9 Best Things To Do in Sapa in 2022 – A Guide to Backpacking Sapa

9 Best Things To Do in Sapa

Visit Cat Cat Village

Cat Cat Village is a Hmong village located right in the middle of the Muong Hoa Valley and Sapa and it is among the popular tourist attractions in the area and for good reasons.

The moment you arrive in Sapa, you will be bombarded with all kinds of sale pitches from the local Hmong people there, and even though it may seem overwhelming and intimidating at first.

Do not worry, it is a common practice here, and in order to understand why that is the case, you need to know a bit more about the Hmong tribe living here and the best place to start is the Cat Cat Village.

At Cat Cat Village, you will be able to see the Hmong culture and traditions front and center with its open-air-museum-like village full of beautiful traditional houses, handicraft shops, and all kinds of traditional apparatuses they utilize to make life in the mountains a little easier.

The village is quite big and there are many small hiking trails you can enjoy. I went for a little stroll on a trail that goes behind the village and stumbled upon a small waterfall and local kids jumping into the water. It was really fun hanging out with them.

Although many people might view Cat Cat Village as a tourist trap, I found it quite interesting to learn about the culture and traditions of the Hmong tribe and there is no better place to do that in Sapa than here.

Support the Local Community and Buy Local Handicrafts

One of the few ways the local communities in Sapa make money is through selling traditional handicrafts to tourists and if you are looking to support these communities, I highly recommend you spend a few dollars here and there and buy some handicrafts like handmade textile products and traditional trinkets as souvenirs for the people back home.

You can often find these handicrafts at main tourist attractions like Cat Cat Village and the city center or you can buy them off from the Hmongs that will often approach you when you stroll around the streets of Sapa.

Hike Around Rice Terraces

There are so many rice terraces in Sapa and it is one of the reasons why I found Sapa to be one of the most breathtaking places in Vietnam. No matter in which direction you go from Sapa city center, you will find these rice terraces and they spread out across the valley as far as the eyes can see.

You will see them literally everywhere you look. All you have to do is just walk out of the city and the world is your oyster. I went for a walk up north beyond Cat Cat village and saw some really incredible rice terraces there so be sure to hike further after you are done with Cat Cat Village.

You can also join a trekking organized tour and really get up close and personal with these rice terraces. The tour should allow you access to some local villages in Muong Hoa Valley that you might not otherwise have access to if you hike around independently.

16 Pro-Grade Lightroom Presets Now Available!

Instantly turn your travel photos into beautiful work of art in one click. Available for both mobile and PC.

Buy Now

Get a Free Preset

Rent A Motorbike and Go Anywhere Outside of Sapa

Now, hiking on foot can really get you so far. If you really want to see these rice terraces in all their glory, I highly recommend you go on a motorbike tour and ride down south to go where the best rice terraces really are.

There are also many other local villages in Sapa that are more authentic and less of a tourist trap than Cat Cat Village, and it is only reachable by a motorbike and so if really want to see the real side of Sapa, I highly recommend you go on one of these motorbike tours.

The motorbike tour should take about 8 hours making it a great day trip from Sapa city center and the tour should take you to local villages, learn about the 5 minority groups in Sapa, and get access to Sapa’s hidden gems you wouldn’t have found yourself.

Go Up Fansipan Mountain

If you are looking for some adventure, Sapa is also home to the highest mountain in Indochina, the Fansipan mountain which is over 3,140 meters above sea level and you can trek up Fansipan Mountain for an epic sunrise.

The view up there at sunrise is as great as it gets as you will be able to see something not many tourists get to see, the beautiful landscape of Sapa from above.

If you are not into hiking, you can now take a scenic cable car ride up to the top of Fansipan and have a sweeping view of Hoang Lien Son Range and Muong Hoa Valley’s natural landscapes from above. You can get the discounted cable car ticket from here.

Freshen Up at Love and Silver Waterfalls

Not too far from Sapa city center, there are 2 beautiful waterfalls you can hike to, the Silver Waterfall which is right by the main road, and Love Waterfall, a fairy-tale-like waterfall located inside the misty forest of Sapa.

You can also get there by taxi from Sapa city center and they should take you to both waterfalls, waited for you, and take you back to the city center for about 10 USD which is pretty decent.

Silver Waterfall is the bigger of them all and it is the most accessible as you do not have to hike to see it. Love Waterfall, on the other hand, requires a little bit of hiking but thankfully, it’s not too long and difficult.

The forest was extremely beautiful when I was there as it was drizzling and the mist covered the entire forest. It felt like I was walking in a fairy tale. I really enjoy the waterfalls and if you are looking to escape Sapa’s city center a little, I highly recommend you give these 2 waterfalls a go.

Stay in a Homestay in Sapa

One of the most popular activities in Sapa is to stay in a homestay with the locals in their village for a night or two and they will take you hiking, teach you how to cook and allow you to get a glimpse of what life is like for the people up here.

I highly recommend you go with the ETHOS ethical tour which will connect you with a host family and they will take you hiking all over, enjoying the rice terraces at your own leisure, and spend a night like a local in their homes.

It is a great way to spend a night in Sapa all the while learning about their interesting cultures and traditions, experiencing the local’s lifestyle firsthand, and being surrounded by incredible vistas. If you have a few days to spare Sapa, I highly recommend going on the homestay tour.

Try the Traditional BBQ

The weather in Sapa can get extremely cold and there are no better ways to warm yourself than to enjoy a traditional BBQ dish in a local sit-on-a-small-stool-type restaurant.

At these restaurants, you can pick whichever meat-on-stick you like as well as potatoes, corns, eggs, or sticky rice and they will grill it hot and fresh for you. They also serve local liquor sometimes which goes very well with the weather and the street-food-style dishes.

You can find many of these restaurants all over Sapa. I tried it at a small stall right across the road from the entrance to Love Waterfall and it was incredible, especially after a hike in the rain.

Go On a Boat Ride Around Sapa Lake

Last but not least, it would be a shame to visit Sapa and not explore the city center. Although the city center might not be the prettiest sight to look at, Sapa Lake offers a great place to take a break from the bustling city and enjoy a quiet boat ride around the lake in peace.

You can go on a boat ride for a few dollars here or you can stroll around the lake or enjoy a nice cup of coffee at one of the many cafes around the lake. If you have a few hours to spare before leaving Sapa, be sure to drop by here and enjoy the solitude of Sapa Lake.

Don’t forget to Get Travel Insurance

If you are looking for travel insurance to go along with your trip to Sapa, Vietnam, I would recommend WorldNomads.com, which is what I use to look for travel insurance that fits my kind of adventure.

Get a Quote from World Nomads

Further Reading for Backpacking in Vietnam

Are you looking for more information about traveling in Vietnam? Here are a few more articles that can help you with your trip to Vietnam: