Overview
Tour overview
This sapa trekking tour fits the two things people go to Sapa for into three days from Hanoi: a day on foot in the villages of the Muong Hoa valley, and the top of Fansipan, the highest peak in Vietnam. Day 1 is the road north from Hanoi to Sapa. Day 2 is a 12 km trek with your guide from Y Linh Ho through Lao Chai to Ta Van, between Hmong rice terraces and stilt houses.
Day 3 goes up Fansipan the quick way: the cable car to 2,800 metres, then more than 600 stone steps to the 3,143-metre summit, before the drive back to Hanoi. The tour is rated medium intensity, and Sapa is cooler than Hanoi in every season, so come with a warm layer.
Map
Tour map
Tap the map to enlarge it. It stays one tap away in the corner while you read the days below.
Itinerary
Day by day itinerary
Day 1Hanoi to Sapa: the road north into the mountains
The trip begins with a pickup in Hanoi and the road northwest to Sapa. The expressway follows the Red River valley to Lao Cai on the Chinese border, and the final stretch climbs from the river up to the town, which sits at about 1,500 metres. The whole journey takes around five to six hours, with a stop on the way.
The rest of the day is free. Sapa is small enough to cross on foot in half an hour: the market, the stone church left by the French and the lake are all close together. The air is cooler than in Hanoi, so keep a jacket to hand for the evening, and the town has plenty of places to eat.
Day 2Trek through Y Linh Ho and Lao Chai to Ta Van, 12 km across the terraces
A full day on foot in the Muong Hoa valley below the town, about 12 km in all. Your guide leads you down from Sapa to Y Linh Ho, a small Black Hmong hamlet, then along the river and across the rice terraces to Lao Chai, the larger Hmong village further down the valley. The path crosses streams and follows the earth banks between paddies, so it gets muddy after rain.
You walk at an easy pace and stop often: the Hmong women you meet still dye their own hemp cloth with indigo, and your guide translates. The trek ends in Ta Van, a village of wooden stilt houses by the river, home to the Giay people as well as the Hmong.
Back in Sapa the evening is free. A guided walk around the town, or the Saturday night Love Market if your dates fall on a weekend, can be added (optional, extra cost).
Day 3Fansipan by cable car and 600 stone steps, then the drive back to Hanoi
Fansipan, at 3,143 metres, is the highest mountain in Vietnam and in the whole of Indochina. You ride the cable car from the valley station up to about 2,800 metres, a 20-minute crossing above the Muong Hoa valley with the terraces falling away beneath you.
From the upper station a stone stairway of more than 600 steps leads to the summit, about an hour and a half up and down with your guide. The air is thin and the weather turns quickly, so our guides tell guests to take the steps slowly and keep a warm layer in the bag even on a clear morning. After a last meal back in town, you take the road down to Hanoi, arriving in the evening.
Hotels
Where you sleep
Hotels may change to similar ones depending on availability for your dates. We will let you know in advance. You can also upgrade to 4-star or 5-star hotels.
Transport
Transport on this tour
Vehicle type depends on the size of your group.
Inclusions
What is included
- 2 nights in a 3- to 4-star hotel
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Hanoi pickup, drop-off and road transport
- English-speaking guide on trekking days
- Entrance fees and activities in the itinerary
- Fansipan cable car
- International flights
- Vietnam visa or e-visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Meals and drinks not shown in the itinerary
- Optional activities
- Single room supplement
- Tips and personal spending
This tour is also listed on TourRadar. If you would rather book through them, or you want to read what other travellers wrote, the listing is public.
View on TourRadarGood to know
Good to know
Before you go
- The tour starts with a pickup in Hanoi on the morning of day 1 and ends back in Hanoi on the evening of day 3, so plan at least one night in the capital on either side.
- The journey to Sapa takes around five to six hours each way by road, and day 3 is a long one: the Fansipan climb in the morning and the drive down in the afternoon.
- Pack walking shoes with grip, a light rain jacket and a warm layer. Sapa is cooler than Hanoi all year, and the summit of Fansipan can be close to freezing even in summer.
- Evenings in Sapa are free. A walk around the town or the Saturday night Love Market can be added at extra cost when you book.
- Rooms are at The View Sapa Hotel or a hotel of the same standard; a higher class of hotel can be arranged on request.
- Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the tour ends.
Cancellation policy
If you cancel, we refund what you have paid minus a cancellation fee. The fee depends on how long before your arrival date you cancel:
- More than 60 days before: 10%
- 30 to 59 days before: 20%
- 15 to 29 days before: 40%
- 8 to 14 days before: 80%
- 7 days or less before, or no-show: 100%
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do we get from Hanoi to Sapa on this sapa trekking tour?
By road, with a pickup in Hanoi on the morning of day 1. The expressway to Lao Cai and the climb up to the town take around five to six hours, and the same transfer brings you back to Hanoi on the evening of day 3. Our Hanoi to Sapa page compares the road and the train if you want to adapt the trip.
Do we walk all the way up Fansipan?
No. The cable car takes you from the valley to about 2,800 metres in 20 minutes, and from there you climb a stone stairway of more than 600 steps to the summit at 3,143 metres with your guide. The climb and the walk back down take about an hour and a half.
How fit do I need to be for the trekking?
The tour is rated medium intensity. Day 2 is about 12 km on village paths and terrace banks, with some ups and downs and mud after rain, and day 3 adds 600 steps at altitude. Anyone used to a full day of walking will manage it; you do not need any climbing experience.
When is the best time of year for this tour?
September to November, when the terraces are gold before the harvest and the skies are usually clear, and March to May for the planting season. December to February can be cold and foggy in Sapa, with cloud hiding the Fansipan view, and the summer months bring heavy rain and muddy paths.
Which meals are included?
Two breakfasts, one dinner and one lunch: nothing on day 1, breakfast and dinner on day 2, and breakfast plus a lunch back in Sapa after the Fansipan climb on day 3. Sapa town has plenty of places to eat for the meals not included, from street kitchens to restaurants around the church.
Can children come on this tour?
Yes, all ages are welcome, as long as they can cope with a 12 km walk and the steps on Fansipan. Younger children can ride in a carrier on the trek, and the pace is set by your group. Tell us the ages when you book so we can arrange rooms and child rates.
More tours
