Vietnam - Sa Pa

[mata_hippo]

anybody here been there to trek/hike around Sa Pa?

i'm planning to go there in mid-May and do half day or full day treks around Sa Pa and go back to the hotel/hostel for the night... is it feasible?

i've searched on tripadvisor, seems like most ppl hire local guides and go for treks that last more than a day. if i don't do that, are my options to trek (e.g., locations, tracks, scenery) very limited?

 

[Eripmav]

been there last year while backpacking.
What do you mean by go back to hotel for the night. You dont mean hotel in Hanoi right?

I spend two quality nights there. the activities there are able to keep travellers busier for 2-3 nights. Waterfalls, visiting the tribes nearby, trekking, scenery up at the mountains, heading down to marketplace where they trade animals.

 

[dleodleo]

anybody here been there to trek/hike around Sa Pa?

i'm planning to go there in mid-May and do half day or full day treks around Sa Pa and go back to the hotel/hostel for the night... is it feasible?

i've searched on tripadvisor, seems like most ppl hire local guides and go for treks that last more than a day. if i don't do that, are my options to trek (e.g., locations, tracks, scenery) very limited?

I thought Sapa is high in the mountain, cannot do day trip one?

As far as i know need to take 7-8hrs train to Laocai station then transfer by vehicle (1hr) to sapa. I think the train is either overnite train or early morning train.

 

[mata_hippo]

i mean go back to the hotel in Sapa at night

so every day set out from the hotel, evening time go back to the same hotel

 

[mata_hippo]

been there last year while backpacking.
What do you mean by go back to hotel for the night. You dont mean hotel in Hanoi right?

I spend two quality nights there. the activities there are able to keep travellers busier for 2-3 nights. Waterfalls, visiting the tribes nearby, trekking, scenery up at the mountains, heading down to marketplace where they trade animals.

u did the activities on ur own or signed up for a tour to those villages for homestays and hikes?

 

[Hyphos]

Wow I was planning the same thing for mid May but the tickets to Hanoi too ex... which airline and dates you are traveling on?

 

[mata_hippo]

Wow I was planning the same thing for mid May but the tickets to Hanoi too ex... which airline and dates you are traveling on?

im taking tiger, no sale price... but just hoot cuz i wan get out of sg

 

[Ekspakk]

i mean go back to the hotel in Sapa at night

so every day set out from the hotel, evening time go back to the same hotel

This is what we did, stay at hotel at the end of the trek. But if I have chance to do it again, maybe I will do home stay at least 1 night for experience.

Regarding trekking, there are lots of options to choose from. Some short trek 1 to 2 hours, half a day, whole day, multi day trek etc. Still better to hire a local guide IMO since you don't know the place... and at least you can help.

For some tourist spot, you can rent a motorcycle and go on your own, will be cheaper.

Lastly, of course day tour is possible, but not recommended.

 

[mata_hippo]

This is what we did, stay at hotel at the end of the trek. But if I have chance to do it again, maybe I will do home stay at least 1 night for experience.

Regarding trekking, there are lots of options to choose from. Some short trek 1 to 2 hours, half a day, whole day, multi day trek etc. Still better to hire a local guide IMO since you don't know the place... and at least you can help.

For some tourist spot, you can rent a motorcycle and go on your own, will be cheaper.

Lastly, of course day tour is possible, but not recommended.

can share with me to which village did u trek to and how long did u start from the hotel and return?

did u get maps from the hotel or some information centre?

wad u mean day tour not recommended?

 

[Ekspakk]

can share with me to which village did u trek to and how long did u start from the hotel and return?

did u get maps from the hotel or some information centre?

wad u mean day tour not recommended?

We only spend around 3 days.
1st Day - Sunday Market Bac Ha (Opposite of Sapa from Lao Cai)
2nd Day - Cat Cat Village. Half day, this one I think you can go solo since its near, but for me nothing really spectacular in terms of scenery. There's waterfall at the end of the trek but cannot swim...
3rd Day - Lao Chai + TaVan Villages. Whole day, returned to hotel around 4 or 5 PM. View is very nice along the way, the rice terraces is spectacular.

Those 2 trek are the most common if you got limited time and mostly start very early, around 8AM if I remember correctly.

If I will go back, I want to climb Fansipan.

For maps, you can get it at hotel, but it's not very detailed. So if you prefer to trek solo, better bring your own map.

Day trip not recommend from Hanoi! Theoretically possible, overnight train arrive morning at Sapa, then overnight train again back to Hanoi at ehe end of the day.

 

[mata_hippo]

We only spend around 3 days.
1st Day - Sunday Market Bac Ha (Opposite of Sapa from Lao Cai)
2nd Day - Cat Cat Village. Half day, this one I think you can go solo since its near, but for me nothing really spectacular in terms of scenery. There's waterfall at the end of the trek but cannot swim...
3rd Day - Lao Chai + TaVan Villages. Whole day, returned to hotel around 4 or 5 PM. View is very nice along the way, the rice terraces is spectacular.

Those 2 trek are the most common if you got limited time and mostly start very early, around 8AM if I remember correctly.

If I will go back, I want to climb Fansipan.

For maps, you can get it at hotel, but it's not very detailed. So if you prefer to trek solo, better bring your own map.

