying a successful and pleasurable Sapa trekking journey by paying attention to these suggestions. Prepare to explore Sapa’s stunning trails, and don’t forget to take tons of photographs along the way.

What to anticipate when hiking

Are you prepared to spend just two days and one night discovering Sapa’s natural splendor? If so, the finest 2 day/1 night Sapa hiking trip is the ideal way to kick off your experience!

You will see a range of landscapes on the walk, from verdant valleys to soaring mountains, and you will get the chance to learn about the local history and culture. You will pass through several villages on the trekking path where you may try some of the delectable native cuisine and get to know the amiable Sapa residents.

Make sure you are organized and ready before you go. Bring a small, lightweight daypack filled with food, drinks, proper clothes, and sturdy hiking boots. Wear comfortable, appropriate clothing for the weather, and don’t forget to pack a waterproof jacket just in case.

You may participate in a variety of activities while on the trekking tour, including visiting local markets, learning about the history and culture of the area, and walking through the breathtaking scenery. Additionally, you’ll get the option to participate in some fantastic outdoor activities like zip-lining, kayaking, and rock climbing.

Finally, you’ll get a chance to explore Sapa’s stunning natural beauty and some breathtaking vistas. You may enjoy the area’s lush surroundings and fauna, from the terraced farms to the breathtaking mountain views. You may also visit the nearby villages and talk to the kind residents.

Therefore, the finest Sapa trekking 2 days 1 night trip is the ideal approach to begin your adventure if you’re seeking for an interesting and unforgettable trekking experience in Sapa.

Top 5 Best 2 days/1 night Sapa Trekking Tours

It’s good to know that there are many wonderful alternatives available if you’re seeking for the finest 2-day/1-night Sapa trekking tour. 

There is something for everyone to enjoy, including the breathtaking Muong Hoa Valley and Fansipan walk as well as the Ta Phin climb, Sapa mountain view and hamlet trek, and Sapa Rice Fields Tour. 

The top 5 Sapa hiking excursions for 2 days and 1 night are shown below.

1. Muong Hoa Valley Trek:

For hikers with only two days in Sapa, this is a well-liked option. It’s a wonderful chance to discover the breathtaking Muong Hoa Valley. The somewhat challenging hike is absolutely worthwhile because of the breathtaking views of the surroundings.

2. Trekking in Fansipan:

 If you want a more difficult walk, 2 Days and 1 Night is a fantastic option. You will reach the summit of Fansipan, the tallest mountain in Vietnam, with this hike. You’ll get the opportunity to take in some breathtaking vistas and visit the lovely countryside along the route.

3. Ta Phin Walk:

If you want to visit the nearby towns and take in some breathtaking scenery, this is a perfect trek for you. You’ll get the opportunity to encounter local hospitality and culture along the journey.

4. Sapa Mountain View and Village Walk:

This trek is excellent for people who wish to see the nearby villages and take in the mesmerizing mountain vistas. You’ll get the opportunity to encounter local culture and gain knowledge about local customs along the route.

5. Sapa Rice Fields Tour:

If you want to visit Sapa’s stunning rice fields, this trip is a perfect choice. You’ll get to see some magnificent sights and learn about the local way of life along the route. For those seeking a more leisurely trip, this is a terrific excursion.

How Much Does a Two-Day Trek in Sapa Cost?

An incredible experience may be had at a fair price by going trekking in Sapa. It’s crucial to take into account the trek’s whole price, which includes guide fees, food, and lodging. 

The size of the party and the length of the walk are the two main determinants of cost. For instance, the price per participant for a two-day, one-night excursion might range from $50 to $80, depending on the size of the group.

You may bring your own equipment, such as hiking boots and a tent, if you’re trying to save money. 

Since most trekking trips do not include the cost of rental equipment, this might help you lower the overall cost of the walk.

You should always reserve your trekking excursion through a trustworthy travel agency, regardless of your budget. By doing this, you can be sure you’re getting the most for your money. 

To ensure your safety and security throughout the walk, it’s also crucial to confirm that the tour operator is licensed and insured.

A two-day, one-night trekking tour is the ideal way to experience Sapa’s stunning scenery if you’re searching for a fantastic method to do it. 

You can make sure you get the most for your money and have an amazing experience by taking the trek’s cost into account, packing your own gear, and making your reservations via a reliable travel agency.

Where can I arrange a tour for Sapa trekking?

Are you prepared to go on a hiking experience in Sapa? If so, your initial action should be to reserve the ideal tour. Finding the one that best suits your needs requires investigation, as there are several travel operators offering Sapa hiking vacations.

When comparing trip operators, seek for one that provides a range of challenges. Make sure the trip you choose is appropriate for your level of expertise and physical condition, whether you are a novice or an experienced trekker. Make sure you are prepared for the circumstances by reading up on the topography of the hike.

It’s time to analyze the amenities offered by the trip operator you’ve chosen. Take into account the kind of lodging, meals, and transportation the tour offers. Are you going to a hotel or will you be tent camping? What kinds of food will be served as meals or snacks throughout the tour? Which kind of transportation—a vehicle, a bus, or foot—will be offered? Before you reserve, be sure the tour lives up to your expectations.

Find the Sapa trekking trip provider that best suits your needs by taking the time to investigate and contrast the various tour operators. To ensure that your Sapa trekking journey is a success, take into account the topography of the hike and the amenities given by the tour operator.

What Should I Bring for a Two-Day Trek in Sapa?

When embarking on a trekking expedition, it’s crucial to ensure that you have everything you need to ensure a safe and pleasurable experience. Here is a list of what to bring for a two-day, one-night walk across Sapa:

• Waterproof, comfortable shoes: A decent pair of shoes is necessary for a relaxing and pleasurable hike. Choose a pair that is waterproof, breathable, and light.
• Map: For navigation, you must have a map of the area you will be hiking in. You may make the most of your walk by strategically planning your route.
• Essential gear: For a secure and pleasurable walk, you’ll need a first aid kit, waterproof jacket, torch, and food.
• Clothes: Sapa’s weather may be erratic, so be sure to pack layers so you’ll be ready for both hot and cold conditions.

You may make sure that you are adequately ready for your Sapa hiking 2 Days 1 Night excursion by paying attention to these suggestions. Enjoy your journey!

Sapa tour 2 days 1 night from hanoi

How to get to sapa from hanoi.

• We Arrange Your Train Tickets, Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi

Trekking Tour Sapa can book train tickets for you only with advanced payment. We cannot arrange tickets within 48 hours of planned departure.

# Train from Hanoi to Lao Cai

Every night multiple overnight trains leave from  Hanoi Trainstation to Lao Cai Trainstation. You can choose for either a hard sleeper (6 berths in one cabin) or a soft sleeper (4 berths in one cabin). Early in the morning, you arrive in Lao Cai Train Station. From Lao Cai train stations, it is a 1 hour drive by minivan or private car to get in Sapa. Please contact us for the actual prices of the traintickets and departure times.

# Train from Lao Cai to Hanoi

A minibus or private car will pick you up in Sapa in the afternoon (about 4 pm) and bring you to Lao Cai Trainstation. Here you will have time for dinner. Multiple overnight trains leave for Hanoi Train Station. Early in the morning, you will arrive in Hanoi. Please contact me for the current prices of the train tickets and departure times.

• We Arrange Your Bus Tickets, Hanoi – Sapa – Hanoi

From Hanoi, you can take a sleeping bus from Hanoi to Sapa  and back. We would be happy to help you arrange a bus ticket. Please contact us for the actual prices and departure times of the different buses. 

Sapa 2 day tour price

Sapa trekking 2 days  1 night faqs:.

1. What should I bring for trekking in Sapa?

You should bring some essential items such as hiking boots, comfortable clothes, water bottle, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, flashlight, snacks, and a first-aid kit.

2. What is the best time to trek in Sapa?

The best time to trek in Sapa is from March to November. During these months, the weather is mild and the trails are not too slippery.

3. How difficult is the trek in Sapa?

The trek in Sapa is of moderate difficulty. It requires some physical fitness and stamina, but the trails are well maintained.

4. What kind of accommodation can I expect in Sapa?

There are a variety of different accommodation options in Sapa, from luxury hotels to basic homestays.

5. Is it possible to trek in Sapa without a guide?

Yes, it is possible to trek in Sapa without a guide, but it is not recommended as it can be difficult to find your way around and you may miss out on some of the incredible sights. It is recommended to hire a local guide to get the most out of your trek.

Email: [email protected]

WhatsApp:  +84886766031

Trekking Tour Sapa CO., LTD

• +84838040010
• WhatsApp: +84886766031
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• 09 Thac Bac Str, Sapa
• Support Time: 6:30am – 22:30pm GMT+7, Monday – Sunday, Lao Cai
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Bus From Hanoi to Sapa

Inexpensive, fast, daylight hours, many amenities, partially refundable, breathtaking views.

Bus From Sapa back to Hanoi

Booking chapa express train, way hanoi to sapa.

*SP3 train departs at Hanoi station at 22:00′. These train tickets will take you to arrive in Lao Cai province, then you have to take a taxi (25$ – go whatever you want) OR a local bus ($5 – leave at 5:30) to Sapa. *NOTE all prices will go up 10% during public holidays (pay later) – Holiday price 2023 will apply on the following dates: 20/1 – 26/1, 28/4 – 3/5/, 1/9 – 5/9, 30/12 – 4/1 (2024)

Way Sapa back to Hanoi

SP4 train departs at Lao Cai station at 9:30 pm. From Sapa, you have to take a taxi (25$ – go whatever you want) OR a local bus ($5 – leave at 5:30) to Lao Cai.

Limousine/Minivan From Hanoi to Sapa

Fast, comfortable, flexible pick up, consistent prices, soft seats. Ticket price according to seat position: 02 first seats $18/person/way, 04 holding seats $23/person/way, 3 last seats $21/person/way

Limousine/Minivan From Sapa back to Hanoi

Travel, Hiking, Food

2 Day Sapa Itinerary: Best Things to do in Sapa in 48 Hours

Wondering what are the best things to do for 2 days in Sapa? We recently spent 2 days in Sapa so I put together this Sapa itinerary and travel guide shows you what to do, how to get to Sapa, how to get around, where to stay and eat.

Nestled amidst the mist-kissed mountains of northern Vietnam, Sapa is a popular tourist destination for those looking for nature and adventure.

When I think of Sapa, rolling hills with rice fields probably comes to mind. While Sapa is famous for its beautiful rice terraces, there are so much more to Sapa than that (as we soon found out after we arrived).

