Also known as: Phan Xi Păng (Vietnamese), Fan Si Pan
Significance: Highest Point in Vietnam, Lào Cai province and the Indochina peninsula
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Maotou Shan, China
Elevation: 3,147m
Date “climbed”: November 1st 2024
Coordinates: 24° 29' 6'' N, 100° 40' 17'' E
Links: Wikipedia (Vietnam, Lào Cai province, Fansipan), Peakbagger

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Our trip to Fansipan was a part of a 2-week escorted tour of Vietnam. We had a very long list of things that we wanted to see in the country but only 2 weeks to do it in. Fortunately we have an ex-colleague who is also a travel organiser so asked him to plan the ultimate Grand Tour of Vietnam. The first version of the itinerary had a few days of rest in Phú Quốc island but missed out the country high point. As my main travel principle is that you can rest when you’re dead, we swapped out the island for the high point. I’m so happy that we made the swap as our 2 days around Fansipan were a highlight of the whole Vietnam trip. We had a guide and a driver so all of the arrangements were taken care of. If you’re travelling solo, check out other blogs for better info on how to get to Fansipan from Hanoi.

The main way to access Fansipan is from the centre of Sapa. This is a large town in the far north of the country, approximately 6 hours drive from Hanoi. From the town centre you can take a funicular railway, then a cable car from Hoang Lien Station. The station was opened in 2018, built in French-colonial style, and is an impressive building in its own right. When you enter the station you leave the noisy, busy streets and enter into a clean, modern Disney-style complex to start the ascent.

The first part is a 6 minute funicular railway ride to Muong Hoa Station where you change to the cable car. It’s a big complex with some gardens but we arrived mid-afternoon and didn’t have a lot of time to look around so we continued straight onto the cable car.

The Sapa Cable Car isn't just a scenic ride; it's a record-breaker! It holds two Guinness World Records:

• Longest Non-Stop Three-Rope Cable Car: Stretching an impressive 6,292 meters (nearly 4 miles), it's the longest continuous three-rope cable car system in the world.  

• Highest Elevation Difference: With a staggering 1,410-metre (4,626 feet) vertical ascent, it has the greatest elevation difference for any non-stop three-rope cable car worldwide

The summit complex is impressively huge and well organised for something built on top of a mountain at 3000m. From the cable-car top station at you have the choice of taking another funicular or 600 steps to the high point. Wanting to do both options we took the funicular up and the steps down.

The summit is very well organised with several “false summits” with triangular makers for photo opportunities. This removes the normal queues of people waiting to have their photos taken at the same spot. We were there late in the afternoon on a weekday and it was quieter than normal.

On the way back down to the cable car station the 600 steps take you past gardens and pagodas and the largest Buddha statue in the country. It’s a better option to take the funicular up and the steps down as you get great views as you descend. Our only wish is that we had started the trip earlier so that we were not so rushed on the way down.

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The Funicular and Cable Car

The Summit

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Start: Junction of TL152 road and path down to the valley at Y Linh Ho village
Finish: Lá Dao Spa - Home - Restaurant, Tả Van, Sa Pa, Lào Cai
Distance: 12.2 km (7.6 miles)
Elevation Change: +283m / - 614m. Net -331m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Cafes on route: Several on route. We stopped at A Sinh Restaurant, Lao Chai (4.3 km in). Several places to eat at the end in Ta Van
Links: Sa Pa, Y Linh Ho village, Lao Chai village

Sapa Valley, nestled in the Hoàng Liên Son Mountain Range of northern Vietnam, is a breathtaking region renowned for its dramatic landscapes. The most iconic feature of the valley is its cascading terraced rice fields, which descend the mountainsides in vibrant hues of green and gold, depending on the season. This stunning agricultural artwork is not only visually captivating but also a testament to the ingenuity of the local ethnic minority communities who have meticulously carved and cultivated these fields for centuries. Beyond the terraces, Sapa boasts towering peaks, including Fansipan – the "Roof of Indochina" – misty valleys, and numerous impressive waterfalls like Silver Waterfall (Thác Bạc) and Love Waterfall (Thác Tình Yêu), all contributing to its allure as a nature lover's paradise.

The cultural richness of Sapa is as compelling as its natural beauty. The valley is home to a diverse array of ethnic minority groups, including the Hmong, Dao, Giáy, Xa Pho, and Tay, each with their own unique traditions, languages, and vibrant traditional costumes. Visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in these cultures by visiting local villages like Cat Cat and Ta Van, participating in homestays, or exploring the bustling markets where villagers gather to trade goods and socialize. These interactions offer a genuine glimpse into a way of life that has largely remained unchanged for generations, making Sapa a truly authentic cultural experience.

Sapa has become a premier destination for tourism, offering a wide range of activities for adventurers and cultural explorers alike. Trekking and hiking through the terraced fields and lush forests are popular, providing unparalleled views and opportunities to connect with local communities. For those seeking a less strenuous ascent, a cable car now provides access to the summit of Fansipan, offering panoramic vistas without the challenging trek. Other attractions include exploring Sapa town's colonial architecture, visiting the Sapa Museum to learn about regional history, and experiencing the lively atmosphere of the local markets, where handicrafts and fresh produce are abundant.

We explored the valley on a 12 km point-to-point trek the day after visiting the summit of nearby Fansipan mountain. We had a guide with us as a part of a week in northern Vietnam so transport to the start and end was catered for. If you’re self-organising the trip then there’s lots of options for drivers in Sapa town.

The route starts at Y Linh Ho village where there’s a track down to the valley from the main road. Be aware that there will be a lot of villagers that will “escort” you down from the road and make conversation with you along the way. They’ll stick with you until you buy something from them so it’s best to buy something and politely say goodbye to them early in the trip if you want a quiet hike. You’ll meet a lot more locals on the route that you can make a more genuine connection with.

The valley is stunning so go early both to avoid the heat and also to take enough time to enjoy the scenery. There’s a lot of diverging paths so use a GPX route if you’re not with a local guide.

The route ends at Ta Van where there’s several restaurants and a lot of shops to visit while you’re waiting to be picked up.

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