Review Author: Sarah Habibi

Review Date: 05 Mar 2020

Review Body:

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Nathan

Review Date: 14 Dec 2025

Review Body: We had a wonderful day climbing Mount Fansipan with our guide, Pao, in mid-December. He contacted us in advance via Whatsapp to gather some extra information and to arrange the pickup, which made everything feel very well organized from the start. On the morning of the hike, Pao and a driver were waiting punctually at our hotel at 5:30 a.m. We were the first hikers of the day to reach the trailhead. We began hiking in the dark, but Pao made sure the path was well lit and safe. As the sun rose, we continued the ascent, taking regular breaks along the way. It’s important to note that this hike is quite challenging and requires good physical fitness, as there is a lot of climbing, including the use of ladders, while carrying your backpack. We reached the final checkpoint around 10 a.m., where we had time to rest while Pao prepared a delicious, warming lunch for us: noodle soup, tea, and fresh fruit. Mind you, it got pretty cold in the hills once your sweat dried up so it was very nice to heat up a little bit. After lunch, we continued for another 1.5 hours before finally reaching the summit of Fansipan. Pao was an excellent guide throughout the day, adapting the pace to our needs and creating a very enjoyable and supportive hiking experience. The descent was even more demanding, so we decided to take the cable car back down. Pao helped us purchase the tickets, came down with us, and arranged a cab, getting us back to our hotel by 2 p.m. We were extremely happy with our decision to book this tour with Sapa Natives and can’t recommend it highly enough. A big thank you to Pao for making this such a memorable day!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: 17gabil

Review Date: 10 Apr 2019

Review Body: If you are looking for a tour guide to do a trek through the Sapa area and it’s villages, look no further! I heard of Su from word of mouth from a friend, and he is truly wonderful at what he does. My friends and I did a 2 day 1 night trek that took us through picturesque rice fields, a bamboo forest, and a waterfall. It is a very doable trek albeit tiring trek (do except a bit of soreness afterwards). You’ll sleep very well the night of! The homestay accommodations for the evening are in a small town a bit out of Sa Pa. It is quiet, clean, beautiful, and by far the best food we had during our time there, and you can choose to drink some locally made rice wine. Even better, if you make the effort to get to know Su, you will understand just how kind and hardworking he and his wife are. Along the hike, local women will walk with you and attempt to help you out at the slippery or tougher spots. You can let them know you’re not interested, and they’ll stop following. Otherwise, if you allow them to help you along the trek, you might be expected to buy something handmade (purse, wallet, etc.) We didn’t mind buying a purse or two for their kind help, but it is a bit on the pricer side of 250.000 to 400.000 vnd. Thank you, Su, for showing us around your home and giving us a glimpse of your culture. It was an unforgettable experience.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Merry Tan

Review Date: 26 Sep 2025

Review Body: Trekking from Sapa to Ta Phin Village – A Memorable Experience! Despite the rain, we had a fantastic trekking experience from Sapa (starting at the Pistachio Hotel) to Ta Phin Village, guided by an excellent local guide, Sung Ah Su. The journey took us through breathtaking landscapes—lush rice terraces, quiet paths, and small ethnic minority villages that offered a real sense of Northern Vietnam's rural life. Su was knowledgeable, kind and patient throughout the trek. The pace was well-suited to our group, with plenty of time for photos, breaks and interaction with local villagers, especially the children. Their faces lit up when candies and chocolates were offered to them. The trek ended with a Red Dao herbal bath in Ta Phin Village—an absolute must after a day of walking! It was relaxing, authentic, and a perfect cultural touch to wrap up the day. I highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Sapa. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or a casual walker, this easy trek offers a great balance of nature, culture and relaxation. A big thank you to Su for making it so memorable!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Joshua S

