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A Local’s Guide: The Perfect 3-Day Sapa Itinerary for First-Timers

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Unfolding rice terraces that seem to never end no matter how far into the horizon you stare, scattered villages home to unique tribes, floating low-hanging clouds that greet you in the early mornings, mountainous landscapes, and food and culture you won’t find anywhere else in Vietnam; Sapa in the northern highlands is a slice of paradise. 

Waterfalls, nature parks, peaks, and rivers are common scenes, and there are enough cafes and coffee shops with views to fall head over heels in love with. Not to mention, the tallest mountain range in the Indochinese Peninsula soars over Sapa like a giant. It’s one of the biggest reasons why travelers love the Sapa region so much! 

Living life in the slow lane comes highly recommended — sort of the same vibes as northern Thailand. However, if you’re an avid fan of hiking, you’re also in the right place! You could honestly spend days and days in Sapa just tackling all the trails and summits, including one up Fansipan

Sapa remains one of my ultimate places in Vietnam. The last time I was here was with my in-laws, and I found that three days was the perfect amount of time to spend in this little surreal town

We’ve compiled a 3-day Sapa itinerary, summing up all the quintessential things to do, see, and try for first-timers.

Plus, half of the allure is the overnight train journey here — which truly feels as if you’re venturing off to some mystical land! Which you kinda are, anyway… 

How to get to Sapa 

The overnight train journey from Hanoi to Sapa is such a unique experience and is one of the most popular routes for getting to Sapa. Trains depart around 9 pm and it takes approximately eight hours to reach Sapa. There are various sleeper cabins to book, varying in class. 

You can also get to Sapa via group tour, bus, and car.  

Where to stay in Sapa

There are plenty of hotels, lodges, and homestays in the heart of Sapa town. 

However, you can also stay at a homestay, hotel, ecolodge, or resort within or near the local villages. We stayed at the wonderful La Dao Spa in Ta Van Village. If I had the option again I would 100% stay somewhere around the Muong Hoa Valley. There are also accommodation options built right on the river and in the middle of the rice paddies. Waking up here is unparalleled.  

3 Days in Sapa

Day 1: Fansipan, local workshops and local cuisine 

Morning

The highlight of my 3-day Sapa itinerary was the awe-inspiring journey up to Fansipan and I would recommend ticking this off of your Sapa Bucket List during your first morning in this magical mountain town. 

It takes a couple of hours for the whole thing, and once this quintessential endeavor is over, spend the rest of the days exploring the ins and outs of Sapa. Purchase your tickets from the Sun Plaza building (smack back in the middle of town), but not before posing for a quick picture in front of the giant clock tower — which always reminds me of NYC circa the 1920s

From here, take the Muong Hoa monorail (funicular), then head up Fansipan via the Fansipan cable car — the vistas along here are out of this world! Hop off the cable car at Fansipan Station in the direction of Fansipan Peak. The area around here is dotted with souvenir shops, local food stalls, and plenty of statues of deities, including Buddha.  

Grab a hot choccie before climbing the steps to the summit, i.e., “the Roof of Indochina.” There’s a lovely cafe here called Cafe Du Soleil Sapa, or there’s also a restaurant on the first floor as you exit the cable car. 

Travel tip: Even if it’s peak summer, bring a raincoat. The temperatures suddenly drop and because you’re at an elevation of 3,147 meters, it’s usually misty and a lot cooler up here!

P.S. Check if your hotel/homestay will let you drop your drop off your luggage early, otherwise do a quick check-in post-Fansipan. 

Midday

Back in Sapa, it’s time to appease those hungry bellies! Grab lunch at Good Morning View restaurant. It’s the perfect introduction to Sapa cuisine, and the menu does have a few “Westernized” options. Try the pumpkin soup and a side of local Hmong veggies, bamboo glutinous rice with pork skewers, curry served in coconuts, and the spring rolls here are extra delish! 

Curious about local Sapa cuisine? Check out these 11 must-try Sapa Foods and 1 to avoid.

Afternoon 

Now that you’re feeling rejuvenated, it’s time for an incredible batik-making workshop

Arts and crafts are very popular in Sapa, and most locals’ work is sold in major cities like Hanoi. If there’s one place for it, you can’t miss a batik-making class in Sapa. Learn the traditional Hmong art of beeswax painting, indigo dyeing (the hillsides are laden with indigo plants and you’ll notice most fabrics are dyed indigo in Sapa), and embroidery creating classic Hmong symbols. 

If a batik-making workshop isn’t your cup of tea, why not join a cooking class instead during your 3-day Sapa itinerary? In which case, I’d say skip lunch as you typically reap the rewards of your hard work and munch down on the lunch you’ve cooked yourself. 

Desperate for a coffee refuel? While you can find Cong Caphe around the country (a chain brand), it’s still one of my ultimate coffee shops and you always know a hard-hitting, delicious coffee awaits. The interiors are such a vibe (this one is designed as a miniature Northwestern home), and I ALWAYS tell mates to order Cong’s coconut coffee (cà phê dừa) — you’ll thank me later! 

Coffeeholics: Check These 10 Best Coffee Shops in Hanoi for 2025.

Then, take a wander around the town (it’s small enough to discover on foot), clocking in classic sites like the Sapa Stone Church, the man-made Sa Pa Lake (where you can hire swan boats and peddle around the waters), and popping into the local markets

Early Evening 

Make your way back to your hotel for some downtime before heading out to dinner. The whole Fanspian journey is quite tiring. When I stayed in Sapa, I purposefully chose a hotel that was out of the main Sapa town and among the hillsides, smack bang in nature. You could spend hours in quiet meditation or just gazing at the rice paddies below. It’s truly mesmerizing

For dinner, Anise Sapa Restaurant is awesome. It’s super ambient with a cozy fireplace (trust me, you’ll thank me later for the rec), and the menu is fusion style, appeasing all taste buds. Must-try dishes include the black chicken hotpot or crispy pork knuckle served with Balan-style spring rolls, potatoes, pickles, and sauces — think of it as a Vietnamese version of German eisbein. Plus, there are loads of vegetarian options too here if you’re with a mixed-eating crowd. 