From trekking to hiking to waterfalls to exploring local villages to relaxing in outdoor pools, Sapa is a dreamy destination, albeit it is also very touristy.

Wondering how to best spend 2 days in Sapa to see all its glory? Our Sapa itinerary tells you the best things to do and places to go in Sapa based on our experience there. I will also give you practical travel information, such as how to get there, where to stay, how to get around and what to eat.

Planning a trip to Vietnam?

I love traveling to Vietnam and have written a TON of Vietnam travel guides.

From Halong Bay to Hue to Hoi An, I have all the information to help you plan your Vietnam itinerary.

Whether you are planning to spend 10 days or 2 weeks in Vietnam, you will definitely find these articles helpful.

This blog contains occasional affiliate links, where I receive a small commission on sales of the products/hotels that are linked at no additional cost to you. In addition, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases .

Where is Sapa?

Sapa is located in Northern Vietnam near the border of China. The closest city to Sapa is Lao Cai, about 186 miles (300 kilometers) northwest of Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam.

Sapa town is nestled in the Hoàng Liên Son mountain range, known for its picturesque landscapes, terraced rice fields, and its ethnic communities, with the Hmong people as the largest ethnic group in Sapa.

Since it is in the mountains, it has an altitude of about 4900 feet (1500 meters). I don’t think this altitude is enough to give you altitude sickness or anything like that but it is colder and foggier than places like Hanoi.

How to Get to Sapa

There is no airport in Sapa; the closest airport to Sapa is Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

To get to Sapa from Hanoi, there are different things you can do: overnight train, overnight bus, shared van or private driver.

Overnight train from Hanoi to Sapa

In my opinion, the overnight train from Hanoi to Sapa is the safest way to get to Sapa, albeit not the most comfortable.

I took the overnight train from Hanoi to Sapa and you can read more about my experience. The best and most reliable website to book Vietnam sleeper train tickets is  12go (You need to search Hanoi to Lao Cai, not to Sapa or it will only show you bus options).

Our train from Hanoi to Sapa took 8 hours and when I was searching, I saw that the trains are almost all overnight sleeper trains. I saw there were different companies when we tried to book the train but they all ultimately run on the same line at the same time.

Essentially Vietnam Railways operates the train and each company can attach their own car to the Reunification Express Train. So if you book a luxury Sapa train, that just means you are staying in a more luxury car.

The sleeper train from Hanoi to Sapa generally costs between USD 20 to USD 70 , depending on the train, class, and room type (the less people in the room the more expensive it is). Since we took the luxury train, it was about 70 USD.

After we got off the train at Lao Cai, we needed a separate transfer (usually a shared van) to Sapa town. We pre-arranged this with our trekking company, and it cost an extra $4 USD a person. The ride to Sapa from Lao Cai train station was about another hour.

Bus from Hanoi to Sapa

Another popular way to travel between Hanoi and Sapa is to take a sleeper bus, either during the day or at night (yes you can take a sleeper bus during the day).

The bus ride between Hanoi and Sapa takes about 5.5 – 6 hours, depending on traffic conditions.

There are different types of buses, some are actual sleeper buses whereas others are buses with reclining seats. Of course with different types of buses comes different prices. Generally buses from Hanoi to Sapa cost between $10 to $25 USD per person, a lot cheaper than trains.

We took a luxury “cabin” bus back to Hanoi from Sapa after our 2 days in Sapa. The cabin bus was the most expensive option and the most comfortable in terms of all buses. The cabin buses are not your average sleeper bus, it actually was really nice with a private “cabin”, screen, USB charging and water.

The bus ride was way more comfortable than the sleeper train, but Vietnam drivers have pretty intense driving habits and I would be a bit hesitant to take a sleeper bus at night (we took it during the day).

Again, you can book your Hanoi to Sapa bus on 12go .

Private Transfer from Hanoi to Sapa

There are a ton of private transfers you can book, ranging from luxury shared van to actual private car. You can expect a private car to be the most expensive way to get to Sapa and it is best to reserve those in advance.

We took shared vans around Vietnam and they were quite nice, with USB charging and everything. Unless you have 3-4 people, I think a shared van would be good enough for your trip.

You can book a shared van or a private car on 12go or book this shared van .

General Travel Information for Sapa

• Currency : We had Vietnamese Dong with us in Sapa (they do not accept USD!!).
• Cash is king : Definitely bring cash with you as we found out that most places in Sapa do not take credit card (except hotels and specific restaurants).
• There are ATMs in Sapa : We found ATMs in Sapa, and that is the best way to take out cash. Exchanging money in Vietnam would give you a much worse rate than ATMs. If you are American, I recommend you get the Charles Schwab ATM card which reimburses you ATM fees worldwide.
• Sapa is cold : It is located in the mountains and it is further north, so temperatures are much lower than in Hanoi. Bring layers and jackets with you to Sapa, you won’t regret it.
• Do not drink the tap water : as in other parts of Vietnam and Southeast Asia, you cannot drink tap water. Try to avoid ice in your drinks as well to avoid food poisoning. In fact my friend drank a yogurt with ice in Hanoi and got food poisoning, it was not pretty.
• Sapa is expensive : I actually found Sapa more expensive than all the other areas we visited in Vietnam. It is touristy for sure and prices are quite high, so be prepared.
• Download Whatsapp ! Businesses are done over Whatsapp (like bus/ train booking, hotel communication etc). It is so much easier to communicate over Whatsapp than email.
• You need the internet in Sapa. I assume you would already have a sim card if you came from Hanoi, but if not, I highly recommend getting an eSIM in Vietnam . I had one and it worked brilliantly.
• Sapa is hilly . If you have mobility issues, Sapa would not be a good place for you. The city is hilly and I saw a lot of stairs in the town just trying to get to our hotel.

Best (and Worst) time to Visit Sapa

If you are like me, then you may have heard that the best time to visit Vietnam is between November and April , with comfortable weather during the dry season.

Well, Sapa is not like anywhere else in Vietnam. Since it is north and located in the mountains, and I assume you are going to Sapa for the rice terraces and (maybe) trekking, you should definitely read this part carefully.

Rice harvesting time in Sapa is between late August to early October. This is when the rice paddies are at their prettiest and turn gold for harvesting. Even though it is still technically during the rainy season, these two months are the prettiest months to visit Sapa.

After harvesting, the rice fields will be empty, all you will see is some muddy and brownish color of the rice fields.

April and May is a good time to visit if you want to enjoy warmer (but not too hot) weather and less rain. You can also see wildflowers during this time but the rice paddies are not going to be lush green yet .

Our Sapa trekking guide told us that July and August are great times to visit Sapa despite the rain because the days will be clear (after the rain) and rice terraces will be green. It is apparently peak domestic tourist season and it can get quite hot and humid, but if a local recommends that time frame, I believe it.

I visited early March, and let’s just say that I would not recommend visiting Sapa during the winter month . The weather was cold especially in the morning and at night but that didn’t bother us (given that we came from New York City and February is absolutely freezing). What bothered us was the lack of visibility.

The fog in Sapa when we visited was so bad I literally saw nothing 90% of the time I was there. Our trekking guide said the day before we arrived Sapa was perfectly clear, but most of the time it is foggy in the winter even if it doesn’t rain.

Therefore, I would say November to March is probably the worst time to go to Sapa because most likely you won’t see anything at all. Even if you do see something, the rice terraces are not green or gold.

In conclusion, you could be unlucky and encounter heavy rain and fog regardless of when you visit or you could get lucky and get a perfectly clear day even when you visit in the winter. Weather in Sapa is unpredictable since it’s in the mountains and all the weather forecast services/ apps are not accurate (it showed it was sunny when we were there when it clearly was not sunny).

Where to Stay in Sapa

There is a wide range of accommodations in Sapa, either in the town itself, a few minutes from the town, or in homestays in the different villages.

I looked into a number of hotels when I was planning this Sapa trip because I really wanted a hotel with good reviews and an amazing view.

We ended up staying at Pistachio Hotel in the middle of town because of its infinity pool against the mountainous backdrop (spoiler alert: we saw no views because of the fog), but on a clear day it should look like this below.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by PISTACHIO HOTEL SAPA (@pistachio_hotel_sapa)

The other two hotels that I HIGHLY considered were Topas Ecolodge and Laxsik Ecolodge . Both have amazing reviews and a beautiful infinity pool with the rice terrace in the background (and you get your own lodge). We ended up picking the Pistachio hotel because it was cheaper and loated in the center of town.

How Long Do You Need in Sapa

You need at least two days in Sapa to experience Sapa, do a trek and visit some of the surrounding villages and famous attractions.

If you have a lot of time and love trekking and outdoor activities, I would highly recommend spending 4 to 5 days in Sapa to fully explore this town and the surrounding area.

We spent 2 days in Sapa and wish we could have spent one more day there. Also with the unpredictable weather it is always better to have more days there.

What to do in Sapa for 2 Days

We spent two days in Sapa and it was a very eventful 2 days. This detailed 2 day Sapa itinerary can be customized to fit your own need and interest since I will give you some options you can include!

Day 1 in Sapa: Arrival + Trekking

Morning: arriving in Sapa

If you are taking an overnight train or bus to Sapa, you will arrive in Sapa early in the morning (~6 am). I hope you rested well on your way to Sapa as this will be a long first day!

9am to 3pm: Trekking or Motorcycle Tour

Sapa is famous for trekking so you simply cannot miss this experience! There are many different trekking companies and tour options in Sapa that can get a bit overwhelming. Given you only have two days in Sapa, you can only do the one day trek to see a couple of villages before heading back to Sapa town in the afternoon.

We booked the one day trek with Sapa Sisters because of their raving reviews and it cost us $39 USD per person for a private guide. There are cheaper Sapa trekking tours like this one that group you with other people.

If you do have more than 2 days in Sapa (or you only want to trek), then the 2 day 1 night trek would be perfect. The overnight stay would be at a local homestay so you can get an authentic and unique experience.

I read that you do not actually have to pre-book trekking as there will be many people asking if you want to trek once you get to Sapa.

However with our luggage and backpacks I am glad we pre-booked since we were able to drop our things off at Sapa Sisters’ office, take a break, before meeting our private guide, a nice Hmong woman who brought her baby with her!

If you have a private guide, you can customize how easy or how difficult you want the trek to be. We opted for an easy one and went to a few villages including the village where our guide was from.

In general the guide will take you to some viewpoints, walk by the villages, grab lunch, and finish the day in the last village before a bus takes you back to Sapa town.

