How to arrange a trip to Sapa with 35 usd
Is
it true to visit Sapa with only 35 usd? It seems very difficult
but not impossible. You can arrange your trip to Sapa by
yourself with less than 50 usd but still comfort and
convenience, decent accommodation with bathroom, 3 meals a day
with good food. Just a bit of experientce and tips that I am
happy to share with you in this article.
However what I am writing is only for those who want to save
cost for a trip to Sapa. If money is not your problem I will
have another article about Sapa travel next time.
Many young people want to travel Sapa but don't have much money,
if you have a lot of money you can visit anywhere you like,
however traveling without so much money is really fun isn't it?
I have learnt from experience that in the difficult situation
one would find out their ability to adapt and his response was
not that bad. Some of my friends have forced themselves to
travel with tight budget so that they would have pleasant
experience. Anyway, let's go back to the main subject! This
article will tell you how to visit Sapa by yourself with only 35
usd.
Means of transportation to Sapa
You can go to Sapa by train, motorcycle and cars/bus. I
eliminate the bus because of high fares (aproxx 15 usd/way).
Motorcycles and trains are two reasonable means if you want to
save costs.
Motorbike: Choose a motorbike with gear as it
costs you only about 7 usd petrol for a 300km journey, so total
petrol cost for a trip to and from Sapa is 15-20 usd regardless
of the
case you break down along the way... If you go two people, the
expense is very good as you split the bill.
The trains will cost you more as
train
fares Hanoi to Lao Cai on hard seat is 6 usd/way on weekdays and
7 usd/way on weekend, plus 2 usd public bus from
Lao Cai train
station to Sapa, it will cost you 4 usd a day to rent a
motorbike in Sapa plus 4 usd petrol then it costs us at least 28
usd in total.
However traveling by train or motorbike is subject to your
health and experience. Travel by motorbike more than 350km from
Hanoi to Lao Cai is a nice experience however tiring. Over 12
hours on the bike would probale make you exhausted and also many
other things along the way.
Travel Sapa by motorbike is preference of many people including
me, there are 2 ways to reach Sapa is via Lai Chau or via
Lao
Cai provinces. The route through Lao Cai and then to Sapa is
close and easy to travel, however if you go through Lai Chau you
will have a chance to conquer 2 of the "Four big passes" in the
legendary northwest Vietnam is Khau Pha pass (30 km long) and O
Quy Ho (50 km long). Not only will you conquer the passes, enjoy
spectacular scenery and take beautiful photos but you also keep
the cost down. In my last trip, the old Honda Wave bike took me
only 1.5 times refueling (6 usd) for a 400 km journey, too good
wasn't it? What I mean is that for a long trip we need to choose
the mode of transport that saves petrol and keep stability. It
is advisable to maintain your motorbike before departure.
Sleeping in Sapa:
Arriving in Sapa, the first thing you need to do is find a place
to rest. I have not tried yet however Couchsurfing in Sapa is
not effective as some of my friends told me. Having spent 25-28
usd pm travel expenses you need to pay for meals and entrance
fees at tourist sites so you need to save money otherwise it
would exceed 35 usd. Normally I still recommend to friends room
rates 6-7 usd/room however it is still higher than the initial
cost estimate, we have to save even more. Some
hostels in Sapa
have dormitory rooms with bunk beds, there are about 6 beds in a
room, price 2-3 usd/person/night. Rooms are clean, comfortable
and you will live with the other backpackers. I think this is
quite interesting, if you have concerns about luggage you can
leave at the reception and bring only the essentials with you.
It would be great if you can arrange the hotel yourself, but if
not you can call my friend Mr Hai 096.6485585 for reservation.
You are recommended to book the room in advance and tell the
driver who takes you from Lao Cai to Sapa the address of your
hotel and he will drop you just in front of your hotel door and
you will not have to walk.
You spend 2 usd more for a night stay in Sapa. You still want to
stay somewhere for free? I have some suggestions, a bit
"backpacking" but will be a great experience. You can get some
clothes or books, go to a village which is far from tourist area
and ask for a night stay at the home of the village chief. I
often ask for an overnight stay whenever I have a chance, it is
a really pleasant experience. Ethnic people are very friendly.
The village chief always has a big bed at home for guests, this
is the custom of H'mong people.
Eating in Sapa:
In the last article I mentioned Tam Xuyen restaurant, if you
travel by motorbike you can come here for meals, cheap and good,
another choice is in the market, set price 1.5 usd per person
however not very tasty. For breakfast you can buy instant
noodles and cook with hot water at the hotel. For 4 main meals
and 2 breakfasts you will spend 7 usd for decent meals you can
save more by eating noodles or bread that will cost only 4-5 usd
for 2 days.
Sightseeing places in Sapa
Sapa is very beautiful and there are many places worth visiting.
For my recommendation you can
visit Cat Cat valley village,
Ham
Rong mountain and O Quy Ho pass, sightseeing tickets will cost
you about 7 usd. There are some
attractive places in Sapa you
can visit free is Central Church, O Quy Ho pass, Sin Chai
village...only 2 days is enough to visit all places in Sapa.
Entrance fees at tourist attractions in Sapa:
- Ham Rong mountain: 3 usd
- Cat Cat village: 2 usd
- Lao Chai, Ta Van, Ho villages: 2 usd
- Ma Tra,
Ta Phin villages: 2 usd
- Silver waterfall: 1/2 usd
- Love waterfall: 1.5 usd
- Fanxipan mountain (insurance not included): 7 usd
Some notes when travel Sapa by yourself:
- The food in the market is not good, but if you need to save,
you can eat..
- Cook your food at hotel is interesting, however remember to
ask first
- When you visit a village, bring along some sweets, candy,
school books, pens or pencil or toys like balloons, don't give
money
- The bus from Lao Cai will drop you at the door of your hotel,
for the return way you can ask the hotel to arrange the bus for
you, or you can tell the driver when to pick you up.
- Rent a motorbike or bicycle, laundry, or arrange a trekking
tour services are available at the hotel, same price everywhere
and you don't need to go anywhere, just tell the reception..
- Ask the price before you buy anything, do not hesitate!
- Do not buy ginseng, mushrooms...at the market, they are all
from China, low quality
- Don't travel during Tet holiday, room rates and services are
expensive
- Travel Sapa in harvest season is recommended, April and
September.
The trip always has something unexpected, you should prepare
more money and put it in your account. Just bring enough cash
for daily use, the amount in the account is used only in the
emergency.
So to summarize: 20 usd for transport, 3 usd for a night stay at
hostel, 5 usd for meals, 7 usd for entrance fees, total 35 usd
and you have had a wonderful trip to Sapa.
