Trekking Sapa

Trekking Sapa is truly one of the cooler things I’ve done in life. I’d argue that Sapa is one of the most beautiful places on earth if you go at the right time. Vietnam is often synonymous with Halong Bay, but Sapa is one destination I recommend if you have some extra time in Northern Vietnam.

How to Get Started

The journey to Sapa from Hanoi was a smooth and simple process. From my hostel in Hanoi I purchased a round trip ticket+ 2 day/1 night tour from Hanoi to Sapa for $140. I went through Hanoi Old Town Hotel, which I highly recommend, the staff is incredible and very helpful. I also recommend doing a longer tour if you have time as Sapa is worth it. Additionally, you can purchase tours from almost any tour company in the city or most hotels. If you prefer to hike Sapa without a tour, you can also do that too.

The Journey to Sapa

I boarded the train bound for Lao Cai about 30 minutes before it’s departure at 10:00 PM.

Upon entering my room, I met a Spanish couple who would be staying on the opposite side of my bunk. I stored my luggage on the floor and sunk into the twin-sized mattress. I turned on my nature sounds playlist and got a head start on some rest.

Around 6:00 the next morning, we were awoken by the sounds of the train staff knocking on each door telling us to get up. By 6:30 we had arrived in Lao Cai. Still sleepy and dazed, I stepped off the train confused about my whereabouts. To my surprise, we had not exactly arrived in the Sapa area, but had to take another shuttle bus for about an hour or so. I boarded the bus at 7:00 with other tourists and we set off for Sapa.

The ride was one of the most scenic. As we elevated I was able to see the vast green landscape stretch for miles.

I was dropped off at a hotel for free a breakfast before the hike, and although I did not have any reservations with the hotel, they allowed me to take a shower and freshen up.

After my shower, I went to the lobby and met a small Vietnamese woman with traditional Black Hmong attire on. She appeared to be around 14 years old, but was actually 19. She introduced herself as our tour guide and we set off. My group consisted of 2 Indonesian females, a Spanish male, Costa Rican female, and myself.

Day 1 of the Trek

As we marched towards the trail we were met by local women pressuring us to buy their goods, some of which followed us the entire trail hoping to make a sale by assisting us during the hike. Around this time there was a light pour, which made the hike a bit tricky. Within the first 5 minutes, I slipped going down the hill, but luckily, I caught myself.

The hike provided some of the best views I’ve ever seen. In August, Sapa was at its greenest. Gazing into the fields seemed like I was looking into a virtual reality set.  The view was that unreal. The hike became challenging as time went on, but our tour guide made multiple stops to ensure we had the energy to continue forward.

Around 1, we made it to the checkpoint and had lunch at a local restaurant. We were surrounded by herds of more locals trying to sell us goods, which made it hard to enjoy our meals. I eventually gave in to the pressure and bought a handmade purse for a friend.

Following lunch, we continued for another 2 hours until we reached the end of our hike for the day. Those staying in hotels turned back, while those doing a homestay met their families. I ended up staying in the same home as the Spanish and Costa Rican couple, which was nice seeing how our homestay family didn’t speak English.

The house was big, a lot bigger than what I anticipated for such a small town in Vietnam. There were about 10 beds/futons scattered on the floor with bug nets above them.

Tired and worn out, the 3 of us took a nap until dinner time. For dinner we had egg rolls, rice, noodles, chicken, and vegetables. The meal was excellent, especially the egg rolls.

We ate until we couldn’t eat anymore. After dinner, the father brought out a bottle of local rice wine and we all shared a glass. Following a few drinks, he proceeded to turn on some traditional Vietnamese music and we danced for a bit. Well, he danced, not me haha.

To our surprise, this family, as well as the whole town went to bed quite early, around 8:30. The 3 of us stayed outside for a bit, but seeing how there wasn’t much to do, we also went to bed an hour later. Because we were in the middle of nowhere, the town was completely silent. It was like being in a noise canceling room. If you ever experienced this type of silence in a city, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Day 2: Half Day Hike

We woke up early the following morning to begin our hike. For breakfast, we had coffee, toast, eggs, and fruit. Right next to us was a mountain of corn the grandmother had spent all week preparing. Not sure who the corn was for, but it was like a lifetime supply.

Bellies filled, we began our hike with a steady incline. Day 2 wasn’t as strenuous as the day before, but still a bit challenging. The scenery along the path was just incredible. Even better, it was the middle of August, which means the fields were at their greenest.

After a few hours we reached the cliff of a waterfall. Our tour guide informed us that a foreigner had recently slipped and died falling off the cliff of this waterfall. Right after it began to rain a bit, making the payment slippery. I took no chances and got right back on the trail.

Our group spent about 30 minutes at the waterfall before continuing with the journey. We passed by tons of water buffalo on the way.

Finally, an hour later, we made it to the finish line and enjoyed a traditional lunch before taking the bus back to our hotel. Here, they let us take a shower before taking the bus back to the train station bound for Sapa.

Thoughts? Best Time to go?

Overall, I loved Sapa. Tourists often complain that it’s a bit touristy, which I agree with to a certain extent. However, the natural beauty of Sapa is worth every second of the journey. I’ve seen many places in my time on this planet, but Sapa is one place that will forever resonate with me. Probably one of the top 3 most scenic places I’ve witnessed thus far.

Most recommend you visit Sapa between March and May and September to November. I visited Sapa in mid August, which is the tail end of the rainy reason. The benefit of visiting in August is that the fields are at their greenest. While it did rain a bit while I was in Sapa, it often lasted for no more than 30 minutes and was a light shower. If photography is your main reason for visiting and you want to see the best of Sapa, definitely go for mid to late August.