Day 8 Thursday Apr 24

7AM Sa Pa Express bus Hanoi to Sa Pa, Fansipan Sun world, Sa Pa Square, Lake, Sunset

SCENIC SA PA

Sapa is nestled in the northwestern mountainous region of the country close to the Chinese border. It is surrounded by mountains that are part of the Hoang Lien Son range, with Fansipan being the highest peak in Indochina.

Sapa is a place of natural beauty, with rice terraces, misty valleys, and majestic peaks. It is also a cultural hub, home to several ethnic minority groups with unique customs and traditions.

WHEN TO GO

The best time to visit Sapa is from September to November and from March to May. During these months, the weather is relatively mild, with clear skies and cool temperatures, making it perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking and exploring the surrounding countryside. In September and October, the rice fields in Sapa turn golden yellow.

HOW TO GO, HOW MANY DAYS TO STAY

We decided to include it to enjoy the scenery, booked the 7am bus to Sapa reaching there at 1PM. We booked a 2 night stay so that we'll have the half day arrival day and a full day for sight seeing. We did not book the return journey and decided we'll wait to see how our trip unfolded [there are 2 options, 7am and 3PM both ways].

There is no direct train from Hanoi to Sapa. One needs to take a train from Hanoi to Lao Cai, which is the closest town to Sapa. The train journey takes around 8 hours and offers stunning views of the Vietnamese countryside. From Lao Cai, a shuttle bus or taxi to Sapa takes around 1 hour. Many take the night train but can't enjoy the scenery on the night train

Taking a bus from Hanoi to Sapa is an affordable and convenient option. There are several bus companies that offer direct buses from Hanoi to Sapa, 320km which takes around 6 hours

We booked their limo online quite early and they included a free pickup at our hotel

https://sapaexpress.com/en

SCENIC DRIVE

There was a 15 minute halt after 3 hours... We had our packed sandwiches, there were clean restrooms for a small charge

Our airconditioned limo...

RICE TERRACES

Reached Sapa town. SAPA Lake glimmered by the roadside

We were dropped at the town center, we caught Xanh SM app based taxi to our hotel in Catcat village.

[GRAB did not work in Sapa, Xanh SM worked but payment was only in cash, no issues! ]

Nice view of Rice terraces near our hotel at CATCAT Village

Catcat Garden House

Cat Cat Village is home to the H'mong ethnic minority group, one of the largest ethnic groups in Sapa.

This village is known for its stunning natural beauty, including lush rice terraces, cascading waterfalls, and verdant hillsides. Visitors can explore the village's narrow alleys, visit traditional H'mong homes, and learn about the process of making traditional H'mong clothes and crafts.

It proved to be a lovely stay with scenic views, very close to town and easily reached by taxi

Our hotel reception lady arranged all our tickets at the official rate and gave us a taxi to the funicular station Sa Pa station (Sunplaza Sa Pa) ; our bill...2,540000 dongs [rent + tickets+ taxi]

Our breakfast menu...[Funny typos...Mother's breakfast has become Mother is breakfast Queen's breakfast meets with the same fate]

LOGISTICS for Fansipan Sunworld

Our 1st target for sight seeing was to go up the peak of Fansipan [by cable car of course!]

Sapa sits in the shadow of Mt Fansipan, which at 3143m (10,311ft) is Vietnam’s highest peak. Fansipan Mountain is located in Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range, about 9 kilometers southwest of Sapa Town in Lao Cai Province, Northwestern Vietnam. A view on the summit, with deep, plunging valleys and a cloud-laced sky in the background is a dream

Excepting hard core hikers, everybody takes cable car to the peak Sun World Fansipan. tickets are 800,000d (US$32) per person, The ride is quick, and we are up on the peak in 15 minutes.

To reach the cable car station,

One can walk or take a taxi from SAPA town but the funicular is a scenic option [enjoying the beauty of Mường Hoa valley]which we chose.

Different stations...let's clear up the confusion

These stations are referred to by different names leading to some confusion... let's clear that up

Leg 1 : Funicular is from Sa Pa station (Sunplaza Sa Pa) to Mường Hoa station

Mountain Train Muong Hoa: [ 5-minute funicular ride from Sun Plaza to Muong Hoa station, walking 5 - 7 minutes to Fansipan cable car station (Hoàng Liên Fansipan Legend Sapa station) which is just nearby

Leg 2 : A cable car ride to Do Quyen station, Walk up steps

Leg 3 [optional to avoid climbing 650 steps] : Funicular ride from Do Quyen station for 2-3 minutes to reach Fansipan peak, still need to walk up 50 steps to reach its submit.

Funicular to Fansipan Sunworld

As explained above, Sunplaza is the ticket selling point for cable cars and train tickets to Mường Hoa station. Sunplaza Sa Pa is also Sa Pa station. We already had the tickets. we arrived by taxi here from our hotel.

This scenic railway route passes through tunnels and viaducts showcasing panoramic views of Muong Hoa Valley and tranquil villages along the way.

Cable car ride

Then we boarded the cable car for a long 15 minute ride

As the highest mountain in Vietnam and Indochina, Fansipan Mountain offers breathtaking views of the surrounding valleys, verdant forests, and traditional hill villages.

Fansipan height reaches an elevation of 3,143 meters above sea level.

The gondola lift takes twenty minutes to reach the summit.

Sapa Fansipan Cable Cars holds Guinness World Records for three remarkable achievements:

They boast the world’s longest continuous/ nonstop 3-rope cable car system, spanning 6,292.5 meters.

They achieve the greatest elevation difference for a nonstop 3-rope cable car system, reaching 1,410 meters (4,626 ft) difference in elevation between the termini.

The cable cars can transport up to 2,000 guests per hour,Outside food is not permitted (except for a small amount of water).

Taking the cable car to Fansipan station offers a quick ride up 1,410 meters in just about 15 minutes. Still, one might experience some tinnitus and mild elevation shock as the body adjusts to the altitude. To ease these effects, take deep, steady breaths

Bich Van Zen Monastery

Situated at the height of 3,037m against the misty sky, it is the first destination on the Fansipan. The site is a spiritual compound inspired by the Buddhist architecture of Tran Dynasty. The monastery is symmetrically flanked by Saint Tran Hung Dao Temple and the Three Holy Mothers Temple whose roofs and decorative patterns are palpably influenced by the essences of Tran Dynasty.