If you’re looking for things to do in Sapa that go beyond the usual tick-the-box tourist attractions, let me tell you about the two days that changed how I see travel. It involved a lot of walking, a fair bit of mud, some very fragrant herbs, and one truly wonderful woman named May Lai.
We signed up for a two-day trek through the rice terraces and misty mountains that wrap around Sapa in Northern Vietnam. Our guide, host, and overall force of nature was May Lai, a member of the Red Dao community. And no, this wasn’t some polished cultural performance staged for tourists. This was her actual life, generously opened up to us for a few unforgettable days.
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One of the most unique things to do in Sapa
There are things to do in Sapa, and then there are things that make you feel like you’ve dropped into another world. Our trek took us away from the hum of the town, winding through steep rice terraces, cloud-draped peaks, and quiet bamboo forests. Not another tourist in sight. Just me, my hiking boots, and the occasional water buffalo giving me the side-eye.
ETHOS, the local organisation we booked through, is the real deal. They work directly with ethnic minority communities across the region to offer immersive, ethical experiences that aren’t just about watching from the sidelines. Depending on who you stay with, your experience will look completely different.
While we stayed with the Red Dao, ETHOS also partners with the Black Hmong and other local groups to offer homestays, treks, cultural exchanges, and even hands-on activities like traditional dyeing workshops and medicinal plant foraging. Each tour is shaped by the guide’s community, their stories, and what they want to share, so no two trips are the same. What stays consistent is ETHOS’s commitment to community-first tourism, where the people hosting you are the ones who benefit from your visit.
You’re not just paying for a tour. You’re investing in a community.
Into the heart of the Red Dao
May Lai welcomed us into her home like old friends. Her house sat on a hilltop with views straight out of a Studio Ghibli film. Layers of mist curled around the mountains, chickens clucked underfoot, and children darted in and out, laughing and curious.
We learned how the Red Dao people live. How they forage in the forest for herbs and wild vegetables. How they cook over open flames. How their traditional dress, language, and way of life are still very much alive. And we learned by doing. I helped gather leaves for our evening bath (more on that in a minute), clumsily tried to cook dinner, and sat with her family around the fire as they told stories in a language I didn’t understand, but somehow still felt.
The herbal bath I didn’t know I needed
After a full day of trekking, my body was screaming for mercy. Enter the Red Dao herbal bath. Imagine a giant wooden tub filled with a dark, reddish brew of medicinal herbs gathered from the nearby forest. It smelled earthy, spicy, slightly medicinal in the best way. Like soaking in tea.
This centuries-old practice is meant to relax your muscles, improve circulation, and generally reset your soul. And yeah, I came out feeling like I’d been exorcised of every ache, mosquito bite, and trace of cynicism. If I could have bottled that bath and taken it home, I would have filled my suitcase.
Why this matters
Vietnam is home to at least 54 ethnic groups, though most people you meet or see in cities belong to the Kinh group, which makes up about 87 percent of the population. The other 13 percent is made up of dozens of smaller groups like the Red Dao, each with their own language, traditions, and way of life.
Spending time with the Red Dao wasn’t just a cool travel experience. It was humbling. It was perspective-shifting. It reminded me that travel isn’t just about sightseeing. It’s about connecting. Listening. Being a guest in someone else’s world, and understanding just how different and beautiful that world can be.
A few practical bits
If you’re planning your trip and wondering about things to do in Sapa, I’d honestly say put this at the top of your list. ETHOS – Spirit of the Community is the group to contact. They’ll arrange your trek and homestay, and make sure your visit is ethical, respectful, and genuinely beneficial to the local community.
You’ll need good walking shoes, some stamina, and an open mind. There’s no cell service up in the mountains, which is honestly a blessing. Bring snacks, be ready to squat on tiny stools, and embrace the mud.
In summary
There are plenty of things to do in Sapa. You can ride a cable car. You can sip coffee overlooking rice fields. You can visit Cat Cat Village and buy a mass-produced “handmade” bracelet. Or you can spend two days living with a Red Dao family, learning how they live, eating their food, bathing in their traditions, and walking away with something that will stay with you far longer than an Instagram story.
Travel slower. Travel kinder. Go meet May Lai.
