3 stunning waterfalls in Sapa

Most people that travel all the way up north are coming for the famous Sapa rice fields. But this region has much more to see, such as mountain passes, minority villages and the highest mountain of Vietnam, Fansipan. Another great thing to do is visiting the waterfalls in Sapa. You can easily combine them with other sights, so you can make it in a small day trip.

1. Love waterfall

Love Waterfall Sapa

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

Silver Waterfall Sapa

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

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)

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.

Local tip! You might like these experiences

  • Drive over the highest mountain pass in Vietnam; Tram Ton Pass
  • Stay overnight in a homestay with a local family
  • Make a beautiful trek through rice fields and authentic villages.
Tram Ton Pass
  • This tour is designed for people that do not want or not able to do trekking, but still like to see the beautiful terraced rice fields
  • The most comfortable way to see the surroundings of Sapa
  • Enjoy beautiful views and learn about the local hill tribes culture
Sapa trekking
  • Go on a great 1-day trekking tour through the terraced rice fields and authentic villages
  • Stay overnight in a comfortable hotel
  • Take a trip over the Tram Ton Pass, the highest mountain pass in Vietnam
  • Learn about the local culture of the ethnic minorities
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