| Town: | Sapa |
| Location: | Asia > Vietnam |
What’s Plugged?
Reviews & Amenities
Top Descriptions
| Very few come to Sapa for its lengthy, foggy, construction-site of a town. The allure is in the tribes, villages and rice terraces that lay just outside of Sapa – these are what draw the tour groups and backpackers alike. And on a clear day the surrounding (and often muddy) countryside truly is glorious, and might even compete with the more famous terraces of China or the northern Philippines. Unfortunately though, if you arrive in the cold and misty months of January through to April, you might find that there’s little to keep you occupied. The town certainly has plenty of open-fire restaurants with questionable hot-drink prices and tasty local and Italian food. There’s also some fairly good-quality accommodations here, though you’ll pay more for the luxury of being cold. If you come to Sapa in the right season though, you’ll probably find yourself entranced by the wide array of hiking and homestays on offer. – Daniel |
| If you’ve written a description for Sapa you’d like to share with the community, send it to [email protected] and we’ll post it right here in the directory. |
Top Tips
| If you’re planning to go on a walking tour in the colder months, make sure you bring sturdy shoes – and expect to get a little muddy! |
| Between January and April it can be hard to see the terraces through the mist. You might want to consider skipping Sapa at that time of year. |
| Buffalo Bell and Le Gecko restaurants are good bets for a tasty hot pot or even some Italian food. |
| If you have a tip about Sapa and would like to share that information with the community, contact [email protected] and we’ll post it right here in the directory. |
The Location
What should we know?
| Name in local script: | Sa Pa |
| Also known as: | Sa Pa |
| Tour operator(s): | Add Data |
| Rental operator(s): | Add Data |
| Port(s): | Add Data |
| Station(s): | Add Data |
| Terminal(s): | Add Data |
| Environment type: | lake, mountain, terrace |
| Location type: | rural, town |
| Religion type: | Buddhism, Catholicism |
What can we see or do there?
| Events: | Add Data |
| Services: | Add Data |
| Shops: | Add Data |
| Animals: | Add Data |
| Birds: | Add Data |
How much will it cost us?
| Currency: | Vietnamese Dong (VND) |
| Average daily budget: | VND715,000 |
When should we go there, and for how long?
| Average time taken: | 5 nights |
| High season: | June to September |
| Low season: | January to March |
How can we get in contact?
| Language(s): | English, French, Hmong, Vietnamese |
| Timezone: | UTC+07:00 |
| Country calling code: | 84 |
What are the numbers and averages?
| Number of attractions visited: | 6 |
| Travel time to attractions: | 25 minutes |
| Travel time to next location: | 9 hours |
| Size: | Add Data |
| Altitude: | 1,500-1,600m |
What else would be good to know?
| Wikipedia: | Sa Pa |
| Wikitravel: | Sapa |
| Tripadvisor: | Sapa |
| Local tourism: | Add Data |
| Emergency service(s): | Add Data |
| Travel advisories: | UK Government |
| Healthcare: | Add Data |
| Weather: | AccuWeather |
| News: | Add Data |
| Public holidays: | Time and Date |
Local Availability
| Item | Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Beer (multinational) | 500ml | Add Data |
