Sapa

Booking tickets with a credit card discount is a great deal! At first, I thought I'd receive a QR code immediately after buying the tickets, so I was wondering why I hadn't received it. I got anxious and contacted customer service the day before, only to find out that cancellations are free up to the day before, which is why they sent the QR code so late (^◇^;). Thank you to customer service for their patient assistance! Although it was cloudy and I didn't see the spectacular sea of ​​clouds on the day I went, the misty atmosphere was still beautiful. The rice terraces on the way down were gorgeous! If you don't have any travel restrictions, I suggest checking the morning weather forecast during your stay in Sapa before deciding whether to buy tickets; you might be more likely to see the sea of ​​clouds.

This is a legitimate service. I don't know what else to say, I had to quickly get a visa within 2 days and I was getting worried because on the official evisa page it said it would take 3 days minimum to process. You select the package that you want, and complete the traveler info (so this means you provide your flight info, passport info, duration of evisa etc), complete the payment details What will happen is that you will recieve a message on kkday from the agent, to confirm your evisa number and passport info Once that happens, the kkday order will close BUT DONT STRESS within the closing message, the agent will give you their WhatsApp number to contact them directly. The order being completed on kkday means that they have submitted evisa to be expedited, it just means you have to trust the process. I then got an email directly from the official website, stating that its done

There are morning and afternoon tours available. The tour includes a visit to a viewpoint overlooking Muong Hoa Valley and a walk through part of Ta Van Village, where you can see terraced rice fields, traditional houses, and traditional household items. At the end of the tour, you move to a cafe with a great view to enjoy a foot bath and a drink of your choice. Our guide, Mai, was very kind and spoke English well. Since there is a lot of explanation involved, it is recommended that at least one person in the group speaks English. She also explains the cultural differences of ethnic minorities such as the Hmong and Giai. I recommend this to those who find overly intense tours difficult. It is not too expensive, and since transportation is by vehicle, it is very convenient!

This is a very convenient service that takes you between Hanoi and Sapa in 5 hours and even drops you off at your hotel. However, it's a considerable distance, so you need to plan with plenty of extra time. Especially on weekends, there can be traffic congestion on the highways, construction, and accidents on the local roads. Our driver even pulled into the opposite lane on a two-lane uphill road to overtake other vehicles. While this might be normal in Vietnam, a Japanese person would be worried about the possibility of an accident. In fact, on the return trip, a similar type of limousine bus was involved in an accident. It's convenient, but the possibility of an accident is high, so be sure to allow plenty of time before and after the trip! In my case, it took me 9 hours to get from Sapa to Hanoi. I was worried, so I canceled my stay in Sapa and returned to Hanoi, which was the right decision.

I had originally booked a standard private cabin, but on the day of departure, I received a call from Chapa informing me of a change in my train and a cabin upgrade. The VIP cabin features a queen-size bed, chairs, and a coffee table. It's wide enough for two adults comfortably, but long enough that anyone over 170cm tall will find their feet touching the wall. Amenities include a comb and toothbrush, snacks, and a soft drink or beer. There were some quite bumpy sections during the journey, and unfortunately, I didn't sleep very well. However, the atmosphere of the train was wonderful, and I would recommend it as a memorable travel experience. About 30 minutes before arrival, there's a paid coffee service, which I also recommend as a wake-up call. I set an alarm on my smartphone, but it was drowned out by the train noise and I couldn't hear it! (laughs)