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Review Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa in Vietnam (Now BB Sapa Resort & Spa) Updated 2024

Heading to Sapa and wondering where to stay? We can recommend the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa (now renamed as BB Sapa Resort & Spa).

Nestled high in the Hoang Lien Son mountains of North Western Vietnam is the hillside town of Sapa.  Sapa overlooks the Muong Hoa Valley with its terraced rice fields.  No doubt you have seen the images of Sapa and the rice terraces in every promotional photograph or video of Vietnam.  In this case, the lens does not lie! This area is one of outstanding beauty.

(Editor update 2024)

Here are all the options to travel from Hanoi to Sapa.

Air Asia, the budget carrier, has flights into Hanoi as well as Ho Chi Minh City, Danang and Nha Trang from major Asian cities.

Sapa is also the capital of the district known as Sa Pa in the Lao Cai province.

We were invited to experience the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa (now BB Sapa Resort and Spa) by Victoria Hotels from the TMG Group, the largest privately-owned travel and hospitality group based in Vietnam.

Our unique travel experience commenced when we were collected at our hotel in Hanoi and transported to the Hanoi Railway Station at 120 Le Duan Street in the Hoan Kiem district by their private luxury shuttle bus. Our 8-hour overnight journey to Lao Cai was on the stylish, Indochina-inspired Victoria Express Train. We felt that we were travelling back in time when luxury carriages plied many of the routes throughout Asia and Europe.  As we awoke from our slumbers, the sun was starting to rise and the countryside and its people were starting their day and going about their chores.

On arrival at Lao Cai, there is a further 1-hour journey by shuttle bus to Sapa town. We travelled up through the mountains with mist drifting down over the terraced rice fields.  Experiencing the early morning in this way was a magical start to a fascinating day ahead.

Planning a trip to Vietnam read our ultimate travel guide here

You Can Read Our article on Vietnam: Best Vietnamese Restaurant Guide

We have created our Facebook Group – Vietnam Travel Planning – to assist you in planning your next vacation to Vietnam.

Map of Sapa Showing the Victoria Sapa Resort

Map showing the location of Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa in Vietnam
Location of the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa

 

YouTube of Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa

Youtube video of Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa

Check-In Experience at Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa

Reception at the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa
Reception at the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa

What a delightful check-in experience provided by Cherry Trang on Reception as we arrived a little blurry-eyed from the early start that morning. We were able to check in early before heading into the Ta Van Restaurant for our buffet breakfast.

Breakfast at Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa

Pastries at the breakfast buffet at the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa
We loved the local traditional colourful weaving adorning the pastry section at breakfast

The Ta Van Restaurant with its central fireplace for those cold wintery evenings has spectacular mountain views.  The Breakfast Buffet was extensive, offering:

  • fresh fruit including dragon fruit and passionfruit
  • cereals and yoghurts
  • cheese board
  • Vietnamese hot breakfast options
  • Western hot breakfast options
  • Egg station where you can choose from fried, poached or omelettes
  • pastry section that included croissants, pain au chocolat, bread and sweet pastries including doughnuts
  • fresh fruit juices, as well as tea and coffee, are available
Ta Van Restaurant
Ta Van Restaurant with its wooden interior design and local traditional weavings enhancing the overall feeling of a mountain chalet.

The breakfast and dinner staff are extremely helpful.  They are a ‘mine-field’ of local information and love to share their knowledge with you.

 

Accommodation

The Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa offers:

  • 21 Victoria Superior Rooms
  • 52 Victoria Deluxe Rooms
  • 2 Victoria Family Suites
  • 2 Victoria Suites
The Deluxe Bedroom at the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa
Our beautifully appointed Deluxe Bedroom with Balcony

Our accommodation was one of the beautifully appointed Victoria Deluxe Rooms with a balcony overlooking the hotel grounds and the mountain range in the distance that was shrouded in mist when we arrived.  The corridor leading to our room, at the back of the hotel, overlooked the Sapa Lake with its background of the mountain range that is shaped like a dragon. Sapa sits in a valley and the views are spectacular everywhere you look.

The rooms are decorated with local traditional handicrafts.  Each room comes with a:

  • Ceiling fan
  • Electric heater
  • TV
  • Mini-bar
  • Safe deposit box
  • coffee and tea-making facilities

The bathroom is well-appointed complete with luxury toiletries.

Our bed was extremely comfortable, with high-quality linen and pillows. Two luxury towelling robes were provided.

There was a nice touch of a fruit bowl on our arrival.  Tea and coffee-making facilities are also provided.

