What to do in Sapa during 2 days
Sapa is a town in northwestern Vietnam, perched at an altitude of 1,600 meters.
It is a mountainous district of Lao Cai province, 376 kilometers from Hanoi.
And I’ll also tell you about all the things you can do there.
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If you’re coming to Sapa, don’t forget to take something to cover up. In winter, it’s not uncommon for the snow to come … 😉
So here are the details from the article “What to do in Sapa during 2 days “: But let’s start by How do you get to Sapa?
How do you get to Sapa?
There are 2 ways of getting here: by bus and by (overnight) train. I explain all that in the article.
Already mentioned in the introduction, Sapa is 376 kilometers from Hanoi.
Depending on your expectations, here are the 2 possible modes of transport:
1- Train
By train, it’s a 9-hour journey to Lao Cai, then a 1-hour shuttle bus to Sapa.
As most people don’t want to spend 9 hours on a train, the companies have introduced sleeper cars and night trains.
For this, you can visit 12goasia or Baolau, to compare prices and sleeper categories.
And, of course, you can book your tickets on these sites, but don’t book too late in the high season…
Night departures are usually around 10 pm.
The berths are quite clean and comfortable.
On the other hand, the journey is a little hectic for a good night’s sleep.
At times, the train brakes hard and you’re tossed around on your bunk.
So the journey isn’t the most relaxing, but the discovery aspect of the train is also nice…
So it’s a good option for those who want to lose as little time as possible.
Indeed, even if the train takes 9 hours, it allows you to move around on your sleep time.
You arrive in Sapa around 7am, ready for the day, but not necessarily very fresh 😉
As for the shuttle bus to Lao Cai, if you take the public bus (yellow in the station parking lot), it will be the cheapest, otherwise many private drivers will offer you their service, so negotiate carefully.
2- Bus
A highway has recently been built to speed up the journey from Hanoi to Sapa.
The bus journey now takes 5 hours.
This one’s mostly done during the day, so this time count on being stuck in the bus for half a day.
You can book your tickets on the same websites as for the trains.
The buses are in sleeper format too, despite the fact that we’re traveling during the day.
It’s a bit strange at first, but in the end it’s not so bad: you can rest or contemplate the landscape before reaching the highway.
The bus will stop on the freeway for a bathroom break and refreshments, as you’re not allowed to eat inside.
It’s a little less expensive than the train: 12€/person for a one-way ticket between Sapa and Hanoi.
Now we will talk about what to do in Sapa
What to do in Sapa during your 2 days here
Day 1 / Option 1 Fansipan, the roof of Vietnam the must-see ! by cable car or trek
So if you’re going to be in Sapa for several days, it’s best to visit this mountain on a sunny, clear day.
The site itself is open every day from 8.30am to 4pm.
For your information, it’s called the roof of Vietnam, and at 3143 m, it’s the highest peak in Indochina. So don’t forget your down jacket, you might regret it!
To start the day, you need to get to Sapa station to take a small train to the foot of the cable car.
This costs 100000 VND return (3.80€).
Alternatively, you can walk to the bottom of the cable car in 30 minutes. But bear in mind that the road is a little steep…
And the view from the little train is really nice to see.
Next, you need to take the cable car up to 3000 meters above sea level, almost to the top of Fansipan.
The ropeway resembles our cabins in the Alps, but these are bigger. They can hold around 20 people.
Return fare: VND 500,000 (€20).
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You can take the final funicular for 70,000VND round trip, or €2.60.
I recommend it for physically impaired people or young children.
The ascent on foot is a bit physical, and the fact that you’re passing 3000 meters above sea level makes your heart race.
Even so, it’s a pity not to walk the entire route, as you pass many magnificent monuments, temples and statues!
The second option is to climb the “big moutain by foot ”
A word of advice: take your time and keep up your pace, as the stairs are high and, with the altitude, you’ll soon start to palpitate.
In fact, it allows you to walk around the site and see several viewpoints over the valley, a real feast for the eyes.
For your information, it’s also possible to reach the summit of Fansipan by a 2/3-day trek or one day Fansipan trek, check the detailled tour here please
This must be accompanied by a guide!
The trek is considered quite tough
Day 1 / Option 2 Villages to visit around Sapa by foot or scooter
Around Sapa, you’ll find many villages where different Vietnamese ethnic groups live.
Some villages are close to the center of Sapa, which means you can reach them on foot, like Cat Cat which I found very, if not too, touristy!
For others, you’ll need to hire a scooter or a driver to get around.
For info:
Ta Van village – 10 km from Sapa town
Lao Chai village – 5 km from Sapa town
Sin Chai village – 6 km from Sapa town
Hau Thao village – 10 km from Sapa town
Ta Phin village – 12 km from Sapa town
Ban Hoa village – 20 km from Sapa town
After noon, you can continue to hike by your self to nearby waterfall in Giang Ta Chai village and visit Ta Van village or just relax
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During the trek may be you are followed by local seller , here are the tip for you in case What to do if you are followed by Hmong sellers women in Sapa when you trek
We provide dinner to our host at 100. 000 VND don’t forget to book it s it’s tasteful and it’s also occasion de know each other !
About motobiking tour
- Sapa 2 days trek from Sapa to Muong Hoa valley – off the beaten track itinerary from $40/ person
- Sapa Half day free trekking tour to explore Muong Hoa valley from Amica House – off the beaten track
- 1 day trek around Muong Hoa valley from Amica House from $15 – off the beaten track
- Sapa trekking tour 1 day : Sapa – Lao Chai and Ta Van day trip – off the beaten track
Day 2 / Visite O Quy Ho Pass, Silver Waterfall and Love Waterfall by moto or taxi
The Ô Quy Hô pass is an important traffic route linking the two mountainous provinces of Lai Châu and Lào Cai (North). But it’s also a must-see tourist attraction, thanks to the majestic beauty of the surrounding landscapes.
The Ô Quy Hô pass, also known as Hoàng Liên, is located on National Road 4D. Two-thirds of the pass belongs to Tam Duong district, Lai Châu province, and the rest to Sa Pa commune, Lào Cai province.
At an altitude of around 2,000 m and a length of almost 50 km, the pass is considered the “king” of passes in Vietnam, and an unmissable destination for travellers to the north of the country.
Silver Waterfall and Love Waterfall are two very popular waterfalls in the SAPA area. Lovers of long photography breaks will find plenty to enjoy. 20,000 dong for the first and 70,000 dong for the second.
You can make a short trek inside the Hoang Lien National Park heading to Love waterfall. It ‘s very beautiful nature to see during the trek. At the waterfall, you can swim but the water should be very cold as it comming from the high moutain
To cover theses 3 sites , you can rent a moto from Sapa then drive to O Quy Ho pass
If you can’t drive, take a moto tour with easy rider and that cost about 35 USD per person check the tour here
or rent a taxi ( about 25 USD for the Full Tour ) If you want to find a good driver for the tour conctact us for more info
If you are planning to stay in Sapa 3 days, check this article What to do in Sapa during 3 days
Where to go after Sapa ?
After Sapa, you can continue your journey to Bac Ha, then Ha Giang, Bao Lac, Lake Ba Be and the Ban Gioc waterfall, without having to pass through Hanoi.
We can arrane ge bus tickets for you to go from Sapa to Ha Giang, Halong, Cat Ba and Hanoi
Also, if you are looking for Hagiang loop with easyriders and small groups, check these tours that we offer