Travel Experience in Sapa

Sapa is a destination we had often seen on social media. The image of terraced rice fields and ethnic villages nestled in the heart of the mountains made us dream. When coming to Vietnam, we knew we wanted to discover the authenticity of the north of the country, and Sapa quickly became an obvious choice. We were absolutely not disappointed.

Before our departure, we presented our project to the SGOTours agency in order to be guided as well as possible in organizing this stay. Mr. Thang was very attentive and knew how to select service providers according to our wishes and our budget. Thanks to his professionalism, a tailor-made itinerary was put in place.

We left early on Saturday morning aboard a sleeper bus. The journey, lasting 6 to 7 hours, went extremely well. The bus was very comfortable: a bottle of water was provided, there were power outlets to charge our phones, Wi-Fi was available, and we also had a blanket and a pillow. A break of about 30 minutes was scheduled at a rest area to use the toilets and have a snack, as eating on board was not allowed.

We arrived in Sapa in the early afternoon. On site, our English-speaking guide, carefully chosen by Mr. Thang, was waiting for us. The agency had also arranged a transfer service to take us from our arrival point to the hotel, before and after the trek, which greatly facilitated our movements.

After settling into our hostel, also selected by SGOTours, we set off to begin our trekking experience. We crossed magnificent rice terraces and traditional ethnic villages, exactly as we had imagined. Along the way, we were lucky to encounter several local cows, known as the Southern Yellow Cattle, living freely. They were very calm, and we even had the chance to pet one. Throughout the walk, our guide shared a great deal of information about the surrounding landscapes, local agriculture, villagers’ gardens, and daily life in the region.

We then arrived at a first ethnic village, where we observed women working in front of their homes. This allowed us to discover the traditional skills of the local population: embroidery and weaving, natural indigo dyeing, as well as the ancestral beeswax batik technique, which consists of drawing patterns with beeswax before dyeing the fabric. We also visited a workshop equipped with traditional wooden machines used for weaving, flour production, and rice husking, often powered by water systems.

After walking along the rice fields, passing local houses, and encountering many animals, we reached the entrance of another village, which marked the end point of our trek. The driver arrived quickly to pick us up and take us back to our hostel in Sapa.

The late afternoon was free. We decided to explore Sapa town, including the Notre-Dame du Rosaire Church, Sun Plaza Station, and the lake.

We then stopped for a sweet snack at the café-restaurant Le Petit Gecko, a place with affordable prices offering a wide variety of dishes, all of them delicious. We also had dinner there, as well as our Sunday lunch. The menus were translated into French, English, and Vietnamese, which made ordering very easy and pleasant. After this good meal, we returned to rest at the hostel.

The staff was very friendly, and we were lucky to have a room with a view of the mountains and Mount Fansipan. The room was comfortable, although nights can be quite cold in January; we therefore recommend asking for extra blankets.

On Sunday morning, we checked out at 10:00 a.m. before heading to Cat Cat Village, which we had also seen many times on social media. On the way, we stopped at the White Cloud Café & Restaurant for breakfast. We particularly appreciated the quality of the food and the exceptional view over the landscapes of Sapa. Having breakfast on a high terrace facing the rice fields and mountains was a magical and very refreshing experience, especially since the weather was beautiful.

Upon arriving at the charming Cat Cat Village (entrance fee approximately 150,000 VND), we enjoyed a unique and authentic experience. The village is built around a stream and offers spectacular scenery, especially thanks to its many waterfalls. Strolling through the narrow alleys, between traditional houses, shops, and beautiful viewpoints, we fully enjoyed the atmosphere of the place. From the entrance of the village, many shops offer traditional outfits for men, women, and children, with the possibility of having your makeup done to take stunning photos in this exceptional setting.

Around 5:00 p.m., we returned to the departure point to take the night bus that SGOTours had booked for our return to Hanoi. Once again, the journey went very smoothly, with a late arrival that allowed us to make the most of our stay in Sapa.

Our 2-day, 1-night getaway to Sapa therefore ended on a very positive note. We leave with unforgettable memories, but above all with a better understanding of the ethnic communities and their local know-how, thanks to the enriching explanations of our guide. We are fully satisfied with our experience in northern Vietnam, made possible by the professionalism of SGOTours and the attentive support of Mr. Thang, who proposed an itinerary that was perfectly tailored and truly memorable.

If you are looking for an agency for your next trip to Vietnam, we highly recommend SGOTours.