24 hours in Sapa: Your ultimate one-day itinerary

A day is quite a short span of time for a Sapa trip, so try not to fill your baggage with nonessentials. Packing light, instead, would be a good idea; these items below are all that you’re going to need for the trip:
●   Cash and debit/credit cards. It’s smart not to keep too much money on you when traveling.
●   Comfortable clothes and shoes for effortless foot journeys.
●   Mask, hat, umbrella, sunscreen, and sunglasses for when it gets sunny.
●   A light jacket for when it gets chilly.
●   A party outfit to get you set for a night out with friends.
●   Chargers so that your battery won’t die out whilst you are taking pictures.

6 AM - 7 AM: A morning walk around the Notre Dame Cathedral

You may arrive at Sapa early in the morning, so try to rest and get some sleep the night before. There’s not much to do at that time, as most places in Sapa don’t open that early. Use that time to walk around the Notre Dame Cathedral, breathe in the fresh morning air, and maybe do some stretches. Anything that can help you shake off the sleepy feeling! 

7 AM - 7:30 AM: Breakfast

There are not quite a plethora of breakfast options in Sapa. However, the dishes that are available shine through with their unique tastes. If you are looking for a place to have your most important meal of the day, the many food stalls in the central market would not be a bad shout. 

Traditional breakfast options of the area: 
●    Bamboo-tube rice
●    Five-color sticky rice
●    Chestnut puff pastry
●    Grilled food, such as sweet potato, corn, and egg. 

7:30 AM - 11:30 AM: The mesmerizing view of the Fansipan 

Now that you have been fully energized, it’s time to explore Fansipan. Tickets for the Muong Hoa train - Vietnam’s longest mountain railway system, are sold right across the road from the central market. We recommend this route as it is not only a 6-minute ride but also one of the best ways to take in the beauty of the valley. The train stops at the Fansipan station from where cable cars will take visitors to the top of the Fansipan.

You can visit the strawberry garden, Bao An Thien Tu Temple, and the statue of Guan Yin on the way from the Fansipan train station to the cable car station.
●    Ticket price for the cable car ride: VND 750,000 / ride. 
●    Ticket price for train ride: VND 80,000 / ride. 

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM: Lunch in the city

After an action-packed morning, you could do much worse than try out these three local dishes: 
“Thang co”: 
●    Address: 15 Fansipan street, Sapa, Lao Cai
●    Price range: VND 25,000 - 300,000 

Sturgeon/salmon hotpot: 
●    Address: 39 Xuan Vien street, Sapa, Lao Cai. 
●    Price range: VND 70,000 - 1,000,000

Hamlet pork: 
●    Address: 29 Cau May street, Sapa, Lao Cai
●    Opening hours: 7 AM - 10 PM 
●    Estimated cost: VND 100,000 - 1,000,000

1:30 PM - 5 PM: O Quy Ho - Rong May Glass Bridge - Thrilling games 

O Quy Ho is the longest mountain pass in the entire Northwest region. It is known for being one of the steepest mountain passes in Vietnam. However, the spectacular view is worth the challenging ride: frosted winter sunrise and cottony clouds frosting summer forests.

On O Quy Ho pass, Rong May glass bridge is gradually becoming a hot spot among youngsters. The architecture is 500m tall, with a pathway built inside the mountain bed and a glass elevator system. The design is intentionally all made of transparent tempered glass so visitors can experience “walking mid-air”.

A part of Rong May glass bridge’s appeal is the many exotic and thrilling games that it has. These include New Zealand’s bungee jumping, Cambodia’s ziplining and Turkey’s parasailing. 

Warning: You must be 18 years old or older to engage in these activities. There are mandatory general health checkups, especially ones that concern your cardiovascular functions, that every participant has to pass before they are allowed to take part in these activities. Visitors’ discretion is advised. 

Ticket price for
●    Glass bridge - glass cage: Adults: VND 400,000 / round trip, Children: VND 200,000 / round trip
●    Bungee Jumping: VND 1,000,000 / turn
●    Ziplining: VND 500,000 / turn
●    Parasailing: VND 900,000 / turn

5 PM - 9:30 PM: Relax, dress up and dine like a VIP

After a long day of traveling, spend about 1-2 hours to rest, take a shower, and put on the nice suit/dress that you have packed. Why not treat yourself to a "luxurious" meal in the evening? 

Some guidelines for the nightlife in Sapa: 
Dinner at Silk Path Grand Sapa Resort & Spa -> Karaoke at DIVA Karaoke -> Experience the art of mixology and DJ night at Sky 6 (The most modern entertainment lounge in Sapa).

Recommended dishes: 
●    Chicken hotpot specialties set at SAMU restaurant, Silk Path Grand Sapa Resort & Spa
●    À la carte menu for Western food at Olivio restaurant
●    Mediterranean pizza at Olivio restaurant

9:30 PM – 11 PM ++: “Sapa by Night”

After dinner, it is time to make full use of the fancy outfit that you are pulling off. Stop by DIVA Karaoke across the street from Silk Path and dance your heart out to their amazing collection of the best music from the 90s to now.

A small karaoke tip: You should only consume beer and fruit at this point. Once the singing is over, you can go to Sky6 to enjoy pumping music, fancy wine, and delicious finger foods!

And that’s the end of our one-day trip to Sapa. If 24 hours is a bit short for you, stay for 1 or 2 more days to make it worth the effort!