Located at an altitude of 1650 m (5400 ft) in the remote northwest, Sapa entrances most visitors with the spectacular scenery that exists nearby. Built as a hill station for the French in 1922, Sapa went into a long decline from which it has only recently recovered. More and more travellers are braving the bad (but improving) roads and flocking here for the climate (cold in winter, though) and to visit the hill tribes (mostly H'mong, Dao and Kinh people) who live in the area. The Saturday market is the best place to buy handicrafts.

Accommodation can be tight, especially on weekends when tour parties visit. Just 9 km (5.5 mi) from Sapa is Fansipan (3143 m / 10,309 ft), Vietnam's highest mountain. A hike to the top and back takes about four days, and you'll need a guide and decent equipment, as it is usually wet and cold. You can get to within 30 km (19 mi) of Sapa by train from Hanoi. Once you reach Lao Cai, you'll need to transfer to a local bus.