Sapa is known as one of the most popular tourism destinations nested within the picturesque landscapes of North-Western Vietnam, Sapa stands not only as a scenic wonder but also as a haven for culinary enthusiasts. Let’s explore the Sapa dishes with the top 5 dishes not to be missed in Sapa with Hanoi Voyages!

Sapa dishes: Top 5 dishes you should not miss

Sapa’s culinary journey begins amidst bustling local markets, where the air is filled with the fragrance of fresh produce and the vibrant colors of indigenous herbs and spices. These markets are the heart of Sapa’s gastronomy, showcasing an array of ingredients that serve as the building blocks for its unique dishes.

Con Sui

Con Sui Sapa – a new dish but already loved by many young diners. Originating from Chinese cuisine, thanks to popular trade in the border area, alder coleslaw has gradually become a specialty of Lao Cai. Con Sui is a dish using flat noodles a bit like Pho, but not served with broth, but served with a sauce, fragrant to the nose. The highlight of the Con Sui is the sauce which must be made from pork bones, simmered for about five hours, accompanied by some fragrant spices with the strong scent of cinnamon, cardamom, and the Northwest mountains and forests.

A bowl of Con Sui will have noodles, crispy fries, pork belly, and boiled eggs. You just need to season with pepper, and chili pepper to flavor and then eat with some fragrant mint vegetables, the effervescent mortar will become a memorable dish when coming to Sapa. Con Sui Ong Ha is a familiar place for the “natives” in Sapa because the noodles are kneaded and rolled by hand, creating a very unique flavor.

• Recommended address: No. 468 Dien Bien Phu, Sapa Town
• Price: from 35.000 – 40.000 VND/ bowl

Sapa Salmon

The type of Salmon raised in Sapa is mainly Rainbow Trout, raised in many places such as Bac Waterfall, Ta Giang Phinh, and Ban Khoang. With a temperate climate and low water temperature, Sa Pa locals have been successful in raising rainbow trout.

Sa Pa Salmon is not too fatty but has firm meat and an eye-catching orange-pink color. There are countless delicious dishes from Sapa Salmon such as sashimi dipped in soy sauce and mustard, Salmon salad, grilled fish… But the dish that tourists miss the most is Salmon hot pot. A piece of fresh fish meat dipped in hot, sweet, and sour hot pot broth, served with some fresh Northwest vegetables is the most suitable dish for a cold evening.

• Recommended address: Quan A Phu – 15 Fansipan, Sapa Town
• Price: from 200,000-500,000 VND

Thit Trau Gac Bep

Buffalo Meat Upstairs Kitchen or “Thit Trau Gac Bep” in Vietnamese is a famous dish and is known as one of the best dishes in Sapa if you want to explore the Sapa dishes. This dish is also known as smoked buffalo meat, originating from the habit of preserving meat on rainy days of the people here.

When enjoying it, you will find the meat quite difficult to chew, but after softening it will have the sweet flavor of buffalo meat, with a mild chewiness that makes eaters passionate. This will be an ideal gift choice for family and friends that should not be missed when you have the opportunity to visit Sapa.

The retail price of Sapa’s buffalo meat specialty usually ranges from 750,000 – 850,000 VND/kg. Bonus wholesale price ranges from 680,000 – 720,000 VND/kg when you buy 5kg or more.

Recommended address:

• Duy Chien: No 057, Thach Son Street, Sapa
• Sapa Night Market: Dien Bien Phu Street, Sapa
• An Thinh: Cau May Street, Sapa Town

Ruou Tao Meo

Ruou Tao Meo or Apple Cider is one of the best Sapa dishes you should try when coming to Sapa, it is also a famous Sapa specialty. The wine is pure hand-cooked by indigenous people, and soaked with premium cat apples harvested from the northern mountains.

With the distinct sweet and sour flavor of this fruit, after soaking in wine, it will have a light yellow color that resembles a very beautiful bean sprout wing. Along with that is an unmistakable fragrance. With just the first sip of wine, you will feel like the whole Northwest region is appearing before your eyes because this wine has the very unique flavor of Sapa land.

It is not an exaggeration to say that every dish in Sapa becomes a human delicacy if enjoyed with a glass of cider. Currently, cat cider in Sapa has an average price of about 60,000 – 90,000 VND/liter.

Recommended address:

• Sapa Hmong Wine Cooperative: 130 Dien Bien Phu, Sapa
• Tay Bac Wine Store: 09 Thac Bac, Sapa, Lao Cai
• Thanh Kim Rice Wine: Ban Den, Thanh Kim, Sa Pa, Lao Cai

Thang Co

Visiting the love market or fair market, visitors can easily find a Sapa specialty with a rather strange name: Thang Co. This is a traditional dish of the H’Mong people and is more than a hundred years old. This is a soup made from horse meat, internal organs, and itchy bones. Most visitors are quite surprised and a bit frightened when they learn about the origin of this dish. However, when you enjoy it, you will find it captivating and will never forget the flavor it brings.

Recommended address:

• Thang Co Sapa A Phu Restaurant (15 Fansipan, Sa Pa, Lao Cai)
• Cau May Sapa Restaurant (92 Ngu Chi Son, Sapa Town, Lao Cai)

Tips for food lovers in Sapa

Exploring the mountains is not complete without tasting authentic Sapa dishes. The town is a true paradise for food lovers, offering everything from hearty hotpots to flavorful street snacks. To make the most of your culinary journey, here are some practical tips:

• Start at Sapa Market: The local market is the best place to try traditional Sapa dishes such as Con Sui, bamboo-tube rice, and skewered meats prepared by ethnic vendors.
• Warm up with hotpot: The cool mountain evenings are perfect for sharing a steaming salmon hotpot or even the adventurous Thắng Cố, a dish deeply rooted in H’Mong culture.
• Enjoy night BBQs: Sapa’s streets light up with the aroma of grilled meats, corn, and vegetables after sunset. Sampling street BBQ is one of the most delicious ways to discover local food.
• Sip Rượu Táo Mèo: This wild apple wine pairs beautifully with smoky buffalo meat and other savory dishes. Just remember to drink moderately!
• Bring home local specialties: Smoked buffalo meat and bottles of apple wine are great souvenirs that let you relive the taste of Sapa dishes back home.

Hanoi Voyages hopes you will have a safe and enjoyable trip!