The nightlife in Sapa is extremely splendid, with mysterious views and exotic activities. So, what to do at night in Sapa? This post will give you some suggestions.
When tourists consider visiting Vietnam, some familiar names may cross their minds, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Hoi An. But, do you want to enjoy a completely different experience in a mountainous region apart from those places? Then, Sapa is waiting for you!
Sapa is a magnificent town located in Lao Cai Province, in northern Vietnam. This picturesque town is also famous for its cool weather, breathtaking landscapes, and unique lifestyles of many ethnic minorities. It will be a miss if tourists only enjoy there in the daytime.
What is there you can find in nightlife in Sapa
Enjoy Cafes and Bars in Sapa
Cong Cafe
BB Sky Lounge & Rooftop
Tau Bar
Sapa Sky View Restaurant & Bars
The H'Mong Sister
Explore Sapa Night Market
Taste local food
Sightseeing and street wandering
Cau May Walking Street
Sapa Lake
Stone Church
Immerse yourself in Night Festival
*****
Discover love market
If you want to observe this unique cultural specificity of mountainous people, make sure you arrive in Sapa on Saturday evening. Love Market is an occasion where a tradition takes place - just like its name, it is where ethnic youngsters find their lovers. Sapa at every Saturday night looks like a fabulous fashion show with people wearing colourful clothes.
There are mainly H'Mong and Red Dao ethnic minorities. H'Mong boys wear their traditional garments and blow bamboo instruments while H'Mong girls dance to the music in their lovely skirts, silver ornaments, and umbrellas. Dao women are beautiful in headscarves. Their beauty brings a different image to visitors. Only when coming to Sapa, you can attend this unique romantic event.
This occasion is not only for native people. Tourists can also participate in many exciting activities there. For example, they are playing leaf-horns, singing, dancing, and playing traditional games. Besides, you also have a chance to gain more knowledge about local culture and lifestyle.
Enjoy Cafes and Bars in Sapa
Nightlife in Sapa is something you must immerse in. If you are a person who loves the excitement and noisy atmosphere, one of the best ways to spend the night in Sapa is to go to cafes and bars. Most bars in Sapa open until 1 am on the following day and have many fun activities. Here are some famous places you can go to.
Cong Cafe
Decorated in an archaic vibe, Cong is suitable for those loving peacefulness and nostalgia. It offers tasty and reasonably priced drinks which remind visitors of the past. If you come to Cong Cafe on Friday and Saturday evening, you can enjoy the flute performance of a H'Mong boy named A Phu.
Location: 37 Xuan Vien Street
Opening hours: 7:30 to 23:00
BB Sky Lounge & Rooftop
BB Sky Lounge and Rooftop at BB Hotel
From this cafe, you can see the fantastic views of the town centre and the five-star hotel Dela Couple. It has a modern vibe. The luscious drinks offered there are a bit more expensive than other places, but they are all worth trying.
Location: on the top of BB Hotel, 08 Cau May Street
Opening hours: 7:30 to 23:00
Tau Bar
Its decorations are not so unique, but the impressive thing about Tau Bar is the people there. They are mainly foreigners and some H'Mong girls who are their tour guides. So you can enjoy unique drinks at a surprisingly low price and feel the cozy space there.
Location: Cau May Street, Sapa, Lao Cai
Sapa Sky View Restaurant & Bars
Sky View Bar in Sapa
Visitors can admire the majestic view of mountains and the sky. The architecture there is an impressive mixture of classic and modern vibes. The bar provides a diverse menu of both Asian and Western dishes and drinks at a reasonable price.
Location: On the top floor of Chau Long Hotel, 25 Dong Loi Street
Opening hours: 7:00 to 22:30
The H'Mong Sister
Nice and romantic The H'mong Sister bar
Considered one of the prettiest bars in Sapa, TheH'Mong Sister bar helps you chill with its warm atmosphere and many craft decorations of ethnic peoples. Tourists are impressed by a variety of incredible and affordable drinks there, such as cocktails, Vietnamese famous beer brands, Manhattan, or Mojito. Besides, it's a good idea to play billiards or enjoy melodic music when you come to this bar.
Location: 31 Muong Hoa
Opening hours: 14:00 to 2:00
Explore Sapa Night Market
Sapa night market - A place to discover the culture and local life
Another ideal place to spend nightlife in Sapa is Sapa Night Market. It is held at N1 Street from 18:00 to 23:00 on weekdays. Night Market is crowded with hundreds of tourists and natives attending. The dark night seems to be lit by sparkling lights and colourful ethnic costumes. Visitors come there to taste various delicious cheap food such as grilled skewers. It's not hard to find people sitting on plastic chairs by the tables.
