Things to do in Vietnam

If you’re travelling all the way up to Sapa, you’re likely thinking of going trekking. This is, after all, one of the most scenic regions of Northern Vietnam, and if there is one thing the frontier town of Sapa is known for, it’s rice terraces with sweeping mountain vistas. Sapa offers a wide range of trekking spots from easy to hard level. Tourists can choose the most suitable route depending on their skills and abilities. Tourists can spend a few hours walking to Ham Rong (Dragon Jaw) Mountain, wandering through tribal villages along the mountain sides such as Cat Cat or Lao Chai, Ta Van Village to Muong Hoa Valley, trekking to the Ta Phin Village, Bac (Silver) Waterfall or three days conquering Fansipan. On the way, you will see H’Mong and Dao villages where you can feel the hospitality of local ethnic people and discover many interesting facts about their ordinary life as well as culture and architecture.

Many adventurous travelers to Vietnam dream of conquer Mount Fansipan. Mount Fansipan belongs to Hoang Lien Son mountain range, about 9 km southwest of Sapa town. There are three popular routes to Fansipan, with the starting point is Tram Ton pass, Cat Cat ethnic village or Sin Chai. Sin Chai route is said to be the most beautiful but the most dangerous also. Almost all tourists choose Tram Ton pass as the starting point of the climb because it is the easiest way. The topography of Fansipan is varied. Muong Hoa Valley, at the lowest altitude (950 to 1000m), is created by a narrow strip of land at the base on the east side of the mountain. It can be climbed in a steep and fairly strenuous hike. It often takes two or three days to fulfill a conquest of Fansipan. Tourists who are fit and have mountain climbing experience will enjoy this attraction the most, as the peak is accessible all year round. Technical climbing skills are not necessary, but endurance is a must. Hiking shoes, raincoat, flashlight, medical bag, water, sleeping bag, camp, and some sweet candies (help raising blood sugar level, and enhancing breathing when climbing too high) are indispensable things. Tips to avoid high-altitude sickness are chewing hard candies, breathing through a face mask and drink plenty of water. If you decide to make the trip, be sure to book with an experienced local operator.

Hikers and adventure lovers will never be disappointed when choosing Sapa trekking tours. As a trekking tour ussually takes 3 to 4 days or more, it's harder day after day, sometime one has to crawl up the steps, climbing through the hills and mountains. Far more fun, however, is to leave the town and visit the people in their villages, trekking through the rice terraces with the opportunity to spend a night at a home-stay. Evening time is ideal for camping in the mountains, burn a fire and play, listen to music of ethnic groups. When tired they go to sleeping bag to keep warm, convenient and keeps insects away. The home-stay is definitely not for the traveler who cannot live without their modern conveniences but it offers an excellent opportunity for those who want to experience a more gentle way of life.

If long treks and climbing is not really your thing, cycling to markets and villages is a good choice for those who want to experience Sapa in a new creative way. Renting a mountain bike gives you the option to venture out a bit further from Sapa town. In combination with sightseeing, mountain biking also gives you health benefits and brings you wonderful experiences. Cycling in mountainous terrain is suitable for people with generally good health and skilled cyclists. Sapa is a great place for exploring on two wheels, but be warned, the roads and paths are pretty steep. To enjoy your adventurous biking tour, you should travel with an experienced tour guide and always follow the mountain biking safety tips.

The Dao people in Sapa have been famous for their secret herbal bath therapy. After long days of sleeping on the train and bus, trekking through forest and mountains, you can totally relax and enjoy soaking in the herbal bath. Medicinal herbs that can only be found in mountainous areas are carefully selected, mixed in an unique way for specific kind of illness, typically about 12-14 herbs for each remedy and then boiled in 3 or 4 hours to extract essence. Herbal bath will help reducing stress, tiredness, bringing peace of mind, releasing muscles, and totally relaxing all over the body.

Pho: rice noodle filled with soup from pig or chicken’s bone and beef tenderloin or beef brisket, and chicken wing or chicken thigh. Average price: 35.000- 50.000 VND.

- Pho Thin: 13 Lo Duc/ 61 Dinh Tien Hoang

- Pho Bat Dan: 49 Bat Dan (you have to stand at the line and serve by yourself)

- Pho Ly Quoc Su: 10 Ly Quoc Su

Bun cha: grill pork patties (cha) with noodle (bun), best with herbal. Sometime, we can also try the spring roll. Average price: 25.000- 40.000 VND.

- Bun cha nem cua be: 29 Cau Go Street

- Bun cha nem cua be Dac Kim 67 Duong Thanh

- Bun cha Hang Manh: 01 Hang Manh (please be caution because there is a fake restaurant next to the right one)

- Bun cha Hang Than: 34 Hang Than

Xoi: steam sticky rice, is among the most common breakfast of Hanoian. We have many kinds of xoi as xoi do (with bean), xoi lac (with peanut) or xoi ngo (with corn),Besides, you just need a little basic sticky rice with egg, chicken, sausage,…Average price: 40.000-60.000 VND. The best place to try this dish is Xoi Yen (35b Nguyen Huu Huan).

Banh mi: a kind of Vietnamese sandwich. Bread is served with pate’, egg, pork with the native Vietnamese ingredients: cilantro, cucumber, chili sauce, and pickled carrots and kohlrabi.

- Banh mi 25: 26 Hang Ca

- Banh mi Minh Nhat: 27 Nguyen Du

- Banh – mee: 18 Au Trieu

This is the inexpensive and environmentally protected tour. Easy to find and nearest place for you is the Old Quarter, including Hoan Kiem Lake. Or you can walk a bit away to visit Ho Chi Minh Complex, Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, and Temple of Literature... In addition, many museums in Hanoi will be the ideal place for tourists who prefer history and culture. While walking, you will have more time to watch and enjoy any attractive street food.

Leaving the streets noisy and crowded environment in the city center, you can join the biking tour to fully enjoy the fresh air and tranquility of the suburbs.

Hanoi to Bat Trang Ceramic:
Bat Trang ceramics village located along the Red River in Gia Lam District, Hanoi. Bat Trang means The Big Field. If you are a person with artistic ability, try to do one pottery. The host will help you to heat it and then, you can decorate as you like. In addition, you can find thousands of products from household appliances such as bowls, plates to accessories such as bracelets, necklaces… If you have time, visiting Bat Trang village to learn more about the village's history or beliefs of the Vietnamese.

Hanoi to Duong Lam Village:
Duong Lam called two kings land because this is the birthplace of two kings in Vietnam are Phung Hung and Ngo Quyen. It is an old village with characteristic architecture of the North Vietnam in the past. The village gateway, the communal house and the laterite walls will help you understand more about this.

Around Hanoi, Red River Delta:
No need to go too far, you can cycle through the Long Bien Bridge - the history witness of Hanoi and visit several villages situated next to the Red River. You will see the cornfields, gardens peach flower, kumquat gardens, rice fields ... (seasonal); I think that not many foreign tourists who had enjoy this scene. Even, low-roofed floating houses on the Red River will make you have a different perspective on your life.

Get out and see one of the most vibrant cities in South East Asia. Choose to walk or get on the back of a bike by night or day to visit the highlights of the city: Ben Thanh Market War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Thien Hau Pagoda in Sai Gon's China Town…

Leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City behind, take a 2.5-hour journey west towards Cu Chi. Cu Chi Tunnels was built by local fighters during the Vietnam War. Take on a fascinating tour around the Cu Chi Tunnels, you will learn more about the conditions the Vietnamese people lived in, the hardships they faced and the amazing ingenuity employed to maintain life in the tunnels.