Southeast Asia as a region is famous for its sunny days, beautiful beaches, and vibrant culture that goes along with the climate. But for some people who want to experience another side of Southeast Asia, a secret spot that is not well-known to tourists would be an interesting choice to visit—and Viet Nam offers you Sa Pa, the hidden gem where you can experience snow in Southeast Asia. Sa Pa as a tourist destination might not be as famous as Hạ Long Bay, but this town will definitely give you a new experience.
Sa Pa lies in the Hoàng Liên Sơn range, which is only 9 km away from the Roof of Indochina, Fansipan. Rising to an impressive 3,143 meters, Fansipan is the highest peak in Viet Nam and also in the Indochina Peninsula. To go to Fansipan, you can go hiking by choosing one of three routes that offer different experiences.
But if you prefer comfort for your trip, the cable car is the answer. The Fansipan Cable Car, located in the Sun World Fansipan Legend tourist area, is the world’s longest nonstop, three‑rope system and has the greatest elevation gain on such a line. To access the cable car, you can go from Sa Pa by taxi, on foot, or by taking the Mường Hoa Monorail from the Sun Plaza shopping mall.
Another highlight of Sa Pa is the stunning Mường Hoa Valley, a perfect place to enjoy the beauty of the Mường Hoa stream, which flows over 15 kilometers, creating a breathtaking landscape along with lush green rice terraces that turn golden in autumn.
But the main attraction is, of course, the mysterious ancient field of rocks, where about 200 rock formations are laid out in an area of 8 square kilometers. It is believed that these megalithic stones, some weighing several tons, had religious or astronomical significance.
What makes Sa Pa truly unique is its rare snowy season. Yes, it does snow in Sa Pa at certain times, and the best time to visit is between December and February. Sa Pa’s temperatures can drop low enough to bring flurries of snow, which is a rare phenomenon in tropical Southeast Asia.
To celebrate this special occasion, Sa Pa has held its very first snow festival since 2016. Visitors can enjoy several performances and local delicacies such as thắng cố (stewed horse meat), smoked buffalo, ethnic black-range chicken, and cuốn sủi (flat noodle soup with beef). The main event is a fire dancing ceremony by the Red Dao ethnic community. This ceremony is part of an ancient custom in which people believe supernatural power strengthens the dancers, giving them the ability to dance barefoot over burning coal.
This is what makes Sa Pa a secret winter spot that few travelers expect, a rare and magical experience hidden in the heart of tropical Southeast Asia. Its scenery and culture of the locals will definitely amaze and amuse you. So make sure adding Sa Pa to your next bucket list!
Reference:
- Sa Pa Nomad, n.d. Fansipan Mountain: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go. [online] Sa Pa Nomad. Available at: https://sapanomad.com/fansipan-mountain/ [Accessed 25 Apr. 2025].
- Vinpearl, n.d. Muong Hoa Valley Sapa: Explore the Beauty of Nature and Culture. [online] Vinpearl. Available at: https://vinpearl.com/en/muong-hoa-valley-sapa [Accessed 25 Apr. 2025].
- Vietnam News, 2016. Sa Pa debuts snow festival. [online] Vietnam News. Available at: https://vietnamnews.vn/life-style/348636/sa-pa-debuts-snow-festival.html [Accessed 25 Apr. 2025].