If you do not want to trek but you feel comfortable riding a motorbike, then I would recommend this motorbike tour as an alternative to see the landscape of Sapa and visit some of the ethnic villages.

Late afternoon & Evening

You will be back in Sapa around 3pm after trekking. Our trekking tour took us back to the Sapa Sisters trekking office, where we washed our shoes and grabbed our bags.

If you had arrived in Sapa early in the morning, you can check into your hotel now and change out of your dirty trekking clothes.

Depending on how tired you are, you can either relax at the hotel (and get a massage like I did) or go out to explore Sapa town.

A few things you can do around Sapa town include:

• Walk around town and check out Sapa Lake and the flower garden
• Check out Sun Plaza, the larger shopping mall in Sapa
• Go to Instagram haven Moana Sapa and take all the photos you want (VND 80,000 entrance fee) but this is entirely set up for photo
• Get coffee from The Mist Sapa, a super chill cafe or Viettrekking Coffee & Restaurant, a cafe with an amazing view
• Grab ice cream from Mixue, a Chinese soft serve chain that is popular among locals. It’s not amazing or anything but I only saw locals here

Spend the evening getting some nice dinner and relax since you had a long day (and another long day tomorrow).

Day 2 in Sapa: Fansipan + Cat Cat Village

On your second and last day in Sapa you can explore two of its most famous attractions: the majestic Fansipan and the beautiful Cat Cat Village.

This itinerary assumes you have 2 full days in Sapa, meaning you are either spending the 2nd night in Sapa or taking an overnight bus or train back to Hanoi.

Fansipan, often referred to as the “Roof of Indochina,” is the highest mountain in Vietnam with about 10312 feet (3143 meter) in elevation.

Sun World operates a cable car that takes you (almost) to the top of Fansipan (and yes, it’s the same Sun World that built the famous Golden Bridge and Ba Na Hills near Danang).

Before the cable car was built, you would have to trek all the way up Fansipan with an overnight trip. You can still trek up but obviously you won’t have time to do that if you only have 2 days in Sapa.

From the Sun Plaza in Sapa town center, you can board a monorail to Muong Hoa Station. From there you will walk a bit to Hoang Lien Station and switch to the famous cable car to take you up to Fansipan.

The cable car ride takes about 20 minutes and as you go up you will see a nice view of Muong Hoa Valley and the entire Hoang Lien Son mountain range. After the cable car you can take a funicular up to near the peak. You just need to walk up a bit more stairs to the summit. Alternatively you can just walk up the steep steps instead of taking the funicular if you are looking for a challenge.

You can book your tickets ahead here or wait in line to buy in person at Sun Plaza.

The entire experience at Fansipan can take 3-4 hours so I suggest you go first thing in the morning when they open to maximize your day.

Unfortunately when we were in Sapa it was so foggy we were told at the ticket counter we wouldn’t be able to see anything, so we didn’t actually end up going. If I ever go back to Sapa again this would be on the top of my list.

Cat Cat Village

After getting back from Fansipan, you can walk about 20 minutes from Sapa town to Cat Cat Village, a super popular village that is pretty much made for Instagram.

Many will argue that Cat Cat Village is overly touristy and not authentic and I do not disagree. But I actually enjoyed Cat Cat Village quite a lot since it’s not something I have seen anywhere else.

You do not need a tour to visit Cat Cat Village as you can simply follow Google Maps and walk there yourself. On a clear day you can get a really nice view of the rice terraces as you walk down to Cat Cat Village (spoiler alert: we saw nothing because it was foggy).

You need to purchase a ticket to enter Cat Cat Village . You will also see many traditional clothing rental shops outside of the entrance and I suggest you rent the clothes as it is pretty fun to dress up and take photos (domestic Vietnamese tourists definitely do this too).

Inside Cat Cat Village you will find photo spots, traditional houses, flower gardens, shops, suspension bridges, a small bamboo forest before reaching the famous Cat Cat Waterfall. There are performances near the waterfall as well, making it an entertaining half day trip from Sapa.

Even though Cat Cat Village can be quite touristy, I actually quite enjoyed it. A bonus is that it is at a lower elevation than Sapa, so you have a better chance of seeing the rice terraces here than from Sapa town.

After you are finished with Cat Cat Village in the afternoon, walk back (or take a taxi) to your hotel in Sapa and get ready to take your bus or train back to Hanoi.

Read Next : Detailed Guide on What to Do and See in Cat Cat Village

Other Unique Things to do in Sapa

If you are not looking to do a day trek or visit Cat Cat Village, don’t worry, there are still plenty of things you can do in Sapa.

Glass Bottom Bridge & Adventurous Activities

If you are scared of heights this one may be too thrilling for you. This 200 feet (60 meter) long glass bottom bridge is hanging 6561 feet (2000 meter) above ground and lets you have that panorama view of the surrounding mountains.

You can buy the ticket online and take the glass elevator up to the bridge. You have to wear a shoe cover on the bridge to protect the glass.

Besides the glass bridge, there is zip lining , bungee jumping , paragliding and other adventurous activities at the Glass Bridge in Sapa.

Love Waterfall and Silver Waterfall

The most popular natural attraction in Sapa (besides Fansipan) is the Love Waterfall (Thac Tinh Yeu) and Silver Waterfall (Thac Bac). Both are not too far away from each other and you can easily reach by taxi or riding a motorcycle yourself.

If you don’t feel comfortable going alone, you can book a private day tour to see both waterfalls.

Hoang Lien National Park

If you want to see Fansipan and do some hiking in Hoang Lien National Park, then I highly recommend that you take a tour to Fansipan and see other photo spots along the way.

This is perfect if you care more about nature and rather spend all day exploring the national park instead of going to Cat Cat Village.

Hunt for Photos in Sapa

There are a number of photo spots in Sapa that are pretty much made for Instagram. I mentioned a couple of them for afternoon activities on the first day of your Sapa itinerary but there are way more!

In general you will need a taxi or to ride a motorbike yourself to these photo points (some are closer so you may be able to walk). You need to pay a small entrance fee to get in. Once inside, there are a ton of man-made photo opportunities, from pianos with mountain backdrops to Bali-like gates to swings to other photo spots.

Some of the best photo spots near Sapa include:

• Đỉnh đèo Ô Quy Hồ
• Lonely Tree (Cây cô đơn Sapa)
• Diem san may sapa
• Ansapa Village (has a fake Eiffel Tower)
• Moana Sapa 
• Sapa Green Valley

You can search for photos of these on Google Map to see which one looks the best to you.

Explore caves near Sapa

Looking for a bit of an adventure? Don’t miss out on the caves near Sapa.

Two of the most popular caves for tourists include Ta Phin Cave and Động Tiên Sơn .

You will meet locals outside of Ta Phin Cave who will offer to take you in. They will give you a guided tour with light inside, otherwise you could potentially get lost inside the caves. You can explore Động Tiên Sơn by yourself after paying VND 20,000 entrance fee.

See an Old French Church (Tu Viện Cổ Tả Phìn)

If you are going to visit Ta Phin Cave, you can stop by the ruins of an old french church. Although abandoned, there will be street vendors there trying to sell you things. Otherwise the ruin is free to visit and make for some nice photos.

As you can see, there are a ton of things to do in Sapa outside of the famous Fansipan and Cat Cat Village. Although you cannot do everything mentioned above in 2 days, I hope this gives you some ideas on how you want to create a Sapa itinerary.

Bac Ha Market

If you have A LOT of time in Sapa, you can go to Bac Ha Market, located about 2.5 hours from Sapa town. This large market is only open on Sunday from morning to about 2pm in the afternoon.

In Bac Ha Market you will find a ton of ethnic minority costumes, trinkets, bags, and fresh produce and food there. You will find meat products from all sorts of animals, horses, pigs, chickens, etc.

How to Get Around Sapa

Sapa is a large area and not just a town. While most people stay in Sapa town, most of the activities I mentioned above are actually outside of Sapa Town.

Ultimately how you get around Sapa really depends on what you plan to do.

Walking around Sapa is the best for someone who wants to stay in Sapa town, or visit Fansipan and Cat Cat Village. Cat Cat Village is easily walkable from Sapa town (no guide needed) and Fansipan can be reached either by tour or by monorail and cable car.

If you plan to explore the waterfalls and glass bridge as well as some of the photo spots in Sapa I mentioned above, the cheapest way is to rent a scooter and bike there yourself. I would only suggest this if you feel comfortable riding a motorcycle and you should definitely consider getting travel insurance in case of injuries.

If you are like me and don’t want to ride a scooter, then the only way to reach further away places in Sapa is to take a taxi . Your hotel can generally help you arrange a private taxi to drive you around (and wait for you) for the day. We took a taxi back from Cat Cat Village because we were short on time (and we got lazy since it was going uphill back to Sapa town).

If you plan to get around Sapa by yourself, you should definitely get data on your phone. If you don’t, consider getting an eSim card and downloading Google offline Map !

Where to Eat in Sapa

There are a number of popular restaurants and cafes in Sapa. Here are some of the ones we tried:

24 Restaurant : Located really close to the Sapa Sisters’ office, this restaurant offers different kinds of Vietnamese food. We ordered Pho, fried rice and pancakes and all the food was pretty good. We actually went back there twice since we quite liked the restaurant.

Chicago Pizza : You may wonder why we would go get pizza in Sapa. For one this was our last day after 10 days in Vietnam so we really wanted some western food. The restaurant is also highly rated with over 1000 reviews on Google so we gave it a try. We had a combination of pizza, fries and spring rolls (weird combo I know) but it was actually pretty tasty!

Mixue : It’s a local ice cream and bubble tea spot that originally came from China. I’ve only seen locals (especially young adults) there but I thought the soft serve and bubble tea were both not bad (and it is cheap since it’s not catered to tourists).

Hotpot Center : located not too far from Mixue near Sapa Lake is Hotpot Center. It is a large restaurant with terrace seating with a view of the square and the streets. This place is quite local as the menu is only in Vietnamese and servers speak limited English, but if you want hot pot this is the place you should try.

A Phủ Restaurant : one of the most popular restaurant in Sapa. It’s another hotpot spot with only a Vietnamese menu. Most people order either the salmon hotpot or the fish hotpot but you will find other Vietnamese food on the menu.

Cộng Cafe : If you are looking for coffee then you should definitely check out Cộng Cafe . This two story cafe is popular among locals (and some tourists). There is wifi and charging stations. Coconut coffee is one of the most popular items on the menu.

