The waterfalls in Sapa are a hidden gem for those traveling to this northern region of Vietnam, often overshadowed by the famous rice fields. However, Sapa offers much more to see, including mountain passes, minority villages, and the highest mountain in Vietnam, Fansipan. Visiting the waterfalls in Sapa is a fantastic way to explore the area’s natural beauty, and you can easily combine these visits with other sights, making for an enjoyable day trip.
- Love waterfall
- Silver waterfall
- Cat Cat waterfall
- Dragon Waterfall
- Tac Tinh Waterfall
- Best time to visit
- Waterfalls in Muong Hoa Valley
1. Love waterfall
The Love Waterfall (Thac Think Yeu) is about 14 km from the center of Sapa. The stream that feeds the waterfall comes directly from Fansipan, the highest mountain of Vietnam. It flows down and forms a 10 meter high waterfall at the bottom, right between the forest. To get to the waterfall, you have to walk for 30 minutes. But a hike through the forest and to the waterfall is also one of the best things to do in Sapa. Don’t worry, there is a stone path and stairs that are leading straight to the waterfall. The views along the way and through the forest are getting more and more beautiful.
Because the waterfall takes a 30 minute hike, a lot of tourist coming to Sapa skip this place. There is a good change that you have the waterfall completely for yourself. There is a natural pool below the waterfall where you can take a bath. Just keep in mind that the water can be freezing cold.
The beautiful location right in the middle of the nature and the least visited place in this list, makes this the best waterfall in Sapa.
Visiting the Love waterfall in Sapa
The Love Waterfall is located 14 km west from the town, on the road of the Tram Ton pass. This is the highest mountain pass in Vietnam with scenic views along the way. It is highly recommended to combine the waterfall and pass in a half day trip.
To get there, you can either choose to drive a motorbike yourself. Keep in mind that driver through the mountains of norther Vietnam is not without danger and not legal withouth a Vietnamese drivers licence. But if you are confident enough about your driving skills, you can rent a motorbike in Sapa from about 100,00 to 150,000 VND.
A safer and more comfortable alternative is going by taxi or rent a car with driver for half a day. The price should be from 500,000 VND. Besides the Love Waterfall and Tram Ton Pass you can also visit the Silver Waterfall.
- Location: 4D Highway, San Sa Ho Commune, Sapa District, Lao Cai Province (Location on Google Maps)
- Entrance fee: 70,000 VND for adults and 30,000 for children
- Visiting time: 1.5 – 2 hours
2. Silver waterfall
The Silver waterfall (Thac Bac) is one of the most visited waterfalls in Sapa, as it is just along one of the main roads leading to the Tram Ton Pass. From a height of 200 meters it is thundering down via several floors. The entrance to the waterfall is just on the side of the main road. You can hear to noise of the waterfall already from the main road. You can not miss it.
Around the waterfall are a few shops selling food, drinks and souvenirs. At the entrance you pay 20,000 and just a minute walk to the start of the falls. There are stone paths around the base and stairs that go along the waterfall. At the base there is a bridge that go over the stream and halfway up a steel-arched bridge. From here you have a great view from up and down the falls.
Unlike the Love waterfall, this waterfall in Sapa does not have a place to swim. There is also less forest, but is has some nice views over the mountains and rice fields below.
Visiting the Silver waterfall in Sapa
The waterfall is located 15 km from the center of Sapa and takes around 30 minutes to get to. You can either rent a motorbike or go by car and combine it with a visit to the Tram Ton Pass.
- Location: 4D Highway, San Sa Ho Commune, Sapa District, Lao Cai Province (Location on Google Maps)
- Entrance fee: 20,000 VND.
- Visiting time: 20 – 30 min
3. Cat Cat waterfall
The official name of Cat Cat waterfall is Tien Sa waterfall (Thac Tien Sa) and is located in Cat Cat village, just 3 km from Sapa. The village gives you an indication of the minority life, but has lost it’s local feeling and changed into a tourist village. It can still be nice to walk here, because there area is beautiful. There are small shops to buy food, drinks and local minority made handicrafts.
