The roof tiles are made of clay, baked at high temperature in wood kilns buried in the ground. After 5 days of baking, the still hot tiles are sprinkled with water. Those that do not break will protect the houses for a century at least. This technique, known as “rakou” tends to disappear because the hundreds of kilos of wood necessary to bake the tiles are hard to find. King Hoang A Tuong’s palace in Bac Ha is covered in traditional clay tiles. Some can still be seen in the north of the Muong Khuong, Si Ma Cai and Bac Ha districts - sa pa vietnam attractions

Things to see and do in Vietnam is...

The beaches of Vietnam are superb. Nha Trang is the perfect combination of a long sandy beach for relaxing days under the palm trees and a town with restaurants and bars to pass the balmy evenings. Boat trips take you out to nearby islands and divers can explore the nearby coral reefs. Alternatively, try Vung Tau, southeast of Ho Chi Minh City for some superb snorkelling around the many offshore islands or head east of Phan Thiet to the sand dunes of Mui Ne, which stretch for miles. Whatever your budget there'll be a resort to suit you. Relax on the white-sand beaches or have a go at many of the water sports on offer.

Cao Dai Temple

Head out to Tay Ninh to view the colourful midday service of the intriguing Cao Dai sect held in a large temple almost Disney-esque in style. The followers wear red, blue and yellow robes and chant to the accompaniment of a traditional orchestra. En route, scramble through the tunnels at Cu Chi, from where the Viet Cong successfully launched attacks against US forces.

Central Highlands

Dalat is as far as most people go into the Central Highlands but head further into the mountains for stunning views and waterfalls. You are assured of a warm welcome in Buon Ma Thuot, a coffee growing region and home to the Montagnards. The Ho Chi Minh trail is easily reached from Kontum.

more: best things to do in vietnam tripadvisor

Cooking lessons

Learn the subtleties of Vietnamese cookery at a class in ancient Hoi An. Submerge into the hustle and bustle of the market to buy provisions before retreating to the calm of the kitchen. The best part of the day – you get to eat what you have helped prepare!

Dalat

To escape the heat of the plains, head for Dalat, a former colonial hill station, reminiscent of a French town, with faded, elegant villas evocative of another era. Colonists from Saigon headed to its cool climes as well as the emperor and his entourage. The romantic lakes and alpine scenery are magnets for Vietnamese honeymooners.

Halong Bay

Sure it is touristy, and if you take a boat trip you'll be among a flotilla of dozens of old converted junks, but Halong Bay still remains one of the most impressive sights in the world. Take the opportunity to borrow a kayak (all boats should do this) and paddle through the limestone karsts dramatically rising up out of the sea. Or spend the night on one of those junks and explore the caves hidden deep in the islands, pass floating villages and at night enjoy a sundowner on the top deck and look out for shooting stars.

Hanoi

Hanoi is a city of contrasts with the wide, leafy boulevards lined by beautiful colonial buildings in the French quarter, the maze of narrow streets of the Old Quarter and the tranquil lakes. Wherever you are, the background noise is the buzzing of the motorbikes that crowd the streets of the capital.

more: top things to do Vietnam

Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City by train

A trip on the Reunification Express is a must. However, the trains between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are certainly not express. It can take between 30 and 40 hours to travel between the two cities so best to do one section only. Popular is the 18-hour journey between Hanoi and Hue.

Hiking

There are hundreds of long distance hiking trails around the country, and a significant infrastructure for visitors wanting guided hiking tours. Head south from Hanoi into Cuc Phuong National Park, a wilderness of forest-covered limestone mountains which rise up from the green rice paddies, home to many rare species and the primate rescue centre. Spend the night with a family from the Muong hill tribe in their traditional stilthouse.

Ho Chi Minh City

Gleaming skyscrapers sit side by side with ramshackle buildings and crumbling colonial houses. Monks pass deluxe car showrooms collecting alms and walk along sun-baked streets crammed with honking motorbikes. The Saigon River is constantly crossed by small boats and ferries weaving through larger boats.

Ho Chi Minh Trail history tour

See some of the Vietnam War sights by walking part of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, used as supply routes by the North Vietnamese during the war. You can't fail to be intrigued by the network of tunnels excavated by the Viet Cong from which they launched regular attacks on the US forces. For a taste of life underground scramble through one of the narrow tunnels, specially widened for Western visitors.

Hoi An

Meander the narrow streets with their tiny shop houses, relax in a riverside bar and savour tasty local dishes. This is the place to buy souvenirs, silk items, T-shirts and ceramics. Whatever you do make sure you treat yourself by having clothes made at one of the many tailors.