Packing List for Sapa

Here is my suggested packing list for Sapa so you arrive prepared especially if you plan to do trekking in Sapa.

• Jackets and layers : If you are visiting Sapa in the winter months, the place can be quite cold at night, so be sure to bring a thick jacket and layers. If you are going up to Fansipan then layers are a must as well.
• Raincoat : Sapa rains a lot, so you should always be prepared for rain especially if you are going to trek to the villages. A good rain jacket or shell can keep you dry during trekking.
• Hiking shoes or rain boots : If you are planning to trek then you really need good shoes. The ground can be really muddy so you should have either waterproof hiking shoes or rain boots . I only suggest rain boots because all the Hmong ladies that trekked with us wore rain boots and they did not slip once.
• Battery Pack : if you are going to be out all day or you are doing overnight trekking, you should definitely have battery pack with you to charge your phone.
• Disposable Bed Cover/ Pillow Case : If you are doing a sleeper train to Sapa like I did, I recommend these disposable one time use duet cover and pillow case . I don’t know how clean the sheets are on the train so I wanted to be safe and clean and these worked great.
• Toiletry : Don’t forget your toiletry. Depending on the hotel, some hotels may give you some toiletry whereas others do not. I did not see any super markets in Sapa when I was there so you should bring your own instead of trying to buy there.
• Extra pair of shoes : You can safely assume your hiking shoes will be gross and dirty. Always bring another pair of shoes to change to after you finish trekking.

Is Sapa worth it or is it a tourist trap?

Sapa is worth seeing at least once. Yes, Sapa is touristy and it can be more expensive than other parts of Vietnam but the nature is truly breathtaking. From the rice terraces to Fansipan to the waterfalls, Sapa is an amazing place to visit to enjoy nature.

My only advice is to try to go in September so you can get better visibility and actually see the rice fields when they are the prettiest.

Alternatives to Sapa

If you want to see the rice terraces without the tourists, then there are a few alternatives you can do instead of Sapa.

Ha Giang is another beautiful region in Northern Vietnam, known for its amazing landscape and rice terrace. It is famous for the Ha Giant Loop, a 4 day road trip by motorcycle to see the glory of Ha Giang.

Mu Cang Chai : Mu Cang Chai is another beautiful Northern Vietnam region known for its stunning landscape and rice fields. It is actually not too far from Sapa and has trekking and sightseeing without the tourists. The place feels more authentic but you won’t find many hotels there as a trade off.

Other Vietnam Travel Articles

Below are some of my other Vietnam travel articles to help you plan your perfect Vietnam trip.

• 10 Day Vietnam Itinerary for First Time Visitors
• What to do and see in Cat Cat Village
• Is Halong Bay Cruise Worth It?
• How to Visit the Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills in Danang
• 1 Day Hoi An Itinerary and Travel Guide
• How to Spend 2 Days in Hue
• How to get Vietnam eVisa
• Vietnam Sleeper Train: All You Need to Know to Survive
• Vietnam and Thailand 3 Week Itinerary

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Trekking in Sapa: Must-know Points to Keep in Mind

Most visitors to Sapa end up wishing they could spend more time there, and no wonder — this highland town in northern Vietnam has got it all, from spectacular mountain views to colorful hilltribe markets. In Vietnam, Sapa has been long known for the natural spectacular footpaths along mountains and tribal villages where a few ethnic minority groups are residing in. Trekking is always one of the must-do things when exercise-lovers travel. This article is about to highlight you should know before arranging your backpack for journey of trekking in Sapa and be sure to check out the strolls, treks and scenic drives listed below.

I. How Many Days to Trek in Sapa?

For trekking alone, it is recommended that one full day is enough. But if you don’t want to miss an opportunity to discover a new lifestyle as well as totally unwind experiencing the beauty of nature, then a 3-day-2-night trip will be perfect.

II. Best Time to Trek in Sapa?

Sapa has 4 distinct seasons .

Spring is from March to May when people start planting rice and flowers bloom under warm sunlight. The picturesque scenery of peach blossom and plum blossom over the village will depict what a countryside-featured paradise looks like.

Summer (June-August) best shows off how warm such a tropical country can be, what’s more, it also has the heaviest rainfall of the year. You may encounter an unexpected downpour while enjoying the brightest green rice paddies with your fellows. As a result, it is definitely low season to go for a trek in Sapa here.

From September to November is Autumn, the weather is drier but still rainy sometimes. Please be noted that it is harvesting season, the yellowish color of terraced fields which are on top most magnificent backgrounds in Asia is ready to make your heart skip a beat.

Winter is chilly and misty. Sapa covers itself with heavy fog, occasionally snow on peak as if it were trying to hide its mysterious beauty

Honestly, Sapa is worth trekking all year round, but if you opt for the finest weather, Spring and Autumn will suit you best.

III. Sapa Treks and Trails

1. cat cat falls – one step at a time.

Overview:  More country stroll than hike, this short walk provides an excellent introduction to the countryside surrounding Sapa.  Most people tackle this trail on their first day in Sapa, when they’re still feeling worn out from the long night-train ride from Hanoi.  

Trail Route:  This hike begins just past the popular Cat Cat Hotel, continues on past the turreted mansion-like HQ for Hoang Lien National Park , and then descends by staircase to Cat Cat Falls.  After crossing the river on a plank-floored suspension bridge, the trail then climbs steeply up the other side of the valley before descending to cross the river yet again on another narrow suspension bridge.  At this point you can walk back to Sapa or hire one of the waiting motorcycle drivers to take you back on a high-speed ride up twisting mountain roads.  

Hilltribes:  Black Hmong live in an extended village scattered along the river valley.  

The Scenery:  The Cat Cat Falls are picturesque, though nowhere near the size of the famed Silver Waterfall (see below).  

Fitness Level:  Moderate, as the trail features hundreds of concrete steps. 

Trail Conditions:  Cement staircase or sidewalk the whole way.  The second suspension bridge has lost some planks, so watch your step.  

Trail Rules:  Cattle and water buffalo always have the right of way.  

Reality Check:  Expect to share the trail with not just backpackers but more well-heeled travelers as well, since tour buses regularly unload their charges at the stairs leading down to Cat Cat Falls.  

Costs:  Though it’s not always collected, foreigners normally pay 10,000 Vietnamese dong (US$0.70) to enter Cat Cat Village, payable at the gatehouse just past the Cat Cat Hotel.  The motorcycle ride back from the end of the hike should cost about 10 to 15,000 dong (US$0.70 to 1.00) with a little polite haggling.  

Guides:  This hike is so easy to follow that a guide isn’t necessary.  Keep in mind that if you go to Sapa with an organized tour, a guided version of this hike will likely be included in the itinerary.  The Kangaroo Café in Hanoi offers inexpensively priced tours to Sapa that consistently get good reviews from travelers .

2. Lao Chai and Ta Van – Down by the river

Overview:  This hike offers spectacular cloud-shrouded mountain scenery and the chance to walk through traditional hilltribe villages and their surrounding rice paddies.  

Trail Route:  The hike initially follows a mountain road that leads out of Sapa, then descends into a deep valley, crosses the Ta Van River, and winds through rice paddies and the spread-out homes of Lao Chai and Ta Van villages.  Eventually the trail crosses back over the river and rejoins the road, where most hikers then hire a jeep or motorcycle for the return ride to Sapa.  

Hilltribes:  Black Hmong and Day communities line the hiking route.  

The Scenery:  From the road you’ll get an absolutely stunning view of the mountains across the river valley as well as the villages nestled down in the valley itself.  In the summer, expect to see luminous green rice paddies.  

Duration:  3 to 4 hours at a reasonable pace, assuming you take a jeep back to Sapa; add another two hours minimum if you don’t.  

Fitness Level:  Moderate.  

Trail Conditions:  Construction crews are currently improving the road out of Sapa, so expect to encounter torn-up portions of pavement with axle-deep mud and piles of blasted rock.  The trail down into the valley can be steep and slick in spots, so be sure to buy a bamboo walking stick from one of the local Hmong kids for 2,000 dong (US$0.15).  Don’t wear your best shoes and pants, as the trail’s rust-orange mud can permanently stain your clothes.  

Trail Rules:  Behave as if you’re walking through somebody’s front yard, because often you will be.  And remember that while this hike is a photographer’s dream, you should ask first before taking pictures of anyone you meet.  

Reality Check:  In just a few years this hike has become highly popular, so expect to share the trail with your fellow travelers.  

Costs:  Try to buy something from the locals, even if it’s just a lukewarm can of Coke.  They’re desperately poor and need the cash, which is one reason why foreigners must pay 10,000 dong (US$0.70) to enter the Lao Chai area.  You pay the fee at the gatehouse on the road out of Sapa.  

Guides:  Though the trail has become so well established that you could probably hike it on your own without great difficulty, you’ll get more out of the hike if you hire one of the local Hmong teenagers as a guide.  These self-assured young women can explain Hmong culture, interpret what the locals say, and tell you their own fascinating life stories — and they can do all this in startlingly good English.  Keep in mind that if you go to Sapa with an organized tour, a guided version of this hike will likely be included in the itinerary.  The Kangaroo Café in Hanoi offers inexpensively priced tours to Sapa that consistently get high marks from travelers.

2. Silver Waterfall (Thac Bac) and Tram Ton Pass

Don’t pass on this one.

Overview:  Jeep or motorcycle ride to the 300-foot (100 m) Silver Waterfall and 6,200-foot (1,900 m) Tram Ton Pass.  

Trail Route:  Drive five miles (8 km) out of Sapa to the Silver Waterfall , then continue another four miles (7 km) to Tram Ton Pass.  Retrace the same route back to Sapa.  

Hilltribes:  Black Hmong live in the area, but no villages are in the immediate vicinity of the pass or falls.  

The Scenery:  The waterfalls are impressive and the pass offers a stunning view of the road to China’s Yunnan Province.  

Duration:  2 to 3 hours, but confirm how long you have hired the jeep for before setting off, as the driver may have a schedule to keep.  

Fitness Level:  Moderate, because while the waterfalls can be seen from the road, you will probably want to scale the staircase that climbs beside it for a better — and wetter — view.  This cleverly engineered route features a bridge that crosses in front of the cascades about half way up the falls, allowing hikers to ascend down the opposite side. The view from Tram Ton Pass can be seen from the road and requires no hiking whatsoever.  

Trail Conditions:  The road can be bumpy, especially in the no-frills ex-army jeeps used by most drivers, so expect a slow ride. The trail at the waterfall consists of concrete stairs and is in excellent condition.  

