Xin chao!: Where to stay in Sapa, Bac Ha and Lao cai

A/ Where to stay in Sapa and Ta Phin village of Red Dao people

Where to stay in Sapa

If you would like to stay in the center of the town, come to the hotels and guesthouses near post office, park, church, market and bus station.

Those who prefer a quiet place with beautiful view, come to the lake area which is about 10-minute walk from the post office.

Pay 200,000VND up (10USD), you will have a nice clean room with hot shower, cable Tivi.

With 350,000VND (17USD), your hotel is a big building and the room is large and nice with hot shower, LCD Tivi, lift, wifi...

Spend 500,000VND up (25USD), you will stay in a 3-star hotel with beautiful room and buffet breakfast.

Sapa has some 4-star hotels such as Victoria Sapa hotel, Muong Thanh hotel... Pay 75USD up to enjoy the services of these hotels

The research was done in the middle of September 2012.

Please note that the room rate will be increased during weekend and holiday

Center of Sapa town

Pic: vietnamguidebook

Sapa lake

Pic: vietnamguidebook

Sapa post office, park and church area: Xuan Vien and Thach Son streets

1/ (My stay) Huong Quynh hotel

Address: 05 Xuan Vien street, Sapa town (2-minute walk to Sapa church)

Tel/Fax: 0203 871 458

Room rate: 200,000VND up (10USD)

Overview: A small hotel with nice clean room, big bathroom with hot shower, Tivi. Friendly

Bonus: free tea and hot water. Motorbike for rent (5USD for gear motorbike)

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

2/ Hoa Dao hotel

Address: 31 Xuan Vien street, Sapa town

Tel: 0203 872 606 - 0984 255 255

Fax: 0203 872 136
Email: info@vietdiscovery.com

Website:www.sapalaocai.com

Room rate: 200,000VND up (10USD)

Overview: Basic room with hot shower, Tivi

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

3/ Phuong Thao guesthouse

Address: 13 Xuan Vien street, Sapa town

Tel: 0945 234 988 - 0984 744 049

Room rate: 200,000VND up (10USD)

Overview: Basic clean room with hot shower, Tivi. Offer foot massage (7USD/hour)

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

4/ Nha nghi duong Sapa hotel

Address: 03 Xuan Vien street, Sapa town

Tel/Fax: 0203 871 483 - 0203 872 889

Room rate: 300,000VND up (15USD)

Overview: Large hotel, great location, big room with hot shower, Tivi

Minus: Staffs are quite "cold"

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

5/ Buu Dien hotel (Post office hotel)

Address: 06 Thach Son street, Sapa town

Tel/Fax: 0203 871 244 - 0913 190 968

Room rate: 250,000VND up (12USD)

Overview: The rooms are large but basic with hot shower. Friendly

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

6/ Linh Trang hotel

Address: Sapa town (near Post office)

Tel: 0203 871 370 - 0913 029 955 - 0982 939 476
Fax: 0203 871 151

Room rate: 200,000VND up (10USD)

Overview: Large hotel, nice room with hot shower, Tivi

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

7/ Sao Khue guesthouse

Address: 09 Thach Son street, Sapa town

Tel/Fax: 0203 873 868 - 0904 008 345

Room rate: 250,000VND up (12USD)

Overview: Large building, basic clean room with hot shower, fan, Tivi, friendly

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

8/ Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa

Address: Xuan Vien street, Sapa town

Tel: 0203 871 522

Fax: 0203 871 539

Website: http://www.victoriahotels.asia/eng/hotels-in-vietnam/sapa-resort-spa

Room rate: 155USD up

Overview: Opened in March 1998, Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa, once was the only luxury hotel in Northwest Vietnam, is now still the number one in Sapa

