Sapa is one of the popular hill stations located in Vietnam. Situated at a height of 1500 metres Sapa is known to share border with China. This popular destination is favourite amongst the tourist for its high cultural diversity as well as scenic beauty. This place has seen a rapid growth in the recent years and is regarded as one of the most beautiful locations in the country.
Located on high mountain with no airport, Sapa is accessible by road only. From Hanoi, the most popular way to get to Sapa is by overnight train. However, thanks to a new highway opening in 2014, Sapa can also be reached by bus which is faster.
BY TRAIN: Traveling by train takes about 8-9 hours and the train only stops in Lao Cai, the province which Sapa belongs to. It then takes another hour to get to Sapa from Lao Cai station.
There are a number of tourists train operating the route from Hanoi. Each of these companies run a carriage which are all attached to the national train carrier. It is suggested that you book your ticket in advance, especially during peak time of the week such as Hanoi to Lao Cai on Thursday and Friday; Lao Cai to Hanoi on Sunday and Monday. This is normally due to the weekend retreat of local tourists, and also on Sunday there is a special market fair in Bac Ha which attracts many visitors.
* Train often departs at between 8:00pm and 10:00pm, and you can catch a good sleep before getting woked up by the beautiful mountain sceneray at dawn.
By bus: There are daily bus departing Hanoi at 6:30am or 10:00pm. One way trip takes betwen 6 and 7:00 hours. Traveling by bus is both fast and it goes direct to Sapa without stopping in Lao Cai as by train. If you take a private car ride, you can even reach Sapa in 5 hours.
The best time to visit Sapa is from September to mid-December, and March to May when the weather is just right and the rainy season has passed. During this time you would have a comparatively milder climate along with a pleasant atmosphere. Average temperatures during September to December range from 15-25℃. The months of December, January and February are the coldest, with temperatures often falling below to 0℃. The town’s tropical climate is at the peak in the months of June-August, as monsoon arrives, The monsoon brings with it increased humidity, but decreased sunshine and heat. The average temperature during the monsoon months hovers between 20-25℃ in the day and around 15℃ at night. Sapa sees all four seasons in a year and provides for something for every kind of season-lover. There isn't really an offseason in Sapa, owing mainly to its highly seasonal climate, with a subtropical climate in the summers and a temperate climate in the winters. Since it experiences all four seasons, Sapa is an attractive destination for all kinds of travellers.
Sapa is a popular tourist spot located in the country of Vietnam. This place is known to be favourite for its high cultural diversity and is known to be located at a height of 1500 metres from the sea level. This place is known to be surrounded by numerous hill tribes and has grown to become one of the prime spots which have increased the tourism business of the country. This place was established as the hill station in the year 1722 by the French people and is known for the extensive cultivation of rice. You can expect a pleasant and calming atmosphere when you visit this place.