Sapa is long known as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Northern Vietnam. Spending 3 days in Sapa, tourists can learn many exciting things and understand Northwest Vietnam’s culture. The adventurous Fansipan, the majestic natural landscapes, the unique ethnic groups, and even the local food are all amazing for you to enjoy. Let’s discover how interesting 3 days in Sapa can be!
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Do you know that the weather in Sapa is quite chilly and satisfied all around the year? Maybe because of the height of 1600m, covered with mountains and forests that can create such a worthy natural area and climate in this land. Therefore, whether you come to Sapa in the rainy or dry season, or even in summer or winter, the weather is ideal for you to enjoy this town.
>> Visit Sapa for a short trip: Hanoi – Sapa Tour 5 Days
Every time you visit Sapa, you can find the beautiful season across the year. In spring, Sapa will be brightened up by the pure white of plum and pear flowers mixed with the gentle pink of peach blossoms. Just spend 3 days in Sapa, you can admire the flower along the mountain roads, the streets,… of this small town.
Then, in the summer, you can be immersed in the shimmering colors of the pensee flowers, peaches, and plums in season. Moreover, it is impossible to forget the autumn with golden rice spreading on terraces. However, you will find that the most favorite season is saved for last! Winter in Sapa can be covered with pure white snowflakes. Although the snowflakes are not enough to whiten the sky like European snow, it is also extremely expected to see Vietnam with snow. Therefore, 3 days in Sapa in any season can make you happy in different ways.
Coming to Sapa means coming to one of the most majestic mountainous areas in Vietnam. Conquering Fansipan – the rooftop of Indochina, Ham Rong mountain, Muong Hoa valley, the unique Cat Cat village, and even the sea of clouds among the mountain. Therefore, due to the low cost of discovering this, you will have 3 days of joy, adventure, and experience.
Fansipan summit is also known as Indochina summit or Indochina’s rooftop, which is 3.143 m height above sea level. Trekking to the top of the mountain can be a challenge for tourists because they require lots of physical strength to climb up and resistance to keep moving up.
However, it may be easier now due to the cable cars and the subway in the middle of the way. To enjoy the Fansipan summit fully, you should buy a cable car ticket for the Fansipan way up, then walk 600 steps to reach the peak. Although you can buy a ticker for Fansipan funicular way up, we suggest you walk for a short journey to challenge yourself more! On the peak, you can see the Vietnam flag pole, a Fansipan conical rock block, and of course, the majestic sea of clouds and mountains below your feet. After going sightseeing around the peak, you can continue to walk down or use the Fansipan funicular ticket way down.
Along the way to coming back, you can admire and check in with the beautiful natural landscape. Moreover, Fansipan is also a spiritual destination. On the mountain, it’s a Great Buddha, with a unique construction. This is the highest bronze Buddha statue in Vietnam located at an altitude of more than 3000m, including 3 floors: The top floor is a Buddha statue cast with bronze copper placed on a lotus 8 m high. The 2nd floor is the preacher and the 1st floor is the relaxation place where visitors take a rest in the middle of the journey. Additionally, you can visit the 9-floor waterfall, Trinh pagoda, and Dai Hong Chung Tower,… which are peaceful and healing.
>> More about the Fansipan summit: Extraordinary Northern Vietnam Tour 6 Days
Cat Cat village is just a small village hiding in the Sapa’s mountain. In this pretty village, there are many handcrafted stores, selling bags, and clothes with ethnic styles. More than that, you can join the community activities such as dancing and jumping with stalls. Besides, walking on the small road of the alley is interesting.
Visiting Cat Cat village, don’t forget to taste dried buffalo dipping with spicy lemon salt, corn wine, Lam rice, or five-colored sticky rice,… Each food is delicious and presents the unique cuisine of H’Mong ethnic groups. Then, taking photos of the fantastic view of the waterfall is also amazing.
This is the new check-in complex in Sapa, where you can find hundreds of pretty spots for taking photos. Located in an extremely convenient location, only 500m from the central square, Moana Sapa has a total area of about 10,000 m2. Here, visitors can not only admire the majestic beauty of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range and the peak of Fansipan mountain, of course, many pretty photos. Here, you can find a version of Bali’s sky gate, infinity lake, and the 6m Moana girl statue,… You can also hire colorful clothes here for only 150.000 VND.
From Sapa town, visitors who want to go to Lao Chai – Ta Van village can move in the direction of Cau May and Muong Hoa streets. Then continue to follow the trail at Y Linh Ho hill to pass Lao Chai. If you choose to walk, it will take more than three hours to travel from town to this place. You can also use motorbikes and cars if traveling with family or relatives.