Bonus: Hot swimming pool

Bus station area (near lake area): Thu Dau Mot street

1/ ( My pick) Hai Anh hotel

Address: 08 - 12 Thu Dau Mot street, Sapa town

Tel: 0203 873 979 - 0203 871 376 - 0979 288 868
Fax: 0203 873 978

Email: haianhsapa@gmail.com

Room rate: 350,000VND up (17USD)

Overview: A 2-star large hotel, nice and big room with hot shower, LCD Tivi, Wifi, lift, friendly

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

2/ Binh Minh 2 hotel

Address: 01 Thu Dau Mot street, Sapa town

Tel: 0203 871 144 - 0912 270 345 - 0983 497 345

Email: hungbinhminh2@ymail.com

Room rate: 250,000VND up (12USD)

Overview: A large hotel with big and nice room, hot shower, Tivi. Bathroom is getting old

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

Lake area: Ngu Chi Son street

1/(My pick) Viet Thanh hotel

Address: Ngu Chi Son street, Sapa town

Tel/Fax: 0203 872 226 - 0944 183 872 - 0934 571 881

Room rate: 250,000VND up (12USD)

Overview: Small hotel, clean and nice room with hot shower, Tivi, fan. Quiet

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

2/ Sapa hotel

Address: 01 Ngu Chi Son street, Sapa town

Tel: 0203 872 360
Fax: 0203 872 364

Email: salesapahotel@gmail.com

Website: www.sapahotel.asia

Room rate: 500,000VND up (25USD with buffet breakfast)

Overview: A 3-star hotel with big nice room, hot shower and bathtub, Tivi, fridge. Restaurant has beautiful lake view

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

3/ North Star hotel

Address: Ngu Chi Son street, Sapa town

Tel: 0203 866 789
Fax: 0203 771 888

Email: info@northstarhotel.com.vn

Website:www.northstarhotel.com.vn

Room rate: 75USD up (with buffet breakfast) (Promotion period: 47USD)

Overview: One of the best 3-star hotels of the town with great location, beautiful room, lift...

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

4/ (My pick) Muong Thanh hotel

Address: 44 Ngu Chi Son street, Sapa town

Tel: 0203 88 77 55 - 0203 88 77 66
Fax: 0203 686 789

Email: ksmuongthanhsapa@gmail.com

Website:www.muongthanhsapa.com

Room rate: 45USD up (with buffet breakfast)

Overview: 4-star hotel with nice design, beautiful room, LCD Tivi, minibar, lift

Bonus: Free in-room tea and coffee

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

5/ Vuon Treo Sapa hotel

Address: Dien Bien Phu street, Sapa town

Tel: 0203 888 333 - 0914 816 487
Fax: 0203 888 555

Website: www.vuontreosapa.com.vn

Room rate: 250,000VND (12USD)

Overview: A new comer with nice and cozy rooms, hot shower, Tivi, friendly.

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

Market area: Cau May, Dong Loi and Muong Hoa streets

1/ Hoang Long hotel

Address: 23 Dong Loi street, Sapa town

Tel: 0203 872 089 - 0912 960 827
Email: hotelhoanglong@gmail.com

Room rate: 300,000VND up (15USD)

Overview: Basic large room, hot shower, Tivi, fan and a nice restaurant

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

2/ Chau Long hotel

Address: 24 Dong Loi street, Sapa town

Tel: 0203 871 245
Fax: 0203 871 844
Email: sales@chaulonghotel.com.vn

Website: www.chaulonghotel.com.vn

Room rate: 30USD up(Old building) & 65 USD (New building with buffet breakfast)

Overview: Chau Long has two buildings. Both have nice and big rooms, Tivi, fridge, hot shower with bathtub.

Bonus: Hot swimming pool

Pictures:

3/ Sapa Royal View hotel

Address: 34 Cau May street, Sapa town

Tel: 0203 872 989 - 0203 872 990
Fax: 0203 872 992

Email: info@royalviewsapa.vn

Website: www.royalviewsapa.vn

Room rate: 60USD up (with buffet breakfast)

Overview: A 3-star hotel, large room with heater, hot shower and bathtub, Tivi, minibar, coffee and tea making facilities...