| Beer (national) | 500ml | VND20,000 |
| Fizzy drink | 1 litre | VND20,000 |
| Fruit juice | 1 litre | VND50,000 |
| Gin (multinational) | 1 litre | VND380,000 |
| Gin (national) | 1 litre | Add Data |
| Milk | 1 litre | Add Data |
| Oil | 1 litre | VND35,000 |
| Rum (multinational) | 1 litre | VND400,000 |
| Rum (national) | 1 litre | VND300,000 |
| Vodka (multinational) | 1 litre | VND100,000 |
| Vodka (national) | 1 litre | VND190,000 |
| Water | 1 litre | VND8,000 |
| Whisky (multinational) | 1 litre | Add Data |
| Whisky (national) | 1 litre | VND450,000 |
| Wine | 1 bottle | VND250,000 |
| Item | Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Almonds | 100g | VND40,000 |
| Apples | 1kg | Add Data |
| Bananas | 1kg | Add Data |
| Bell pepper | 1kg | Add Data |
| Bread | 1 loaf | Add Data |
| Carrots | 1kg | Add Data |
| Chillies | 1kg | Add Data |
| Chocolate (multinational) | 1 bar | VND30,000 |
| Chocolate (national) | 1 bar | VND12,000 |
| Coconut milk | 1 can | Add Data |
| Cucumber | 1kg | Add Data |
| Eggs | 1 dozen | Add Data |
| Garlic | 1kg | Add Data |
| Ginger | 1kg | Add Data |
| Honey | 1 jar | Add Data |
| Ice cream | 1 unit | VND15,000 |
| Jam | 1 jar | Add Data |
| Onions | 1kg | Add Data |
| Oranges | 1kg | Add Data |
| Pasta | 1kg | Add Data |
| Peanut butter | 1 jar | VND100,000 |
| Peanuts | 100g | VND15,000 |
| Potatoes | 1kg | Add Data |
| Raisins | 100g | Add Data |
| Rice | 1kg | Add Data |
| Sandwich | 1 unit | Add Data |
| Tomatoes | 1kg | Add Data |
| Item | Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Antifungal shampoo | 1 bottle | Add Data |
| Conditioner | 1 bottle | VND60,000 |
| Condoms | 1 pack | VND60,000 |
| Deodorant | 1 can | VND40,000 |
| Floss | 1 pack | Add Data |
| Hand sanitizer | 1 bottle | Add Data |
| Laundry soap | 1 bar | Add Data |
| Razors | 1 pack | VND45,000 |
| Sanitary towels | 1 pack | VND20,000 |
| Shampoo | 1 bottle | VND60,000 |
| Soap | 1 bar | VND10,000 |
| Tampons | 1 box | Add Data |
| Toilet roll | 1 unit | Add Data |
| Toothpaste | 1 tube | VND25,000 |
| Washing powder | 1 box | VND13,000 |
| Item | Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Antiseptic cream | 1 tube | Add Data |
| Bandages | 1 pack | Add Data |
| Chapstick | 1 unit | VND59,000 |
| Contact lens solution | 1 bottle | Add Data |
| Headache tablets | 1 pack | Add Data |
| Ibuprofen | 1 pack | Add Data |
| Mosquito repellent | 1 bottle | Add Data |
| Nail clippers | 1 set | Add Data |
| Plasters | 1 pack | Add Data |
| Sun cream | 1 bottle | VND120,000 |
| Sunglasses | 1 pair | Add Data |
| Item | Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Batteries | 4-pack | VND20,000 |
| Chilli powder | 100g | Add Data |
| Cigarettes (multinational) | 20-pack | VND25,000 |
| Cigarettes (national) | 20-pack | VND15,000 |
| Coriander | 100g | Add Data |
| Cumin | 100g | Add Data |
| Fuel | 1 litre | VND17,600 |
| Internet | 1 hour | Add Data |
| Lighter | 1 unit | VND5,000 |
| Matches | 1 pack | Add Data |
| Paprika | 100g | Add Data |
| Travel multiadapter | 1 unit | Add Data |
| Travel plug | 1 unit | Add Data |
| Turmeric | 100g | Add Data |
| Stock | 1 pack | Add Data |
Local Cuisine
| Dish | Average Cost | Restaurant Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Banana split | VND65,000 | |
