Approx prices (as of Feb 2008):
overnight sleeper from Hanoi to Lao Cai (216000 VND ~ 13.5 USD)
minibus from Lao Cai to Sapa (3000 VND)
list price for one-person guided 'tourist' climb (279 USD - which ridiculously includes 3 porters)
I met a girl from HCMC who said that locals will pay 60 USD for a guided climb but that only includes one porter. I guess that means you can't haul out any big rocks that you might fancy.
There are 2 main trails. One starts at Tram Ton Pass which is about 14 kilometers from Sapa and saves you about 400m of elevation gain. The other trail starts from Sapa or Cat Cat Village and goes through minority areas. This route seems a little longer and a little steeper and definitely less well marked.
minibus from Lao Cai to Sapa is 30,000 VND (approximately $2 USD)
List price for two-day one-person guided climb (1 guide, no porters) is currently $120 at various locations in Sapa.
The trail from Tram Ton pass is actually pretty easy to follow and could easily be done in a long day (sans guide). Permits are required for overnight trips but I could not figure out the dayhike permit requirements (if any). The locals seem to be rapidly 'improving' this area to increase tourist draw so expect less of a wilderness experience as time goes on. Trash on the trail and summit is indeed a major eyesore.
I just arrived Sapa, and have some useful information:
Sleepers in public train from Hanoi to Lao Cai is really hard to get if you order less than one week before departure, because travel agents in Hanoi buy up all the sleepers well in advance and sell them for double the price. So in most cases you will end up in one of the private trains (like Friendly Express) to 25+ dollars one way. No problem to get a sleeper in one of the many private trains/expresses, less than two days before departure. The private trains are not separate trains, but coaches hooked up to the public trains.
The guys/drivers at the station in Lao Cai tried to really rip me off. They started at 500.000 for a shared minibus to Sapa. But after a while looking around and inquiring some of the 20-30 minibuses at the station, I found one ready to leave for 40.000. I saw some tourists accepting 200.000 per pax, and who smiled of their negotiation skills because they just knocked the price down from 500.000 to 200.000. Stupid westerns tourists. When my bus was leaving they were still waiting for the bus to be filled up with local passengers.......
The price for a full package 2 day/1 night hike seems to be 80-120 dollar if you are alone, and 60-70 dollar if you join a group. I asked around several places. That package includes guide, porter, four meals, transportation, permits, tent, sleeping bag, mattress.
A local guy said to me that permit will be 20 dollar if you go independently. Then add costs for transport (10 km by jeep to the trailhead), food, hire of tent etc. There are a myriad of trails up there, so expect big problems in routefinding. No detailed map to be found of this area.
The permit is exactly 145'000 VND. When you go down Sapa on the phan xi pang street, you will find the office for eco tourism on your left. Independent climbers can ask for the permit there (note that nobody will help you in Sapa as this mountain is a bussiness institution now).
The only way to get a permit is to hire a guide! They will tell you very precisely : "no guide, no fansipan". If you re okay with a guide they have telephone numbers to provide you.
If you don't want a guide... well as Mike Horn would say "there is always way around or over obstacles" ;-) (note that bribe doesnt work!)
We (my girlfriend and myself) have done Fansipan in one day. It is probably not a good idea for first time hikers.
Timetable
5.30am departure with the motorcycle in SAPA
6am departure Tram Ton Pass (Gate)
7am Camp 1
9am Camp 2
11am Summit
4pm Tram Ton Pass
4.30pm SAPA
Cost
505'000 dong for the permit (2 people)
Since the disappearance of a 20 year old student from Hanoi during this July you must be accompanied by an official guide in order to obtain the permit (although it is not really necessary).
The student hasn't been found yet. So in case you return early from the summit, you may check some bushes left and right of your way and maybe a pale face will stare at you!
500'000 dong for the guide, no porters
0,5l vodka for the guide
Guide
In the fog at 7 degrees Celsius Hang A Dinh arrived with sandals (as most of the Hmongs do). After the ride on the motorcycle he felt a bit cold (he told us later). On the climb he only consumed half a liter vodka and some puffs from the typical waterpipe. His brother holds the record with 1h38 from the gate to the summit. He can be reached under 0163 603 49 54 (he only speaks Vietnamese).
We climbed Fansipan in November 2014 as a day trip, had incredible weather which made the climb special.
As we were not interested in sleeping on the mountain, we looked for a guide who would be willing to take us as a day trip and found one.
This is is contact info:
Cuong Vna Nong
nongvancuonglc@yahoo.com , phone 0168 7863 711
He speaks English very well, the arrangements were done ahead of time via e-mail, which he replies promptly.
Overall we would highly recommend him as he is young, enthusiastic, friendly and the price was reasonable ie $55 per person, based on two people.
atavist - Feb 11, 2008 5:01 pm - Hasn't voted
pricesApprox prices (as of Feb 2008):
overnight sleeper from Hanoi to Lao Cai (216000 VND ~ 13.5 USD)
minibus from Lao Cai to Sapa (3000 VND)
list price for one-person guided 'tourist' climb (279 USD - which ridiculously includes 3 porters)
I met a girl from HCMC who said that locals will pay 60 USD for a guided climb but that only includes one porter. I guess that means you can't haul out any big rocks that you might fancy.
