48 hours in Sapa

Sa Pa is about 300 km from Hanoi, a 4.5 to 5 hour drive, and is a mountain tourist destination that attracts visitors thanks to its fresh air, delicious food, and unique mountain experiences. In recent years, Sa Pa has often been crowded. Therefore, visitors should choose to stay in the suburbs, eat in the center, or go for a walk.

48-hour consultation in Sa Pa is suitable for visitors from Hanoi and the northern provinces.

Day 1

Visit the town center

The stone church, square, market and lake, restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops are places in the center that you should visit if you are coming to Sa Pa for the first time. The town center is also a transit point, leading to villages and neighboring areas in Lao Cai province.

Visitors only need 1-2 hours to combine walking, snacking, drinking coffee and shopping here.

Enjoy Sapa salmon and sturgeon

The dishes that cannot be missed when coming to Sa Pa are salmon and sturgeon. Sa Pa has many sturgeon and salmon farms, so these two foods are always fresh, fragrant and firm. Diners can choose swimming fish and have them prepared on the spot. If you can eat raw food, salmon salad is a suggestion. If not, order a sturgeon hotpot. Some other dishes made from salmon and sturgeon are fried, steamed, and grilled.

Sapa salmon costs about 250,000 VND to 350,000 VND per kilogram; sturgeon costs from 200,000 VND to 300,000 VND per kilogram. Restaurants in the center or the Silver Waterfall area all serve this dish.

Watching the sunset from O Quy Ho pass

O Quy Ho, one of the four great mountain passes in Vietnam, is located on the border of Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces. The road is very convenient and close if traveling from Thac Bac, and if from Sa Pa, the distance to the Heaven's Gate viewing point is nearly 10 km, with an altitude of more than 2,000 m.

The best time to visit O Quy Ho is in the late afternoon. On sunny days, visitors can observe the sunset, but usually the place is covered in clouds. Each type of weather brings a different experience, very beautiful and relaxing.

Overnight in Muong Hoa valley

Muong Hoa is located in Hau Thao commune, about 10 km from the center of Sa Pa. This place has a peaceful natural landscape, separated from the noise of the center. The road to the resorts has a convenient view of Muong Hoa valley, along Ham Rong mountain, only about 3 km from the center.

Visitors can choose from areas such as Jade Hill Resort, Ville de Mont Mountain Resort, The Mong Village Resort & Spa, Sapa Clay House, Sapa Rosie House Mountain Retreat...

Day 2

Drinking coffee at Tus De Liab

After breakfast and resting at the hotel, visitors can experience drinking coffee in a "very chill" space located at an altitude of 1,600 m above sea level, adjacent to the above resorts.

Here during the day, guests can enjoy a panoramic view of the Muong Hoa valley. The shop serves coffee and snacks. In the evening, guests can enjoy live music and a fine dining dinner.

Visit Cat Cat village

To learn about the culture of the oldest H'Mong village in Sa Pa, visitors should visit Cat Cat village. This place is about 3 km from the stone church, with convenient asphalt roads. Visitors can walk to see the scenery in the village. There are waterfalls, streams, and services such as boating, renting ethnic costumes for photography.

Currently, Cat Cat village is planned and managed as a tourist village, so visitors must buy an entrance ticket at 90,000 VND per adult and 50,000 VND per child. Children under 1 meter are free.

Have a late lunch in the center of Sa Pa with local dishes such as thang co, stream fish, black chicken, dried buffalo meat...

Alternatives

If you have never been to the top of Fansipan, you can choose this destination. The round-trip cable car costs 800,000 VND on weekdays and 850,000 VND on weekends and holidays. On the top of the mountain, there is a mountain train service and a buffet at the restaurant. If you have more time, you should trek around Ta Van and Lao Chai villages, which have beautiful scenery and famous ancient stone beaches. The villages around Sa Pa and the surrounding areas are also suggestions with their simplicity and traditional culture.