This waterfall in Sapa is located at the end of the village, across a bridge. The Cat Cat waterfall is surrounded with trees and the stream continues into a small canyon. This makes the scenery nice and peaceful, even though it is still part of a big tourist sight.
Visiting the Cat Cat waterfall in Sapa
Because it is so close to Sapa, the best way to get there is walking. The route along the way is nice, with views on the famous terraced rice fields. The walk is actually nicer than the visit to the village and waterfall, as this place lost it’s authenticity years ago. It takes about 40 minutes walking from city center (2,5 km). There are also taxi’s that can bring you to the entrance of the village.
- Location: Cat Cat Village, Sa Pa, Lao Cai (Location on Google Maps)
- Entrance fee: 25,000 VND (entrance to the village)
- Visiting time: 3 hours (including the hike to Cat Cat and visiting the village)
4. Dragon Waterfall
The Dragon Waterfall (Thác Rồng) is a hidden gem tucked away in a secluded gorge, offering a captivating sight for those willing to venture beyond the typical tourist spots around Sapa. This lesser-visited waterfall can be viewed from the edge of the gorge, but for a more immersive experience, you can opt to ride a bamboo raft through the narrow gorge, providing an up-close view of the waterfall’s power and beauty.
The journey to Dragon Waterfall is an adventure in itself. Located about 50 kilometers from Sapa, the drive takes over 2.5 hours, winding through scenic landscapes and rural areas. The long travel time and somewhat challenging route make this destination suitable for adventure seekers with ample time to explore the greater Sapa area.
Visiting the Dragon Waterfall from Sapa
To reach the Dragon Waterfall, it’s advisable to use Google Maps and search for its Vietnamese name, “Thác Rồng” (Location on Google Maps). This journey is recommended for experienced drivers or those accompanied by a local guide, due to the challenging nature of the route.
For those up for the adventure, the Dragon Waterfall promises a unique and thrilling experience far from the crowds.
5. Tac Tinh Waterfall
Tac Tinh Waterfall is located in Binh Lu Commune, Tam Duong District, about 50 kilometers from Sapa town, making it a relatively remote and less-visited destination. The waterfall originates from the Hoang Lien Son mountain range and falls from a height of approximately 120 meters into a pool about 200 square meters in size.
To reach the waterfall, you need to hike uphill for about 30 minutes, depending on your pace. The hike covers a distance of approximately 600 meters to 1 kilometer and can be somewhat tiring due to the incline. It is advisable to wear good walking shoes and bring plenty of drinking water, as there are no shops along the way or at the waterfall.
The area around the waterfall is forested, and the pool at the base offers a spot to rest and enjoy the natural surroundings. The waterfall is also connected to a local legend about a Dao ethnic couple, adding a cultural element to the visit. While the waterfall itself is not crowded, it provides a quiet place to appreciate nature.
Visiting the Tac Tinh Waterfall from Sapa
Reaching Tac Tinh Waterfall is an adventure due to the challenging road conditions (Location on Google Maps). The drive takes nearly 1.5 hours, and only experienced motorbike riders should attempt it. Alternatively, you can hire a car with a driver for a safer and more comfortable journey, though it can be tiring.
Best time to visit the waterfalls in Sapa
Like most of the waterfalls in Vietnam, the best time to visit the waterfalls in Sapa depend on the season. All year round there is water flowing down, but during rainy season and right after rainy season you can see the waterfalls on its best, with the most volume of water thundering down. Rainy season in the north of Vietnam is from May to September. September is also the best time to visit Sapa if you want to see the yellow and golden rice fields, during harvest.
Bonus: Waterfalls in Muong Hoa Valley
Beyond the main waterfalls we’ve mentioned so far, there are countless smaller waterfalls that appear during the rainy season in the Muong Hoa Valley. Located on the side of Hoan Lien Son National Park, this mountain range lies opposite Sapa. You have Sapa, then Muong Hoa Valley, and then the mountains of Hoan Lien Son.
During the rainy season, these temporary waterfalls cascade down the mountains, providing water to the stream running through Muong Hoa Valley. In some spots, these waterfalls create natural pools. When trekking in Sapa during the rainy season, which coincides with the hot summer months, you can swim in these natural pools to cool off. This adds an extra layer of adventure and refreshment to your trekking experience.