Dinner at Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa

Dinner at Tu Van Restaurant - Sea Bass with Passionfruit Sauce
Western Menu – Sea Bass with Passionfruit Sauce

A three-course dinner was included and we could choose from a Western Menu or a Vietnamese Menu.  To give you a taste of what was available that evening:

The Western Menu:

  • Wild Mushroom Soup with crispy almond and truffle oil
  • Sea bass fillet with zucchini risotto, smoked eggplant caviar and passionfruit sauce
  • Apple tart with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream

The Vietnamese Menu:

  • Sapa sturgeon soup with vegetables
  • Sauteed chicken with cashew and vegetables served with steamed rice
  • Yoghurt mousse with fresh mango

Both cuisines were excellent and the service from the staff outstanding.  We enjoyed a couple of glasses of local beer over our leisurely dinner.

The restaurant features traditional performances by H’mong and Thai minority dancers on selected evenings.

Hotel Reception Area at Victoria Sapa resort & Spa

Local ladies weaving
Learn how the local tribes produce their colourful handicrafts

The Hotel Reception Area leads into a lounge area with local colourful artwork depicting the local indigenous tribes.  During the day you can watch the local ladies weaving garments.  There are plenty of areas just to relax and read.  A pool table, as well as a children’s playroom,  is located near the Ta Fin Bar.

In summer you can enjoy your meals or a drink in the manicured gardens with views over Sapa and the mountains.

Activities on Offer from the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa

Our trek through the rice terraces
Our trek through the rice terraces

There are plenty of activities available.  The Hotel has published  an extensive activities guide which includes:

  • half-day tours of 3-4 hours of walking visiting the ethnic minority hill tribes
  • full-day tours of 4 – 8 hours walking where you can interact with the ethnic hill tribe communities
  • half-day tours visiting waterfalls or the Hoang Lien National Park
  • a day trek that includes mountains, rice fields and waterfalls
  • visits to Markets.  The markets rotate weekly and the local tribes come down from the mountains to sell their products
  • overnight treks with accommodation at the Victoria Homestay, a H’mong home nestled in the terraced rice fields of the Muong Valley
  • Trek to the top of Mount Fansipan – this is recommended for experienced trekkers available in a 1, 2 or 3-day trek
  • Mountain biking – 1/2 day and full-day tours

As part of our visit, we enjoyed a half-day trek to the small village of Ta Giang Phin. The area is inhabited by the Red Dao ethnic groups.

Ladies at the local market
Local ethnic groups gather to sell their products at the Sapa Market

Wondering what to do in Sapa? There are many activities apart from trekking.

 

Spa & Gym Facilities at Victoria Sap Resort & Spa

Spa at Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa
The Spa at the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa

The Victoria Spa offers massages, facial and body treatments, baths and reflexology.  They have 12 massage rooms available as well as 2 hammams.

We enjoyed an invigorating 30-minute foot massage after our half-day of trekking. Just perfect after our trek through the terraced rice fields.

There is an indoor heated swimming pool, a gym area, sauna, steam bath and tennis court.

For Reservations:

 

Hotel Details

BB Sapa Resort & Spa

Address: Xuan Vien Street, Sapa Town, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam

Our Impressions and our thanks

Our adventure to Sapa with Victoria Hotels and the Victoria Express has been a memorable experience for us both.  From the moment we were collected from our hotel in Hanoi and returned 3 nights later we were thoroughly pampered and well looked after by every member of staff.  Our thanks go to all at the Victoria Sapa Resort and Spa, Victoria Express and the TMG group that made our stay possible. As always our opinions are our own.

Visas for Vietnam

You may require a Visa for Vietnam.  Our article explains the process on whether you require a visa and how to obtain an e-visa online. Read more here.

 

Travel Insurance

We recommend purchasing travel insurance when you book and pay for your flights and pay deposits on tours and cruises.

 

 

For Travel Around Vietnam and South East Asia

We use 12goAsia for all of our bus, train and ferry bookings throughout South East Asia. For more information click here.

Flight Deals to Vietnam

Find the cheapest flights with Skyscanner our ‘go-to’ when researching and booking flights throughout the world.

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Thanks for stopping by and welcome to To Travel Too – Australia’s top Baby Boomer lifestyle and travel blog, with an international worldwide audience in mind, run by the married couple, freelance writers and full-time travellers Jane and Duncan Dempster-Smith. Come with us as we explore the world. Our two mantras that we live by are 'chase time not money' and 'age is no barrier when it comes to travel'.

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