The ULTIMATE Guide For AFFORDABLE Trekking In Sapa, Vietnam 🇻🇳 (Updated 2019)
So my travels have finally brought me to Sapa, Vietnam and I was SOOO excited to trek these mountains.
spoiler alert: it was incredible and one of my favorite travel moments EVER.
This guide is going to layout the various options you have to trek this region, and there are A LOT of options. I try my hardest to keep costs low awhile traveling, so the majority of this article will focus on what I ended up choosing —> which ended up being a total of $30 (700K VND) for 2 days 😱. Keep reading to see what that included (because it included A LOT).
Disclaimer: This article is assuming you’ve already arrived in Sapa or have transportation organized. If you want to know the best ways to get to Sapa read this first. 🚂🚌😊
Where is Sapa, and Why Should You Visit?
📍Sapa
Sapa is situated in North-Western Vietnam close to the china boarder, and it’s 👏🏼absolutely 👏🏼GORG 👏🏼. The region is incredibly mountainous but that didn’t stop the locals from thriving. The mountains are covered with small villages and farmlands, and it’s truly amazing to see these people live their daily lives despite the challenging terrain (it’s HOT in the summer, WET in the winter, and STEEP all year round) .
🌏 Why you should visit
Sapa’s cultural villages nestled in the mountains are the main attraction. These small communities are famous for their ornate rice fields, with breathtaking views. The villages take you back to a time before the industrial/digital age where people live their lives growing, building, and sewing everything they need. In contrast to the villages, the main town of Sapa is pretty lively due to tourism. So if you’re worried that Sapa might be too off the map for you, don’t be. You’ll find poppin’ Karaoke/Reggae bars, delicious Pizzas 🍕/ Pastas 🍝/ Burgers 🍔, plush hotels, strong wifi / LTE, and lots of other activities outside of trekking. I loved my time in both the mountains and the main town of Sapa.
⛰What Can You Do?
Eat, until you can’t eat no mo’ 🥖🍝🍜🍔🌽the food and produce is SO fresh.
Sing, until your lungs give out 🎤there were too many Karaoke bars to count.
Party, until the lights go out 🍻🍷🍸need a bar? Trust me, they have them everywhere.
Relax, until you minds at peace 🧖🏼♀️🧖🏽♂️spas and fancy hotels are plentiful.
Shop, until your wallet is broke 🥾🧥there many local markets and stores selling handmade clothing and hiking gear.
Visit the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia 🚠 you can hike it or take a 15-minute cable car!
…and of course Trek! ⛰⛰⛰both locals and agencies offer home-stays, so you can experience life in the mountains.
I’m here to talk about trekking, but if you have any questions about specific things above, drop it in the comments! So let’s talk about trekking next 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
Trekking Options
There are SO many options for trekking, all catering various types of travelers. I’m going to list some of the options (with prices) I considered before ultimately choosing to stay with a local. There are various pros and cons between choosing an agency or a local, but overall organizing your trekking/homestay with a local will be your cheapest option.
A few things to keep in mind when choosing a Trekking option is duration and difficult. Sapa has steep (and sometimes dangerous) paths, so be sure to chat with the person/agency you’re booking with if you have concerns, injuries, and/or if you’re just clumsy!
The Local Option: 🇻🇳
If you don’t mind the spontaneity, Trekking with a local is a fantastic option for people who want to keep costs low—like myself! Once you arrive in Sapa, there will be many locals offering a trekking tour and homestay—especially around the Notre Dame Cathedral. The locals are very friendly and speak english surprisingly well, but prepare to negotiate!
Prices can very deeply depending on the duration and what you want to see, but for context I said 700K Dong ($30 USD) for 2 days, 1 night. Scroll down to the next section for more details on why I choose to stay with Mama VuVi and what was included with our homestay experience.
The Agency Option: 👨🏽✈️👩🏽✈️
Agencies can be much more organized and have materials that can make the experience feel more educational and structured. If you’re a person who likes to see maps, timelines, and photos of everything beforehand, this is the option for you! Check out these Agencies below.
