Sapa, Vietnam - A must-see before you go! A father in his 40s' experience 5 Tips and Precautions for Independent Travel in Sapa. Information on altitude, traffic, and weather. Recent travel informationWe will inform you in detail.
Sapa Travel Essentials and 5 Things to Know
If you're planning a vacation to Sapa, did you know that the average altitude in Sapa is over 1500 meters? Or, Sapa is famous for its lack of good restaurants.One place, or Accommodation or room conditionHow about a story about ?
Today, I would like to share my story from my recent vacation in Sapa.
Before reading the text below, Watch the Sapa travel video first. It will greatly help you understand the content.This is it.
1. How to get to Sapa
- 8 hours of shaking train
사파로 가는 방법은 여러가지가 있다. 그중에서 기차와 슬리핑 버스는 잘 알려진 대중적인 교통수단인데, 슬리핑 버스든 기차든 하노이에서 The road to Sapa is not that easy.You must know this.
얼마나 만만치 않은 지는 🔎[Hanoi Station 👉 Lao Cai Station Train Travel] 글을 통해 확인할 수 있어요.
There are two trains to Sapa per day, so most people take the one that leaves at 10pm and arrives at Lao Cai Station at 6am the next day.
However, this train, which runs for a total of 8 hours, should not be taken lightly. Perhaps because the train is old, The shaking from side to side is so severe that it can cause motion sickness.am.
- Shuttle bus from Lao Cai Station to Sapa
Hanoi Station 👉 You must be very tired because you couldn't sleep well due to the shaking from the train to Lao Cai Station.
Not only is the night train uncomfortable, but the anxiety of falling asleep and not being able to wake up early is also a concern. But that's not all. As soon as you get off at Lao Cai Station in a dazed state, you'll be greeted by touts.
Touts trying to get passengers on shuttle buses to SapaThis is quite a lot. Book a shuttle from Lao Cai Station to Sapa in advance on Klook.If you did, it would be fine, but if not, you'll have quite a headache figuring out how to proceed.
👉 [Book a train + shuttle bus to Sapa on Klook]do
And it doesn't end with the shuttle bus to Sapa. This shuttle bus takes about an hour. Height reaching 1500mBecause you have to climb the mountain, you have to run nonstop on the winding mountain road.
If you're exhausted and tired from a long night, I'm sure you'll be practically knocked out on this shuttle bus. On your first day in Sapa, you'll be wanting to relax all day.Will do.
2. Altitude of Sapa
Sapa is 1,500 meters above sea level. Considering that Hallasan Mountain, the highest mountain in Korea, is around 1,900 meters high, Sapa's 1,500 meters is considered a considerable elevation.
Of course, it is not a huge mountainous area like La Paz, the capital of Bolivia, at 3600m, but those who are sensitive to altitude will feel the height.
Maybe it was because my wife also stayed up all night on a shaking train and then took a shuttle bus for an hour on a winding mountain road to get to Sapa. Sapa's altitude was difficult in a weakened state.
Even if a healthy person might not feel the pressure, those in a weakened state can easily feel fatigue. Those with weakened bodies or those who tire easily should consider visiting Sapa.
3. Transportation in Sapa
Sapa also has Grab, the app that dominates Southeast Asia. However, unlike other cities in Vietnam, Grab is difficult to book, making it difficult to find a ride.
Trolleys, a common sight in Sapa, resemble taxis, allowing customers to freely navigate in any direction they choose. Think of them as golf carts, used by many.
This trolley offers a tour around Sapa (30 minutes to 1 hour) when it is quiet, with negotiable prices. Instead, If you choose a less busy time and negotiate, you can get a much cheaper rate.do.
4. Sapa's Best Restaurants
“There are no good restaurants in Sapa.” There's a saying that Sapa doesn't have many restaurants where you can eat delicious food. In fact, most restaurants had better views than food.
During my trip to Sapa, I ate a total of eight meals at restaurants, and the number of meals I enjoyed was quite small. I'd like to briefly share some of the restaurants that were delicious or particularly impressive.