There are 2 main trails. One starts at Tram Ton Pass which is about 14 kilometers from Sapa and saves you about 400m of elevation gain. The other trail starts from Sapa or Cat Cat Village and goes through minority areas. This route seems a little longer and a little steeper and definitely less well marked.
Bill Kish - Mar 26, 2008 9:23 pm - Voted 8/10
comments and prices (March 2008)minibus from Lao Cai to Sapa is 30,000 VND (approximately $2 USD)
List price for two-day one-person guided climb (1 guide, no porters) is currently $120 at various locations in Sapa.
The trail from Tram Ton pass is actually pretty easy to follow and could easily be done in a long day (sans guide). Permits are required for overnight trips but I could not figure out the dayhike permit requirements (if any). The locals seem to be rapidly 'improving' this area to increase tourist draw so expect less of a wilderness experience as time goes on. Trash on the trail and summit is indeed a major eyesore.
LS - Feb 4, 2009 11:02 pm - Hasn't voted
prices etcI just arrived Sapa, and have some useful information:
Sleepers in public train from Hanoi to Lao Cai is really hard to get if you order less than one week before departure, because travel agents in Hanoi buy up all the sleepers well in advance and sell them for double the price. So in most cases you will end up in one of the private trains (like Friendly Express) to 25+ dollars one way. No problem to get a sleeper in one of the many private trains/expresses, less than two days before departure. The private trains are not separate trains, but coaches hooked up to the public trains.
The guys/drivers at the station in Lao Cai tried to really rip me off. They started at 500.000 for a shared minibus to Sapa. But after a while looking around and inquiring some of the 20-30 minibuses at the station, I found one ready to leave for 40.000. I saw some tourists accepting 200.000 per pax, and who smiled of their negotiation skills because they just knocked the price down from 500.000 to 200.000. Stupid westerns tourists. When my bus was leaving they were still waiting for the bus to be filled up with local passengers.......
The price for a full package 2 day/1 night hike seems to be 80-120 dollar if you are alone, and 60-70 dollar if you join a group. I asked around several places. That package includes guide, porter, four meals, transportation, permits, tent, sleeping bag, mattress.
A local guy said to me that permit will be 20 dollar if you go independently. Then add costs for transport (10 km by jeep to the trailhead), food, hire of tent etc. There are a myriad of trails up there, so expect big problems in routefinding. No detailed map to be found of this area.
surchatm - May 18, 2013 11:06 pm - Hasn't voted
About permit (may 2013)The permit is exactly 145'000 VND. When you go down Sapa on the phan xi pang street, you will find the office for eco tourism on your left. Independent climbers can ask for the permit there (note that nobody will help you in Sapa as this mountain is a bussiness institution now).
The only way to get a permit is to hire a guide! They will tell you very precisely : "no guide, no fansipan". If you re okay with a guide they have telephone numbers to provide you.
If you don't want a guide... well as Mike Horn would say "there is always way around or over obstacles" ;-) (note that bribe doesnt work!)
marcusmarcus - Dec 1, 2013 10:59 pm - Voted 8/10
Low Cost One Day AscentWe (my girlfriend and myself) have done Fansipan in one day. It is probably not a good idea for first time hikers.
Timetable
5.30am departure with the motorcycle in SAPA
6am departure Tram Ton Pass (Gate)
7am Camp 1
9am Camp 2
11am Summit
4pm Tram Ton Pass
4.30pm SAPA
Cost
505'000 dong for the permit (2 people)
Since the disappearance of a 20 year old student from Hanoi during this July you must be accompanied by an official guide in order to obtain the permit (although it is not really necessary).
The student hasn't been found yet. So in case you return early from the summit, you may check some bushes left and right of your way and maybe a pale face will stare at you!
500'000 dong for the guide, no porters
0,5l vodka for the guide
Guide
In the fog at 7 degrees Celsius Hang A Dinh arrived with sandals (as most of the Hmongs do). After the ride on the motorcycle he felt a bit cold (he told us later). On the climb he only consumed half a liter vodka and some puffs from the typical waterpipe. His brother holds the record with 1h38 from the gate to the summit. He can be reached under 0163 603 49 54 (he only speaks Vietnamese).
Boleslav - Apr 12, 2015 9:46 pm - Hasn't voted
Guide for FansipanWe climbed Fansipan in November 2014 as a day trip, had incredible weather which made the climb special.
As we were not interested in sleeping on the mountain, we looked for a guide who would be willing to take us as a day trip and found one.
This is is contact info:
Cuong Vna Nong
nongvancuonglc@yahoo.com , phone 0168 7863 711
He speaks English very well, the arrangements were done ahead of time via e-mail, which he replies promptly.
Overall we would highly recommend him as he is young, enthusiastic, friendly and the price was reasonable ie $55 per person, based on two people.
Scott - Feb 20, 2019 1:10 pm - Voted 10/10
Cable CarUnfortunately (for hikers and climbers) a cable car has been constructed to the summit!