Trail Rules:  Be  very  careful if you deviate from the staircase trail beside the waterfall.  

Reality Check:  The scenery is beautiful, but all of it lies in the endangered Hoang Lien National Park.  Keep in mind that the waterfall can be a washout during the drier first half of the year and that clouds often sweep over the pass and reduce visibility to near zero.  

Costs:  Foreigners are theoretically required to pay 3,000 dong (US$0.20) to climb up alongside the waterfall, but nobody seems to be bothering with collecting the fee.  Jeeps to the falls and pass can be hired for US$12, which is a real bargain considering you can split the cost among five passengers.  If you want to go it alone, Minsk motorcycles can be rented for about US$8 a day.  

Guides:  If you hire a jeep, your driver will know the route, so no guide is needed; if you drive your own motorcycle, you’ll want to pick up a map at the Sustainable Tourism Information and Service Centre on Cau May Street in Sapa, which sells maps of Sapa and the surrounding areas for 15,000 dong (US$1.00).   

3. Ta Phin – Mountain valley outside of Sapa

Overview:  Several hilltribe villages lie in Ta Phin, a misty valley nine miles (15 km) out of Sapa.  

Trail Route:  Jeep or motorcycle ride down the main road to Lao Cai, with a left turn down a side road to Ta Phin .  If you’re driving your own motorcycle, be warned that this turnoff is not marked.  You’ll know you are on the road to Ta Phin when you pass the haunted-looking ruins of a burnt-out French seminary.  Within Ta Phin valley there are any number of possible trekking routes, though most people follow the main trail leading through a Hmong village and up to the Ta Phin caves.  

Hilltribes:  Black Hmong and Red Dzao live in neighboring villages.  

The Scenery:  Luminous green rice paddy and traditional villages set in a highland valley ringed by mountain peaks.  

Duration:  Variable, as you could easily spend a whole day here.  Most people take about 2 to 4 hours total.  

Fitness Level:  Easy to moderate in spots, especially in the caves.  

Trail Conditions:  Generally good, as the main “roads” are mostly concrete sidewalks sized for motorbikes rather than cars.  

Trail Rules:  Always ask before taking photos, as the Red Dzao are particularly camera shy.  

Reality Check:  This mountain valley has an idyllic feel to it, but keep in mind that tending those rice paddies is back-breaking work barely sufficient to feed local families.  Also, while Ta Phin is a great way to get outside Sapa, it’s hardly undiscovered.  Expect to spot some of the same foreign faces you’ve been seeing in the cafes and restaurants of Sapa. Costs:  Foreigners pay 10,000 dong (US$0.70) to enter Ta Phin valley, payable at the gatehouse near the ruins of the seminary.   Xe om  motorcycle taxis can take you to Ta Phin for US$2 to 3 one-way, while jeeps can be hired for US$12 round trip.  Alternatively, you can rent your own motorcycle for about US$8 a day.   

Guides:  You’ll get more out of your visit to Ta Phin with a guide, who will speak English and be able to offer you insights into local hilltribe culture.  In some cases, they will invite you into their homes.  Often no fee is charged, though in these cases, be sure to buy something from your guide at the end of your hike, and don’t bargain too hard when you do.  The dong you spend will help feed, clothe and school local families.

3. Coc Ly Market – Want to buy a water buffalo?

Overview:  The market at Coc Ly literally lies at the end of a road that winds along the scenic Green River.  Because of its remote location, both the merchants and the customers are almost all from various hilltribe groups.  In fact, ethnic Vietnamese look almost as out of place here as foreigners do.  Aside from the expected water buffaloes, other goods for sale include a wide array of food, clothing and practical items like tools and corrugated metal roofing.  The market is in full swing only once a week, usually on a Tuesday.  

Trail Route:  About 100 miles (160 km) from Lao Cai, or a three-hour road journey.  

Hilltribes:  Black Hmong, Flower Hmong and Tay all frequent this market.  

The Scenery:  The market sits above the Green River, which you can cross on a narrow suspension bridge straight out of an  Indiana Jones  film.  You can also hire a boat for a run down the river through limestone gorges and isolated villages.  

Duration:  If you opt for the boat trip, this is really an all-day affair.  Expect to spend a good chunk of that time driving to and from Coc Ly.  

Fitness Level:  Easy.  

Trail Conditions:  The market can be jam-packed on busy days, so expect a crowd.  There’s not much to keep you from falling off the middle of the suspension bridge, so those who are afraid of heights will want to give it a miss.  

Trail Rules:  Though it’s rapidly being “discovered,” Coc Ly is still largely off the tourist trail.  Try to leave a small footprint.  

Reality Check:  Though they are cheerful and colorfully dressed, the locals lead extremely difficult lives marred by poverty.  

Guides:  Ms. Loan, owner of the popular Cat Cat Hotel, can organize a guided minibus trip to Coc Ly.  For a bit more cash, she can send you off in your own jeep.  If you don’t mind getting lost or breaking down in the middle of nowhere, you can skip the tour and rent your own motorcycle for about US$8, plus gas and the inevitable fees for roadside repairs.

IV. How to Get to Sapa?

Sapa is easily accessed by train or sleeper bus departing from Hanoi.

• Going by sleeper bus takes about 4-4.5 hours, costs 230,000 – 280,000 VND ($10 more or less), you can set off any time of the day.
• The second option is by train, which takes a bit longer (6-7 hours) not including an hour to get on a minibus to move from Lao Cai train station to Sapa town but you can sleep pretty well at night with a flat bed and a thin blanket. The price is different depending on the kind of cabin you book, but slightly higher than a bus ticket in general.

V. What to Pack for Sapa Trek?

• A good preparation is the beginning of a nice trip, Sapa hit the nail on the head. There is a list of specific things to pack for trekking in Sapa due to the unpredictable weather and unstable trekking paths. It will be a long route, so just bring along the most essential items to reduce unnecessary weight.
• Rain jacket: It is hard to tell if the weather is nice all the time during your trek. An easily-folded light rain jacket is a must, you can find one in any market, in Hanoi or Sapa.
• Backpack cover or waterproof backpack: In case of rain, those will be extremely useful to protect the valuable equipment inside like your camera or smartphone.
• Comfortable hiking shoes: The trail is super muddy, rough and narrow in some parts, therefore a durable comfortable pair of shoes can protect your feet well against sliding and falling. Water- resistant ones are even better, since you might cross small streams as well.
• Water bottles: No need to say, you don’t want to be thirsty and exhausted during your trek, do you? Bring double the amount of water you assume needed.
• Trekking a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen: In a high altitude area, the ultraviolet index is immensely high and does more harm than good. Wear them even when it is not too sunny.
• Insect repellent: In such a place covered by jungles, you will be provided a mosquito net at night, but in day time, apply some insect repellent to get rid of itchy rashes when you come back.
• First aid kit
• Clothes depending on seasons: appropriate clothes are well- needed for a convenient smooth trip.

VI. Should You Choose Homestays or Hotels During The Day Treks?

Sapa downtown boasts all modes of accommodation, from 5-star luxurious hotels, hostels, guesthouses to homestays . It is really dependent on your budget and services you are inclined to get. If you want something cozy but still enough facility-well-equipped, it is suggested to choose Ta Phin Cottage for your stay during the day treks.

During holiday, the price of rooms usually doubles, but there are undoubtedly a larger range of choices for drinks and food. On the other hand, homestays tend to be more popular as this model has been developed for the past 20 years and it reaches even the most remote area.

If you want something more local, in an ethnic groups’ village, there is no hard effort to find a homestay near the trekking route and beautiful spots with nice hosts, lavish meals, at around $6, though roommates and dishes have been decided beforehand.

VII. Tips on Trekking in Sapa

• Sapa has been a touristy destination for not only Vietnamese people, but a huge number of foreign hikers and visitors, so don’t need to worry about the language barrier. People there can speak English pretty well and even be your trekking guide.
• In Sapa town, you can get everything, from coffee to waterproof backpacks at a reasonable price compared to Hanoi, which means if you haven’t spent enough time shopping for important gears in advance, you can absolutely do it when reaching Sapa.
• Local goods such as jewelry, scarves, clothes or rice wine are all home-made and sold by people from ethnic minority people.
• Be well-prepared before your journey, especially of weather
• Tipping is not required in Vietnam. But it would still be welcome to tip your guide or homestay hosts.

These are all suggested notes for a successful, safe and enjoyable trekking time in Sapa. Be prepared and you will see how amazing and special it can be. Share with us your experience by commenting below, will you?

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Trek à Sapa – Mon expérience de 2 jours avec Ethos

Aujourd’hui je vous emmène à Sapa, une région où se cotoient de très beaux paysages de rizières en terrasse et une ville pas belle du tout, une destination où l’on peut faire du tourisme de masse comme un tourisme “différent”. Bien évidemment aujourd’hui on part découvrir quelque chose de différent puisque je vous raconte mon trek à Sapa avec Ethos Sapa. Une expérience où l’on va dormir chez l’habitant (du vrai), voir de superbes paysages, tomber dans les rizières, comprendre comment fonctionne un chaman H’mong… c’est parti !

Attention, comme toujours la première partie de l’article sera le récit de mon voyage et dans une seconde partie “conseils” vous aurez un résumé de l’expérience, comment réserver, combien ça coûte, etc. Et gardez à l’esprit que ce voyage a été effectué fin août – début septembre 2020. Si vous cherchez des conseils sur Sapa tout est concentré dans mon guide sur Sapa .

Table des matières

8h00  au bureau de Ethos

Il est 8h00 lorsque j’arrive au bureau d’Ethos et pendant cette première heure on va surtout discuter dans un canapé confortable. Hoa m’explique comment fonctionnent les H’mongs, des employés du bureau (dont je n’ai plus le nom mince, je crois que c’était Cha) m’expliquent d’autres choses sur les habitudes dans la région, de l’importance des plantes pour la médecine à l’itinéraire que l’on va suivre, tout y est.

Screenshot du site internet de Ethos Sapa

Pour faire simple j’ai choisi Ethos car cela fait plusieurs années que je les suis, ils investissent pas mal dans la communauté notamment vis à vis d’ateliers pour l’higyène, des ateliers de prévention contre le trafic de jeunes filles (fléau très répandu dans le Nord où les filles sont passés en Chine et revendus… vous pouvez taper “human trafficking Vietnam” et vous aurez plein d’articles notamment celui-ci ). Bien évidemment ils n’ont que des guides des minorités (dont pas mal de H’mongs) et… c’est quelque chose d’important car à Sapa la plupart des business sont tenus par des… vietnamiens ! Et oui les H’mongs en sont souvent à vendre des babioles ou à faire des guides mais jamais propriétaires d’hôtels, de bus, etc.