| Bolognese | VND104,000 | |
| Breakfast (continental) | VND75,000 | |
| Breakfast (cooked) | VND87,000 | |
| Bruschetta | VND60,000 | |
| Burger | VND89,667 | |
| Burger (cheese) | VND99,000 | |
| Cake (slice) | VND45,000 | |
| Carbonara | VND107,333 | |
| Chocolate mousse | VND46,667 | |
| Crème caramel | VND69,000 | |
| Curry (generic – meat) | VND120,000 | |
| Curry (generic – vegetable) | VND60,000 | |
| Duck (sauce) | VND106,500 | |
| Eggs (how you like) | VND45,000 | |
| Fish and chips | VND89,000 | |
| Flan | VND30,000 | |
| French fries | VND52,500 | |
| Fried (chicken) | VND90,000 | |
| Fried (fish) | VND99,000 | |
| Fried rice (meat) | VND71,667 | |
| Fried rice (vegetable) | VND60,000 | |
| Fruit salad | VND53,333 | |
| Garlic bread | VND60,000 | |
| Gnocchi | VND145,000 | |
| Grilled (chicken) | VND149,000 | |
| Grilled (fish) | VND200,000 | |
| Hot pot (meat) | VND347,500 | |
| Hot pot (vegetarian) | VND276,667 |
| Dish | Average Cost | Restaurant Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Ice cream (scoop) | VND45,000 | |
| Lamb chops | VND220,000 | |
| Lasagna | VND144,667 | |
| Noodles (meat) | VND62,500 | |
| Noodles (vegetable) | VND55,000 | |
| Omelette | VND58,000 | |
| Pancake (loaded) | VND49,000 | |
| Pancake (simple) | VND34,500 | |
| Pasta (meat) | VND104,000 | |
| Pasta (vegetable) | VND96,667 | |
| Phở | VND48,333 | |
| Pie (sweet) | VND40,000 | |
| Pizza (loaded) | VND165,000 | |
| Pizza (simple) | VND134,667 | |
| Pork chops | VND125,000 |
| Dish | Average Cost | Restaurant Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Ribs | VND120,000 | |
| Rice (steamed) | VND16,667 | |
| Salad | VND72,000 | |
| Salad (meat) | VND70,000 | |
| Sandwich (basic) | VND68,000 | |
| Sandwich (loaded) | VND80,000 | |
| Shrimp | VND107,000 | |
| Soup (meat) | VND56,500 | |
| Soup (vegetarian) | VND49,500 | |
| Spring rolls | VND58,000 | |
| Steak | VND240,000 | |
| Stir fry (meat) | VND101,333 | |
| Stir fry (vegetable) | VND49,333 | |
| Sweet and sour (meat) | VND104,500 |
| Beverage | Average Cost | Restaurant Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Alcoholic mixed drink | VND87,000 | |
| Bailey’s (shot) | VND69,000 | |
| Beer (multinational) | VND41,667 | |
| Beer (national) | VND26,000 | |
| Brandy (shot) | VND102,000 | |
| Cappuccino | VND42,500 | |
| Coffee | VND37,500 | |
| Coffee (alcoholic) | VND82,000 | |
| Cocktail | VND81,333 | |
| Espresso | VND40,000 | |
| Fruit juice (fresh) | VND38,750 | |
| Gin (shot) | VND80,000 | |
| Ginger tea | VND32,667 | |
| Hot chocolate | VND53,333 | |
| Lassi | VND58,000 | |
| Malibu (shot) | VND67,333 | |
| Milkshake | VND46,500 | |
| Rum (shot) | VND62,000 | |
| Sake (glass) | VND30,000 | |
| Smoothie | VND55,000 | |
| Soft drink | VND25,000 | |
| Soju (shot) | VND30,000 | |
| Tea | VND25,000 | |
| Tea (herbal) | VND25,000 | |
| Tonic water | VND27,500 | |
| Vodka (shot) | VND70,000 | |
| Water (2L) | VND32,333 | |
| Whisky (shot) | VND72,000 | |
| Wine (bottle) | VND379,667 | |
| Wine (glass) | VND47,667 | |
| Wine (hot/mulled) | VND83,000 |
Sapa Forum
Please use this forum to tell us about any new or out-of-date information about Sapa or to ask or answer any questions specific to this page. Or join our World Forum for more general information.