(All prices are in USD)
Just want to 1 day of Trekking?: Home stays aren’t for everyones. This GetYourGuide tour is a one day five-hour trek through the Muong Hoa Valley and the Y Linh Ho village.
$17 (5-hour trek) Check it out here.
Sapa Sisters: This is a Sapa local (female ran) company created to provide fair salaries and help the Hmong community. The 2019 prices are below, but they become cheaper if you have a group! Click here for more information.
$41 (6 hour Trek, no nights)
$93 (2 days, 1 night)
$145 (for 3 days, 2 nights)
Sapa Ochau: Fun Fact about this company, Sapa O'Chau is the only tour operator in Vietnam that is officially registered as a social enterprise. They’ve give back to the local community through a number of programs and offer numerous tours based on durations and difficulty. Check out all of them here, or the highlighted ones below:
The most popular tour—$112 (2 days 1 night) Click here for details.
For those with more time—$162 (3 days, 2 nights) Click here for the details.
For those who like off the beaten path—$127 (2 days, 1 night) Click here for the details.
Want to leave from Hanoi?: Check out these GetYourGuide Tours that include RT tickets to Sapa:
For those with less time—$105 (2 days, 1 night) Click here for more information.
For those with more time—$209 (3 days, 2 nights) Click here for more information.
WhY I Picked The Local Option
If I’m going to be real with you, it all boiled down to PRICE 💸. I’ve been traveling full-time for 7 months, and I’m planning to continue to do so for the next few years so the most affordable option is what is best for my situation. I heard from other low-cost travelers that staying with a local gives you a truly immersive experience and the money goes straight to the family (no middle-man taking a cut).
As mentioned above, I stayed with Mama VuVi and her family and they were absolutely fantastic, friendly, and hospitable. Her english speaking skills are phenomenal—especially after a few shots of rice wine, haha. Her house is nestled right in the middle of rice fields and she has a fully functional bathroom (with hot water)! The cost for a 2-day trek and 1-night homestay was $30 (or 700K VND) and she does offer longer stays. Check out some of these photos:
Since her writing skills are a bit limited, I worked with her to draft up a complete itinerary of everything we did during our stay. Check it out below:
Mama VuVi lives in the town of Hau Thao. For $30 usd, you can spend 2-days trekking through the mountains of Sapa, and 1-night at my home. Her home has a fully-western bathroom (with hot water for showers), mosquito nets around the beds, and many pillows & blankets. She lives in the middle of the mountainous, rice-fields and there are a some markets near by to buy water/snacks/candy. If you want to see something specific, she can adjust the itinerary to your interest. Here’s a typical 2-day itinerary:
Day 1: Her and her family will pick you up from downtown Sapa in the morning. Her family will bring your bags to their house, and she will take you trekking starting in downtown Sapa up into the mountains to her village. Throughout the day, you’ll pass through Sa Seng, Hang Da, and Hau Thao and lunch will be provided (outside of drinks, so bring lots of water!). Once you arrive at her house, you’ll relax and she’ll cook a typical dinner (you can offer to help if you like!). You’ll eat together with her family, and drink lots of happy water (rice wine).
Day 2: When you wake up, breakfast will be waiting for you. Afterwards you will trek around more local villages like (Su Pan, Giang Ta Chai, Ta Van, and Lao Chai), walkthrough the rice/corn/banana farms, visit a waterfall, and more! Lunch is also included during this day too (but not drinks). After exploring, you will return to her house in the late afternoon, and she will taxi you and your bags back to downtown Sapa.
If you’re interested in staying with her for longer than 1-night, please let her know. She will take you to even more places, and give you a better price!
As mentioned above, Mama VuVi knows english very well but her writing skills are limited, so don’t be discouraged if her responses seem slow or short. She’s incredibly friendly and her and her family will do everything in their power to make you feel accommodated. If you’re interested in booking a tour with her, contact her below:
Send her a text on WhatsApp: +84 399239853
or if you have a local number call/text her at: +84 0916218654
Feel free to tell her “Teejay Hughes sent me” if you do message her. I’d love to see her in my inbox again. 😊
How Long Should You Trek?
