Vietnam (Post Covid-19 Overseas Visit No 3 - My 20 days in Hanoi, Sapa, Lao Cai, Haiphong, Tam Coc, Hue, Danang & Hoi An, Vietnam) Day 3 Tuesday Feb 7 2023 SAPA Day 1

SAPA Square

SAPA Town by Night 

 

Travel Itinerary: Hanoi > SAPA (331km)

Total expenses incurred (3 nights):  Rm558 (US$127) per pax

• Hotel (3 nights): Rm147 (twin sharing) per pax
• Bus (Hanoi > SAPA): Rm78
• Cable car (Fansipan): 950,000 dong (Rm185) 
• Entrance fee (Cat Cat Village): 150,000 dong (Rm29.20)
• Bike: 60,000dong (Rm11.70)
• Taxi: 20,000dong (Rm3.90)
• Food:  517,500dong (Rm101) per pax
• Sundries: 10,000dong (Rm1.95)

Day 3 - Feb 5 Tuesday 24 2023 - our group 1st day stay in a popular & touristy town of SAPA !

1) Bus ride from Hanoi (07.00) > SAPA (331km, 12.30), 1st R & R stop for light refreshment & toilet run after 1.5hr of driving ! For breakfast, I had a Vietnamese sandwich (takeaway, 20,000 dong =Rm3.90) eaten at the hotel reception prior to a van pick up to board our tour bus from SAPA Express's Hanoi's office. 

2) 2nd R & R stop off the Hanoi / Lao Cai highway before heading towards SAPA Town direction. 

3) A stretch of uphill winding roads off the Lao Cai highway towards SAPA town, a new highway being built & upon completion, this will shorten the travelling time between Lao Cai highway to certain stretch of SAPA mountainous area & making travelling more pleasant & safer ! 

4) Approaching the SAPA town & bus drop off in SAPA Express office off the main road facing the SAPA lake, our group took an Electric vehicle (20,000 dong per pax) from the main road to SAPA Unique Hotel (1km) for our hotel check in. 

5) My group's 3 nights stay in SAPA Unique Hotel, upgraded to a large 3 bed room with a balcony overlooking the Ham Rong mountain, room tariff Rm98 per night (twin sharing) inclusive of a set menu breakfast. 

6) My first impression of SAPA town, a cool highland resort town, very touristy, many hotels of your choice (2 to 3 stars), the town is small, easily walkable, SAPA Square & Sun World Funicular Station are right in the centre of the town, dine-in food are affordable so just show up & enjoy your stay here. 

7) SAPA Square, SAPA Town - right in the centre, ideal for a stroll at anytime of the day & night ! 

8) Stone Church (1926), SAPA Town - also known as Our Lady of the Rosary

9) BB Hotel SAPA, SAPA Town

10) Sun Plaza (SAPA Station), 01, Fansipan Street,  SAPA Town - opposite the SAPA Square, the starting point for your funicular train ride to Fansipan Legend. 

11) My light lunch ie Vietnamese sandwich 30,000 dong=Rm5.85 from a roadside stall near SAPA Unique Hotel.  

12) Dinner in a local restaurant opposite my hotel, ordered stir fried vegetable & rice with chicken fillets & mushroom (158,000 dong =Rm31) whereas Thompson & his wife savoured a seafood steamboat menu (390,000 dong=Rm76 for 2 pax) + fried rice ! 

Thompson's Delight Fried Rice

Seafood Steamboat

13) Evening walk in SAPA Square & the shopping, food & entertainment district of  SAPA Town; just enjoy every moment of your time & the cool weather at this time of the year !