In addition, Night Market is where you can buy many exciting souvenirs, such as brocade purses, ornaments, hats, or clothes, indeed within your budget. Those crafted products are handmade by skilful H'Mong and Dao craftsmen. They sell items representing their traditions not only to earn money but to acknowledge tourists of their culture as well.
Coming to Sapa Night Market, you also have a chance to learn more about native lifestyles. By talking to the locals, taking part in their music activities, or simply sitting still and watching them, you will see how beautiful and honest they are.
Taste local food
Sapa local food
One thing not to forget for a complete experience in this beautiful town is the local cuisine. You can take a look at the three most popular foods.
The first dish to try is Thang Co - H'Mong people's traditional food. The main ingredients are horsemeat, horse bones, and viscera. They combine with around 20 herbs and other spices. Thang Co is also served with corn wine.
The second one that should be on your list is grilled skewers. People grill a wide range of meat and vegetables on a charcoal stove. This simple but tasty dish is ideal for a warm meal in freezing weather.
Another highly recommended food for you is Cap Nach Pork. Cap Nach Pork is famous for its tempting smell and healthiness. There are many ways to cook it, but the most popular is to roast. The combination of the brittle skin, the sweet and a bit spicy pork, and the fantastic smell definitely mouth waters anyone.
Sightseeing and street wandering
Sapa is so beautiful that even when simply walking, you can still have memorable experiences. Wandering around the streets and watching crowds of people and gorgeous lights are all wonderful things to enjoy the nightlife in Sapa. Don't miss out on some lovely places to go sightseeing that we list below.
Cau May Walking Street
This small street is situated in the heart of the town. It was built hundreds of years ago and still retains some classic French features. Therefore, it attracts a lot of tourists overseas.
Wandering around Cau May, you can see couples spending romantic time with each other or sellers and buyers bargaining. Don't forget to taste fantastic food and drinks in restaurants and cafes.
Besides, several shops are selling lovely gifts and souvenirs. Cau May is undoubtedly an ideal check-in place for youngsters because of its views and cultural features.
Sapa Lake
Sapa lake is considered the soul of the town. Around the lake are green willows, flower gardens, and benches. After wandering around the streets, visitors can sit on the benches and admire the peaceful beauty of this town.
Enjoy walking around Sapa Lake
Walking along the lakeside and enjoying the fresh air is also a good idea. When the day draws in, Sapa lake reflects the glittering lights and busy scenery. This combining with fog creates a mysterious and romantic look of Sapa. Additionally, the lake is where many activities are held, and traditional festivals take place.
Stone Church
The Sapa stone church is located in the center of Sapa. It was established in the 20th century and is preserved until now. It becomes a symbol of ancient architecture. Sapa Stone Church is built of stones, limestone, and molasses.
Sapa Stone Church is in the middle of the town
The arches, walls, roofs, and bell towers have unique shapes. Therefore, it bears an elegant and charming look. The head of Stone Church faces the east, where the sun rises, which means it gets the light of God.
This building is of spiritual importance to the Catholic. There is a vast stadium where people gather in front of the church.
Immerse yourself in Night Festival
When experiencing nightlife in Sapa, it's a pity if you don't join exciting festivals which are held at night. Mid-Autumn Festival Night is an exceptional cultural value not only of Northern citizens but also of Vietnamese people. It starts on September 2 with numerous appealing activities.
Sapa nightlife on the Mid Autumn festival
Visitors can participate in moonlight competitions, sports, lantern parades, or cuisine events. On this occasion, Sapa is like a lively picture with moonlights and lanterns decorated in houses, handicrafts sold along the streets, and crowds of tourists.
Besides, you cannot take your eyes off many lion, dragon, and music performances. Mid-Autumn Festival Night helps you discover the local tradition and have a lot of unforgettable moments.
Sapa is clearly worth visiting once (and maybe more) time in your life. Nightlife in Sapa is incredibly stunning, with striking scenery and a vivid lifestyle. You can go sightseeing, wander around the streets, go to cafes and bars or attend markets in this town. So, pack your luggage and get ready to go to Sapa!
Related articles
Sapa Vietnam - The Complete Travel Guide
Top colorful local markets around Sapa