Review Date: 22 Jul 2019

Review Body: I contacted Su Sung via Facebook based on a friend’s recommendation, and I’m very glad I did. Su took me on a 2 day 1 night trek from Sapa down the hill and through the valley, passing and stopping at several small villages along the way. The scenery was incredible, despite some bad weather. Su was great company, being very attentive in making sure the paths were safe given the wet weather, and always keen to chat about the differences and similarities between English and Vietnamese cultures. As we passed each village, Su explained how the people live day to day, and told me lots of interesting facts about the crops, the harvesting techniques and the local food. The lunch stops were brilliant, large portions of fried noodles and spring rolls, included in the tour price (pictured). The overnight Homestay was also very good, comfortable bed, mosquito net, shared bathroom etc. We joined the family for dinner, they were very welcoming. Su’s English was excellent, and it was a pleasure to spend a couple of days with him. The overall price for the trip was great value.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ciarra

Review Date: 29 Sep 2026

Review Body: Our guide was May and she was such an amazing guide. She told us the history of the area and the differences between the different groups - particularly Red Dao. She pointed out different plants, their uses, and which ones were used in the herbal baths (that we soaked in later!). Another plant she pointed out was the rice which was currently being harvested (she even showed us how to harvest and let us try to harvest some rice ourselves). She also showed us the plants used to dye the clothes they wear. She picked some leaves and we rubbed them on our hands with some water and watched as our hands turned blue from the indigo. She really helped to show us the beauty of her country and the traditions still kept by the people there. She helped us over rough terrain and even helped clean the shoes of one of our group when they fell in the mud. If you are in Sapa, this is such a good experience - the beauty of the area, the traditions and knowledge of the plants, the kindness and generosity shown by May. And the herbal baths were so regenerative.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: vervim, Czech Republic

Review Date: 23 Jul 2019

Review Body: I have found Su's contact here in TripAdvisor and then we connected through Facebook. Su replied very fast, but he was already booked by someone else, so he recommended us his sister Ma as a guide and arranged everything. He was very careful and asked about our requirements and health to be able to prepare the best, but safe trek for us. He speaks perfect English. His sister Ma is lovely young lady, who was really careful and nice guide all 2 days. She always concerned about our wishes. She also told us a lot of information about plants, culture and daily routine. She speaks decent English. We spent night at Su' s cousin homestay and it was much better than we expected. Private rooms, beds with mosquito net, shared bathroom and terrace perfect for relaxing after trek. Everything was clean. And the food was outstanding, one of the best we have had in Vietnam. The family was really nice and we enjoyed the dinner and the evening with them. The price was 40$/person for private tour for two of us.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Faith and Darren

Review Date: 15 Jan 2024

Review Body: The booking experience was great. From the moment we booked, our guide (Su) contacted us via WhatsApp to confirm the booking, find out our address and dietary requirements, and also gave us packing tips. The day before the trek, he contacted us once again to confirm that we were in Sapa and dropped a reminder on the pickup time. He was there on time, and brought us up. During the trek, he was friendly and easy to talk to, sharing his experiences and about himself. He was extremely familiar with the route and could give us heads up when the stretch was going to be tough. It was tiring and cold, but his cheeriness and confidence made the whole 6-7H really fun. Food wise, he packed some bread, bananas and water for us to snack on before the hike. At the 2800m rest stop, he cooked noodles for us too, so we never had to go thirsty or hungry at any point of time. We highly recommend this hike :) Thank you!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Varun

Review Date: 12 Feb 2023

Review Body: It was a great experience booking with Sapa Natives Trekking. We kept in close touch before the trip; they made sure to confirm the exact venue (found out they called my hotel reception), had the food ready, and worked with me on my unique requests (I had friends taking cable car + tram to come meet me, so they helped cover my tram ride, while I covered the cable car ride myself). They did this on their own accord without me asking -- I was just informing them and was willing to cover those costs fully myself. My guide, Mr. Huong, was very good, and spoke decent English. He was telling me stories along the way, and was actually super accurate in his estimates of when we would reach the next milestone based on my walking speed. He later kindly waited with me for my friends to arrive, and guided us back down via cable car + tram. I highly recommend this company!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jason Tang

