2 days
Photo: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSapa and its rice terraces
Hanoi and the north
Sapa is a mountain town near the Chinese border, surrounded by valleys sculpted into rice terraces over generations by Hmong, Dao and Giay farmers. Walking between their villages, often with a local guide, is one of the great experiences of northern Vietnam.
The town is busy, but the countryside is close by. Two or three nights gives time for a valley trek, a homestay and perhaps the cable car up Fansipan, Vietnam's highest peak at 3,143 metres.
What to see and do
- Muong Hoa valley. The classic trek through Lao Chai and Ta Van, past the most famous terraces.
- Homestays. Spend a night with a family in a village beyond the day trippers.
- Fansipan. A cable car runs close to the summit; serious hikers can trek it in one or two days.
- Ta Phin. A Red Dao village known for its herbal baths.
Plan your trek
See our Sapa trekking guide for routes, difficulty and responsible trekking, and Sapa or Ha Giang? if you are choosing between the two.
Where it is
Multi-day tours that visit Sapa and its rice terraces
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Helpful planning guides
- Best time to visit Vietnam: north, central and south explained →Vietnam has three climates. March and April are good everywhere; the north is best in spring and autumn, the centre from February to August and the south from December to April.
- Sapa trekking guide: villages, routes, homestays and when to go →Rice terraces, Hmong and Dao villages and homestay nights in Vietnam's northern mountains. Routes, difficulty, seasons and how to get there from Hanoi.
- Sapa or Ha Giang? Which northern Vietnam trip to choose →Sapa is for trekking and homestays and is easy to reach; Ha Giang is a wilder road trip through the most dramatic mountain scenery in Vietnam.
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Sapa and its rice terraces: questions
When are the Sapa rice terraces most beautiful?
Green from June to August and golden just before the harvest, in early to mid September.
How many days do you need in Sapa?
Two or three nights is ideal for a valley trek and a homestay.