On that note, if you are searching for a vegan restaurant, Thong Dong Vegan Kitchen & Cafe is an amazing option. Similarly, the menu is mainly local (think bun chay i.e., vegan Vietnamese noodle salad and cơm rang chay: vegan fried rice), but there are also Western options, AND they do coffee with milk alternatives.  

Day 2: Moana Sapa, trekking, local villages & the Glass Bridge 

Morning 

Any early risers in the house? Although this one is optional, you’ll be eternally grateful because of the photo opportunities and landscapes of Moana Sapa — which make the early morning oh-so-worth it. This is when lighting is the best, especially with the sun streaking through the clouds.  

We decided on Le Petit Gecko for brekkie. There’s one in Hanoi so I knew they would deliver on the food front. As a French restaurant, there are plenty of French-inspired brekkie options (including crepes and omelet) AND they sell Lavazza coffee if you’re after an Italian espresso.  

Or, if you’d rather go the hyper-local Vietnamese breakfast route, Sailing Sapa is WOW! Maybe I’m being biased because the views from here are incredible, along with the interiors. However, it is about 20 minutes drive from the town center — but totally worth it! 

Mid-morning 

After a wholesome breakfast and enough Vietnamese coffee to give you a buzz lasting the entire day, get ready to sightsee Sapa on foot with some trekking

Honestly speaking, I’m not the biggest “trekker” around (I’d rather spend time swimming in an ocean or body of water), however, when I am visiting a new destination this is when I do enjoy walks. The trek in Sapa remains one of my absolute favorites — like, ever. Don’t leave this off your 3-day Sapa itinerary.

Set aside three hours for this, and you have various route options. Most treks veer around or into local villages dotting the hills and rice fields. We explored the Muong Hoa Valley from Cat Ca Village, passing bamboo forests and fields of indigo plants en route. Along the way, the sweetest local lady randomly offered us her assistance, guiding us through the walk. We did a round-trip, ending where we started. 

Multiple trekking routes include Cat Cat – Sin Chai Village, Sa Seng – Hau Thao Village, and Ta Giang Phinh Village. Alternatively, discover one of the local villages on foot. These include: Ta Phin Village, Lao Chai Village, Ta Van Village, Sin Chai Village, Y Linh Ho Village, and Ban Ho Village

Travel tip: From December to March, you can go strawberry picking in Ta Phin Village!

Afternoon

Lunch never tasted so good after a couple of hours of walking! Halosa Restaurant (back in Sapa town) boasts stunning views and has a great menu offering appetizers, traditional Vietnamese snacks and dishes, and main course meals (including pizza, pasta, and burgers). This spot is a little more “upmarket” than some of the other restaurants around.    

A second option is Moment Romantic Restaurant where the must-munch dish is the salmon hotpot.

Now, are you ready to go chasing waterfalls? Rent a motorbike or taxi ride to the 200-meter-tall Silver Waterfall (Thac Bac) amid nature. There’s a cool bridge built over the cascade and is another perfect photo op for the socials. Love Waterfall (within the Hoang Lien National Park) is more of an adventure, and adrenaline junkies can also go canyoning down this fall. 

If your morning trek took it out of you and you’re not feeling up to hunting waterfalls, check out the iconic Glass Bridge instead. Its Vietnamese name (Rong May) means “Dragon in the Clouds” and it’s located in the O Quy Ho pass. 2,000 meters above the ground, it feels as if your head is in the clouds, and as the name says, the walkway is made from glass. DO look down, unless you’re afraid of heights…

Coffee is always a good idea! Another spot with insane vistas, but then again, most places in Sapa sport views naturally, Viettrekking Coffee overlooks the Fansipan monorail

Dinner 

During the last night of your 3-day Sapa itinerary, enjoy dinner at May Quan for a celebration of Sapa cuisine. Their specialty dish is the pumpkin chicken and ask for a table on the balcony.   

For classic Italian, Casa Italia Pizza serves pizza, pasta, steak, and some Vietnamese food. 

If you’re not yet exhausted from today’s activities, end off the last evening of your 3-day Sapa itinerary with drinks at the EXQUISITE Absinthe Bar. And this is one locale where you can dress up. There’s even an outdoor open fireplace

Day 3: Final breakfast and Hot Spring Spa 

Breakfast

Yesterday morning you tried out Le Petit Ghecko, but this morning, grab a last bite to eat at Le Gecko Café — its sister restaurant. Le Gecko opens as early as 6:30 am if you have an early start, and it’s conveniently in the center of town, where you’ll make your departure. 

Got some extra time to spare? 

After a busy Day 2 during your 3-day Sapa itinerary, what better way to round things up than with a well-deserved spa treatment? I savored my spa day for the third day too, as I knew my body would appreciate it the most after two busy days with lots of walking involved! 

An incredible option is a hot spring vibe. A popular one is Ban Ho Hot Spring in the Ban Ho Village. A second option is trying out the Red Dao herbal baths. A Red Dao tribe tradition, numerous spas, and stays offer these herbal baths, for example, Rice Spa at Topas Riverside Lodge.

Or, if you’re after the whole spa experience, Nuages Spa (at the same hotel as Absinthe Bar) is a sure winner, but Rice Spa also offers other treatments apart from the herbal baths.  


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