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

4/ Pinocchio hotel

Address: 15 Muong Hoa street, Sapa town

Tel: 0203 871 876

Email: info@pinocchiohotel.com

Website: www.pinocchiohotel.com

Room rate: 300,000VND up (15USD)

Overview: This hotel is getting old. Basic large rooms with hot shower, bathutub, Tivi. Free Internet access

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

5/ Friendly Sapa hotel

Address: 11 Muong Hoa street, Sapa town

Tel: 0203 873 689 - 0914 600 659
Fax: 0203 873 699

Email: sapatien@yahoo.com.vn

Room rate: 300,000VND up (15USD)

Overview: This hotel has basic large and clean room with hot shower, bathtub, Tivi, fridge. Friendly

Bonus: Cozy bar

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

5/ (My pick) Sunny Mountain Hotel

Address: 10 Muong Hoa street, Sapa town

Tel: 0203 787 999
Fax: 0203 787 979

Email: info@sunnymountainhotel.com

Website: www.sunnymountainhotel.com

Room rate: 77USD up (Promotion period: 40USD for Superior room)

Overview: This 3-star hotel is a new comer of the town with artful elegant design, beautiful and large room, nice bathroom. Lift. Friendly

Bonus: Free access to sauna and hot swimming pool. Daily fresh fruit, tea/coffee and water in-room. Wifi. Complimentary shoe shine service...

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

Ta Phin village of Red Dao ethnic minority people

(Ta Chai hamlet, Ta Phin commune with Red Dao ethnic herbal bath)

Mountain’s spa

Located about 13km from the center of Sapa town, Ta Chai hamlet, Ta Phin commune is home to Red Dao ethnic minority people. Due to their isolated mountainous living area, traditional medicine plays a very important role in protecting the health. Especially, they have an effective method to treat cold, flu and other diseases. It’s the hot herbal bath which now becomes a famous tourist product called “spa on mountain”.

Among the herbal bath services in Ta Chai, for me, the one offered by Ly Lao Lo company is the best. Called company, but in fact its just a small house with only one manager, Ly Lao Lo, and one receptionist cum servant.

According to Ly, there are many kinds of natural herb and plant used for making bath water. After cooking for some hours, the water has a beautiful brown colour and an attractive aroma.

In Ly company, there are just some bathing rooms. The rooms are simple with just wooden bathtubs, a clock for you to mange the bathing time with maximum 20 minutes/bath. Bathing too long will make you “drunk”.

I had no flu. It was a little bit cold in Ta Chai in the morning of November. I enjoyed the hot herbal bath in Ly company and felt relaxed to fullest, washed away the stress of city’s life.

You can spend time chatting with many friednly Red Dao women who hang around Ly company. (Well, at first, you maybe feel a little bit disturbed as they try to sell you some souvenirs)

Hamlet entrance fee: 20,000VND/pax

Bathing fee: 80,000VND/bath

Tip: Its good to bring your own towel

Note: Ta Chai hamlet, Ta Phin commune is often called shortly Ta Phin

Getting there: From the center of Sapa town, follow the highway 4D towards Lao Cai city. About 1km out of the town, there is one gas station. Another 4km drive you will see a signpost showing Ta Phin village. Turn left and continue on a 8km dirt rocky road, you will arrive in Ta Phin village.

Along the way, there are some green vegetables garden and the low terraced rice fields.

Ta Phin signpost

Beautiful flowers on the way

Vegetable gardens

Friendly ethnic minority children

Ruin of a church

Ta Phin is picturesque with rice fields and mountain

Houses in the village with children playing around

Inside a house

Red Dao women with red headscarves and black dress

The receptionist cum servant in Ly Lao Lo company

I enjoyed herbal bath

Herbs and boiling

Would like to overnight in Ta Phin? Come to the friendly homestay of Chao Ta May.