- Lao Cai Station Restaurants
Rock Pizza
It is a very important station for taking the shuttle bus to Sapa and is a place visited by many people.
However, while there are many restaurants here that locals visit, there are fewer places for tourists to come and eat than you might think.
but, (Google Maps)📍[Rock Pizza Lao Cai]is a must-visit restaurant for tourists looking for delicious food near Lao Cai Station.
The name of the restaurant gives the impression of being a Western specialty restaurant because it has the word pizza in it, but in reality, it is a great place for rice noodles and fried rice.
- Sapa Restaurants
a. Chicago Pizza
This restaurant is a great place for pizza lovers. It's like Sapa's "Kimbap Heaven" with a wide variety of dishes., Be sure to choose pizzaMust do.
If you don't like Sapa's food (Google Map) 📍[Western food with Chicago pizza]It's also a good idea to ventilate the area for a bit. The cheese on Chicago pizza was particularly special, and the regular pizza was pretty good too.
b. White Cloud
(Google Maps)📍White CloudEven excluding the taste of drinks and food, the view is special.am.
There are many restaurants in Sapa with amazing views, but the view at White Cloud Restaurant is one of the most special.
Of course, just because a place has a great view doesn't mean its food is also highly rated. However, White Cloud is a truly special place, with excellent drinks and food.
So it is very popular among Vietnamese people, and it goes without saying that it is also popular among tourists.
c.yummy
What is the most famous food in Sapa, Vietnam? I've been to many places, but the representative food of Sapa that I found is Coconut curryam.
That's why so many restaurants in Sapa offer coconut curry menus, but among them, this one is the best.silver 📍Right now [Yummy]can be selected.
If you just search on Naver blog, you will find a restaurant that everyone agrees is famous for its special coconut curry in Sapa, but from what I have tried, it cannot compare to Yummy.
If you travel to Sapa, you must try the coconut curry at Yomi.
5. Is Cat Cat Village a must-visit in Sapa?
The Mong people, a tribe living in Sapa, have lived in the village since the mid-19th century, and their traditions and culture remain intact.
With its green mountains, terraced rice fields, traditional wooden houses, and exotic scenery of country roads, Cat Cat Village is a must-see destination for all travelers to Sapa.
✅ 사파 깟깟마을을 여행하며 남긴 글을 확인하세요!
깟깟마을의 더 자세한 내용을 🔎[The Truth Behind Cat Cat Village Revealed!]에서 확인하세요!
- You can walk there
There are many ways to get to Cat Cat Village. However, since it's located further down the road from Sapa city center and not too far away, taking a Grab or motorbike isn't necessary.
There are quite a few people who walk along the trekking course while slowly enjoying the beautiful view. However, after finishing the tour of Cat Cat Village, I recommend a motorbike because it is uphill to get to Sapa city.Do it.
- Observing minority groups
In fact, many bloggers and people who have visited this place may think, “There is no need to go to Cat Cat Village, which has been turned into a commercial district.”.
But if you could experience the life of a Vietnamese minority for just 150,000 VND (about 7,500 KRW), what would you choose?
In reality, there were people renting out tribal folk costumes on every street, and various local specialties were lined up along the roadside, which made me feel uncomfortable, but I also felt like even that was part of their life.
I recommend going with your family or children, as you can observe the form of the old Mong houses, the livestock they raise, and even the actual houses. (Because there are stairs, strollers are not allowed.)
- The beauty of nature
The natural beauty surrounding Cat Cat Village makes the trip even more special.
Because the scenery of Sapa is so fundamentally beautiful, the natural beauty that is integrated into their lives is an inseparable charm of Cat Cat Village.
Check out the vivid Sapa that the text above couldn't convey through video!
Honest Review of Sapa Travel
I've been to many cities in Vietnam, but Sapa felt quite different. While it's a shame that even Sapa has been engulfed by the influence of capitalism, Sapa remains special.
In fact, there's no direct route to Sapa. It takes an early morning train from Hanoi, then a more than hour-long trek up a steep mountain pass. Despite this, Sapa is a place you'll definitely want to return to.
