The terraced green hills up north look like something off a postcard, but Sapa is a fair way off the main route and sounds like it involves more uphill walking than the rest of the trip. We’re torn between adding it and saving our energy for the coast and the cities. If you made it up to Sapa, was it a highlight or more effort than it was worth?
It really comes down to you and whoever you’re travelling with.
Do you like hiking and have plenty of energy?
It also depends on how much time you have and what the rest of your itinerary will look like.
If you’re after a dose of northern landscapes without the energetic trekking, Ninh Binh or Mai Chau offer dramatic scenery with easier walking.
