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Sapa is a highland town in the district of the same name, located in Lao Cai province, in the Northwest region of Vietnam, approximately 320 km from Hanoi and 38 km from Lao Cai city. Sapa is famous for its majestic natural scenery, cool climate year-round, and the unique culture of its ethnic minority communities.
Visiting Sapa in June, tourists will be immersed in a lush, vibrant green environment.
June marks the beginning of hot weather across the country, but it's a different story if you visit Sapa during this time. Temperatures in Sapa in June range from 25-28°C during the day and drop to 16-20°C at night. This is considered a pleasant and ideal temperature for tourists to escape the summer heat.
Sapa is a town in Northwest Vietnam, shrouded in mist year-round, with pristine yet romantic hills and rocky slopes.
This suggested 48-hour itinerary in Sapa is based on the personal experience of a Travellive reporter!
Day 1
After more than 6 hours of traveling by sleeper bus from the center of Hanoi, you will witness Sapa with weather that is the opposite of that in the lowlands.
My first stop upon arriving in Sapa was the Hotel de la Coupole Mgallery, often described as a palace in the clouds, offering panoramic views of the Sapa valley. Designed by world-renowned designer Bill Bensley, the hotel evokes memories of Indochina and the French colonial era of the 1930s, drawing inspiration from the Sapa region itself through its colorful ethnic costumes.
Antiques and home furnishings with ethnic motifs are combined to create a vibrant, nostalgic, and sophisticated space. As the only international 5-star hotel with 249 rooms, the enchanting blend of fashion, culture, and heritage transports each traveler back to a captivating golden age.
Stepping inside the hotel evokes memories of Indochina, the French colonial era of the 1930s, and draws inspiration from the Sapa region itself through its colorful ethnic costumes.
At lunchtime, stroll around the town and enjoy local specialties: grilled sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes, wild chicken, sour fish soup, stir-fried wild vegetables… These dishes are served at many restaurants in the town, offering a variety of choices to suit everyone's taste.
In the evening, experience the fusion of European and Asian cuisine at Hotel de la Coupole Mgallery, featuring ingredients that are representative of Sapa town. Some of the signature dishes include: avocado rolls with crab meat, mushroom tart, salmon with passion fruit sauce and coconut rice crackers, wild fern salad with smoked buffalo meat, Sapa salmon salad rolls (salmon, mustard greens, perilla, carrots, radishes), and stir-fried sturgeon with salt...
Enjoy a variety of cocktails during World Cocktail Month at Absinthe bar, Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery.
After enjoying dinner, you can also head straight to the hotel's Absinthe bar to enjoy live music and sip on a variety of cocktails. On a summer weekend in Northwest Vietnam, what could be more relaxing than sipping a captivating cocktail and immersing yourself in the luxurious atmosphere of Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery?
These uniquely crafted cocktails—Lady Manderine, Sapa Swing, Sapa Refresher, and Feeling Golden—were reinterpreted by bartender Nhật Minh from Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and bartender San Trần, Lady Triệu's Brand Ambassador, through a blend of tradition and modernity, creating an alluring mix for the palate and a completely different experience.
In celebration of World Cocktail Month, in the spirit of MGallery Hotels, Hotel de la Coupole Mgallery is organizing many exciting activities with a special cocktail menu. The event, taking place from May 13th to June 13th, offers guests a unique experience at the hotel's Absinthe bar.
The space at Hotel de la Coupole Mgallery
Day 2
There are countless options for enjoying breakfast in Sapa. Sticky rice dumplings, wonton noodles, fish noodle soup, Bac Ha sour pho, five-colored sticky rice… are some of the dishes you should try when visiting this region.
If you're the type of person who enjoys relaxing holidays, instead of exploring many famous destinations in Sapa such as Cat Cat Village, Fansipan, O Quy Ho Pass, Dragon Cloud Glass Bridge, Silver Waterfall, etc., then leisurely strolling around the town center and relaxing at cafes is something you shouldn't miss.
Scenery around Sapa town
Relax and sit at a cafe right in town.
Around the town, numerous stalls selling jewelry and brocade fabrics can be easily found on the sidewalks, attracting tourists with their unique handicrafts that reflect the rich cultural identity of the ethnic groups in the region.
When traveling to Sapa, you'll certainly find it hard to resist the delicious local dishes. For lunch, you can try something different like: black chicken, horse meat grilled in bamboo tubes, thang co (a traditional stew), grilled stream fish... Sapa has many restaurants and eateries with affordable prices, giving you plenty of options to choose from.
In the evening, enjoy a variety of delicious dishes perfectly suited to the cool nighttime temperatures of Sapa: stir-fried chayote, fried sticky rice in bamboo tubes, roasted suckling pig, rainbow trout salad, and the famous sturgeon hot pot, all while sipping on a warm glass of corn wine.
In the evenings, and especially on weekends, Sapa town becomes even more bustling. Tourists flock to the town square and the stone church area to stroll around and shop for souvenirs.
There are countless eye-catching handicrafts being sold by locals all along the sidewalks.
Sapa Night Market is also a must-visit when you come here on weekends, as it only operates on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from 4 PM to 10 PM. You will be surprised by the vibrant and authentic Northwest cultural atmosphere, nestled alongside unique handicraft and souvenir stalls are tempting food stalls offering local specialties. You can also take home Sapa specialties as gifts, such as chestnuts, chestnut cakes, various dried teas, cham cheo (a type of chili sauce), wild apples, and basket peaches…
June in Sapa has mild weather, with warm sunshine during the day and cool nights. Therefore, you should bring light, comfortable clothing for the day and a light jacket for the night.
Hot chestnuts at Sapa night market
You can also take home some Sapa specialties as souvenirs.
