Xin Chao!
Thoughts drift back to the times when the piercing cold of Hanoi comes to mind – the other extreme of the current heat in most states in Malaysia. If you’re looking at a cold or cool getaway, just 3.5 hrs away is the vibrant city of Hanoi and quaint town of Sapa!
Arriving at Noi Ba – Hanoi International Airport, grab a limo ride to Sapa! It is a smooth 5hr drive up through the highway that connect Hanoi to Sapa. Stop for refreshments along the way, and if you get a chance to chai with the locals, do try your hands at their local shisha!
Continue your journey up to Sapa – the Cameron Highlands of Vietnam. We arrived close to 8pm at night, and made a dash into the Hotel due to the cold winter! Expect to be welcomed with an average of 9 – 11 degrees during winter months. The quiet town is very relaxing to enjoy a winter night walk with loved ones before retiring to bed.
Awake early as the it gets bright around 530am in Sapa. Book a bike from your Hotel, ride to the nearest petrol kiosk (there is only 1 in Sapa town – YES! You read it right!). Take a ride up to Fanxipan Mountain.
You can trek your way to the peak or you can get a tram and cable car to the Peak. The peak is also known as a sacred peak and you will find yourself surrounded by soothing Buddhist chants at the end of the cable car ride. You will come across a few little monasteries and then the magnificent Big Buddha!
Move on to the Peak on the tram ride. Summer will be an excellent time to view the entire Peak sitting above the clouds at 3219 feet above sea level. For those of you who have health problems, it is advisable to take it slow as the oxygen level can get thin at the top. Come prepared with your winter clothing if your visiting during year end – otherwise it is a comfortable 15 – 18 degrees.
The price for the cable car in 2019 is 700,000 VND / adult (30USD)and 500,000VND for children over 1.4m.
Spend some time at the peak or the little café at the top before you head down back to Sapa town. Food is mostly steamboat in Sapa with variance of fried rice and abundance of vegetables. MUST TRY is the Vietnamese Spring Rolls. You also have a choice of a few pizza outlets.
In Sapa town, you will come across the tribal community or you can head down to the local market to purchase souvenirs and local produce.
Other attractions around Sapa are the waterfalls, Cat Cat Village, and authentic tribal communities.
Your return journey from Sapa to Hanoi is between a chartered limo, overnight train and a bus ride. We opted for the overnight Train ride and that journey took us a 1 hr van shuttle from Sapa Hotel to Lao Cai station. There is only one train ride to and from Hanoi, both at night.
Check in at the various train designated train lounge. Our precious ride was on the Chapa Express!
Comfortable private cabins and budget shared berths are available on the ride, somewhere between 140USD for private cabin (2pax) and 39USD shared cabin. Light snacks are provided and ready in your cabin. Shared washrooms are allocated at the end of the compartment. And at the approval of the station master, the train begins troooting..
The ride is comfortable and one of a kind! At around 530am, you will get your wake up call as the staffs knock on each cabin to inform that you are arriving in 10 minutes! At the train station, find your way to the Hanoi station waiting area and hail a Grab to your hotel or onward destination.
Sapa is relatively new to Tourism, nevertheless, is an experience not to be missed! Sapa and Hanoi can be done in a 4 days 3 nights trip with the following itinerary.
Day 1 Hanoi – Sapa ~ Day 2 Sapa Fanxipan ~ Day 3 Sapa Villages ~ Day 4 Sapa - Hanoi
Stay tuned to our next edition of north Vietnam : HALONG BAY
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