1. Reasons why Fansipan during Tet 2026 is an unmissable destination
1.1. Location and attraction of Fansipan during Tet
Fansipan Peak – “the roof of Indochina” with a height of 3,143m – is located in Sa Pa town, Lao Cai province, and has long been a tourist symbol of the Northwest region. Not only famous for its record-breaking height, this place also captivates visitors thanks to its year-round cold climate, majestic mountain scenery, and a cultural space rich in ethnic highland identity.
Festive atmosphere at Ban May - Sun World Fansipan Legend during Tet Nguyen Dan (Source: Collected)
In the early days of the new year, Fansipan during Tet becomes even more special as it brings together all the elements: distinctly cold weather, a thick sea of clouds, and a vibrant festive atmosphere. Therefore, in many rankings and travel communities, this destination frequently appears on the list of “most worthwhile places to visit at the beginning of the year” for those who love novel experiences and hunting for unique beautiful scenery. With a modern cable car system, the journey to conquer the mountain peak is now no longer too arduous, suitable for the whole family, groups of friends, and elderly tourists.
1.2. Spring characteristics on Fansipan peak during Tet
Spring on Fansipan peak possesses a unique beauty, distinctly different from other tourist destinations. After the early year cold spells, the sea of clouds often forms thickly and billows, creating a magical scene like a fairyland. The moment of standing amidst the white sea of clouds, gazing out at the majestic Hoang Lien mountain range, is an experience that makes many tourists love to return every early year.
Besides, Fansipan during Tet is also one of the few places in Vietnam where ice and snow can appear if weather conditions are favorable. Although it doesn't happen every year, just a severe cold spell with high humidity can cover the entire landscape in white, creating a European winter atmosphere in the heart of the Northwest – an element that makes the spring trip truly memorable and completely different.
Not only scenery, but the beginning of the year is also the time for many festivals, art programs, and cultural – spiritual events on the mountaintop. Tourists can participate in new year's peace-praying rituals while enjoying performances imbued with the colors of the highlands, creating a complete spring journey encompassing both nature experiences and spiritual values.
2. Special experiences at Fansipan during Tet 2026
2.1. Conquering Fansipan peak by cable car during the festival season
The Fansipan cable car system is currently considered one of the most modern three-rope cable car systems in the world, shortening the travel time from Sapa center to near the mountain peak in about 15 minutes. Thanks to this, the journey to conquer the “Roof of Indochina” becomes easy, suitable for families with elderly members and young children, especially convenient when the number of visitors increases during Fansipan during Tet .
Experiencing the cable car crossing the sea of clouds is an exciting experience at the beginning of the new year (Source: Collected)
Experience of taking the cable car to admire the beautiful scenery is to depart early in the morning, ideally from around 8-9 AM. This is when the clouds are still thick, the sun is not too harsh, and the number of visitors is not too crowded. Upon reaching the upper station, visitors should go straight to the 3,143m milestone area first to check-in, then return to visit other points in the complex, avoiding long queues during peak midday hours.
2.2. Series of unique festivals and cultural activities
One of the major attractions of Fansipan during Tet is the system of festivals and cultural activities held continuously from the 1st to the 15th day of the Lunar New Year. The most prominent is the Hoi Xuan Mo Cong Troi Festival, which opens on the 3rd day of Tet and lasts throughout the spring, featuring folk art programs, khen dance, xoè dance, ethnic costume performances, and vibrant miniature scenes of peach blossoms, plum blossoms, and mustard flowers for visitors to check-in and enjoy the spring outing.
At the Ban May area at the foot of the mountain, the festive atmosphere peaks from around the 3rd to the 5th day of Tet – the time for the early spring highland market. Hundreds of local artisans and traders bring Northwestern specialties, handicrafts, brocades, and many traditional dishes. Alongside this is a series of folk games such as nhay sao (bamboo pole dancing), tug-of-war, blindfolded goat catching, and greased pole climbing… creating a lively spring festival atmosphere, very suitable for families and groups of friends.
Tourists excitedly experience ethnic festivals at Ban May (Source: Collected)
From the second week after Tet until the end of January, on weekends (Saturday – Sunday), the tourist area often organizes rotating unique ethnic festivals such as the Gau Tao Festival of the Mong people or the Put Tong Festival of the Red Dao people. Tourists have the opportunity to directly witness the ritual of erecting the Neu tree, khèn dance for blessings, folk singing, and New Year's good luck rituals – cultural features that are only clearly visible in the highland spring.
Thanks to the extended operating schedule and phased distribution after Tet, visitors to Fansipan during Tet can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery but also easily choose a suitable time to immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere, from the vibrant early days of the year to the gentle, relaxed weeks that follow.