Review Date: 13 May 2022

Review Body: 1 day trekking up Mt Fansipan was the hardest thing I’ve done in my life. Ignore the internet on how you could climb it without a guide and it’s easy. It’s extremely difficult but rewarding. Pick your seasons carefully as we went in May; it rain during the whole trip and we were soaking wet up in the mountain. There was times where I legitimately think I’ve contacted hypothermia. Overall it was a blast and the guide (Nova) definitely made it a memorable experience. Nova was kind and humble and knew the path like the back of his hand. Even though I was extremely slow near the top due to the high altitude and fatigue, Nova was patient and waited for us before continuing. He did this even though we might not each the submit for the last cable car down. To be honest, the best moment is when we were presented a medal and certificate of accomplishment.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Sophie

Review Date: 09 Jul 2023

Review Body: We did the one day Fansipan hike with Su and can highly recommend to people considering doing this tour. Su was very reliable, we got in touch via WhatsApp beforehand and he picked us up at 05:30 to take us to the starting point, where we had a quick breakfast. Although the weather was a bit challenging for the hike (fog and rain), we felt safe at all times with Su safely guiding us through the sometimes slightly challenging route and made sure to include short breaks when we needed them. For lunch, he prepared a delicious fresh, warm meal (we didn’t see any other hikers getting a warm meal) and some fruits; vegan options were no problem at all (we told him beforehand). Throughout the tour, he proved himself as a great photographer and gave some valuable advice. Overall, we were very happy with this tour.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Alonnso1337

Review Date: 19 Jun 2019

Review Body: We had a lovely trip up to the top of Sanpan at a total of 2143 meters. There were beautiful rivers and waterfalls all the way up to the topp. The scenery was absolutely perfect. Su (our guide) was very nice, kind and funny. He had good knowledge of the nature, the mountains and the history of Sapa / Sanpan. Su was a great chef and made both breakfast and dinner for us. The whole trip went smoothly, and the pace was regulated by our level. Su speaks perfect English and therefore the trip becomes much easier. He arranged everything practically before, during and after the trip. The only thing we did ourselves was lifting our legs up and down. I would therefore recommend Su to anyone considering hiking/trekking Sanpan. ;) Thank you Su. Best regards Fredrik and Maria

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Yi Jie

Review Date: 28 Apr 2024

Review Body: Tour guide was very friendly and punctual! Thanks Zok (not sure how to correctly spell his name) for a helpful guide and assisting my friend who was lagging behind! The journey was very long and tiring but there was zero hiccup and we all had a good time! The guide also prepared a very bountiful lunch for our group of 3. At the end of the journey we got a medal and certificate for successfully completing the climb too, which was a nice surprise. Would recommend hikers to plan their hike on a weekday instead of a weekend as the summit was very crowded when we went on a Sunday. The weather in April / May is also quite warm with chilly winds. There was no rain but we did pack rain jackets and umbrella just in case.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: martiii55, Illinois

Review Date: 10 Apr 2019

Review Body: On a 4 month trip to Vietnam, where I saw everything from the Mekong Delta, bustling HCMC, Hoi An, and busy Hanoi, trekking with Su was one of my favorite experiences. I didn't want to give my money to some large tourism company, and found Su on Facebook. He was so professional, kind, and knowledgeable, and he made 3 girls feel safe the entire weekend. We did a 2 day hike and opted to stay in his guest house, which was rich with culture and good times. For the price, I felt like I was getting the best possible experience of SaPa, and I would much rather do something to directly support Su and his family rather than a huge corporation. I would (and have) recommended Su and his tours to all of my friends!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Connor

Review Date: 13 Oct 2026

Review Body: My guide was great. Fansipan is a tough and challenging hike it starts off quite easy and then slowly starts to get steeper and steeper. I did it in dry weather I can only imagine it would be tougher in the rain. It’s very worth it at the end though. My guide made me lunch and coffee at the halfway point. After lunch it is about 3 kilometres to go until you reach the top. I received a medal and finishers certificate at the end which was very cool. At the top it can get quite busy with other tourists who took the cable car up. Be prepared, when you think you are at the top there is still LOTS of stairs to go! Overall great experience but again, don’t underestimate it and be prepared!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Yong Yong & Hafiz