Bref après avoir bien discuté et fait la connaissance de Ker (ma guide, on en reparlera plus tard), nous partons du bureau de Ethos et traversons tout Sapa. Nous nous retrouvons au marché pour acheter… le repas du midi. Et oui on va manger chez Ker à midi donc je peux même choisir les ingrédients (et je suis très difficile pour la nourriture donc pas de poisson ou de canard !).

Début du trek dans la campagne de Sapa

Après un rapide transfert en taxi nous arrivons à l’endroit où nous allons débuter notre trek. Nous descendons tout droit dans la vallée, nous sommes assez contents car il y a un grand soleil.

En arrivant dans la vallée Ker sort l’outil indispensable contre le soleil : le parapluie. Son parapluie est assez cool donc je me dis que ça sera très photogénique (imagine si elle m’avait sorti un parapluie Pokemon, les boules). Je n’ai aucune idée de l’endroit où l’on est (parfait).

La récolte a déjà commencé, ici on n’utilise pas de machines et tout est fait à la main. Le riz est récolté, puis les ballots sont tapés dans une grande benne, et une fois qu’on a uniquement les grains de riz on met tout ça dans des sacs de 50kgs qu’on doit porter sur le dos jusqu’aux motos… un jeu d’enfant !

Quelques centaines de mètres plus loin Ker m’explique que la plante à mes pieds sert à faire de l’indigo. La fameuse couleur pour les vêtements des H’mongs (celle qui reste sur les mains et qui fait donc du bleu indigo). Je suis daltonien donc autant vous dire que je fais tout mon possible, malheureusement je suis nul pour frotter les herbes donc je n’ai qu’une teinte d’indigo ma foi assez faiblarde !

Premier pont “claqué” du trek à Sapa

Nous longeons ensuite sur quelques centaines de mètres la rivière, c’est vraiment très beau.

Nous devons juste après passer la rivière (on s’en doutait), Ethos a fait constuire un petit pont pour que tout le monde puisse passer sauf que… ben le pont il a pris un petit coup de vieux. Ker me propose de passer à pied la rivière ou de tenter le pont. Pour elle le pont est assez facile puisqu’elle doit faire 40kgs, néanmoins pour bibi qui en fait 100 le poids est assez différent. Je lui donne mon sac à dos avec l’appareil photo (pas folle la guèpe) puis je tente de passer. Une fois au milieu le pont bouge à mort et jmon cerveau reptilien prend le dessus, je termine de passer le pont… à 4 pattes, esthétiquement c’est zéro mais c’est au final assez efficace.

Nous nous retrouvons un peu plus loin dans la vallée, dans un premier temps sur des petits chemins de terre puis par la suite sur une petite route en bitume. Ca fait du bien de retrouver un chemin qui fait plus d’1 mètre de large. Dans les rizières les plus basses la récolte est en cours, on peut voir quelques adultes travailler puis non-loin de là les jeunes enfants qui courent de partout.

Après une montée qui… fait mal aux jambes nous arrivons dans une autre vallée de rizières, celle-ci est encore plus belle car nous sommes vraiment au centre d’un mini amphithéatre, c’est le premier “waouh” que je lâche du trek.

Ensuite l’enfer commence puisque Ker me montre la maison tout en haut de la montagne (vraiment y’a pas plus haut) et me dit “c’est ma maison, c’est là qu’on mange à midi”. Ker elle est gentille mais si elle avait pu déménager pour un T3 dans un joli lotissement dans la vallée ça m’aurait arrangé. Du coup c’est genre 45 minutes non-stop dans la jungle ou les champs de maïs. J’en ai ras le bol en arrivant tout en haut et surtout j’ai mal aux jambes ! Pour me remonter le moral Ker m’explique qu’ensuite on a quasiment plus rien à monter… elle sait parler aux hommes en détresse… l’expérience sûrement.

Le repas chez Ker avec le papa et les enfants

En arrivant chez Ker je m’effondre comme une larve. Toute la petite famille se met à cuisiner et je n’ai aucun doute que ça va être succulent (les repas dans la campagne c’est toujours bon). La maison est une maison H’mong “classique”, l’intérieur est assez vide de mon point de vue et il y a toujours du maïs en train de sécher.

Une grosse demi-heure plus tard le repas est prêt, le mari de Ker me demande ce que je fais, Ker m’explique comment sa famille fonctionne, comment se passe l’école des enfants, ce qu’ils font en ce moment, etc.

Il se met à pleuvoir ce qui nous oblige à patienter tranquillement dans la maison. En partant la fille de Ker veut vraiment venir avec nous mais sa maman lui explique qu’elle doit rester. Après quelques minutes il n’y a plus du tout de pluie, nous passons quelques pépinières mais les paysages sont pas mal.

Les bambous puis les rizières

A ce moment Ker m’explique qu’on va plus monter de la journée (cette fois c’est sûr), cela ne sera plus que de la descente et… je suis vraiment content. Nous débouchons rapidement sur une grande forêt de bambou. En faisant une pause Ker m’explique comment elle récolte des bambous en ce moment pour les revendre à Sapa (avec le COVID elle n’a plus du tout de réservation, donc plus aucune entrée d’argent).

Après les bambous nous dominons totalement la vallée de Muong Hoa, la vallée la plus connue de Sapa avec des villages tels que Lao Chai ou Ta Van. Le chemin que l’on utilise descend vraiment fort et les vues sont impressionnantes.

Peu après nous commençons à être carrément dans les rizières, il n’y a pas un chat et les rizières semblent deborder. La récolte sera dans quelques jours et les tiges plient sous le poids du riz.

Je me régale car Ker me fait changer de chemin pour qu’on puisse voir le plus de rizières, vraiment on a l’impression de se noyer dans le riz, il y en a de partout !

En marchant dans les rizières je tombe d’ailleurs dedans, coup de chance c’est déjà récolté.

La récolte, un travail de mutant

Nous croisons un petit groupe qui termine sa journée de travail. C’est vraiment un travail de dingue car ils remontent le riz (une fois récolté) sur leurs dos. Les hommes portent 50kgs pendant que les femmes portent 30kgs (et personne dépasse les 1m70).

Je continue d’être aux anges, il fait super beau et nous en rigolons avec Ker car on avait tous les deux assez peur de la pluie dans l’après-midi. Ker me sert toujours de parfait modèle avec son parapluie.

Les dernières minutes de descente jusqu’à chez ses parents prennent un peu plus de temps car la terre est très meuble, je fais donc attention et j’évite plusieurs fois la chute (on se sent tomber donc c’est gérable).

Une nuit chez l’habitant (mais du vrai de vrai)

Pendant la randonnée Ker m’a demandé si je souhaitais dormir chez l’habitant ou plutôt le “chez l’habitant – guesthouse”. Bien évidemment j’ai dit qu’on pouvait dormir chez ses parents (le vrai chez l’habitant) et… ben ça correspondait en tout point.

Ses parents habitent dans les hauteurs de Lao Chai, ils ont une grande maison H’mong assez typique. D’un point de vue occidental la maison Hmong c’est vide de chez vide, il n’y a pas d’autre mot. J’ai la meilleure chambre de la maison, il n’y a pas de fenêtre mais j’ai un grand lit avec une moustiquaire et une couverture. D’ailleurs pour charger le téléphone c’est dans la pièce principale (pas de prise dans la chambre) et pour allumer la lumière il faut brancher une prise électrique là aussi dans la pièce principale. Bref c’est basique mais je savais dans quoi je me lançais et au moins l’argent va aux bonnes personnes !

Chose très intéressante mais le père de Ker est chaman tandis que sa mère est herboriste (ça change de Product Manager & Tax Consultant commez chez les Van Huffel). Du coup en arrivant chez elle Ker m’a expliqué comment ce petit monde fonctionnait et c’était très intéressant, je vous prends quelques exemples :

• Le chaman est souvent appelé lorsqu’il y a un problème, il va donc venir dans la maison des gens, passer du temps et donner des solutions (par exemple si les gens n’ont pas de chance, si une maladie vient d’arriver, etc.). Je ne me rappelle plus des détails mais à la fin il faut impérativement manger la viande de l’animal sacrifié, donc si ça termine à 3h du matin on réveille tout le monde dans la maison et on mange.
• L’herboriste apporte des solutions par les plantes, notamment pour aider à soulager des douleurs, mais cela concerne des problèmes comme avoir mal aux dos plutôt qu’une jambe cassée par exemple.
• Le fait d’être chaman se transmet dans une même famille, cependant cela peut se transmettre aux filles et pas uniquement aux fils (#metoo)
• Tout comme lors de la visite des temples à Taiwan avec Taiwan Safari (oui je fais le rapprochement), le chaman utilise des espèces d’outils pour comprendre ce qu’il se passe (un peu comme des dés, en fonction des faces cela sera interprété différement par le Chaman).

Bon ensuite il y a eu 2000 détails dont je ne me souviens plus, notamment sur le fait de fermer la porte principale de la maison en fonction des moments de l’année, le fait qu’on ne puisse pas consulter le chaman toute l’année (“je suis en weekend à Marrakesh”), le fait qu’on paye généralement le Chaman à la fin de l’année lunaire, etc. J’ai pas envie de dire de grosses bêtises (je suis sûr que j’ai déjà très mal expliqué certaines choses) donc je préfère m’arrêter là… faudra demander Ker quand vous faites la randonnée !

Bon et ensuite on a dîné et je suis parti me coucher car j’étais cuit.

L’autel de son père au milieu, et l’autel de sa mère à droite (plus petit)

Le lendemain matin je me rendrai compte par hasard que la famille de Ker fabrique de l’indigo, qui sera ensuite transformé en vêtements. Ils utilisent une plante qu’on écrabouille, on mélange cela dans un grand fut. On laisse massérer des tissus dans ce fut, on les sort pour les faire sécher puis c’est reparti… et à la fin ça fait des chocapics… euh de très beaux vêtements.

Seconde journée de trek avec Ker

Nous commençons tranquillement la journée avec un petit-déjeuner assez tardif, puis nous quittons la maison de ses parents et descendons un chemin assez abrupt. Certains endroits sont mouillés donc je descends tout doucement pendant que des adolescents me dépassent en mocassins et talons (évidemment eux ils sont en train de courir plutôt).