2.3. Cloud hunting, snow hunting on the "roof of Indochina"
One of the most anticipated experiences when visiting Fansipan during Tet is cloud hunting. This phenomenon usually appears after cold spells, when the temperature drops sharply and humidity is high, creating thick layers of clouds rolling below the mountains. The best time for cloud hunting is usually early in the morning, from around 8 AM to before 11 AM, when the sun is high enough to illuminate the entire valley but has not yet caused the clouds to dissipate.
Sea of white clouds covers Fansipan peak, creating a magnificent natural landscape (Source: Collected)
To increase the chance of successful cloud hunting, tourists should follow the weather forecast before the trip, prioritizing days with low temperatures accompanied by sunny spells after rain or after a cold snap. In addition, Sa Pa tourism groups on social media often update real-time photos, helping you decide a more reasonable time to go up the mountain.
Snow and ice are rare phenomena, usually appearing only 1–2 times throughout the Winter-Spring season if weather conditions are harsh enough. When there is prolonged severe cold combined with drizzle and high humidity, trees, staircases, and railings on the summit can be covered with a layer of white ice, creating a very special scene. If you are lucky enough to catch this time during Fansipan on Tet holiday, visitors will witness a “European winter version” in the heart of the Northwest – an experience not available every year.
2.4. Discover the Fansipan Spiritual Complex
Not only outstanding in landscape, Fansipan is also an important spiritual destination for early year spring travel. The spiritual complex on the mountaintop gathers many large structures such as the Great Amitabha Buddha Statue, Kim Son Bao Thang Pagoda, Bich Van Zen Monastery, and Bao An Zen Monastery, creating a sacred space amidst clouds, sky, and majestic mountains.
Tourists pray for peace and happiness at the spiritual complex in Fansipan on the first day of the new year (Source: Collected)
During Tet in Fansipan, many families choose to go to the mountaintop to offer incense, pray for peace, health, and luck for the new year. Moving between spiritual sites combined with light walking on stone steps also brings a sense of relaxation, helping the spring trip not only be a tour but also a journey to find inner peace.
Especially, the scenery of pagodas and towers appearing and disappearing in the clouds creates a very different atmosphere compared to visiting pagodas in the lowlands. The harmony between nature and spiritual architecture makes many tourists feel the meaning of the first trip of the year more clearly, both enjoying the beautiful scenery and conveying positive wishes for the whole family.
2.5. Must-try Northwest cuisine and specialties
After the journey of sightseeing and capturing beautiful scenery, cuisine is the "highlight" that makes the trip Tet in Fansipan more complete. Characteristic highland dishes such as thang co, Sapa salmon, sturgeon hotpot, five-colored sticky rice, or cat apple wine are all very suitable for the cold weather, helping to warm the body and bring an authentic local culinary experience.
For lunch, visitors can choose to enjoy the Van Sam buffet right within the Sun World Fansipan Legend premises. The spacious area is convenient for guests who have just got off the cable car to rest and eat immediately. The menu combines familiar Vietnamese dishes with Northwest specialties such as grilled meat, wild vegetables, stream fish, and multi-colored sticky rice. The buffet format also saves time, suitable for day trip itineraries during the peak holiday season.
Specialties of the Northwest that attract tourists to experience (Source: Collected)
In the evening, if you want a change of scenery and a more authentic local cuisine experience, Ban May is a suggestion chosen by many tourists when visiting Fansipan during Tet. Here, buffets or set menus are often served in an ethnic style, with specialties of the H'Mong, Red Dao, and Tay people such as grilled mountain pork, black chicken, wild vegetable soup, bamboo-tube rice, and five-colored sticky rice. The wooden house space, campfire, and folk art performance programs in the evening also help the meal become a complete cultural experience, not just simply eating and drinking.
3. Suggested 3-day, 2-night itinerary to explore Fansipan during Tet
The 3-day, 2-night itinerary is suitable for tourists who want to combine conquering the 'Roof of Indochina', spring travel, and exploring Sa Pa town at a comfortable pace, not too rushed.
- Day 1: Arrive in Sa Pa – check-in downtown – experience villages & cuisine
In the morning or at noon, tourists travel to Sa Pa and check into a hotel in the central area for convenient travel. After resting, you can start the journey by strolling around Sa Pa stone church, the central square, and the surrounding streets, which are often decorated with Tet miniatures, peach blossoms, and plum blossoms for visitors to take photos at the beginning of the year.
In the afternoon, you can choose to visit Cat Cat village – a destination close to the center, easy to access, suitable for getting acquainted with the scenery and highland culture. Here, you can visit the H'Mong traditional house, watch khen performances, take photos by the waterfall and miniatures imbued with the spring colors of the Northwest. If you don't want to walk much, you can instead visit mountain-view cafes in the Ham Rong area, both relax and admire the panoramic view of the town from above.