( 1 Day, 2 Days, More?)
This is honestly entirely up to you and how much you love nature ⛰🥾. I love an adventure, and I enjoy trekking to an extent—i.e. I like to hike, but I’m not a Patagonia-wearing trekker with full boots, jackets, and a hiking stick.
Originally I wanted to do 3-days, and 2-nights in the mountains but after the second day of trekking I was ready to head back to civilization. For me, many of the views become similar and I missed variety of food & things to do at night. I will say the second day was much better trekking as the views were more dramatic, the routes went through rice-fields and local homes, and there was far less people deeper in the mountains.
MULTI-DAY VS. SINGLE-DAY TREKKING
Day-Trips From Downtown Sapa: ☀️
Pros: Single-day trekking from downtown Sapa is a fantastic way to experience the mountains for those that prefer to stay in a hotel/resort vs a more rugged homestay. This option is also less physically demanding and can be done with smaller groups. It is also a great choice for travelers will only a short amount of time to see the north of Vietnam—some trekking is better than no trekking, imma right?
What you’ll miss: the unique, and immersive experience of staying in a local homestay. Staying with a local really gives you an insight of what local life is like, and some travelers live for this time of experience. Also, trekking from the mountain villages allow you to go deeper into the region to see more dramatic views and lesser-visited fields.
Multi-Day Trekking: ☀️☀️☀️
Pros: If you’re more adventurous, and you’re looking for the complete experience, you’re going to LOVE this. Depending on how much you love nature, you can stay in Sapa for as long as you like. 2-days, 1-night is the most popular option, but there are tours that take you on a 3day+ tour if you’re up for the challenge (aka experience). Even the 2-day tour is more than enough time for you to experience the less touristy more authentic villages in this region.
What you’re giving up: The comfort of a city. If you’re not a fan of local Vietnamese food—you’re out of luck. Looking for a bar or something to do at night? There is not much to do outside of appreciating the quiet, chatting with your traveling group, getting to know your guide, and staring at the stars. There will probably be more travelers on these tours as well, so brace yourself for packed homestays if you’re traveling with a popular tour guide. Lastly, accommodation is much less “comfortable” compared to your 3-5 star hotel. You’ll be living with a local, so prepare for the ENTIRE local experience.
What To Pack:
To be frank, I didn’t come prepared at all. I’ve been traveling for 7 months, so buying gear specifically for trekking wasn’t an option—I don’t have that kinda space in my bag. Although, once I arrived in Sapa, there are SO MANY shops selling affordable hiking equipment, so fear not! Also, depending on your homestay situation, they’ll may your larger bags to their home. This is life-saving because you don’t want to trek up mountains with your entire life.
Here’s a list of the essentials I took on the trek, and some of the “wish-I-had” items as well:
Clothing I brought on the hike:
Jacket: You’re high in the moutnains at this point, so you’ll want some type of jacket. I went in the middle of summer, so I had a fairly light jacket. The nights can get chilly even in the warmer months, and there is a tendency for spotty showers! This one has great reviews if you need one: https://amzn.to/2MO4lqf
Rain Cover (Poncho): Ponchos are super affordable in town and reusable! I bought one for 25K (~$1 usd) and it’s lightweight and won’t take up much space. There was several unexpected downpours, so this was definitely needed! If you want it beforehand, check out this one: https://amzn.to/2YKgByk
Tennis shoes: The terrain is quite varied, but the more grip on your shoes the better. Ideally, you’d want boots, but I did the entire 2 days in Adidas—I’m pretty athletic though. You’ll be walking through slippery rocks, muddy hills, and a lot of steep uphills/downhills. Be warned, your shoes are going to get DIRTY. If you want to be the most safe, I’d recommend boots—but they’re not a complete requirement if you good at balancing/climbing. These are waterproof and super affordable: https://amzn.to/2YPLZaF
Clothes: I wore a standard black shirt and black skinny jeans—things I didn’t mind getting dirty. In my bag I packed:
1 pair of swimming shorts (for swimming, or in case I was overheating from my jeans)
1 extra shirt (in case I got too sweaty/dirty)
1 pair of flip flops (because I hate when my feet at super wet)
1 lightweight scarf (that I didn’t even use)
1 pair of extra socks if your shoes aren’t waterproof shoes (like myself)
1 hat (in case my hair got too crazy!)
