visiting Sapa and local markets
Nov 28th, 2014, 08:01 AM
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visiting Sapa and local markets
We are visiting Sapa in early March. Has anyone experienced both the Saturday Can Cau and Sunday Bac Ha markets - and could elaborate on the difference? Also, if we stay at a hotel that is a five -minute walk out of the city center, is that safe to walk after dark?
Nov 28th, 2014, 10:37 AM
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I have only been to the bac ha market and can say that it was one of the highlights of our Vietnam trip. What city center are you referring to? Sapa? Area seemed very safe to me. Do you realize though that the markets are no where near sapa? The bac ha market is actually in the opposite direction from the train. I suggest arriving on a Sunday morning (train gets in around 5ish. Arrange for transportation to take you directly to the market. Afterward, they will take you to sapa, if that is where you intend to stay. You will pass the train station and head to sapa.
Nov 28th, 2014, 01:03 PM
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Thanks for your imput. Yes, I was referring to Sapa's city center as to the night safety issue. It's a matter of choosing a hotel right smack in the middle of town, or one that would involve walking a bit, but with better scenery. We like to walk, but not if it's dicey after dark. Re the markets, yes, we are aware of the distance and have a private driver arranged from the train station. It's just that if we come for the Bac Ha market, it screws up the rest of the itinerary. Just balancing the pros and cons of the two markets.
Nov 28th, 2014, 03:57 PM
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We are in Hanoi at the moment debating whether to include Sapa on our way to Ha Giang. If we do decide go that way then we will almost certainly include Can Cau and will report back. When are you going?
Bac Ha is certainly worth seeing and a Vietnamese friend has just told me that it is bigger than Can Cau but just as interesting. I would say there is no need to see both unless you are really into market.
Sapa is a pretty safe place, or at least it was when we visited a few years ago. If you are staying out of the centre a bit, my main concern would be traffic and street lighting.
Bac Ha is certainly worth seeing and a Vietnamese friend has just told me that it is bigger than Can Cau but just as interesting. I would say there is no need to see both unless you are really into market.
Sapa is a pretty safe place, or at least it was when we visited a few years ago. If you are staying out of the centre a bit, my main concern would be traffic and street lighting.
