Top 5 family experiences in Sapa
Don’t let the long drive or overnight train ride put you off from bringing the whole family to one of Vietnam’s most beautiful destinations, Sapa! The region’s rich cultural diversity and incredible natural scenery provide a ton of outdoor activities to enjoy together as a family.
Have a look at our top 5 favorite child-friendly Sapa tours as well as our latest family-friendly additions at Topas Ecolodge below to get started!
#5 - Make friends with a Sapa homestay
A homestay in one of Sapa’s many ethnic minority villages is a wonderful way to support community tourism as well as help your children make new friends. Typically, your tour guide will either be one of the members of the family where you will spend the night or a close family friend. You’ll spend the day walking through rice terraces enjoying the impressive scenery while learning about your guide’s life.
In addition to the room for a night, your hosts will prepare typical meals to share with your family, too! Even though there is a language barrier sometimes between the children, all they need are smiles and some outdoor space or a few toys to start playing together. This is one of the most culturally enriching activity you can try in Vietnam at least once during your travel/stays.
#4 - Swim in Vietnam's most stunning pool!
Topas Ecolodge’s double tiered saltwater infinity pools mimicking the structure of Sapa’s iconic rice terraces have been on many travelers’ bucketlists since their inception in 2017 and 2020, respectively.
Both swimming pools have a shallow end for kids to play in and there are some floating devices readily available for parents to use while enjoying the water.
Admire the mountain views while playing a game of catch or watching your child take their first independent swimming strokes amongst the clouds.
Just remember to pack some sunscreen as the high altitude combined with the sun can lead to sunburns much quicker than expected!
#3 - Art and crafts with a Sapa twist!
A little hands-on experience anyone? Take the whole family for a day of educational learning and cultural exploration to a H’mong batik workshop. Traditionally, these designs are created by wax-drawn motifs on a piece of hemp fabric, especially used on skirts and other household items, and were in the past a primary form of visual expression as H’mong culture did not have a written form until recently. You will also get an interesting insight into how hemp fabrics and natural indigo dye are produced by the same families for generations. Recommended for families with children aged 6 and up.
Families with older children or those skilled in embroidery may prefer the more challenging Red Dzao sewing workshop which focuses more on stitching and embroidery.
#2 - Reach new heights with Mt. Fansipan cable car
The tallest peak in all of mainland Southeast Asia, Mt. Fansipan sits at a towering 3.143 m (10,100 ft). In the olden days the only way to reach the summit was by hiking overnight and sleeping at a base camp. Now, you can reach the top within an hour due to the new funicular system starting from MGallery’s Hotel de la Coupole’s train station.
Then, a 15-minute cable car followed by one more 5’ funicular ride brings you to the tip-top of the mountain. More active families may choose to only take the cable car ride and then climb the remaining 650 steps to the top. A complete round-trip adult ticket will set you back VND 920.000, while a child’s ticket will be free for those under 1.1 m tall. Children between the height of 1.1 – 1.3m tall will be charged VND 685.000.
#1 - Kid-friendly day hikes through Sapa's hills
What would a trip to Sapa be without a hike or two? Even if you are not an experienced hiker, all you need are a good pair of shoes, a water bottle, some trail mix, and a hat to protect you from the sun – then you’re good to go!
There are many beginner-friendly hikes around Topas Ecolodge and Topas Riverside Lodge to choose from that range from 2 – 4 hours long, providing your family just the right amount of exercise to appreciate the moment.
Both properties are able to provide picnic lunches and guides if you need them!
Exciting Topas updates!
Your family is important to us! Our latest projects have been designed especially for families in mind to provide more fun and entertainment during your stay with us.
Our newest addition is a playground built from local wood guaranteed to test your child’s agility, strength, and imagination. There are just a few finishing touches to add before it’s open to play!
Even more exciting, we are just about ready to launch our outdoor cinema program, complete with a popcorn machine. Watch some of our favorite movies under the stars with your family and experience Sapa’s first outdoor cinema!
Lastly, we are in the developmental stage of building a ropes course near our sister property, Topas Riverside Lodge. This is a wonderful way to spend time with your family building trust and working on gross motor skills. There will be many different levels with differing range of difficulties so all ages can participate.
Keep watching this space to find out the release date!