What's it like hiking Fansipan, the roof of Indochina
The trip starts in Ha Noi, Vietnam.
• Take a train to Sapa where Fansipan mountain is located. We chose to take the train instead of other transportations because it was something new for us
• The train leaves from Ga Ha Noi station at 9.30pm (note; you need to book tickets in advance)
• Get off at Lao Cai station (arriving around 5.30am)
• As soon as you get off from the train, there are several van drivers waiting out front trying to pack as much people as they can before taking off and head out to Sapa town. The journey takes one hour.
• As soon as we got to Sapa town, we rent a scooter and drove around for some incredible sightseeing
• highly recommend visiting the love waterfall and silver waterfall . It includes a bit of hiking but both are very beautiful
Now comes the actual hike:
Hiking Day 1
• Early morning our driver came to the hotel to pick us up. We are grouped with other hikers making a group of 5 people
• The van took us to the Tramton pass, the same entrance to the Love waterfall, and dropped us off there with 2 porters. Right away, the driver said to us “OK. follow these guys, off you go. I’ll see you tomorrow, bye!” And so the hike begins
• Right at the beginning we walked through a dense lush rain forest with little streams running through and bamboo trees popping up along the way (our porters were enjoying harvesting them)
• I was quite impressed with how well the trail was mapped out and well marked. Was thinking to myself that people can probably hike this place without a guide
• First half of the hike was moderately easy. It was a mix of muddy wet ground along river valley, flat dry land, and steep slopes — an overall very scenic route
• After around 2 hours of hiking we had a lunch break at the first camp where we were served huge and delicious egg sandwich
• After lunch we all rested for another hour then we continued the journey
• This time the trail got crazy! We were, 90% of the time, hiking up very steep hills and screes. The higher we go up, the less trees, and the stronger the heat. We were basically climbing rocky hills and steel ladders in the sun
• We finally arrived at the camp site at around 5.30 pm. It is a big cabin with around 6 rooms in it. Toilets are at the back of the cabin. Our room had nothing but a wooden platform/plank
• The porters put up foiled mattress on it and told us we will be sleeping on it together side by side while giving us each a very thin sleeping bag. The porters forgot to mention to us how cold the night would get (very cold)
• After a big dinner in bed, we agreed on starting the hike the next morning at 3 am so we can see the sun rise on the summit
• Although I slept in my winter jacket, thick socks, and a beanie, I was still freezing. It must have been at least 5 degree Celsius that night and the sleeping bag was too thin. Plus the ‘bed’ was anything but comfortable
Hiking Day 2
• Our porters woke us up at 4 am instead of 3 am bringing in coffee and instant noodle for breakfast in bed before we started to pack up and began today's journey
• From this camp site it was not a long way to reach the summit but it was a constant elevation. It took us around 1 hour and 45 minutes from the camp to the summit
• Seeing the sun rises over Sapa was an unforgettable experience
• After enjoying the summit and patting yourself on the back for job well done, you can hike down back the same way (5 hours) or choose to go down via the cable car (20 minutes)
• We opted for the cable car so we would have more time to enjoy Sapa in the afternoon and it was a good decision as the view from the cable was breath-taking
Tips:
• You can also take a bus from Hanoi to Sapa No need for the train. These days there are several options of sleeper bus which are more comfortable than the loud train
• You can organize/book the Fansipan hike through your hotels
• Bring your own water for the hike
• Make sure to bring solid hiking shoes and winter jacket (it's really cold up there)
• Best way to get around Sapa is to rent a motorbike. Wear helmet!**
Overall, hiking Fansipan is moderately challenging at times but most of the time it is bearable. It is a fun experience and being in the forest, surrounded by nature is always a good idea. It offers you a glimpse into the natural root of the mountain especially now that the development in the area has transformed the top of the mountain into a tourist complex. I would highly recommend the hike up and cable car down option to experience both perspectives.
The home for unique & authentic travel
