Sapa Travel Guide

Little-Visited Hill Tribe Villages

Ratings:

3.67 out of 5 (3 votes)

Reviews:

1   Add your review

A colonial French town Sapa grew in the early 20th century to become a hill station for those seeking an escape from the lowlands. The Hoang Lien Mountains rise up here, crowned with Mt. Fansipan, at 3143m Vietnam’s highest mountain. The climate is cold and rainy for much of the year so pack warm clothes.

Attractions in Sapa

The French used the term ‘Montagnard’ to describe the hill tribe people who live in the mountains surrounding Sapa and today they provide one of the major attractions of the area. Wearing amazing and often colourful traditional dress they come to Sapa and other regional towns to trade, so hunt out local markets if not trekking; Sapa’s is on a Saturday, but there is a smaller market daily. The main tribes are the Hmong, Bahnar, Dzao, Muong and Nung; The Tay are overall the most populous at around 1.2million. See separate section on ‘Hill Tribes of Vietnam’.

Activities in Sapa

Get off the beaten track exploring the mountains on foot or by 4WD. There are wonderful vistas to enjoy and encounters with villagers really add to the feeling of exploration. Compared with other South East Asian destinations trekking is less commercialised though inevitably this is changing rapidly.

If trekking is not your scene then take a 4WD safari; a local guide will know places of interest and be able to give background in what you are seeing.

Relaxing

At the end of a day’s walk relax in the company of your hill tribe host and learn something of their fragmented and changing world. Makes one ponder.

Getting Around

You’ll need your own transport if wanting to explore the area – choose a reliable Travel Expert who has a knowledge and love of the area and its people. The roads are poor but motorbike hire is possible.

Sapa Reviews