Northwest Travel Guide
Rice terraces in the mountains of northern Vietnam. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
The Northwest is Vietnam's roof: the Hoang Lien Son range, the rice terraces of Sapa and Mu Cang Chai, and Fansipan, at 3,143 metres the highest peak in Indochina. Ethnic minority cultures, Hmong, Dao, Thai and Tay, are woven into every valley.
Sapa is the region's hub: a former French hill station turned trekking capital, ringed by the terraced valleys of Muong Hoa and Ta Van. Fansipan can be climbed on a two-day trek or ridden up the record-breaking cable car. Mu Cang Chai's terraces, at their golden best in September and October, are the region's single most photographed landscape.
Destinations in Northwest
SapaThe former French hill station: markets, the stone church, and treks into the Muong Hoa Valley.
Mu Cang Chai terracesThe great golden terraces of Yen Bai, at their best in the September harvest.
Fansipan3,143 m, the roof of Indochina: climb it in two days or ride the cable car to the summit.
Muong Hoa ValleySapa's classic trekking valley: Hmong villages at Lao Chai and Ta Van.
Mai ChauA gentler valley of Thai stilt-house villages, rice paddies and easy cycling.
Pu Luong Nature ReserveTerraced valleys and jungle between Mai Chau and Ninh Binh, still quiet.
Moc ChauTea hills, dairy farms and plum blossom in the Son La highlands.
Dien Bien PhuThe 1954 battlefield that ended French Indochina: bunkers, the museum and Hill A1.
Hover a region to explore it. Click a city pin to open its guide.
Top Cities & towns in Northwest
Regional food
- Thang co (Hmong horse-meat hotpot, the Sapa market speciality)
- Com lam (bamboo-tube sticky rice) and grilled pork from the highland markets
- Sapa salmon and sturgeon, farmed in the cold mountain streams
Getting there
Sapa is reached from Hanoi by overnight sleeper bus (about 6 hours) or the overnight train to Lao Cai plus a 45-minute road transfer. The Hanoi to Lao Cai expressway made the bus the default. Fansipan's cable car station sits in the Muong Hoa Valley, a short shuttle from Sapa town.