Major city · Vietnam
Sa Pa
Give Sa Pa two or three nights, trek the valleys with a local Hmong or Dao guide, and come September–November or March–May; winter can be near freezing and fogged in for days.
Sa Pa is a mountain town at 1,500 m below Fansipan, Vietnam's highest peak (3,143 m). The town itself is a building site of hotels; the reason to come is the rice-terrace valleys of Mường Hoa and the Hmong, Dao and Giáy villages, walked with a guide from those villages. A cable car now runs to the Fansipan summit.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- VND
- Best months
- Sep–Nov, Mar–May
- avoid Dec–Feb (cold, fog), Jun–Aug (mud and landslides)
- Airport
- HAN
- Nights
- 2–3
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Vietnam ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Vietnam ↗Crossing streets: walk slowly and steadily; motorbikes flow around you — do not stop or run.
- Vietnam ↗Carry Vietnamese đồng in small notes; many stalls and taxis are cash-only.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Sa Pa113 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Sa Pa, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?VND in small notes (10k–100k) for stalls, markets, xe ôm and tips at spas.Vietnam-wide
- SIM or eSIMViettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport and a face photo are required for registration.Vietnam-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Vietnam-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.Vietnam-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/F. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Vietnam-wide
- SafetySafe; weather, mud and road travel are the risks.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in cities and hotels; squat toilets and no paper in rural stops and on long buses — carry tissues.Vietnam-wide
- Emergency numbers113 police · 114 fire · 115 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums close on Monday; the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum is also closed on Friday and shuts for maintenance for about two months each year (usually…Vietnam-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportHAN Nội Bài (Hanoi) (No airport: 5.5–6.5 h by limousine van or bus on the expressway, or night train to Lào Cai + 1 h).
- Getting aroundWalk in town; treks with guides; taxis and motorbike taxis to trailheads.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Sit-down mealHomestay night with dinner₫250,000–500,000 (≈ US$10–20)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed or homestay bed, a night, per person₫200,000 (≈ US$8)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room₫1,100,000 (≈ US$45)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room₫3,500,000 (≈ US$140)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₫700,000 (≈ US$30) · Mid ₫1,500,000 (≈ US$60) · High ₫3,000,000 (≈ US$120)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- HAN Nội Bài (Hanoi) (No airport: 5.5–6.5 h by limousine van or bus on the expressway, or night train to Lào Cai + 1 h)
- Phrases
- Vietnamese phrasebook
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Feb
Avoid
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Mar
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Apr
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
May
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jun
Avoid
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jul
Avoid
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Aug
Avoid
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Sep
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Oct
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Nov
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Dec
Avoid
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Best: Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Avoid: Jun–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest May (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)), coolest Jan (6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C) low), wettest Jul (26 rain days), driest Dec (8). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Sa Pa: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
10 rd
Feb
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
10 rd
Mar
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
13 rd
Apr
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
15 rd
May
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
19 rd
Jun
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
22 rd
Jul
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
26 rd
Aug
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
25 rd
Sep
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
19 rd
Oct
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
14 rd
Nov
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
10 rd
Dec
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
8 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walk in town; treks with guides; taxis and motorbike taxis to trailheads. The Fansipan cable car starts 3 km out of town.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Mường Hoa valley trek (Lao Chải, Tả Van)
goDoor to door: Full day
On foot with a guide
Fansipan summit
goDoor to door: Half day
Cable car + train
Go on a clear morning; ticket about ₫800,000 (check).
Bắc Hà Sunday market
goDoor to door: Full day
Car 2.5 h
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Sa Pa town centre
Hotels and restaurants; noisy construction.
Village homestays (Tả Van, Lao Chải)
Quieter, on the trek route; basic comforts.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₫500,000–900,000 (≈ US$20–35) excl. bed
- Mid
- ₫1,000,000–2,000,000 (≈ US$40–80) excl. bed
- High
- ₫2,500,000 (≈ US$100)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 3 nights × ₫1,100,000 | ₫3,300,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × ₫1,500,000 | ₫9,000,000 |
| Hanoi ↔ Sa Pa limousine van2 × ₫600,000 · return; check | ₫1,200,000 |
| Guided trek day2 × ₫800,000 | ₫1,600,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₫1,510,000 |
| Trip total≈ ₫2,768,000 per person per day, bed included | ₫16,610,000≈ US$650 |
2026 estimate in đồng; flights and tours excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Guided trek per day | ₫500,000–1,000,000 (≈ US$20–40) |
| Fansipan cable car | about ₫800,000 (≈ US$35) (check) |
| Homestay night with dinner | ₫250,000–500,000 (≈ US$10–20) |
| Limousine van from Hanoi | ₫300,000–450,000 (≈ US$12–18) one way |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Hire guides from the villages through a homestay or a local cooperative, not street sellers who follow you.
- Mud and landslides in summer; fog can hide everything for days in winter.
- Children selling handicrafts: buying keeps them out of school — buy from adults.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 113
- Fire
- 114
- Ambulance
- 115
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Sa PaSa Pa
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Cho tôi đến địa chỉ nàyPlease take me to this address
Emergency
- Police113
- Fire114
- Ambulance115
Embassy
Embassies are in Hanoi.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Hanoi → Sa Pa, limousine van: ₫300,000–450,000 (≈ US$12–18), 5.5–6.5 h
- Lào Cai station → Sa Pa, bus: about ₫40,000 (≈ US$2) (check), 1 h
Say or show
- Xin chào — Hello (sin chow)
- Cảm ơn — Thank you (gahm un)
- Bao nhiêu tiền? — How much is this? (bow nyew tee-en)
- Không cay — Not spicy, please (khom kai)
- Tính tiền — The bill, please (ting tee-en)
- Dừng ở đây — Stop here, please (yung uh day)
Show the address in Vietnamese with street and house number.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Sa Pa. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Sep–Nov, Mar–May · avoid Dec–Feb (cold, fog), Jun–Aug (mud and landslides) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Two-day trek with a homestay night
- Fansipan on a clear morning
Sources
- officialLào Cai tourism
- officialVietnam National Authority of Tourism
- secondaryWikivoyage — Sa Pa