Sapa Bucket List: 9 Must-Do Activities You’ll Love

9 Best Things To Do in Sapa

1. Visit Cat Cat Village

Cat Cat Village is a Hmong village located right in the middle of the Muong Hoa Valley and Sapa. 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 sales pitches from the local Hmong people there, even though it may initially seem overwhelming and intimidating.

Do not worry; it is a common practice here, and 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 can 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 apparatus they utilize to make life in the mountains a little easier.

The village is quite big, and you can enjoy many small hiking trails. I took a little stroll on a trail behind the village and stumbled upon a small waterfall. Local kids were jumping into the water, and hanging out with them was really fun.

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.

Where to Stay in Sapa, Vietnam?

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2. 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. Suppose you are looking to support these communities. In that case, I highly recommend you spend a few dollars to buy 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 from the Hmongs, who will often approach you when you stroll around the streets of Sapa.

3. Hike Around Rice Terraces

There are so many rice terraces in Sapa, which is one reason I found Sapa one of Vietnam's most breathtaking places. 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.

4. Rent A Motorbike and Go Anywhere Outside of Sapa ☀️ Great Day Trip

Now, walking on foot can take you only so far. If you truly want to witness the grandeur of these rice terraces, I highly recommend going on a motorbike tour and heading south to reach the true gems of rice terraces.

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 motorbike. So, if you 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. The tour should take you to local villages, where you can learn about the 5 minority groups in Sapa and provide access to Sapa's hidden gems that you wouldn't have found yourself.

5. Go Up Fansipan Mountain

If you are looking for adventure, Sapa is also home to the highest mountain in Indochina, the Fansipan mountain, which is over 3,140 meters above sea level. 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.

6. Freshen Up at Love and Silver Waterfalls ❤️ Must Visit

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 the 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, waiting for you, and take you back to the city center for about 10 USD, which is pretty decent.

Silver Waterfall is the biggest 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 or difficult.

The forest was magnificent 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 enjoyed 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.

7. 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 that will connect you with a host family. They will take you hiking all over, allowing you to enjoy 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 while learning about their fascinating cultures and traditions, experiencing the locals' lifestyle firsthand, and being surrounded by incredible vistas. I highly recommend the homestay tour if you have a few days to spare in Sapa.

8. Try the Traditional BBQ

The weather in Sapa can get freezing, 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, corn, eggs, or sticky rice, and they will grill it hot and fresh for you. They also sometimes serve local liquor, which goes well with the weather and street-food-style dishes.

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

9. 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 peaceful boat ride around the lake.

You can go on a boat ride for a few dollars here, 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.

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:

• Looking for a complete travel guide and itinerary for Vietnam? 2-Week Itinerary for Vietnam.
• Are you planning to travel to Vietnam as part of a big Southeast Asia trip? Check out our 3-month backpacking itinerary for Southeast Asia.
• Planning a trip to Ho Chi Minh City and not sure where to begin? Here are the Explore Ho Chi Minh City: 13 Best Things to Do and Places to Visit.
• For a complete itinerary for Ho Chi Minh City, check out: 3 Days in Ho Chi Minh City: A Backpacking Itinerary.
• Looking for the best street food to try in Ho Chi Minh City? Check Out Saigon Street Food: 11 Incredible Places to Eat & Drink.
• Looking for things to do in the ancient port city of Hoi An? Here are the 10 Best Things to do in Hoi An.
• Hoi An is known for its beautiful lanterns that illuminate the entire town at night. If you want to see what it is like in Hoi An at night, check out: The Colorful Lanterns Of Hoi An's Ancient City
• Ninh Binh is only an hour away from Hanoi, and it is a great place to escape from the bustling city and be among nature. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Ninh Binh.
• If you love mountains, cool breeze, and rice terraces, you are going to love Sapa. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Sapa.
• Not convinced by my words about Vietnam? Here are 33 photos that will inspire you to visit Vietnam now.
• You can see all my Vietnam-related articles on my Vietnam Travel Guide page.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.