In the evening, you should spend time exploring Sa Pa's food street around the stone church area, enjoying sturgeon hotpot, salmon, charcoal-grilled dishes, and hot dishes that are perfect for the cold weather. If there are festival activities or outdoor performances coinciding, you can combine it with a night stroll to feel the spring travel atmosphere before resting early, preparing for the day of conquering Fansipan during Tet the next day.
- Day 2: Conquer Fansipan peak – spiritual complex – cloud hunting
In the morning, you should depart early to the Muong Hoa train station or cable car station to begin the journey of exploring Fansipan during Tet. After traveling by cable car, visitors continue by walking or taking the mountain train to near the 3,143m milestone, check-in at the 'Roof of Indochina', and admire the panoramic view of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range from above.
Tourists visit Fansipan peak on the 3rd day of Tet (Source: Collected)
Next, spend time visiting the spiritual complex with highlights such as the Great Buddha Statue of Amitabha, Kim Son Bao Thang Pagoda, Bich Van Zen Monastery, and Bao An Zen Monastery, combined with offering incense for peace at the beginning of the year in the sacred space of clouds and mountains. For lunch, you can have a buffet right in the tourist area to rest and avoid long travel.
In the afternoon, after descending the mountain, if you have time and energy, you can visit Ban May village to explore the wooden house space, learn about the life of ethnic groups in the Northwest, or take photos in the scenery of a village on the mountainside before returning to the hotel to rest.
- Day 3: Light sightseeing – buy specialties – goodbye Sa Pa
The last day is suitable for light sightseeing and shopping for souvenirs. In the morning, you can visit Sa Pa market to buy specialties such as smoked buffalo meat, wild shiitake mushrooms, apple cider wine, honey, or brocade products as gifts.
After that, if you have time, you can choose to visit Ham Rong Mountain with its flower garden, cloud yard, and panoramic viewpoints of the town from above, which is very suitable for ending the trip with panoramic photos of Sa Pa in early spring. For those who prefer a quiet atmosphere, cafes with views of Muong Hoa valley are also an ideal stopover to relax before getting on the bus to return.
At noon, pack your luggage, check out, and move back to the starting point, concluding the journey to explore Fansipan during Tet with a schedule that is both in-depth and relaxing enough for a spring trip at the beginning of the year.
4. Tips for a complete and convenient exploration of Fansipan during Tet
4.1. Go early to hunt for clouds and avoid crowds
One of the most important tips when visiting Fansipan during Tet is to start as early as possible, ideally before 9 AM. This is the time when clouds are still thick, the light is beautiful for photography, and the number of visitors is not too crowded, helping you save time queuing at the cable car station and comfortably visit the spots at the summit.
Visitors should move early to successfully "hunt" for clouds at the Fansipan peak (Source: Collected)
If you go late, especially from late morning to early afternoon, you may encounter crowds at the check-in area of the 3.143m milestone and spiritual sites, which can interrupt your experience and make it difficult to take beautiful photos.
4.2. Prepare warm clothing and non-slip shoes
The temperature on Fansipan peak is usually much lower than in the center of Sa Pa, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. When visiting Fansipan during Tet, you should dress in layers, including thermal wear, a thick jacket, scarf, hat, and gloves to stay warm while still being easy to adjust when moving.
Sports shoes or trekking shoes with good grip are suitable choices because you will have to walk many stone steps, especially when moving between spiritual sites. Avoid wearing slippery-soled shoes or fashion shoes that are easy to slip, especially on damp or frosty days.
4.3. Arrange your energy and time reasonably for each attraction
Although there is cable car and mountain train support, visiting Fansipan peak still requires a lot of walking, especially if you want to visit all the sites in the spiritual complex. Therefore, when visiting Fansipan during Tet, you should prioritize the prominent sites first, such as the 3.143m milestone and the main pagodas, then visit farther areas if you have time and energy left.
For the elderly or young children, it is advisable to use the mountain train to reduce the walking distance and avoid fatigue, making the trip lighter and safer.
Spring travel to Fansipan peak during Tet is not only a journey to conquer the "Roof of Indochina" but also an experience combining majestic nature, serene spiritual space, and the bustling festive atmosphere of the New Year. With a reasonable 3-day, 2-night itinerary, choosing the right time, and thorough preparation of tickets, clothing, and health, you can fully enjoy a complete and memorable trip.
If you are looking for a destination that is both meaningful for spring travel and offers many activities for sightseeing – entertainment – check-in during the New Year, Fansipan is definitely an ideal choice to start the new year with energy and luck.