Review Date: 25 Apr 2025

Review Body: Had a wonderful experience hiking Fansipan thanks to our guide - Pao, who guided us through the mountain with ease. Aside from showing us the way, he also shared some interesting information about the plants, the animals and the terrain. He is well-versed in English and has been hiking Fansipan for 6 years! He is not talkative but that’s perfect for me - I can barely catch a breath, let alone talk while hiking. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I can’t believe I haven’t seen any reviews about him. We would definitely recommend Pao and Sapa Natives Trekking to anyone who is interested in summiting Fansipan in 1 day/6 hours. P.S. Pao also makes really good noodle soup!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jena

Review Date: 21 Mar 2026

Review Body: We could have not known Sapa more if not for this trekking experience. Just make sure your group is physically capable of walking for hours (~13 km) before booking this. Our local guide, San May, has been wonderful. She shared a lot about the villages/tribes and answered our questions well (she converses well in English). My friends and I are not exactly used to being active but San May has been bery considerate to match our pace and take breaks when any one of us need it. We also enjoyed our lunch at Ochau Cafe - good food and coffee while overlooking the rice terraces. Then finished off the trek by a hot relaxing herbal bath 🩵

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Daniel

Review Date: 28 Jun 2024

Review Body: Dô was our guide for the hike. He was awesome! Cannot recommend enough. Unfortunately we got a lot of rain on the day we hiked and it slowed us down. But Dô kept our spirits up and his lunch spread was amazing - 5 different fruits that he cut up for us as well as hot coffee and hot noodles. (The hot coffee and noodles was needed after walking in rain for 4 hours). Unfortunately the visibility at the top was not good due to rain and fog but it was such a worthwhile experience. As is tradition as we got closer to base the fog clearance we saw some beautiful shots of the valley around Fansipan

Review rating: 5

Review Author: JaYoeLife, Vietnam

Review Date: 10 Apr 2019

Review Body: An important aspect of any good guide is one that takes pride in his work. Su does just that. I was in Sapa as part of my cycling world tour and Su showed me around Sapa, sharing part of his life and his passion. Not only does he show you around, but you can tell that he honestly loves Sapa and the community. His passion bleeds off on to you when you travel with him and you get an extra appreciation for the places he takes you because of it. I recommend if you come to sapa and want to get shown around that Su is your only choice! If you are interested, watch a video I made of our day together!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Monique

Review Date: 27 May 2026

Review Body: This trek was a highlight of my entire visit to Vietnam. San May was absolutely incredible. She truely gave us the local tour taking us through rice fields, rice farms and into the mountains through trail paths. She even got local farmers to let us have a go at planting rice. She is so intelligent and kind. She gave us incredible insight into the Red Dao people and culture and the way she could just find herbs and fruits on the side of the road that they use for medicine was remarkable. The herbal bath was an amazing experience as well but meeting San May was the highlight.

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Today you will visit most beautiful terrace rice fields in Mong Du village

Itinerary Description: NOTE: This is a small group tour. 9:00 AM: Depart from Sapa town, you will leave on a small path to Mong Du village. Here you will discover the wonderful scenery of Fansipan Mountain and meet Black Hmong tribe. 12:00 PM: You will have lunch and rest at a local restaurant in Hang Da village. 1:00 PM: After lunch and take a short rest the guide will take you to visit the most beautiful bamboo forest at Hau Chu Ngai village. 3:00 PM: The first day tour will finish in Hau Thao village. You will spend one night with Mong people homestay to discover more about Mong people lifestyle and join the family to cook some local food. You and the guide will join dinner with the local family and try some special happy wat

Itinerary Day 2

Itinerary Summary: Today you will visit Red Dao and H’mong minority tribe village.

Itinerary Description: 8:30 AM: In the morning enjoin mountain landscape with a cup of coffee, have breakfast at homestay. You will take around 5 km walk to visit 2 villages of the Red Dao and H’mong which are Su Pan and Giang Ta Chai Village. Giang Ta Chai village is far from the center of Sapa about 15km. Located at the right side of Muong Hoa Valley, Giang Ta Chai is the village of Red Dao and has become one of the attractive places for visitors who want to experience the colorful traditional customs. You can also visit a beautiful waterfall and walk across a rattan bridge. 12:00 PM: The lunch included in Giang Ta Chai village with a small restaurant run by Hmong people. Head back to the main road to catch the bus or car return to Sapa Town. 2:30 PM: Reach back to Sapa Town