Nous atteignons rapidement la route principale où j’étais déjà le jour précédent, Ker m’a prévenu qu’on allait marcher une grosse dizaine de minutes sur la route avant de retourner dans les rizières, parfait ! Sur le côté la vallée est magnifique !

Evidemment Ker n’a pas menti et dans un virage elle me pointe un chemin… c’est reparti pour de la montée. Le chemin est un mélange de terre et de grosses pierres donc ça se monte plutôt facilement (d’un point de vue technique, d’un point de vue pulmonéaire évidemment ce n’est pas la même limonade !).

Rapidement on se retrouve dans les rizières en terrasse et les paysages sont sublimes. Les amphithétres sont tout petits et bouchent la vue sur le reste de la vallée mais l’impression d’être loin de tout n’en est que plus forte.

Après 10 minutes à ne faire que monter on se fait une petite pause sur un énorme rocher qui domine la vallée. C’est mon premier vrai “waouh” de la matinée et Ker me dit “attend en haut ça va être encore plus beau”.

Tu vois tout là haut ? c’est là qu’on va

Après avoir repris la marche je suis rapidement essouflé, ça monte vraiment très fort. Pour être honnête je ne m’y attendais pas trop donc ça me surprend. Ker me point du doigt des bambous tout en haut de la montagne et me dit “c’est là qu’on va” (exactement comme hier pour sa maison). Les vallées deviennent de plus en plus majestueuses, c’est honnêtement sublime (sûrement le plus beau passage avec la grande descente en fin de jour 1).

Le problème c’est que juste après ça va devenir un peu plus tendu pour Brice, en effet on marche vraiment sur les bords des rizières avec parfois quelques mètres de dénivelés juste en dessous, il faut passer pas mal de descentes sur des pierres et marcher sur des chemins qui doivent pas faire plus de 30 centimètres de large. Etant donné que les rizières sont sèches juste avant la récolte la terre ne bouge pas trop donc ça va.

A un moment on a le malheur de passer des rizières encore en eau, ce qui fait que le petit chemin n’est pas hyper stable (je m’enfonce, ça bouge sous les pieds car la terre est meuble, etc.). Ca n’a pas loupé puisque j’ai fait un beau soleil en tombant dans la rizière (il y avait genre 1m50), bon j’ai sauvé l’appareil photo mais le short et les chaussures c’était que de la boue.

En prenant une photo sur la fin du trek, je venais de nettoyer les chaussures !

Pendant une grosse vingtaine de minutes j’ai mis l’appareil photo dans le sac à dos et je me suis juste concentré sur la descente, il y a encore eu des rizières avec de l’eau, c’était encore meuble mais j’ai tenu le coup (je suis trop fort, bientôt recruté pour faire un super-hero dans MARVEL). Une fois quitté les rizières j’étais très content, j’étais à deux doigts de reprendre l’appareil photo sauf que j’ai refait une belle chute cette fois dans les pierres. Je me suis fait mal car j’ai tapé avec l’épaule dans les pierres… et je me suis demandé pourquoi j’étais en train de faire la randonnée et pas tranquille sur ma moto.

Photo prise à liPhone 8

2 minutes après, et alors qu’on passait un petit pont en bois, j’ai carrément cassé la planche qui servait de pont et je suis donc tombé dans la rivière. A raconter c’est drôle et à vivre c’est encore plus drôle.

En gros les locaux ont installé une grosse planche au dessus d’un petit cours d’eau (genre 1m au dessus). Evidemment Ker est passée dessus sans problème en se demandant si ça allait tenir. Evidemment moi qui fait 2.5 fois son poids j’étais sûr que la planche allait lâcher, donc je lui ai dit “donne moi la main juste au cas où” et 10 secondes plus tard la planche était explosée et j’avais les pieds dans l’eau (c’était gros comme une maison que la planche allait explosée donc j’étais pas vraiment surpris).

5 minutes après quasiment tombé au niveau du passage d’une cascade. Bref j’en avais un peu marre de tomber par terre donc l’appareil photo est resté à l’intérieur du sac (Brice en PLS, Brice babtou fragile, Brice le pseudo-aventurier, Brice le naze, etc.).

Nous marchons encore un petit quart d’heure jusqu’à arriver au restaurant où on prendra le déjeuner. Je fais quelques photos à l’iPhone sur le chemin car certaines scènes sont magnifiques.

Photo prise à l’iPhone 8

Je partagerai un déjeuner avec Ker avant que l’on rentre en voiture jusqu’à Sapa, il faut que je reprenne le bus en début d’après-midi jusqu’à Hanoi et nous n’avons pas donc pas le temps de réellement finir cette seconde journée (c’était prévu dés le départ). Sur le chemin Ker demandera gentillement au taxi de s’arrêter dans un magasin pour que je puisse acheter un short (j’ai oublié d’en prendre un second et le premier est complètement mort), je discuterai ensuite rapidement avec toute l’équipe de Ethos, une douche et on rentre à Hanoi !

Conseils pour votre trek à Sapa

La randonnée “pas classique du tout” dans des villages paumés.

Pour mon second passage à Sapa je voulais absolument passer par Ethos, pour faire simple c’est une entreprise sociale qui s’occupe de nombreux projets dans la région de Sapa (atelier auprès des communautés pour l’higyène, la protection des enfants, protection de la culture locale, etc.). Ils organisent des randonnées sur des chemins différents tout autour de Sapa et bien évidemment ils n’emploient que des minorités H’mong, Dao, etc.

C’est peut-être un peu particulier mais sachez que la plupart des business de Sapa appartiennent à des Kinh (des vietnamiens), donc quand vous prenez les minivans entre la gare et Sapa, que vous mangez au restaurant à Sapa ou que vous achetez un coca dans un supermarché c’est quasiment tout le temps des vietnamiens. Les minorités sont souvent reléguées aux emplois peu qualifiés (vente de textiles dans la rue, guide, construction, etc.). Attention il y a des causes aussi structurelles à cela (de nombreuses personnes des minorités sont analphabètes, les endroits où ils vivent sont généralement isolés, etc.), c’est un vaste sujet donc allez plutôt lire cet article de blog de la Banque Mondiale .

Bon je digresse un peu (sur un sujet que je ne maitrise pas) mais être analphabète dans les montagnes du Nord du Vietnam lorsque t’as 30 ans ça veut pas dire que t’es le paria comme cela pourrait être en France. Ker par exemple est une excellente guide, elle a un smartphone, elle a sa maison, elle est mariée et ses enfants vont à l’école, elle parle mieux anglais que la plupart des français etc.

Bref je suis passé par Ethos et je n’ai pas été déçu, c’est plus cher mais c’est une expérience différente. Je suis allé dans des villages que je ne connaissais pas, on a mangé chez Ker, on a dormi chez les parents de Ker où il n’y avait pas Wifi, mon guide était H’mong donc parlait avec tout le monde sur le chemin et pouvait m’expliquer comment les H’mongs fonctionnaient (ça parait bête mais elle avait des super détails sur la récolte, sur comment fonctionnaient les familles à ce moment, sur son père chaman, sur ses enfants à l’école, etc.).

Comment faire cette randonnée ?

Il vous suffit de contacter Ethos directement sur leur site internet , sachez que Ethos peut aussi s’occuper de réserver vos billets de train ou bus limousine (genre des minivans haut de gamme). La randonnée s’appelle Spirit Tree et tout est visible directement sur cette page (prix, durée, etc.).

Pour ma part cela m’a couté 120$ pour 2 jours/1 nuit (le second jour je devais être rentrée à Sapa après le déjeuner). Ils ont plein d’autres trucs si vous souhaitez faire une journée de trek, 3 jours, etc. Sachez que les itinéraires sont adaptés directement par les différents guides donc vous pouvez y aller les yeux fermés. Attention, j’ai payé 120$ mais c’était car j’étais seul, pour deux cela aurait été 80$ par personne. Ca comprend tous les repas, le transport à l’aller et au retour (depuis le début ou fin de la randonnée, etc.).

Sapa c’est bien ?

Je suis obligé de terminer là dessus mais Sapa c’est… particulier. C’est de très loin la destination la plus facile à visiter pour voir des rizières en terrasse. Très clairement les transports sont faciles pour atterrir là bas (train & bus), même sans rien réserver aucun problème, il y a des randonnées, on peut louer un scooter, manger une pizza, dormir dans la ville de Sapa ou dans un hôtel sympa dans les rizières quelques kilomètres plus bas. Sauf que c’est aussi ça le problème :

• Sapa est une ville moche, aucune gestion de l’urbanisme c’est une catastrophe, par contre la campagne est très très belle.
• Pour les aventuriers il y a des zones de rizières en terrasse plus jolies ( Mu Cang Chai & Hoang Su Phi par exemple). Attention, ces destinations ne sont pas non plus parfaites (peu de choix pour les hôtels, très compliqué d’organiser par soit-même sans moto, etc.).
• Comme souvent difficile de dire c’est nul et c’est trop bien, Sapa correspond à certains voyageurs (durée faible, pas besoin de faire de la moto, etc.) mais Sapa ne correspond pas à d’autres (qui cherchent à être loin de tout, de la vraie aventure, etc.).

Quand a eu le trek ?

C’était le dernier weekend d’août 2020 !

Questions ?

Vous avez des questions sur cet article ? n’hésitez pas à laisser un commentaire ci-dessous.

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About the author: brice.

22 Comments

Bonjour Brice, Je vous suis totalement dans votre choix d’Ethos ou autre entreprise communautaire telle que Sapa O Chau. L’étique de ces intervenants est à souligner. Le souci que l’on rencontre cependant se tient au niveau des guides et de la langue….si l’on ne pratique pas l’anglais (et oui, çà arrive, je parle français, espagnol mais pas anglais…) on est contraint de passer par une agence Kinh avec un guide francophone souvent venu de Hanoï et trop souvent peu initié (les agences se réservant les très bons pour leurs circuits et c’est normal… Je crois qu’il en existe quelques uns à Sapa qui officient sur place, ce serait bien de pouvoir les référencer. Si vous pouviez vous renseigner pour nous, ce serait encore plus que bien. Bien à vous

Je vais publier un guide sur Sapa bientôt, mais c’est toujours compliqué de promouvoir des business éthiques quand tu connais pas, enfin quand t’as pas testé plutôt.

Oui c’est toujours compliqué d’avoir un guide francophone excellent lorsqu’on réserve que quelques jours, ça vient aussi des guides qui préfèrent des vrais voyages (plus de pourboires, généralement moins de treks donc plus d’hôtels normaux, etc.).

