Hanoi-Sapa Adventure

Posted on by altheasadventures

I plan to explore new places instead of revisiting my usual destinations. For my birthday last year, I decided to celebrate in Vietnam. Although I often see Vietnam on seat sales, I didn’t pay much attention until I saw Sapa trending on social media because of the funicular train crossing the area. It really caught my interest, and I planned the trip just a month before my birthday. As always, we created a DIY itinerary, and I’m excited to share some tips with you!

I squeezed in a trip to Sapa from Hanoi, since the airport is in Hanoi. But you can tweak it based on your planned itinerary.

Day 0 – Arrival at Hanoi

Day 1 – Hanoi

  • Coffee and Banh Mi hopping
  • French Old Quarter
  • Hanoi Train Street
  • Foot Massage
  • Travel to Sapa via sleeper bus

Day 2 – Sapa

  • Check-in at Vietrekking Sapa
  • Whole day at Fansipan
  • Walked around Sun Plaza/Sapa Station

Day 3 – Sapa

  • Mong Village Alpine coaster
  • Moana Cafe (Bali inspired place)
  • Sapa Lake
  • Travel to Hanoi via Sleeper bus

Day 4 – Hanoi

  • Mega Grand World
  • Tuktuk to Train street
  • Tran quoc pagoda
  • Dinner by the street and souvenir shopping at French Old Quarter

Day 5 – Hanoi – Morning flight back to Manila

Top 5 Places to Visit in Hanoi:

  • Hanoi Train Street – is one of Hanoi’s most famous and adventurous tourist attractions. Commuter trains run along this narrow street surrounded by houses and cafes
  • Hanoi Old Quarter – also known as the Hoan Kiem District, is one of the oldest neighborhoods and top places to visit in Hanoi (this is actually where we stayed). There are hundreds of coffee shop you can choose from

  • Tran Quoc Pagoda – It is the oldest Buddhist temple in the city and is known for its calming and peaceful ambiance
  • Hỏa Lò Prison – A prison in Hanoi originally used by the French colonists in Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War
  • Mega Grand World – It was newly built in December 2023. It is a new attraction near Hanoi, which blends captivating Asian-European architecture, vibrant festivals, thrilling games, and cuisine. We gave the Gondola ride a try despite scorching heat – what an experience, haha!

Coffees to try: 

  • Egg Coffee – we tried this at Cafe Giang and Hanoi Train Street
  • Coconut Coffee – we tried this at Cong Caphe. I like it!
  • Iced Coffee
  • Vietnamese Black Coffee (Black coffee)
  • Coffee with condensed milk 
  • Yoghurt coffee
  • Kopi Luwak is the world’s most exclusive

Unfortunately, we  were not able to try all the coffee Hanoi has to offer, mainly due to time constraints and the fact that I don’t usually drink two coffees a day, LOL. However, my favorite was the iced coconut coffee at Cong Caphe.

Top 5 Places to Visit in Sapa:

  • Fansipan Peak – Take a scenic cable car ride up 3,143 meters above sea level to the peak of Fansipan Mountain. We had a great time! Prepare to wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes.
  • Viettrekking Sapa – where you can enjoy a stunning mountain view of the funicular train while sipping your coffee (this is also where we booked our accommodation). I absolutely love watching the train pass by!
  • Alpine Coaster – a mountain attraction that combines natural beauty with a thrilling adventure. Give it a try!

  • Moana Cafe – This place resembles some of the tourist spots in Bali, making it perfect for Instagram-worthy photoshoots. Yes, it was hot too!
  • Cat Cat Village – Famous for its natural beauty and H’mong culture. Traditional wooden huts, some as homestays, overlook rice terraces. We were not able to go but I read some good reviews on the place.

Transportation:

  • Hanoi
    • Use your Grab app and not a taxi. There are taxi drivers who over charge especially if they know that you’re a tourist
    • You can ride a Tuk tuk although it’s more expensive
    • You can rent a motorcycle as it’s easier to get around
    • You can walk especially when you’re staying at Old Quarter since most of the cafes and restaurants are walking distance
  • Sapa
    • There’s no Grab in Sapa, so taxi is your best friend. Make sure to haggle
    • You can rent a motorcycle as it’s easier to get around
    • You can walk (for the steps LOL)

Do’s and Don’ts:

  • Use Google Maps when going to places by walking
  • Beware of pickpockets in night markets
  • Do not talk to vendors that will ask you to try their products, because they will ask for payment even if you just tried it on

Here are our actual expenses. Please note that we booked our airfare only a month before our travel date, which is why it was quite expensive. You can find round trip airfare tickets for as low as PHP 3,000 during seat sales.

Also, I didn’t include coffee and food expenses since they vary based on your budget, but here are the typical prices:

  • Banh Mi: 30-40K VND or PHP 70-100
  • Pho: 30-70K VND PHP 70-190
  • Bun Cha: 45-50K or PHP 102-114
  • Spring Rolls: 75-100K VND or PHP 170-230
  • Cup Noodles: 20-25K or PHP 45-60
  • Set meal: 100-250K or PHP 230-570
  • Coffee: 30-50K VND or PHP 70-135
  • Fruit Shake: 30-u0K VND or PHP 70-100
  • Bottled Water: 7K or PHP 15
  • Hanoi Beer: 35K VND or PHP 80

Other expenses that you might want to consider:

  • Foot/Body Massage: 150-400K or PHP 340-900
  • Motorcycle Rental: 180-250k or PHP 410-570

I hope you all learned a thing or two! I highly recommend a 2-day trip to Sapa if you’re planning to visit Hanoi. Of course, there are still many other places to explore in Vietnam such as Ho Chi Minh and Da Nang, which are next on my list! I hope 2025 will be filled with adventure for everyone.

For more of my adventures, please follow me on Facebook and Instagram. Happy travels!

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