Is There Still a Real Sapa? | ETHOS Responsible Adventures

When people imagine Sapa, many think of cable cars, rollercoasters, glass bridges and endless crowds. These places fill up Google searches and Instagram feeds, yet they barely scratch the surface of what this landscape and its people have to offer. This film asks a simple question: is there still a real Sapa?

At ETHOS we work side by side with Hmong, Dao and other ethnic communities who call these mountains home. Our partners are farmers, storytellers, artisans and community leaders. With them, we offer something different: trekking through quiet valleys and rice terraces, weaving and dyeing with natural indigo, cooking over open fires, and staying in homestays where traditions are alive and shared.

Mass tourism brings opportunities, but it also brings challenges. When visitors follow the same few routes, culture risks becoming performance rather than lived reality. We believe in slowing down, in connection rather than consumption. Every trek, every workshop, every homestay is rooted in trust and respect. The result is not just another tour, but an exchange that feels real because it is.

These experiences are not for everyone. They’re for the curious, the adventurous, the socially minded. They’re for people who want to understand how Hmong women are reclaiming stronger voices through guiding, weaving and tourism. They’re for those who want to see how traditional knowledge and creativity continue to shape futures for children and communities alike.

Our guests often tell us that this is the real Sapa. Richer, more rewarding, sometimes even life changing. You can still take the cable car if you want, but if you’re searching for something deeper, it’s here, waiting.

If this resonates with you, we invite you to travel thoughtfully, to walk with open eyes and an open heart, and to see Sapa not as a product, but as a living place.

This video contains music from Shutterstock, licensed by Splice video editing app.