Sapa is home to more than 30 colorful hill tribes and close to Vietnam’s highest peak, Mount Fansipan (3,143m/10,311′. This town was founded as a hilltop retreat for the French when the heat of the plains became unbearable. An idyllic spot with warm days, cool evenings and an abundance of rain in the rainy season which it appeared we were in (I had thought the rainy season was over when I booked).

Sapa is light years away from the small town with only one decent hotel visited by us in 2001. Hotels, guesthouses, travel bureaus, restaurants (big and small), boutiques, WI-FI. Instead of being ignored by the Black Hmong in the past, you will be inundated by hordes wanting to sell something…anything. Checked in to the very nice Royal View*** Hotel right in the thick of things with all windows facing the mountain views. That is, the views you would have seen if it wasn’t rainy and cloudy for the next few days. …View image… And set out to explore “new” Sapa…

Sapa street map, Vietnam 

Sapa streets, Vietnam
There is a profusion of activites to choose from. Let’s talk Motorbike and/or Jeeps first. There are two scheduled motorbike possibilities. Head from Sapa west to the Silver Waterfall before going off the beaten track through minority villages. Or bike through the popular trekking destinations and further to Ban Ho. Jeeping is similar but you stay overnight in a Ta Duong hotel, visit the remote Sin Ho before returning to Sapa.

There is a difficult trek up Fansipan Mountain referred to earlier, and overnight Village Homestays consisting of 2 day/1 night treks. My personal opinion on the overnight treks is that it’s not worth it. You basically see the same sights as you would on a one-day trek.

Sapa Valley rice terraces, Vietnam 

even the smallest child has to help with the daily chores in Vietnam
One Day Tours. There are four boiler plate day treks: Cat Cat & Sin Chai Villages, easy to moderate; Remote villages, challenging; Three Village Trek, moderate to hard; and Taphin Villages, easy-moderate. More about our day trek/tour later on.

If all that wasn’t enough, you now have to decide which Market to visit. There are four big ones. Two held on Saturday – Can Cau Market and Pha Long Market (the most remote and you need permission), and two on Sunday – Bac Ha Market and Muong Hum Market (visited on our prior Sapa experience). Just in case you miss the weekend ones, there is one market held on Tuesday’s, the Coc Ly Market. They all involve at least a 3-4 hour drive in both directions.

Now you know before you go and can either book in advance or wait until you arrive. Keep in mind that the big markets are only Saturday and Sunday and work around at least one of them.

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