One Day in Sapa [Part 2]
Morning experiences, lunch, transportations and accommodation in Sapa.
Hello friends,
In the previous newsletter, I shared how I spent the first half-day in Sapa. In this Part 2, I’m gonna tell you more about what we did the next morning, plus thoughts on our stay, transportation, and a few recommendations in case you plan to visit.
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Let’s get into it.
5. Cat Cat Village Exploration in the Morning
After a decent rest, we woke up early and were ready to go again. Our original plan was to visit both Fansipan (the highest mountain in Vietnam and the Indochinese Peninsula!) and Cat Cat Village. But the hotel staff gently advised that Fansipan would be packed with people and not ideal for sightseeing that day. So we decided to save it for another trip when we can take our time and enjoy the full experience, and instead headed to Cat Cat Village.
Cat Cat Village
🎟️ Ticket prices:
- Adults: 150,000VND/person
- Children (1 – 1.3 meters tall): 70,000VND/person
- Children (< 1 meter tall): Free of charge
Located in a valley surrounded by green mountains, Cat Cat Village is home to the H’Mong ethnic group, who’ve lived there for generations. On the way to the entrance, you’ll spot lots of shops offering traditional ethnic outfits for rent.
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Outfits for rent
Of course, I was curious, so I gave it a go! For 150,000VND, I picked a colorful outfit and walked down into the village. They also offer makeup services if you want the full look, but I didn’t want to go full makeover mode, just wearing the outfit was already a fun experience.
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The journey down to the village
There’s a lot of walking, about 2 – 3 km of steps downhill, therefore comfy shoes are a must. On both sides of the path, local vendors sell handmade goods and snacks. Bring some cash in case something catches your eye. There are also cafés and food stalls along the way to help you refuel.
By the time we reached the end, it was almost noon and the weather had started to heat up. So we took the easy way back:
First, a golf cart ride to the main parking lot (10,000 VND/person)
Then a motorbike taxi (30,000 VND/person) back to where we parked and to return my outfit before I got too attached.
6. Lunch time!
On the way getting out of Cat Cat Village, we stopped by a restaurant to treat ourselves after a kinda long walk.
May Garden - Vườn Trên Mây (10AM - 10PM)
📍 Address: 66 Fansipan, TT. Sa Pa, Sa Pa, Lào Cai
💵 Price: 200,000 - 300,000VND/person
True to its name, the place felt like a garden, full of flowers, butterflies and dragonflies, with a mountain view and even a train track running overhead. It felt peaceful and a bit magical, honestly.
We didn’t feel super hungry, so we ordered just enough to share: two meat dishes, a fried rice and some veggies. The food over all was good, our personal taste preferred the pork belly.
Each dish came in generous portions, so for once we didn’t over-order (a small win!). They also had a homemade apricot wine. I found it a little too sweet to take as a shot, so maybe ask for ice if you want a milder taste.
7. Accommodation
Since we changed plans last minute, we booked whatever was still available. Most places were fully booked because of the holidays.
Sapa Chill Retreat
📍 Address: 03A Hoàng Diệu, TT. Sa Pa, Sa Pa, Lào Cai
💵 Price: ~900,000VND/standard room/night
It’s located on a hill not too far from the center, about a 5 to 7-minute walk. That said, the slope is a bit steep, so if you’ve got large luggage, I recommend asking your taxi driver to drop you off as close as possible.
Breakfast is included, but as it’s a budget friendly homestay, the options are pretty basic, enough to start the day, but nothing fancy.
Quick note:
The customer service was okay, but if you have special requests (like a bike rental), it's better to double-check with a phone call. At the check-in, we had a small challenge with our booking due to some internal miscommunication, so just a heads-up!
8. Transportations
8.1 Transportation from Hanoi to Sapa
G8 Sapa Open Tour
📍 Address: 189 Ngọc Chi, Vĩnh Ngọc, Đông Anh, Hà Nội
☎️ Phone: 0961 615 611
💵 Price: 720,000VND/cabin
We found this bus company through the website I always use for booking travel in Vietnam — vexere.com. They cover pretty much every route, so feel free to check them out if you're planning a trip. Booking is quick and easy, and you’ll get confirmation right away via email.
While booking online, kindly check the pick-up point and choose for yourself the one that is convenient, they also have pick-up and drop-off at the airport if you decide to skip Hanoi. For us we were picked up at Lotte Mall as we stayed in Hanoi.
I was genuinely impressed with their service. The staff and drivers were kind and polite to everyone, and what really stood out to me was how carefully the drivers handled the road, no heart attacks on this ride, pheww!
We booked the sleeping bus, which offers both single and double cabin options. We each got our own cabin for a bit more space and comfort. They provide pillows, blankets, water bottles and wet wipes. Aaand the fun surprise? The seats come with massage modes, so go ahead, treat yourself while cruising through the mountains! Haha.
Heads up!
The cabins are generally spacious, but I’d recommend avoiding the last row if you can, they’re noticeably smaller than the others.
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8.2 While in Sapa
We rented a motorbike to get around, which made exploring a lot easier. There are plenty of rental options in town, but we went with the one offered by our homestay for convenience.
The standard price is about 150,000 VND/day (not per 24 hours, just day use). During holiday seasons, it can go up to 200,000 – 250,000VND/day.
No matter where you rent from, I suggest booking in advance and confirming with them again a day or two before your trip. It'll help avoid any surprises and save time once you're there.
That wraps up Part 2 of our Sapa trip!
If you enjoyed reading this, I’d love to hear your thoughts and feel free to share this post with someone planning a trip up north. And of course, if you’re writing on Substack too, drop your link in the comments so we can connect!
Until next time ✨
