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Nights in Sapa are cold, so the food leans towards hot, grilled and heavily seasoned dishes. Many ingredients, such as wild greens, village-raised pork and upland sticky rice, come from the villages around town. These are the dishes you will find on almost every menu.

Dishes to Try

Sturgeon and Rainbow Trout Hotpot

The cold stream water at this altitude suits sturgeon and rainbow trout farming. Restaurants often call it simply "salmon hotpot". The broth is lightly sour and spicy, served with wild greens, mushrooms and noodles. Ask which fish is used and whether it is priced by weight or by pot before you order.

Com Lam (Bamboo Sticky Rice)

Glutinous rice packed into bamboo tubes and roasted over charcoal. Eat it hot with sesame salt or grilled meat. It is sold along the roads and at the night market.

Grilled Free-Range Pork

A small breed raised free-range in the highlands, usually marinated with mac khen and grilled in whole pieces. The meat is firm and the skin crisp; sold by portion or by weight.

Thang Co

A Hmong stew of offal and meat (horse, beef or pork) cooked with many spices. The smell is strong and it is not for everyone, so order a small portion first.

Night-Market Skewers

Pork wrapped in mustard leaf, enoki mushrooms, corn, sweet potato, eggs and chestnuts are grilled around the Stone Church. It is the cheapest and fastest dinner; eat it hot at the stall.

Stir-Fried Chayote Shoots and Mustard Greens

Simply fried with garlic but sweet, and a common side to hotpot or grilled food.

Corn Wine and Apple Wine

The two drinks sold most to visitors. Hand-distilled corn wine is usually strong; apple (tao meo) wine is lighter and slightly sour. Go easy if you ride a motorbike or walk home on dark roads.

Eating Tips

  • Ask for the price or a priced menu before ordering, especially for dishes sold by weight.
  • Restaurants in town accept cards more often than village stalls; carry cash for villages.
  • In autumn and around Tet, places fill up; arrive before 7 PM.
  • If you are vegetarian or have allergies, say so clearly, as many dishes use bone broth.

To eat with a local guide, see our Sapa night market food tour.