
Sapa, Vietnam
Hiking is the reason to go to Sapa. If you Google Sapa you will see phenomenal photos of breathtaking scenery. Jagged green peaks crash into luscious green terraced rice fields worked by colorfully dressed hill tribe locals. The catch is, you can only see it if the clouds are gone - and they aren't gone often. We were in Sapa for 5 days and it was soupy dense fog (we couldn't see beyond 50 feet) for 4 of those days. And, April was supposed to be one "of the best times to go." That said, when the clouds lifted on the fifth day, wow. Just wow. So yes it's pretty but, you must accept some foggy days. My advice? I honestly can't recommend the trip.
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Length of time: 5 days
Dates: April, 2025​
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Itinerary | Hotel | Weather and Packing ​​
Our Itinerary
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​​​Most backpackers do homestays which are very small hotels or rooms in very humble villages close to the jagged peaks and amazing hiking. My friend and I opted to stay in the nicest hotel in Sapa, Hotel De La Coupole. The hotel is instagram worthy, but lacks soul. I am super happy we stayed in the large hotel and town because the weather was pretty awful (and this was the "best time to go"). Hiking in the damp fog was miserable and unproductive (no views). The town is a tiny square with a restaurants and bars. There are a couple hiking trails nearby, but there are not a lot of options within walking distance of the town - unless you are extremely ambitious (like I was in my 20's) you need a guide to find the amazing trails (we had a guide for our hikes). The main attraction is the train and cable car to Mount Fanispan. There are loads of hikes. If I were younger I would find them on my own, but these days, no. Not because it isn't safe, but because you need a car to get there anyway, and I just wasn't sure if we would get lost. It's best to have a guide unless you are very ambitious.
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If you go:
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Prepare to get a lot of fog. Maybe stay longer to see anything.
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If it is sunny go hiking immediately or to Mt. Fanispan. Sun disappears quickly.
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Bring an umbrella, rain jacket and pants if you are a die hard hiker, a down jacket and a wooly hat, gloves.
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Get a private car to take you up to Sapa from Hanoi. We saw two bus accidents.
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The drive is treacherous. Whether you take the train or drive or bus, you will be on the road for the most scary part of the trip. The bus drivers are insane. One bus passed us on a blind curve going uphill. At least in a car you are more nimble.
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Don't buy tickets to Fanispan until the weather is clear. Take the train from the De La Coupole hotel then the cable car. You are likely not hiking up Fanispan unless you want to overnight in the rain.
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That said, if the sun comes out, it is BRILLIANT!!!​​​
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In your face dense fog blocks all views. Note the down coat.

This is the same balcony the following day.

The town of Sapa is nothing special. Bars, hill tribe folks, tourists, average restaurants.

In your face dense fog blocks all views. Note the down coat.
Hotel & Restaurants
Hotels
We stayed at the Hotel De La Coupole, Sapa MGallery, It's the only hotel you want to stay at in Sapa. It photographs well and has a very cool bar and indoor pool, but it is big and crowded with a large common cruise ship-like dining room. So it loses its charm fast. We struggled a bit between deciding between home stays and the cheesy hotel. The homestays were near the hiking and were run by local families making a buck. They served as hiking guides. The problem was, if the weather stunk, you are stuck in a small homestay. Some home stays looked really nice. With four days of fog, I am incredibly glad we had a spa, a decent bar, a town, and fantastic egg coffees nearby.
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The Weather and Packing
We travelled in April, mainly because that's when we could go. It was hot and humid. Because it is northern Vietnam, I believe it can get cooler other times of the year. In April, there was a lot of high pressure cloud cover. Sometimes it was pollution, sometimes dust, sometimes genuine clouds. We also went to the mountains hiking. It was cold in the mountains. In general, it was cooler than expected because of the mountains and boat trip.
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Shoes
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Hiking boots. Even if you get a sunny day, it likely rained the day before. It is muddy.
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Sneakers with a grip. Easier hikes you can get away with trainers.
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Clothes
- Down
- Sweater
- Rain coat
- Rain pants
- Bathing suit for hotel pools and spas
- Sun hat (baseball or slight brim sunhat for walking around)
- Wool quick dry socks
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Rx
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No need for Malaria meds. Sapa is on the border of malaria regions, but our travel clinic said it wasn't necessary.