Here we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about exploring the 'roof of Indochina', which is now accessible by cable-car 365 days a year. 

When is the best season to visit Fansipan?

Standing at a height of 3,143 meters, Fansipan is the highest peak in the Indochinese peninsula (Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam) and a national icon for Vietnamese people. 

The Mount Fasipan is located in Lao Cai province, about 9km southwest of Sapa town. It belongs to the mountain range Hoang Lien Son, located in the northwest of Vietnam and lying in the border of two provinces - Lao Cai and Lai Chau.

In recent years, more and more international tourists have been flocking to northern Vietnam to ascend this vast mountain. So is there an optimal time of year to visit? 

Many travelers love to go in spring, when hundreds of cherry and plum blossom trees are in full bloom. In late April, as spring gracefully transitions into early summer, many varieties of azalea – known as the 'Queen of Northwest flowers’ – transforms Fansipan with a vivid red tapestry, which captivates visitors. 

During the summer months, when bustling cities in Vietnam such as Hanoi and Da Nang are subjected to intense heat, Fansipan is considered to be the perfect getaway. Standing on "the rooftop of Indochina", travelers will discover crisp, cool and pure air with temperatures dipping below 20 degrees Celsius. 

Affectionately known to Vietnamese as “Golden Season”, autumn is also an incredible time to visit Sapa. At this time of year, the terraced rice fields, where the rice is ripening and golden, seem to cascade down the mountains like a waterfall. 

But wintertime visitors to Sapa will often get to experience an extraordinary sight for a tropical country – a snow-covered mountainous landscape that would be more commonly associated with the Swiss Alps.

Rest assured, no matter what time of year you visit, the great Fansipan – one of the most photographed mountains in the world – always puts on a show!  

What's the best way to climb Fansipan?

Just a decade ago, climbing up Fansipan presented a huge physical and logistical challenge. Indeed, you would have to embark on a two to three-day trek, walking for over 40 kilometers through wild forests. However, in 2016, thanks to the inauguration of a cable car system, the journey for travelers to the summit of Fansipan was reduced to just around 25 minutes.

Developed by Sun Group, in collaboration with Doppelmayr Garaventa, the world's leading manufacturer of ropeways, installing the system was an incredible feat of engineering that required great courage and tremendous innovation. 

Recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest three-rope cable car (6,292.5 meters), the system ascends for 1,410 meters (also a world record) and it's an exhilarating experience for travelers of all ages as the cable car glides through the ethereal clouds.

This visionary cable-car system means more visitors than ever before have been able to reach the top of Fansipan and admire the breathtaking beauty of Hoang Lien mountain range all around and the Muong Hoa Valley down below.

Before they ascend the mountain, travelers can also take a fun train trip from the heart of Sapa town to the cable car station. The elegant red locomotive, which has a beautiful vintage charm, winds its way through the Muong Hoa Valley. Currently, combo tickets for the cable car and train ride are available, starting from US$50 per adult and US$40 per child at the Sun World Fansipan Legend.

What's the best time of day to conquer Fansipan?

If you go in the morning, it's a majestic, perhaps even spiritual sight when you rise up through the clouds and see how the earth and sky converge as one in the soft morning light. 

If you go in the early afternoon, you can spend an hour or two enjoying the spectacular scenery and visiting the spiritual complex on the mountain top and then… it's show time! As the sun begins to set, you will be treated to an enchanting blend of colors over the Hoang Lien Mountain range. 

What is at the top of Fansipan?

On the summit of Vietnam's highest peak, visitors will discover a steel pyramid inscribed with the words “FANSIPAN 3,143M”. Much like the iconic elevation markers found on other famous peaks around the world, this spot serves as a cherished photography spot for all visitors reaching the summit of Fansipan. If you ascend the mountain in the morning on special occasions, national holidays, or the weekend, you will get to witness a flag-raising ceremony. 

Visitors can explore a spiritual complex, which boasts 12 architectural works that were inspired by Vietnamese temples from the 15th and 16th centuries. 

Perhaps the most breathtaking structure is the Great Statue of Amitabha Buddha, which stands at a towering height of 21.5 meters and weighs 62 tons. This magnificent masterpiece was meticulously crafted from hundreds of thousands of 5 mm thick copper plates and is said to be the highest copper Amitabha Buddha sculpture in all of Asia. 

Within its confines there is also a seven-story crystal stupa which serves as a solemn store for sacred relics that belonged to Buddha, an esteemed treasure of profound significance in Buddhist culture that attracts many pilgrims to Mount Fansipan.

What to do at the foot of Fansipan?

Located at the foot of Fansipan, near the cable-car departure station, May Village is a small community, where these five ethnic groups– H'Mong, Tay, Giay, Xa Pho, and Red Dao –  coexist. Together, they offer visitors a glimpse into their individual cultures, beliefs, artisanal crafts, and traditional cuisines. 

During weekends and local festivals, travelers will have the opportunity to witness the reenactment of ancient customs and rituals, for example, a Red Dao wedding ceremony, the 'catch-hand marriage' of the H'Mong people…

Every day of the week, May Village also hosts exclusive shows from 9:30am to 11:30am, and from 1:50pm to 4:00pm, inviting visitors to watch and enjoy various artistic performances that highlight the rich cultural diversity of the Northwest region. 

Visitors can interact with local artists from the Tay and Xa Pho communities before and after watching short shows including 'Little Sapa', 'Northwest in Bloom' and 'The Love of Fansipan’.

PV