Je fais pas trop de référencement en recoupant des sites internet malheureusement, ça pourrait être utile mais ça me motive pas des masses (et j’aime pas trop les articles qui font liste et manquent vraiment de partage d’expérience).

Je pense que certains business que tu mentionnes doivent avoir quelques personnes qui parlent un peu français peut-être 🙁

Merci Brice, Je pense aussi qu’il faut parler de ce que l’on sait et de retour d’expérience, là dessus on et bien d’accord! C’est pourquoi je ne site que O Chau..qui n’ont malheureusement pas de guides francophone, elles parlent un peu anglais et c’est déjà bien méritoire. Il existe à ma connaissance 2 guides francophones indépendants (non reliés à une agence de Sapa ou d’Hanoï), ne les ayant pas testé je ne donne pas leurs noms (sauf en MP) . Je me demandais simplement, d’où mon message, si d’autres n’officiaient pas? Etant en France il m’est difficile de me renseigner sur place…et voilà pourquoi je me suis adressée à vous qui êtes au Vietnam. Sans doute aurez vous l’occasion de revenir à Sapa et sans doute qu’il vous sera plus facile qu’à moi de questionner sur place. Bonne suite dans ce merveilleux pays. CHÚC MỪNG NĂM MỚI

J’avais oublié de répondre aux commentaires 😀

Je pense que j’ai une faiblesse sur l’aspect français vu que je parle plus anglais que français donc je t’avoue que c’est rarement abordé sur le blog 🙁

Hello Merci Brice pour l’article. Nous avons fait un trek en famille à l’été 2019 avec enfants en passant par un guide francophone hors agence avec nuit dans une famille hmong. Cela fait partie de nos meilleurs souvenirs au Vietnam. A dispo pour partager ce bon plan à ceux qui sont intéressés !

Salut Yohann,

N’hésite pas à le mettre dans les commentaires !

Merci pour tous ces renseignements et ce travail de dingues . Moi aussi je suis intéressée par un guide francophone pour visiter cette région en avril prochain , mon anglais étant trop approximatif , au bout de quelques phrases , je suis larguée … Je suis preneuse …..

Hello Vous pouvez contacter Chinh à l’adresse suivante : [email protected] . Comme partagé dans un message précédent : excellent guide pendant un trek de 2 jours (54€ par adulte pour 2 jours en 2019). Bon voyage ! Yohann

Bonjour Brice, merci pour toutes ces précieuses mines d’informations Je me suis créer un drive avec toutes tes pages en pdf en cas de galère d’internet, elles vont littéralement nous servir de boussolle pour notre périple au Vietnam ! D’ici 2 semaines nous partons avec 2 amies pour le Nord du Vietnam, aurais tu d’autres agences locales à nous conseiller pour effectuer un trek du type Ethos, dans le Nord est du pays ? Sur les Boucles de Hang Giang ou Hoang Su Phi ? Cao bang ? Sur internet on trouve de tout mais jamais en totale transparence… J’ai 100% confiance en toi ! À l’écoute 🤗🤗🌼

Ca n’existe pas dans ces régions (de truc similaire à Ethos).

Hello Brice, J’espère que tu vas bien.

J’avais bien envie d’essayer un trek avec Ethos depuis cet article mais il paraît que courant avril ne serait pas la meilleure période pour voir de belles rizières vu qu’ils vont labourer la terre pour replanter début mai. Plusieurs personnes m’ont alors conseillé d’y aller en juin. Est-ce que ça aurait quand même de l’intérêt ou est-ce je risque vraiment d’être déçue a y aller en avril, aux alentours du 23-24.

Merci pour ton aide

Salut Nina,

généralement les gens sont peu déçus du NOrd du Vietnam car ils ont pas d’élément de comparaison avec ou sans riz 😀 Fin avril c’est quand même pas mi-janvier 😀

Salut Brice, Je me suis beaucoup inspirée de ton blog pour préparer mon voyage et, maintenant que je suis sur place, voici mon retour : Ethos, c’est vraiment génial : ils ont pris le temps de nous expliquer les modes de vies et les difficultés des différentes ethnies et nous ont confiés à une guide adorable. C’est vrai qu’il faut comprendre l’anglais parce que Hoa et la guide nous donnent une mine d’infos. Il faut relever le défi physique et ne pas chichiter sur le confort, mais tous les repas étaient très bons. Une expérience incroyable pour nos deux ados. J’avais fait un peu à contrecoeur une croix sur Ha Giang pour éviter les heures de route, mais en fait on en a déjà eu plein les mirettes. Après : un passage à Bac Ha pour le marché. Nous avons été un peu déçus. Peut-être il aurait fallu avoir un guide pour nous expliquer un peu. Je n’ai pas vu de buffles, que des cochons en cage tirés par les pattes et des chiens, mes enfants n’ont pas adoré… Maintenant on est au Cinnamon ecolodge, j’ai suivi ton conseil et là c’est le Paradis. Mon fils est en train de pêcher, et demain journée avec Gioi. Le lieu est en train de s’agrandir, ils ajoutent deux chambres. Merci à toi pour cette belle adresse !!

Profitez bien 😀 sûrement la balade jusqu’à la cascade ? ton fils pourra se baigner 😀

Bonjour, Le marché aux bestiaux de Bac Ha se situe de l’autre côté du pont, la place du marché est trop petite pour recevoir les buffles, un guide vous y aurait sans doute conduits… C’est très animé, les palabres vont bon train. Je mets ici la carte pour ceux qui suivront. Bonne suite à vous https://goo.gl/maps/XWoGnQWgcLQw1ukv6

J’ai MAJ sur https://worldwildbrice.net/2020/01/26/marche-bac-ha-vietnam-incontournable-piege-touristes/ il y a quelques mois, le marché aux buffles à Bac Ha est le samedi matin et il n’y a plus de buffles à Can Cau, tout est centralisé à Bac Ha le samedi matin ! Le dimanche le marché “normal” – les buffles 😀

Merci ! Je n’avais pas lu cette info, l’an dernier, on nous a dit qu’il était tout simplement supprimé pour cause de pandémie, comme celui de Bao Lac…. mais je ne savais pas qu’il avait changé de jour…

Bao Lac j’y étais en Mai 2020 donc pendant le COVID et y’en avait 😀

Non, c’était en 2022, une maladie des bovins… c’est ce que l’on m’a dit…

Salut Brice, Je me permets de poster ce commentaire car nous avons terminé notre séjour à Sapa. Et terminons bientôt notre voyage de 40 jours au Vietnam. Nous souhaitons partager le contact de notre guide anglophone, (qui apprend le français) et partager notre expérience. Car elle était super. Pour ceux qui n’ont pas le temps de lire la suite du message, je glisse le numéro directement ici. Elle s’appelle Show, elle fait partie de la minorité des H’mongs. Voilà son numéro whataspp : +84327840914 sur Facebook vous pouvez la trouver sur ce profil : Show sapa trekking guide .

Elle fait des treks de 1 , 2, 3,4,5 jours pour sillonner Sapa, découvrir les forêts, les rizières. Vous pouvez choisir la difficulté du parcours en trekant dans des endroits faciles ou plus sportifs !

Nous avons fait le trek de 2 jours et avons dormis dans le homestay de sa sœur Sisi Family homestay. Nous avons passé du temps avec la famille, car tout le monde vit autour. Les neveux, la grand mère. C’était super de partager des moments en famille. Show est une personne solaire, amicale, bienveillante, généreuse et passionnée. La grande valeur ajoutée est tout ce qu’elle nous a transmis sur les minorités, leur culture, leur mariage, leurs traditions maritales, médicinales, leur quotidien, leur relations avec les vietnamiens, leur vision du monde. Nous avons bu le thé chez Show et vu sa maison, son mode de vie. C’etait incroyable, notre expérience a Sapa n’aurais jamais été la même si nous n’avions pas rencontré Show. Je peux même dire qu’elle aurait été inintéressante car Sapa est certes belle lorsque l’on s’éloigne du centre ville mais tout de même assez touristique. Show nous a ramenée dans l’authenticité que nous cherchons lors de nos voyages.

Pour nous Sapa c’est un endroit incontournable SI on veut voir des minorités et que l’on fait un trek avec un local. Sans une visite accompagnée d’un.e guide, la campagne reste sympa pour voir les rizières. La ville est sans grand intérêt. Si on fait ha Giang, Sapa n’est pas du tout incontournable pour les paysages. Mais à Ha Giang il a bcp moins de guide (voire pas), les easydriver sont des conducteurs anglophones mais ne connaissent rien à la culture des minorités. Beaucoup sont des jeunes issus de la ville et lors de la loop, vous n’êtes pas à la rencontre des minorités. Même pendant les deux jours que nous avons fait seuls la communication était compliquée. A sapa, avec l’essor du tourisme depuis maintenant plusieurs années, les H’mongs, au contact des touristes, maîtrisent davantage l’anglais.

Sachez aussi qu’il est mieux de passer par un.e guide directement que par une agence qui prend une grande commission et rémunère mal les guides. Il y a un gros marketing autour des minorités et malheureusement elles n’en voient pas toujours le bénéfice. Certains guides ne sont même pas issus des minorités. Vous pourrez trouver des guides directement sur Facebook dans des groupes comme le coin des francophones : il y a un guide francophone qui se trouve très facilement mais si vous comprenez l’anglais je vous recommande chaudement Show.

(pour ceux qui se demandent j’ai failli supprimer le commentaires car vu la fin je pensais que c’était de la pub, et en fait la personne était aussi en contact par Insta donc c’est bien un vrai avis :D).

Sachez aussi qu’il est mieux de passer par un.e guide directement que par une agence qui prend une grande commission et rémunère mal les guides. Il y a un gros marketing autour des minorités et malheureusement elles n’en voient pas toujours le bénéfice. Certains guides ne sont même pas issus des minorités. BONJOUR, je réagis à cette partie de votre commentaire… Passer par une agence garantie le tracé et l’accompagnement d’un bon guide initié aux ethnies, encore faut-il bien choisir son agence ! celle qui usera également des services de guides locaux et qui les rétribue au juste prix ! Ethos en est une ! Dans ce monde qui n’est pas parfait, Oui, il y a un gros trafic autour des minorités, des sans scrupules profitent du faible niveau de vie des ethnies pour racheter leurs terres, leurs maisons et s’installer en lieu et place des ethnies sur le terrain… C’est donc toujours la même histoire, bien se renseigner et choisir l’étique avant tout, qu’il soit sur place ou sur Hanoï…

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Prestations

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2 jours de Trek à Sapa

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