Personal Items
Mosquito repellent: I’m not usually bothered by Mosquitos, so I didn’t bring any but you can buy some in town before you trek! Our check out this: https://amzn.to/2GU3793
Sunscreen: Because you’ll be high in the mountains, the UV rays are stronger so this is a MUST! It’s pretty expensive to buy in Sapa, so I’d recommend getting some before going to the north. Here’s what I use: https://amzn.to/2KkwcfQ
Camera: If you’re into photography, like me, bringing a compact cameral is essential. Here’s everything I brought:
Olympus Mirrorless: https://amzn.to/2GU3tMV
7-14mm, 2.8f Zoom Lens: https://amzn.to/2GSCnG4
14-150mm Zoom Lens: https://amzn.to/2KkwAuO
45mm, 1.8f Lens: https://amzn.to/2YKtqbW
Drone: https://amzn.to/2YTUi5k
Other items to consider: Cellphone (there is full LTE in the mountains), wet wipes, sanitizer, chargers, and any medications you might need.
Travel Insurance:
World Nomads: Regardless if you’re clumsy or not, it’s always good to have some type of insurance—especially when it comes to your health. While we were hiking, there was a girl who slipped on a rock and twisted her ankle 2 hours up in the mountains. She was most likely airlifted out because there was no way to carry her back down—and that’s not a cheap bill. I use World Nomads Travel Insurance for peace of mind. World Nomads is straightforward, easy to use, and very affordable! Check out your own quote below:
Total Cost (For 2 People): 1,625K Dong
We love a total cost breakdown at Travel Too Much, so below is everything we spent on our 2 day, 1 night in the mountains of Sapa!
The cost of 2-days, 1-night at Mama ViVu’s is 700K per person. For two people that is 1,400K. Below is everything else we spent money on:
Day 1: 135K Dong
Breakfast and coffee (before trek): FREE!
Included with hotel stay the night before.
Market Stop (before Trek): 65K
1 Liter Water 15K
2 Snickers 50K total
Motorbike pick up: Free!
Included in homestay price
Lunch: Free!
Food included in homestay price, not drinks!
Market (near homestay): 70K
1 Liter Water 20k
1 Snickers 25k
1 Small Ice cream 10k
Oreos 15k
Dinner: Free!
Included in homestay price
Accommodation: Included in homestay price
Day 2: 90K
Breakfast and coffee (before trek): FREE!
Included in homestay price
Market (before Trek): 20K
1 Liter Water 20K
Lunch: Free food + 40K for drinks
Food included in homestay price
20K for a small water
20K for a Vietnamese coffee
Handwoven Pouch: 30K
Taxi back to downtown Sapa: Free!
Included in homestay price
That covers it! This is be all the information you need to have an exciting, and successful time trekking in Sapa, Vietnam. If I’m missing anything, don’t hesitate to reach out to me in the comments or via social media—I’ll post my channels below.
I hope you have the best time in Sapa, and you love it as much as I did!
Cheers, Teejay
CONSIDER SUPPORTING ME AND MY PASSIONS ON PATREON:
Now let’s hear from you! Are you into trekking? Plans to visit Vietnam? We need to know. Share your story in the comments below and we’ll check them out! Or just let us know if this article was helpful.
I guess I should get into the budgeting part… it’s probably the main reason why you clicked. So after traveling in the Philippines for 28 days, in Singapore for 5 days, and Malaysia 60 days in Malaysia, I’ve come to the conclusion that Southeast Asia is fu*king CHEAP compared to the USA.