Coming to Ban Lao Chai in Ta Van, visitors will be attracted by the unusually quiet space. Most of the area is the terraced fields of rice cultivation, with large crops spread across the hillsides. Especially, if you go to the right harvest around April or September of the year, you will have the opportunity to admire a majestic landscape of mountains and forests along with ripe rice fields on terraced fields.
>> Explore the North of Vietnam: Hanoi – Ha Long – Sapa 7 Days
The Dragon Glass Bridge is located in the Rong May tourist area, which is about 18km from Sapa and about 7km from Sun World Fansipan Legend cable car. It stays on the 4D national highway between the two provinces of Lai Chau and Lao Cai, right at the O Quy Ho pass. If you are a travel enthusiast, you must have heard the name of the O Quy Ho pass in the list of the most dangerous and brilliant passes in the Northern Plateau (besides Ma Pi Leng, Khau Pha, Pha Din). The journey to explore the Dragon Glass Bridge allows tourists to be immersed in the majestic, poetic natural scenery, which often changes vividly with the passage of time. This Sapa glass bridge is attracting more and more tourists to visit for sightseeing and taking photos.
In a short of 3 days, you can taste the signature food of Sapa to have the most memorable trip! Each food is made of local ingredients, which can fascinate you with its freshness and deliciousness. Let’s plan for the must-try foods for 3 days in Sapa!
Being the signature food of Sapa made from horse meat, Thang Co is another food you should not miss for 3 days in Sapa. It’s like a hotpot, cause it’s cooked from horse meat and its viscera. They are seasoned with traditional spices including 12 materials such as cardamom, anise, cinnamon, lemongrass, ginger,… Then, the locals use a large pan for all meat, then pour water into the pan, and boil for many hours over a flaming charcoal fire.
To start the meal, you will call a bowl of Thang Co, and grab a cup of corn liquor or wine San Lung to warm up your body. These wines are fragrant and are the essence of the mountain from the forest. You will not only be full of delicious Thang Co but also get drunk with the people of ethnic minorities in highland areas. They are naive, honest, and hospitable. As you can see, lots of fun are waiting for you for the night in Sapa!
>> Recommendations
A Quynh Sa Pa: 15, Thach Son, Sapa
Gerbera: 29, Cau May, Sapa
People often hear about dried beef, but if you visit Sapa, you’ll catch up with a new kind of meat: buffalo. Buffalo meat is chewier than beef meat and becomes more and more attractive when you keep chewing them for a while.
Each slide of meat is dried in an ethnic way, people will hang the meat above the wood stove, and the smoke and heat from the stove will dry the meat. Besides, the spices to season the meat is really appealing with chili, pepper, and the pungent smell of smoke. When you eat, you should have them with “cham cheo” dipping sauce, which is a combination of salts, lemon, chili, and chives. In addition, the delicious slice of meat has the color brown outside and dark pink inside.
>> Recommendations
Sapa Night Market on Dien Bien Phu Street
Viet’s Farm: 26, Dong Loi, Sapa
A Thinh campus: Cau May street, Sapa
You might think that salmon only appear in the sea, but salmon is one of the unmissable food in Sapa. Salmon in Sapa has an eye-catching red-orange color, each slice is firm and soft but not greasy. And do you know that from salmon, there are various kinds of dishes? You can try sashimi, which is a raw fish dish dipped in mustard and mixed with salad and other kinds of vegetables. Additionally, the salmon hot pot is also highly recommended for 3 days in Sapa. The fresh salmon is eaten with the sweet and sour broth of the hot pot while having fresh Northwestern vegetables. It’s great to sit together and have a boiling hot pot with your family and friends in the cool weather of Sapa, right?
>> Recommendations:
Sapa Salmon Restaurant: 039, Xuan Vien, Sapa
A Phu: 15 Fansipan, Sapa
A Quynh: 15, Thach Son, Sapa
Referring to Sapa specialties, it is impossible to ignore Con Sui (also known as Cuon Sui). This is the Northwest delicacy imported from China, made from soft chewy noodles served with a rich thick sauce. Depending on the seller’s taste, the toppings of Con Sui will vary. However, the common dishes will have shredded pork, minced pickled vegetables, bean sprouts, boiled eggs, satay, and a few herbs.
Con Sui Ong Ha: 436 Dien Bien Phu Street, Sapa Town, Sapa, Lao Cai
Sapa is a wonderful land to explore, relax, and learn more about Northwestern Vietnam culture. You will not only broaden your mind with unique ethnic group cuisine but also have a chance to travel along the highway with a mountainous view. Besides, conquering Fansipan is also an activity on your checklist, we’re sure you will love the challenge.
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