Vietnam: Dalat or Sapa?

Show all answers

Oz M

Accommodation in Dalat is more expensive than Sapa.

But don't let that stop you...

Consider this, from Saigion (HCMC) you can take a bus cheap enough. By memory it's about 5 hours.
You can take a bus from Dalat to Nha Trang, which by memory is also about 5 hours.

If you took a bus from Saigon to Nha Trang, that's about 8 hours. So for an extra 2 hours or so traveling time, Dalat is not so out of the way.

Just a day in Dalat, if that is all you had would give you more than just a glimpse. Just one day in Sapa is just a glimpse.

To get from Hanoi to Sapa by bus is an absolute nightmare. You best take the train and the overnight sleeper is the way to go that way your score a place to sleep and you don't kill a day by mere traveling.

To appreciate Dalat, 2 days is good. But for Sap, I would say 3 days minimum. I was in Vietnam late last year and had 6 days in Sapa.

I have visited Vietnam a number of times and have now traveled the country extensively and in my opinion, when I arrived in Sapa for the first time last December, I knew within minutes that Sapa would become the highlight of all of my travels to the country.

Knowing what I do now, if I had to choose one over the other, I would chose Sapa as my choice to visit without hesitation.
Beautiful country and beautiful people.

Dang N

My suggestion is Dalat, because It's quite beautiful up there.

Izzy_Cool

It depends on the season.

Sa Pa can surprise you with heavy unexpected flooding and occasional snow. Tell your friends you were in a snow storm in Viet Nam and watch the look on their faces...heehee.

Sa Pa is beautiful, especially when there is a light snow or fog.

Da Lat is the best for many reasons. the best vegetables, fruits and flowers. Weather is great all year round and they have decent 4 and 5 star hotels (as well as some nice 2-3 stars)

You cannot go wrong with Da Lat.

Personally, I'd take Da Lat.

lalala

Dalat. It's really beautiful there, it was really rainy and cold when I went though xD, it's like a little seattle haha.

Tony J

I'd go to Sapa, Da Lat gets boring very quickly.

sparrow t

Both Dalat and Sapa are highland resorts in Vietnam. Sapa has the unique advantage in that you can do treks to visit ethnic villages, e.g. Black Hmong and Red Dao, and interacting with the ethnic people can be an interesting experience. The ethnic peope are also colourful as they still wear their ethnic costumes. They will surprise you with how much English they know ;)

barry c

It kind of depends where else you're going to be going, doesn't it? If you're landing at Ha Noi, Sapa is more convenient. If you're landing in Saigon, Sapa's about as far out of the way as you could get, Da Lat a virtual hop, skip.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: