Located in northwestern Vietnam, Sapa has many natural and human wonders to discover. Considered as “the city of clouds”, Sapa attracts tourists with majestic mountain views and many unique experiences exploring the lives of ethnic minorities. It is recommended to spend 4 days in Sapa during your tour to Northern Vietnam. Your Sapa tour will not be completed without gallivanting all these amazing places.
Amazing Sapa
Best places to visit for 4 days in Sapa
Ham Rong Mountain
The mountain of Ham Rong is a very nice combination of artificial and natural landscapes, and has become a must-visit for anyone who travels to Sapa. From the top of this mountain, you can admire the beautiful panoramic view of Sapa and the cool air surrounding nature, including Mount Fansipan – the summit of Indochina. Besides, by visiting Ham Rong Mountain, you can also enjoy artistic programs to better understand the culture of local ethnic minorities.
Entrance fee: 70,000 VND/ adult and 20,000 VND/ child.
Cat Cat Village
The village of Cat Cat is one of Sapa’s most famous attractions. Many interesting activities await you in this village on your visit to Sapa. You will have a chance to admire the beauty of the old houses of the village, try the customs of local people, discover the process of making beautiful brocades, etc. It is truly an ideal place for those who want to harmonize with nature and to discover in depth the ethical culture.
Entrance fee: 50,000 VND/ person.
The stone church of Sapa
Located in the center of the town of Sapa, the stone church here is the most intact French architectural work. In front of the church, there is a large courtyard where locals gather to exchange goods or sell souvenirs to tourists. Every Saturday, the love market where minority people date and express their feelings takes place here.
Admission price: Free
Waterfall of Love
Located about 15 km northwest of Sapa, in the town of San Sa Ho, the waterfall of Love awaits you to explore the natural setting of such a poetic beauty. With a height of about 100 m, it looks like a sparkling pyramid under the sun.
Entrance fee: 35,000 VND/ person.
Village of Ta Phin
Located in the town of Ta Phin, Sapa; Ta Phin village is surrounded by mountains with spectacular rice terraces. The best time to visit this special destination is in the afternoon, with incredible views guaranteed surrounding areas and a beautiful sunset. In Ta Phin, the two ethnic minorities Dao Red and H’Mong Black live in harmony and their cultural richness will surprise you.
Entrance fee: 20,000 VND/ person.
Best food to try for 4 days in Sapa
“Com lam” (glutinous rice cooked in bamboo tubes)
It is a cheap and delicious specialty of Sapa. The trip to Sapa will not be complete if you have not tasted this dish yet. In Sapa, one usually eats grilled pork skewers or chicken.
“Xoi bay mau” (sticky rice with 7 colors)
This dish has been known for a long time as a culinary specialty of Northwest ethnic minorities. The seven colors of this dish are pink, light red, dark red, indigo, yellow-green, green and yellow. The glutinous rice colors come from leaves in the forest. Once in Sapa, do not forget to explore the cuisine of Sa Pa and especially to enjoy the sticky rice dish of 7 colors.
“Thang co”
Recognized as a horrible food because of its extremely unpleasant smell, the “thang co” is actually favored by many travelers, even some are addicted to its very special smell! It is one of the dishes that you should spend time tasting during your tour to Vietnam.
“Lon cap nach” (pigs raised by hand)
The name of this dish comes from the fact that the inhabitants put the pigs under the armpits to sell them at the market. As a well-known tourist specialty of Sapa, the sweetness and taste of this dish will be an unforgettable experience for tourists.
Salmon Fondue
Unlike imported salmon, Sapa salmon is rich in nutrients and less fat. Locals do it in different ways to create delicious dishes such as salmon salads, grilled salmon, sashimi, curry salmon. However, salmon fondue is the favorite dish of many visitors.
Black chicken
In Sapa, black roosters are bred, as are pigs. Black chicken can be cooked in many dishes by frying, boiling and steaming. We strongly recommend eating grilled black chicken marinated with honey for an unforgettable experience.
Some famous restaurants in Sapa:
- At Quynh: 15 Thach Son Street, Sapa
- Casa Pizza Restaurant: 7 Muong Hoa Street, Sapa
- Gecko Restaurant & Hotel: 7 Xuan Vien Street, Sapa
3 must-try activities for 4 days in Sapa
Renting a motorcycle
Renowned for its beautiful scenery, clean air, friendly people and terraced fields, Sapa has become a favorite destination for many backpackers across the country. So, renting a motorbike in Sapa is an excellent opportunity to get off the beaten track and discover this beautiful city and its surroundings on your own. If you want to rent bikes at peak periods, such as weekends or holidays, you must contact a few days before your departure.
The price of renting a motorbike in Sapa is between 80,000 VND and 240,000 VND/ day (depending on the type of motorcycle and rental date).
Spending one night at the inhabitants
Sapa is home to many ethnic minorities such as Tay, Giay, Hmong, Red Dao, Xa Pho, Ha Nhi. Spending a night in Sapa with the locals allows you to take the time to observe and participate in the daily life of the local population.
Discovering minority ethnic groups in Sapa
Ethnic Black H’mong – Cat Cat, Lao Chai and Ta Giang Phinh
You can hike to Cat Cat, Lao Chai and Ta Giang Phinh to enjoy the beautiful scenery. You can meet the Hmong families who will do their best to give you the best experience.
Red Dao People – Ta Phin, Nam Cang, Thanh Kim, Suoi Thau and Trung Chai Communes
The Red Dao are famous for its very good medicinal bath service. It is an experience unforgettable for every visitor to Sapa in general, in the village of Ta Phin in particular.
Ethnic Tay – Southern Municipalities Ban Ho, Nam Sai, Thanh Phu
If you want to explore the Tays way of life, visit Ban Ho village or Ban Den village. You can sleep in a house on stilts, eat fish from streams, enjoy black pork meat, grilled chicken or learn how to make brocades.
Ethnic Giay – Villages of Ta Van and Lao Chai
The Giay ethnic group is known for a rich heritage of tales and legends that relate the explanation of social relations and natural phenomena.
Ethnic Xa Pho – Around the city of Lao Cai
Xa Pho often lives in maize fields near the sparse forests of Nam Sai Commune, south of Sa Pa District.
Visiting local markets on 4 days in Sapa
The colorful ethnic market is one of the tourist attractions on a trip to Sapa. Plus, here you can buy unique souvenirs like: Brocade, crafts, medicinal herbs, silver jewelry, etc.
Can Cau Market of Sapa
Here are some popular ethnic markets in Sapa:
– Coc Ly market: (Tuesday) – 3h drive from Sapa and about 1h30 from Bac Ha.
– Sin Cheng market: (Wednesday) – about 1h30 drive from Bac Ha.
– Lung Khau Nhin market (Thursday) – near the Chinese border, 50 km from Lao Cai.
– Cao Son market (Thursday) – a small and quite remote market.
– Can Cau market (Saturday) – 3 hours drive from Sapa, a small colorful market that remains quite preserved.
– Bac Ha Market (Sunday) – the most touristy. It takes you 2h-3h to drive from Lao Cai.
Hopefully, our article helped provide you with useful and interesting information about how to spend your 4 days in Sapa. Customize your trip to Vietnam so that we can help bring Sapa and other stunning destinations closer to you with the best memorable experiences ever!
Read more:
