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Fanispan Peak, Incredible Views, large temple complex_

Bai Tu Long Bay, Vietnam

Let me first state that Ha Long Bay was on my bucket list for a very long time. It is a UNESCO World Heratige site because of its unique land forms. 

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Length of time: 5 days 

Dates: April, 2025​

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Itinerary  | Hotel |  Weather and Packing  â€‹â€‹

Our Itinerary

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If you go:

  • Prepare to get a lot of fog. Maybe stay longer to see anything.

  • If it is sunny go hiking immediately or to Mt. Fanispan. Sun disappears quickly.

  • Bring an umbrella, rain jacket and pants if you are a die hard hiker, a down jacket and a wooly hat, gloves. 

  • Get a private car to take you up to Sapa from Hanoi. We saw two bus accidents.

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • That said, if the sun comes out, it is BRILLIANT!!!​​​

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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

  • Hiking boots. Even if you get a sunny day, it likely rained the day before. It is muddy.

  • 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

  • No need for Malaria meds. Sapa is on the border of malaria regions, but our travel clinic said it wasn't necessary.

 

The Go Go Years!

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