Chao Ta May homestay

Tel: 01664 620 433

Overview: 70,000VND for a basic clean sleeping place. Ta May also offer herbal bath service. She speak English and is very freindly.

Chao Ta May name in Chinese

Pics: Vietnamguidebook

B/ Where to stay in Bac Ha

There are many standard hotels and guesthouses near Bac Ha market.

Pay 200,000VND (10USD), you will have a private nice room with hot shower, fan, Tivi.

With 250,000VND up, your hotel has hot and cold air-condition

The research was done in the middle of September 2012

Please note that the room rate will be increased during weekend and holiday

1/ (My stay) Ngan Nga Bac Ha hotel

Address: 115 - 117 Ngoc Uyen street, Bac Ha town (some steps to Bac Ha market)

Tel: 0203 880 286 - 0973 550 222 - 0913 346 875

Fax: 0203 780 268

Room rate: 200,000VND up (10USD)

Overview: A small hotel with great location, nice, clean and big room with hot shower, Tivi, fan. Friendly

Bonus: Restaurant with delicious food at reasonable price. Should order in advance. Free hot green tea

Pictures:

Pics: Vietnamguidebook

2/ (My pick) Ngan Nga hotel

Address: 133 Ngoc Uyen street, Bac Ha town

Tel: 0203 880 251 - 0982 048 322

Fax: 0203 880 642
Email: info@nganngabacha.com

Website: www.nganngabacha.com

Room rate: 250,000VND (12USD)

Overview: Big hotel with large, clean and nice room, hot shower, LCD Tivi. Free internet access

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

3/ Sunday hotel

Address: 01 Vu Cong Mat street, Bac Ha town (some hundred meters from Ngan Nga hotel)

Tel: 0904 646 955 - 0903 481 747

Fax: 0203 880 350

Website: www.sundayhotel.vn

Room rate: 280,000VND up (14USD)

Overview: This large hotel has basic clean and nice rooms with hot shower, hot & cold air-condition. Free Internet access

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

4/ Hoang Vu hotel

Address: Nga 5, Bac Ha town

Tel: 0203 880 264 - 0915 491 106

Email: hoangvutours@hotmail.com

Room rate: 200,000VND (10USD)

Overview: This small hotel is getting old. Rooms are large but basic with hot shower, Tivi

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

5/(My pick) Congfu hotel

Address: 152 Ngoc Uyen street, Bac Ha town

Tel: 0203 880 254 - 0979 803 642

Fax: 0203 880 893
Email: info@congfuhotel.com

Website: www.congfuhotel.com

Room rate: 250,000VND up (12USD)

Overview: This hotel have basic nice rooms with hot & cold air-condition, Tivi, hot shower & bathtub, free Internet access. Some steps to ATM and Agriculture bank

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

6/ Sao Mai hotel

Address: Bac Ha town (about 4km to Ban Pho village)

Tel: 0203 880 288 - 0912 060 862

Fax: 0203 780 352
Email: saomaibh@gmail.com

Website: www.saomaibachahotel.com

Room rate: 20USD up (with breakfast)

Overview: Bac Ha largest 2-star hotel, nice and big room with hot & cold air-condition, hot shower with bathtub, free wifi...

Pictures:

Pics: vietnamguidebook

C/ Where to stay in Lao Cai city

There's not really much to see in the city. If you need to overnight here, see the hotel/guesthouse list near train station and new bus station on Phan Dinh Phung street. Room rate start at 8USD with private room, air-condition, hot shower, Tivi, wifi...

1/ (My pick) Hoa Hoa guesthouse
Address: 33 Phan Dinh Phung street

Tel: 0914 696 796 - 0979 239 238

Room rate: 170,000VND (8USD)

Overview: Basic clean room with air-condition, hot shower, cable Tivi, wifi

Pictures: