In the tour program to the northern mountains of Vietnam, Sapa is one of the most famous destinations. Visitors can enjoy the lovely environment while learning about the culture of Vietnam’s ethnic minority. In particular, Heaven Gate Sapa is a famous destination. It’s called so because it’s the highest point on the Sapa Road. This is a perfect location for visitors to enjoy the raw beauty of the Northwest highlands and woods and the breathtaking natural splendor of the Hoang Lien mountain range.
Characteristics of Heaven Gate Sapa
Have you ever heard of the four great passes in the Northwest? These include Khau Pha Pass (Yen Bai), Ma Pi Leng Pass (Ha Giang), Pha Din Pass (Dien Bien), and O Quy Ho Pass (Lao Cai). Standing on O Quy Ho’s heavenly gate, feeling the rushing wind, and admiring the majestic mountains and scenery is an experience you cannot miss during your trip.
As a town in the clouds, Sapa is covered with floating clouds all year round. At the same time, this place has many ideal destinations for watching clouds, becoming a famous discovery destination in Sapa Programs. About 18 km north of Sa Pa Town, Heaven Gate Sapa makes a strong impression on tourists going to Sa Pa Journey because of the winding passes to reach.
The road to Heaven Gate Sapa is difficult. Still, for active tourists who are fearless in crossing challenging and dangerous roads, this is the right choice to witness Heaven Gate Sapa at the top of the high pass, towering and making visitors feel excited. Visitors to Sapa Heaven Gate can enjoy a panoramic view of the valley, which includes exquisite terraced farms and the Silver Waterfall, one of Lao Cai province’s ten most beautiful waterfalls. Silver Waterfall, which is around 200 meters high, pours water day and night, adding to the sound of the lonely mountains and woodlands. At this gate, travelers can also experience the spectacular splendor of Mount Fansipan, Indochina’s roof. Visitors will admire the deep area with primeval forests containing many undiscovered mysteries when looking down.
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What is the ideal time to visit Heaven Gate Sapa?
Each different season, Sapa has a diverse beauty. At Heaven Gate Sapa, visitors will have different feelings about this place.
- January is the time when Sapa is immersed in winter. If you’re lucky, you could get to see snow. This is one of the rare climatic features in Vietnam. However, during snowy or melting days, the path to Sapa Heaven Gate will be hazardous owing to slippery circumstances, therefore proceed with caution. Standing atop Sapa’s heavenly gate in the cold January weather, you will be able to view the white snow on each tree and blade of grass firsthand. Indeed, this will be an incredible scene.
- February is peach blossom season. In February, when the weather starts to warm up, you will have the opportunity to see peach blossoms blooming. Looking down into the valley from Heaven Gate Sapa, you’ll notice the soft pink of wild peach trees mixed in with the green of sprouting fresh leaves.
- March – plum blossom season. Plum blossoms usually bloom a while after peach blossoms, so March is generally the ideal time to see plum blossoms. On the way to Heaven Gate Sapa, visitors will see white plum forests on the hillsides.
- In April, the weather in Sapa is charming: not too hot and not too cold. This time also gives tourists many opportunities to admire the scenery from Heaven Gate Sapa.
- May is the season of falling water. From Heaven Gate Sapa, you can see water rushing into the terraced fields. On sunny days, the water’s surface will reflect the sun like thousands of tiny mirrors.
- June – Young seedling season: At this time, people begin planting rice in terraced fields. The silver color of the water will gradually be covered with a green color.
- July – Young rice season. After one month of transplantation, the rice began to develop rich green, alternating with the green of the primary forest vegetation.
- August – Rice flowering season: The grand tiered fields gradually turn from green to bright yellow, heralding the forthcoming harvest. The path to Heaven Gate Sapa will be bright yellow and green during the rice blooming season.
- Sapa is busiest in September, when the terraced fields become golden and lovely, stunning visitors. Standing at Heaven Gate Sapa, you can see the gorgeous terraced fields.
- Come to Sapa in October to see the yellow color of late-ripening terraced fields. Next is the scene of people harvesting rice, inhaling the fragrant smell of rice, the smell of harvest days, and the smell of smoke from burning straw. The weather in October and fall in Sa Pa is beautiful and charming.
- November – Cloud hunting season. Sapa enters winter with cold weather. This is the most cloudy and foggy season of the year in this town. Arriving at Heaven Gate Sapa early in the morning, you will see mist spread out, feeling like you can touch the clouds flying in front of you with your hand. November is also the trekking season for those passionate about traveling and exploring.
- In December, the weather in Sapa has started to get colder, with more fog during the day. Many people do not want to go to Sapa anymore, and vice versa. Many people mainly want to visit Sapa on foggy days – to wander around town, feel the cold but romantic feeling, and see heaven’s gate.
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Sapa is well-known for its culinary culture
You can enjoy many delicious Sapa specialties at Heaven Gate Sapa, such as armpit pork, grilled stream fish, bamboo-tube rice, etc. You can eat grilled cuisine here, such as corn, potatoes, and eggs. Depending on the season, unique fruits including peaches, plums, and apricots will be available. Besides, these stalls also sell many local products of the ethnic minorities here, such as scarves and dresses, bracelets, anklets, silverware, agricultural tools, and agricultural products (mushrooms, medicinal leaves,…) for tourists to buy as gifts. Sapa Heaven Gate has a majestic, wild beauty and is a famous check-in location for virtual living believers. No matter what time they come here, tourists who go to Sapa do not want to return.
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