Sapa recommendations

[Travel bug]

Please can someone recommend me hotel and itinerary (4 days stay) for Sapa in October? Is it cold? Still rainy?

No need Covid-vaccination documents in Vietnam, correct?

Thank you very much!

 

[Travel bug]

Please can someone recommend me hotel and itinerary (4 days stay) for Sapa in October? Is it cold? Still rainy?

No need Covid-vaccination documents in Vietnam, correct?

Thank you very much!

Another Question:
Any good bus/sleeper bus to recommend for shuttle from Hanoi Airport to Sapa?
Thank you!

 

[Travel bug]

We are not doing trekking because there is an elderly in our group.

Any good tour to recommend?

 

[kennysme]

https://12go.asia/en/taxi/hanoi/sapa

 

[luvbitez]

learn how to ride motorbike.

it helps to get u to some scenic peaks.

 

[Travel bug]

Thank you. Taxi is not an option because of the price. Any good van or sleeper bus to recommend?

itinerary too.

Thank you so much!

 

[luvbitez]

Thank you. Taxi is not an option because of the price. Any good van or sleeper bus to recommend?

itinerary too.

Thank you so much!

my visit was 10yrs ago. there r train or bus from hanoi to lao cai. train is the preferred option as the road mostly 2 lane n not in good condition. bus also not comfy type like those coaches here n it takes a long time on speed of 5-60kmh.

get a train from hanoi to lao cai then transfer to sapa by mini bus.

at sapa then rent n get a motobike guided tour.

 

[Travel bug]

Thank you but i heard now most people take road transport instead of train as the road has improved much.

 

[pclow59]

Please can someone recommend me hotel and itinerary (4 days stay) for Sapa in October? Is it cold? Still rainy?

https://gadttravel.com/blog/sapa-in-october-the-timeless-charm-of-rice-terraces/
https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Attr...-Fansipan_Mountain-Sapa_Lao_Cai_Province.html
Hotels: https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/SmartDeals-g311304-Sapa_Lao_Cai_Province-Hotel-Deals.html

 

[Travel bug]

Hi Pclow,
Wow, you’re such a great help indeed!
Thank you so much. It’s very kind of you to offer such needful links.

Is it easy to call or flap a taxi-car (like Grab) to visit places and to return back to Sapa hotel?

 

[pclow59]

Is it easy to call or flap a taxi-car (like Grab) to visit places and to return back to Sapa hotel?

I think you can get the accommodation owner/hotels staff to assist.

 

[belgarathc]

There are express buses between Hanoi and Sapa direct. Takes about 6 hours one way. Depart morning, arrive afternoon. There is an overnight option but don't see why that is preferred as it arrives Sapa at 4am.

There are also more romantic overnight train options from Hanoi to Laocai then you need a bus transfer to Sapa.

It is also possible to motorbike from Hanoi to Sapa which I did on a Russian Minsk more than a decade ago when I was young and reckless.

At Sapa, you can join various day tours. Coincide your visit on a market day which is pretty interesting as you get to see various minorities. This may be suitable for your elderly. But it is mostly not too sanitary and can be crowded.

Sapa Town itself it nice to walk about.

Many possible hikes in the area. Most serious hike is Fansipan summit. But it is accessible via cable car which is suitable for the elderly.

You can also choose to organise these with a tour agency.

 

[Travel bug]

Thank you so much for your suggestions, Belgarathc!

For Fansipan, we will go up by the tram and cable car.

I heard Sunday Market is the most interesting, is it? Maybe I will ask hotel to call a 2-way taxi for us.

Is it easy to walk around on our own outside Sapa Town and not get lost? Hard to ask around as the locals may not understand English.

Anyone got a comfortable sleeper bus with reliable driver to recommend from your own experience!

 

[belgarathc]

Thank you so much for your suggestions, Belgarathc!
For Fansipan, we will go up by the tram and cable car.
I heard Sunday Market is the most interesting, is it? Maybe I will ask hotel to call a 2-way taxi for us.
Is it easy to walk around on our own outside Sapa Town and not get lost? Hard to ask around as the locals may not understand English.
Anyone got a comfortable sleeper bus with reliable driver to recommend from your own experience!

Yes, Sunday Bac Ha market is the biggest and most popular. It is interesting but similar to markets at Inle Lake or Yunnan. Coincidentally, Yunnan's land border is near to Lao Cai. In the good old days (before Covid), one can cross the border to Yunnan to continue the tour. Anyway, if you are a small group, you can also join a day tour to Bac Ha market. Usually lunch is included.

Sapa Town is easy to get around. There are walks you can do from the town.

It is also possible to stay at a village homestay and see their local handicraft works etc.

Personally I haven't tried the long distance bus. Only motorbike and train before. I always enjoy train journeys.

 

[Travel bug]

Sure, we’ll go Sunday Bac Ha market.

Glad it’s easy to walk around from Sapa town,

Thank you again!

 

[califonia]

Our last visit was way back in Nov 2012. It was cold esp at night. I presumed you are taking train ride from Hanoi to Sapa? If so, the hotel in Hanoi can help you book everything. Be warned, terrain in Sapa then was not good. There are hilly climbs which we found it quite dangerous esp when it rains. I still have photos with my little girls stuck in the mud. Frankly, there isnt much to do in Sapa.

 

[Travel bug]

Yes, Sunday Bac Ha market is the biggest and most popular. It is interesting but similar to markets at Inle Lake or Yunnan. Coincidentally, Yunnan's land border is near to Lao Cai. In the good old days (before Covid), one can cross the border to Yunnan to continue the tour. Anyway, if you are a small group, you can also join a day tour to Bac Ha market. Usually lunch is included.

Sapa Town is easy to get around. There are walks you can do from the town.

It is also possible to stay at a village homestay and see their local handicraft works etc.

Personally I haven't tried the long distance bus. Only motorbike and train before. I always enjoy train journeys.

Now 2022, no need train, got nice sleeper cabin big coach, road improved a lot! Thank you!

 

[califonia]

Now 2022, no need train, got nice sleeper cabin big coach, road improved a lot! Thank you!

. ya, a decade since we last visited! By train i meant with sleeping cabins too.

 

[Travel bug]

Yes, they improved a lot in 10 years.