Hue

The former imperial city of Hue is crammed with wonderful sights. The Imperial Citadel, suffering from the ravages and war and the tropical weather, is slowly being painstakingly renovated; riverside is the Thien Mu pagoda where novice monks peek shyly at the visitors; and the mausoleums of the Emperors, each unique in style.

Meet the locals

The best way to meet the locals is to pull up a low plastic chair in the pavement bar order some beer, order fresh peanuts and quails eggs and chat to the locals. Even with a language barrier, you'll be clinking glasses long into the night.

Mekong Delta

Explore the watery world of the Mekong Delta where channels of the might Mekong Delta crisscross the land and provide a fertile place to grow vast swathes of rice and fruit. Discover riverine towns, floating markets and small riverside industries and spend the night in a homestay with a farming family.

more: vietnam hanoi things to do

Motorbiking

It is becoming increasingly popular to hire a motor bike - invariably a Russian made 125cc Minsk - and ride it from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Riddled with all sorts of dangers, not least the vast amount of bikes in the cities, it is nevertheless an exhilarating way to see the country.

River markets

The river markets on the Mekong Delta are an unmissable sight. Life here is dominated by the mighty Mekong and much of Vietnam's rice crop is grow, and the floating markets are still an essential part of life in the south. Get up early to experience Can Tho floating market at its best. Dozens of wooden boats, many that have seen better days, carry the freshest fruit and vegetables. Smaller boats weave through them perusing the wares and the morning air is filled with the sound of good-natured haggling over price.

Sapa hill tribes

Sapa's stunning alpine scenery is home to several hill tribe villages where life continues pretty much unchanged. Many can be reached by jeep but to get to the more remote villages be prepared to hike. The reward is an overnight in a stilthouse with a family resplendent in riotously colourful traditional costume

Sapa lies in the very north west of Vietnam near the Chinese border. Along with Halong Bay it is the “other” major excursion from Hanoi. Time permitting you can do a circuit around the northwest highlands which takes in Mai Chau, Son La, Dien Bien Phu, Lai Chau and finally Sapa before heading back to Hanoi. This would take at least a week by private vehicle and longer on local buses. During the wet season roads can be treacherous with landslides common. The best time to visit is from March to May and from September to mid-December.

Established as a hill station by the French in 1922, Sapa is the one place in the northwest where tourism is booming. It’s now firmly on the European and North American package-tour circuit, and well-equipped trekkers are a common sight around town.

The town is orientated to make the most of the spectacular views emerging on clear days. It overlooks a plunging valley of cascading rice terraces, with mountains towering above on all sides. Views of this epic scenery are often subdued by thick mist rolling across the peaks, but even if it’s cloudy, Sapa is still a fascinating destination, especially when local hill-tribe people fill the town with colour.

The town’s French colonial villas fell into disrepair during successive wars with the French, Americans and Chinese, but following the advent of tourism, Sapa has experienced a renaissance. The downside is a hotel building boom, and because height restrictions are rarely enforced, the Sapa skyline is changing for the worse.

Inherent in this prosperity is cultural change for the hill-tribe people. The H’mong people are very canny traders, urging you to buy handicrafts and trinkets. Many have had little formal education, yet all the youngsters have a good command of English, French and a handful of other languages.

Sapa is nearly 400 km north-west of Hanoi. This cloud-covered town is located at 1550 m above the sea level, cool all year round. There are many magnificent mountains including the peak of Indochina - Fansipan of 3143m elevation. 

The area is home to 7 ethnic groups with unique cultures, lifestyles and languages; all wearing their traditional attires, working on evergreen terraces. Hill tribes gather for the weekend market for trade and for meeting with lovers. Sapa is a good place for relaxing, for culturally touring, and/or for trekking and should not be missed on your trip. 

The area was built into a hill station for the French colonialists to get away from the heat of Ha Noi in the summer. There used to be many French-styled villas in town. But most of them were destroyed during the border clash with China in 1979.

Nowadays Sapa attracts thousands of tourists from all of Vietnam and abroad thanks to the cool and fresh climate, the sublime nature beauty and the colorful hill tribe cultures.

Getting There

By train: There are various options to get to Sapa from Hanoi. However there are no flights, with international visitors having to disembark at Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport and travel by rail or road to the town. The most popular is to sign up for one of the overnight trips which includes a train journey to Lao Cai followed by minibus transfer up to Sapa. The train is slow, but reserving a sleeper seat means you can enjoy the trip and the stunning scenery in relative comfort. There are daily overnight trains heading in each direction, with the journey taking around nine hours. A number of standard and tourist trains also make the overnight run from Hanoi. You can make arrangements with any travel agent for a small fee, or do it yourself at the Hanoi Railway Station. Prices range from $16 for a hard berth to $30 for a soft berth with air-conditioning. There is also the new Victoria’s Orient Express that runs between Hanoi and Sapa, offering more luxurious rail travel facilities and services. All trains to Lao Cai/Sapa depart from the Hanoi Railway Station.