Day trip not recommend from Hanoi! Theoretically possible, overnight train arrive morning at Sapa, then overnight train again back to Hanoi at ehe end of the day.

yea Cat Cat is actually in 1 of my days and so is Lao Chai+Ta Van...

im actually staying in Sapa for 4 days, excluding Day 0 when i arrive in Hanoi and take the night train to Lao Cai... on Day 5 after that mountain, it's the night train back to Hanoi...

Day 1
1) Sapa Market
2) Cat Cat village (3km from Sapa)
3) Chill at accommodation

Day 2
1) Ta Phin village (10km from Sapa) or Tram Ton Pass (15km from Sapa) w/ Silver Waterfall

Day 3
1) Y Linh Ho village (7km from Sapa)

Day 4
1) Lao Chai village
2) Ta Van village (8km from Sapa)

Day 5)
1) Ham Rong mountain

 

[dleodleo]

Hi,

How is the road conditions of the road up to Sapa? I read that it is a winding road.

How is the road compared to Genting or Cameron Highlands? I am planning there too with 2 young kids with me. I am concern about the road conditions.

Thanks.

 

[maincghel]

We only spend around 3 days.
1st Day - Sunday Market Bac Ha (Opposite of Sapa from Lao Cai)
2nd Day - Cat Cat Village. Half day, this one I think you can go solo since its near, but for me nothing really spectacular in terms of scenery. There's waterfall at the end of the trek but cannot swim...
3rd Day - Lao Chai + TaVan Villages. Whole day, returned to hotel around 4 or 5 PM. View is very nice along the way, the rice terraces is spectacular.

Those 2 trek are the most common if you got limited time and mostly start very early, around 8AM if I remember correctly.

If I will go back, I want to climb Fansipan.

For maps, you can get it at hotel, but it's not very detailed. So if you prefer to trek solo, better bring your own map.

Day trip not recommend from Hanoi! Theoretically possible, overnight train arrive morning at Sapa, then overnight train again back to Hanoi at ehe end of the day.

second this. i did the lao chai trek too. we did not hire any guide but there were a few locals who followed us along the trek and they were quite helpful at certain points. we didnt purchase any handicrafts they offered, just gave them 30000dong for the help during the trek iirc. others have taken up the trek option plus homestay (price depends on your negotiation skills i guess? my friend took his up for usd12).

we didnt venture very far but catcat village is very doable alone.

 

[mata_hippo]

Hi,

How is the road conditions of the road up to Sapa? I read that it is a winding road.

How is the road compared to Genting or Cameron Highlands? I am planning there too with 2 young kids with me. I am concern about the road conditions.

Thanks.

i read from tripadvisors and various forums that the train is the safest bet... u can get the 4 bed cabin for ur whole family... it's like 40+ usd per person per way...

the road conditions don't seem good/safe...

 

[mata_hippo]

second this. i did the lao chai trek too. we did not hire any guide but there were a few locals who followed us along the trek and they were quite helpful at certain points. we didnt purchase any handicrafts they offered, just gave them 30000dong for the help during the trek iirc. others have taken up the trek option plus homestay (price depends on your negotiation skills i guess? my friend took his up for usd12).

we didnt venture very far but catcat village is very doable alone.

i have no problem starting early...

i actually added a trek option when booking my accommodation and it's to Lao Chai+Ta Van for usd20...

wad other treks did u do? know of the villages and their "do-ability" that i put in my plan?

 

[dleodleo]

i read from tripadvisors and various forums that the train is the safest bet... u can get the 4 bed cabin for ur whole family... it's like 40+ usd per person per way...

the road conditions don't seem good/safe...

OIC. Thanks for your info.

 

[Ekspakk]

yea Cat Cat is actually in 1 of my days and so is Lao Chai+Ta Van...

im actually staying in Sapa for 4 days, excluding Day 0 when i arrive in Hanoi and take the night train to Lao Cai... on Day 5 after that mountain, it's the night train back to Hanoi...

Day 1
1) Sapa Market
2) Cat Cat village (3km from Sapa)
3) Chill at accommodation

Is your Sapa market same as the Bac ha market? If yes, then take note that it's only available during Sunday (unless it has changed). So better if it will be your first / last day in Sapa since it is opposite of Sapa, hence will be waste of time to travel back and forth.

i read from tripadvisors and various forums that the train is the safest bet... u can get the 4 bed cabin for ur whole family... it's like 40+ usd per person per way...

the road conditions don't seem good/safe...

Agree, better to take the train. I'm expecting worst since it's my first time on an overnight train but it's really comfortable and was able to sleep really well whole night.

 

[maincghel]

i have no problem starting early...

i actually added a trek option when booking my accommodation and it's to Lao Chai+Ta Van for usd20...

wad other treks did u do? know of the villages and their "do-ability" that i put in my plan?

we were only there for 1-2 days so we only did the lao cai and catcat trek.. sorry can't help much there. there is a silver waterfall near catcat (brain abit rusty already) but we didn't go that far.

oh we also went to bac ha for their sunday market

 

[BossQ]

Any recommended place to lodge?

 

[mata_hippo]

I stayed at Casablanca Hotel... The 2 main people Tom and Eddie can speak English so not too hard to communicate... They are very friendly too... Even invited me a few times for lunch and dinner...

They can help you arrange trekking tours and homestays too...

The trekking and homestay experience was good... Please prepare sun block for the trek... I am chao ta now lol