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As a highland town, Sapa not only is a famous resort of Sapa district, Lao Cai but also owns a host of miracles of nature.
Sapa is located in the northwest of Vietnam, at an altitude of 1600 meters, 38 kilometers from Lao Cai city center and 376 kilometers from Hanoi. As a highland town, Sapa not only is a famous resort of Sapa district, Lao Cai but also owns a host of miracles of nature. The mountainous terrain, luxuriant forests and unique local cultures are all the features that create a harmonious, charming and poetic landscape picture of this Northwestern region.

The best time to travel in Sapa

From April to August annually is the peak tourist season of Sapa. During this period, with the mild climate, Sapa, Lao Cai becomes an ideal place for family vacations. If visiting Sapa at this time, you will get the opportunity to admire a stunning Sapa covered with brilliantly-coloured flowers and green fields.
Late August and early September are when terraced fields are lush with ripening rice. This is also the time when a considerable number of tourists go to visit Sapa. It brings the great experience to watch Sapa in a new dress with the yellow color across the hills. You are advised to go to Sapa in the middle or end of September instead of October because many places already finish the harvest in early October.
Between November and March, the weather gets very cold, especially in the northeast when the night falls. Nevertheless, you can admire the sunrise on the high valley in early morning. In recent years, there have been snowfalls in Sapa. If wanting to see this romantic scenery, you should choose this time to join.

Must-see destinations

Fansipan peak
Fansipan is 9 kilometers from the Sapa town center to the southwest. To move here, you can catch a taxi to Tram Ton, then go on foot and begin the journey to conquer Fansipan. Note that if you intend to spend only one or two nights in Sapa, Fansipan is not really a good suggestion. To discover Fansipan, you need at least three days.

Sapa Sky Gate and O Quy Ho pass
O Quy Ho is 18 kilometers from the town center to the north. The road to O Quy Ho pass is quite tortuous and narrow; therefore, a motorcycle is considered to be the most feasible transportation.

Muong Hoa valley is situated in Hau Thao commune and 8 kilometers from the Sapa town center to the southeast. From Sapa town, you have to go through a high mountain pass to reach the Muong Hoa valley. The highlights of the trip are the ancient alien rock and picturesque terraced fields. Besides, you should not miss Lao Chai and Ta Van.

Thac Bac (Silver Falls)
To come to Thac Bac from Sapa town, you move a distance of 12 kilometers towards Lai Chau province.

Hang Tien (Fairy cave)
To get Hang Tien - the terrestrial Halong Bay, it is suggested to take a boat from Bao Nhai (Bac Ha district) and go through the Trung Do ancient citadel.
Coc San

Going along the small road of one kilometer on the National Highway 4D, you will witness an unspoiled and mysterious scenery. It is rather difficult to enter Coc San, so you should have a partner or hire a guide to travel with you.
The villages such as Ta Phin, Lao Chai and Ta Van have the flat terrain and a taxi can approach here. Ta Phin is located 17 kilometers far from Sapa town to the east and Lao Chai lies next to Muong Hoa stream.

Things to do in Sapa
With each tourist destination of Sapa, you will be involved in different activities. For example, in Ta Phin village, you can have a bath with the herbal medicine - a service offered by the Red Yao, experience the feeling of adventure in O Quy Ho pass and see the ripening rice in Muong Hoa. Besides, if taking a trip to Ta van village, you will get a chance to do trekking, discover the local cuisine and learn more about the regional culture through market meetings and Sapa love market.

Watch sunrise and sunset in Sapa

Cool breezes in early morning will make you a bit shiver with cold. Some tourists sit beside the window to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and a plate of fried egg, and admire the landscape from the hotel. When the nightfall comes and the sun is gradually hidden from view by Hoang Lien Son mountain, Sapa is surrounded by the purple color, which brings the romantic beauty.
Use homestay service

Coming to Sapa with Sapa trekking homestay tours, you should try the homestay service of the locals and eat unique idyllic dishes. Homestay services have been increasingly developing, so you absolutely feel secure about the food hygiene.
Enjoy Sapa cuisine

Grilled dishes
Because of the cold weather in Sapa, there are a lot of grilled dishes such as chicken eggs, duck eggs, barbecued meat, meat wrapped vegetables and bamboo-tube rice. On cold evenings, the area for barbecued dishes attracts the most tourists due to the warm space and delicious dishes that are ideal for the cold weather in this mountain town.

Spring fish
There are many types of spring fish. A special point of this food is that it has no fishy taste. The cooking method of spring fish is quite simple. Spring fish is grilled on the charcoal, then served hot. Another way is baking the fish, then frying them until crispy and deep fry them with tomato sauce, curry powder and black pepper powder.
Thang Co (Win try)
Ethnic minority people often cook Thang Co with beef, pog and buffalo meat. To have a good Thang Co, we need 27 different spices such as cinnamon, anise, cardamom, and chive. Forest vegetables are also essential ingredients of this dish. This food contains greasy, sweet and fragrant flavors. The combination of all these flavours will make a deep impression on diners. You will have a great feeling when enjoying hot Thang Co and sipping a cup of corn wine in the chilly atmosphere.

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