To get to Sapa from the train station in Lao Cai, you'll need to transfer by car for the 1 1/2- to 2-hour ride from Lao Cai station. The road is cut into the hillside and is bumpy and windy, but the views of the terraced rice farms of the valley are beautiful as you ascend (ride on the left side).

By road: from Hanoi is the longest option and a minimum ten hour drive by car or bus with the journey taking up the entire day. There are many possible routes to Sapa, and visitors can plan their road trip via the route that most matches their special interests. Driving in the mountainous northwest region is often dangerous, so care should be taken to avoid excessive speeds and select vehicles or bikes suitable for all types of terrain. The rainy season should be avoided if you plan an off the beaten track route, unless you are a very experienced offroader. Any tourist cafe or travel agent in Hanoi can arrange trips by private jeep or a combo jeep and train tour. Apart from Sapa, the vast tracts of the north are best visited through a tour company, many offer comprehensive itineraries. Especially for areas off the beaten track. Avoid the temptation to book budget tours with the tourist cafes

When to Go

The dry season is from January to June with March to May the best time to visit. Temperatures in January and February are regularly around 0ºC. The rainy season falls in June and August. September marks the end of the rainy season which is a good time to visit then by mid-December temperatures start to fall significantly making this September to mid-December period the best time to be there.

Things to Do & See

Sapa is such a colourful town thanks to the H'mong and Dzao people from the local hill tribes who head into the town's market every day to trade their produce. There's a main market every Saturday when the place is packed but there's a lower key one every other day during the week. These people will have undergone no formal education but the arrival of foreigners has made them well aware of the value of money and many of the youngsters have picked up a basic level of English. They sell clothing and handicrafts which are popular with tourists.

Read the exciting story of some real travellers who visited the Sapa which they describe at Traveller Reviews.

Many visitors sign up for trekking expeditions out to local villages and beyond. All hotels and travel agencies in town offer half day visits to Cat Cat just 3km outside of Sapa and full day hikes to Ta Phin village which lies 10km outside town. Spectacular scenery abounds on all treks in the area. Overnight stays in minority villages such as Sin Chai are also popular options.

For stunning scenery you must get out to the Tram Ton Pass 15km from Sapa. At 1900m its is the highest in Vietnam and connects Sapa to Lai Chau. All around you are surrounded by almost vertical rice terraces and stunning mountain peaks with regular mists hovering on them. The 100m high Thac Bac waterfall on the same route is spectacular.

For the seriously fit there is a hike to the top of Fansipan, Vietnam's highest peak at 3143m. This isn't a climb to be taken lightly with potentially treacherous conditions when the weather turns bad. From Sapa to the peak is only about 20km yet experienced hikers take three or four days to complete it carrying their all their own equipment as there is no accommodation en route. Taking a local guide and even porters is a highly recommended. If you are up to such a challenge the rewards are breathtaking.

Banks & Communication

The post office is in the town center, but most hotels can send postcards and letters and have stamps for sale. There are a few storefront Internet cafes, but service is slow and unreliable. All hotels provide exchange service for traveler's checks and even credit card cash advances. There is a local bank on Cau May where you can cash traveler's checks for the same 2% fee as at your hotel, but there are also some ATMs here.

Tips:

It can be too much of an adventure trying to get there as individual traveller. Arrange the trip with a reputable tour operator to ensure smooth, risk free travel.

Traveling on week days is both easier and cheaper than weekends (lower hotel costs, more relaxed travel schemes)

Always make sure you have return tickets in hand.

Get to Hanoi and Lao Cai at least 30 minutes before departure – but be ready for a sudden or late departure without any explaination.

Make sure there is something to define the person who picks you up (i.e, his name, cell number and so on)

Say “no” very firmly when someone offers you something you do not want to buy. If you show the slightest interest, they may well follow you all the way up the road, until they find anther likely target.

Expect to bargain everything down to about half the original price asked. And expect most products to be Chinese instead of being authentically local.

The museum is housed in an attractive stilt house with a static exhibit upstairs which runs uninspiringly through the history of the Sapa region before moving on to some slightly more engaging exhibits about the culture of the ethnic minorities. It’s like the Ethnology Museum or Women’s Museum in Hanoi, but far smaller and dustier.

