Sa Pa Vietnam, Northern Vietnam

Located about 300 km northwest of Hanoi, Sa Pa is one of the last few remote destinations you can find in Vietnam. There are only a few ways that this small northern town can accessed, going via 8-hour train ride from Hanoi, followed by an hour-long shuttle bus through the mountains is the most popular route. Any difficulty getting to Sa Pa, however, is made worth it in the magical views of the perfect, cascading rice fields that greets you upon arrival.

The main attraction in the area is the tallest mountain in Vietnam, Fan Si Pan which is about 19 km from Sa Pa, located in Hoang Lien National Park. The peak of the mountain is accessible throughout the year, so no need to dodge the rainy season. You can go via cable car, or you can do one of the trails up to the summit. However, only people who are in good shape and experienced in mountain hiking should attempt Fan Si Pan.

For those who love nature, yet aren’t experienced hikers themselves, the Hoang Lien National Park and even the area surrounding Sa pa are great spots to get in a nice hike with chances to see some of the endangered species that can only naturally be found in Northwestern Vietnam such as the Black Gibbon monkey.