Things to do at Fansipan

Fansipan is the cable car and summit station above Sapa, not the town itself, and the two are separate visits: a base station at the Muong Hoa valley floor, a cable car climb, and a summit complex with viewing platforms, pagodas and statues built up the final stretch of ridge.

At 3,147 metres it is the highest peak in Indochina, and on a clear day the cable car cabin gives sweeping views over the terraced valley and the mountains along the Chinese border; on a cloudy day, which is common outside the driest months, the summit itself can sit inside cloud with little to see.

A funicular covers the last stretch above the upper cable car station for those who prefer not to walk the final steps.