A collection of funny quotes about life to make you smile

Sapa Museum

funny quotes about love, relationships, and marriage

On our last visit, downstairs was home to a sponsored exhibit about the crafts and customs of the Hmong and Red Dao people. It specifically focuses on their handicrafts as part of the Sapa Fair Craft project to promote these traditional crafts and help provide new economic opportunities. Entry is free but a stall is located inside so you may end up paying more than you expect; it’s not a hard sell though.

Top things to do in vietnam

It would be a miss if you travel to Sapa without visiting Silver Waterfall and Rattan bridge. Especially, Rattan bridge is a well-known bridge made from rattan which acrosses Muong Hoa River. If you visit the bridge in foggy days, you will feel like you are covered by cloud.

Sapa Rattan Bridge

Cau May is 17km from the south-east of the centre of SaPa Town. In order to reach Cau May, you can go along for 3km from the main road. It is very interesting to enjoy a cloud air at Cau May. This is really an interesting place to enjoy the most wonderful feelings.

It would be a miss if you travel to Sapa without visiting Silver Waterfall and Rattan bridge

All year round, the white water flow pours down to the stream. It looks like a picture with two main colors: green from the forest and white from the waterfall.

>> Other Attractions in Sapa vietnam

Hoang Yen Chao Castle is a unique architectural construction combining Eastern style and Western style. Hoang Yen Chao castle was built at the beginning of the 20 century (between 1914 and 1921). Its owner was Hoang Yen Chao of Tay origin. In a distance, the white castle jutting out from the valley looks imposing and majestic.

Hoang Yen Chao castle information:
Hoang Yen Chao Castle is located in Na Hoi Tho Hamlet, Bac Ha Dist, 300m away from Bac Ha market. It is a unique construction work, which harmonizes the oriental and Western architectural styles. The castle was built at the beginning of the 20 century (between 1914 and 1921). Its owner was Hoang Yen Chao of Tay origin. He was the father of Hoang A Tuong, a tribal mandarin under the domination of the French colonialists.

Hoang Yen Chao Castle

The castle covers an area of 4,000 sqm in which the main building occupies 420 sqm. In front of its arched doors are earthen banks. Occupying a pivotal position overlooking the Bac Ha valley. the castle serves both as the residence of Hoang Yen Chao, then Hoang A Tuong and as a fortress. Its network of walls, bunkers, and battlements were reinforced by a mortar mixed with sugar molasses. In a distance, the white castle jutting out from the valley looks imposing and majestic.

At present, this castle is put under a restoration scheme to better help tourists get insight into the changes of the local life

Location & History
Hoang Yen Chao Castle is a unique architectural construction combining Eastern style and Western style. Built in the 20th century, it belongs to Na Hoi Tho Village, Bac Ha district. Its proximity to Bac Ha Market (only 300m away) makes it increasingly popular in the recent years.

Architecture
The castle was built as the resident of Hoang Yen Chao, and later, his son Hoang A Tuong. With two-floor architecture, it also functions as a fortress. The castle possesses a vital location that enables its residents to influence and control the whole Bac Ha valley. From afar, you can easily notice the white castle standing vividly against the blue sky and the green fields of Lao Cai.

High fences, blockhouses and deep trenches, as well as invincible defending towers used to protect the castle from the enemies in the past. Unfortunately, time has swiped away those wonderful features. However, you can still see the system of dangerous strap full of spikes built around the castle (caution: they are real!). After strolling around the construction, make sure that you go inside and take a look at all the vestiges that survive the destructive flow of time!

>> Other Attractions in Sapa

Silver Waterfall is far about 15 kilometers from Sapa toward Lai Chau; tourists take approximately 30 minutes by motorbike or bus to visit one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Vietnam. The scenery along the way, the pine forest, and the ‘su su’ spread over the hills. With more than 100 meters high, white water poured down the stream.

• Ham Rong Mountain Sapa Vietnam

Silver Waterfall: A beautifull site attract many visitors Sapa district,Lao Cai province. Waterfall located next to 4D Highway- arterial route to the province of Lai Chau and just minutes away from the central of Sapa town about 12 km to the west, so very convenient to visit.

Thac Bac (Silver Waterfall) Sapa

Recent years, Silver Waterfall becomes very attractive, attracting thousands of tourists both domestic and foreign tourists every year.

Silver Waterfall has 200 meters height and is s upstream of Muong Hoa stream (Ca Hoa stream), with 1,800 meters altitude at the foot of the O Quy Ho. Standing on top of Ham Rong Mount in Sapa town center, you could see Silver Waterfall white in days the sky is blue and this is also the origin name of waterfall. From high above mountain creeks, water roaring down the line, foam roll white as flowers, so the people called Silver Waterfall. Silver Waterfall area is one of the biggest snowfall in Sa Pa. In 2003, waterfall area had snow cover with 15 cm thick.

Silver Waterfall

Notes: Travelers should visit Silver Waterfall – Sapa in summer (from May to October in the year), because in the remaining time of years, it often dried up water, can not reveal the spectacular beauty of one of the most beautiful waterfall in Vietnam. If you are lucky to visit the waterfall on a sunny summer day, likely visitors will admire the rainbow crossing the top of the falls, a beautiful spectacle like rare paintings.

The sky has endowed our country has a magical Sapa, was hidden in the mist was thick, just magnificent, poetic like a gigantic hanging garden, hanging blue sky all year round fog cover ... Lao Cai town located 38 km and 376 km from Hanoi, "Hanging Gardens" Sapa Vietnam was discovered in the West from the late 19th century.

For here are two roads: one from the town of Lao Cai, one from Binh Lu (Lai Chau) to, by all kinds of vehicles such as trains, cars, motorcycles, horse ...

French colonial period this place was built into the resort and tourism for the elite. Sapa town is not complete at this time, but there were 200 large and small villas built in the gothic architecture in 19th century Europe.Located at an altitude of 1,500 m above sea level, away from the town of Lo-top 2228 m high concrete snay, southeast of the Pu-song-sung peak 3100 m high, Sapa Vietnam weather is always cool. In Lao Cai in June the average temperature is 28 degrees C, Sapa is only 21-22 degrees C. At night the temperature down further still, throughout the year must be tucked. In winter, with night the water freezes, falling snow as white as apricot, plum flower season ...

In spring, visitors can admire the beautiful little place. It is a long-running forest trees of peach, spill over from the beginning to the town of Pass O Quy Ho, bright flower color as a red carpet to welcome guests and enjoy the spring! Spring in Sapa is the breeding season, blooming of flowers, orchids filled the sky, lay thanks, Pang-move, vi wall, the medication is ... not just dig plum, pink, apricot.

Trees here are many kinds, just beautiful, just like you: po-mu, actixo, information architecture, thousands of minnows, especially species of Public gai, Hmong language called "Sa-mu". In the collection of medicines in Vietnam, perhaps the medicinal plants are native and acclimatized successfully in Sapa Vietnam. Such as trees: major north park, across the frame, or regulations, cardamom, royal connection, chicken feet, still rustic flavor, ginseng equity, bears the ship, angelica ...

Sapa is also a land of many mysteries with living plants atop Francis Pang, and some birds and rare animals such as parrots, pheasants, public, francolin, wild pigs, bears, horses. Sapa also recently discovered an ancient carved stone population with nearly 200 large and small islands. Each year thousands of tourists come here, in addition to several groups of foreign students to study tours, research, filming, photography ...

Go to Sapa, visitors can not fail to visit Silver Falls, a beautiful and unique line of white water pours deleted. And it can hardly be indifferent to the spectacular beauty of poetry is to Cloud, but the bridge, with clouds from a long life.

Located about 76 km from the train station, Bac Ha is a remote district of Lao Cai province.

Location

Located about 76 km from the train station, Bac Ha is a remote district of Lao Cai province. Bac Ha market which takes place every Sunday is famous for the originality and authenticity that the traders still preserve. One can reach Bac Ha market by booking a van or tour from Sapa, which is about 3 hours away.

About the market

It is not simply a place for buy and sell but also an opportunity for people from different ethnicities to come and meet, for relatives to reunite after a long time missing, for women to demonstrate their beautiful handmade traditional costumes and even for youngsters to find their dates. To reach the market, many ethnic vendors have to walk a long distance passing mountains and hills. Yet the distance has never discouraged them from joining the Sunday colorful market.

Trading Products

The main square where trading takes place is divided into smaller section, specializing in a particular product such as handicrafts, food, horse, poultry and blacksmith. Each has its own trait and worth joining. The town itself is rather dull for any country surfer but if you want a relaxing place to get away from the tourist crowd in Sapa, or simply fond of taking unique photos, Bac Ha can be your option. Most tourists get return tickets to Bac Ha by contacting the enormous number of tour companies in Sapa or Lao Cai. Tours to Sapa from Hanoi may or may not include the trip to Bac Ha market so check well in advance. Buses offered by these tours companies are of much better quality though with moderately higher price. It’s worth investing for the road is curvy and challenging, even after significant improvement

Sapa is a beautiful, mountainous town in northern Vietnam along the border with China.