Frozen But Fascinated - Here's Day 6 in Vietnam, Our Fansipan Adven...

Day 2 in Sapa was supposed to be one of those unforgettable travel days where the universe aligns perfectly, the views are postcard worthy, and you find yourself standing on top of the world, feeling tiny and amazed at the same time. Instead, the very first thought that crossed my mind that morning, even before I opened my eyes properly, was the incredibly poetic line “Holy crap…it’s too cold to poop 🤣” If you’re returning to my Vietnam travel series after the first five parts of my travel then welcome back, and if you’re new here, this sentence should give you a fair idea of how things work around me 🫣

Waking Up to Sapa’s Frozen Reality

I woke up unusually early, although at this point it is almost a natural habit for me, but the moment I shifted the blanket even slightly, a wave of icy air hit me so aggressively that I immediately questioned every decision that had led me to this very moment. My room felt like someone had turned it into a walk-in freezer overnight, and stepping into the bathroom felt like willingly volunteering for an ice bucket challenge. But of course, nature calls with zero regard for the weather, your comfort level, or your emotional stability. I somehow convinced myself that I was strong enough to handle fifteen minutes of suffering, because I kept telling myself, like a motivational speaker talking to an audience of one, that I had paid for this trip, and I was going to enjoy it whether my body agreed or not 😌 also we finally got some new folks in our room and finally all the beds were filled. It was quite early so everyone was still fast asleep.

After somehow freshening up without losing a toe to frostbite, I prepared hot water for Yugadi to soothe her throat and for our extremely gourmet breakfast of the day, we had cup noodles 😂🤌🏼 When you are freezing and hungry and still half asleep, cup noodles really feel like the perfect meal created by the gods.

Once everything was ready, I moved on to my next challenge, which was waking up Yugadi, and once she freshened up as well, I made the noodles while she layered herself in enough winter clothes to survive the day. It was only after finishing this entire morning process that we were finally ready to head out for the big activity of the day which was visiting Mount Fansipan.

Our Pre Booked Plan For The Day

Before arriving in Vietnam, I had pre-booked several activities to avoid any last minute stress, and the Fansipan experience was one of them. On KLOOK, I bought the Sun World Fansipan Ticket package that included the round trip Muong Hoa monorail ticket, round trip cable car ticket, and a one-way funicular to the peak, all for around 86 USD for the two of us. At the time, this felt like the smartest package because we assumed walking down would be enjoyable and scenic, and that we would appreciate being able to take the tram up while strolling down leisurely on the return journey. What we did not realise was that in winter, the top of Fansipan does not care about your assumptions 🥲, as it hits you with freezing winds, constantly shifting mist, and stairs that feel like ice coated slides waiting for you to slip and fall dramatically. We also did not account for the fact that it was raining that day, which meant the stairs were even more slippery and dangerous, so eventually, when we reached the top, we had to buy a return tram ticket anyway because walking down would have been an Olympic sport. If you're travelling during warmer months, the walk can actually be quite pleasant, but if you’re going during winter, trust me and just book the two way tram to save yourself from unnecessary drama.

Scooter Ride to Sun Plaza & Foggy Monorail Views

Once breakfast was done, we decided to walk to the Sun Plaza Sapa Station which is just 10 minutes away instead of taking our scooter, which is where the whole Fansipan adventure officially begins.

The walk was really pleasant in the cold air and there were quite a few people out there that morning and here one cutie we found on our way waving to us 🥹❤️

The Smell Of Roast Pork In The Morning Is Heavenly 😂🤌🏻

The Sun Plaza building looks almost like a European train station that accidentally teleported into northern Vietnam, with what feels like a tiny bit of French architecture thrown into the mountain scenery. Inside we first had to get out passes from the counter by showing our KLOOK tickets.

We then boarded the monorail train that was supposed to offer us beautiful views of the valley, except that the fog that day was so thick that it looked like someone had replaced the outside world with a white bedsheet. Every few seconds, we would get a faint glimpse of some landscape, but mostly, the journey felt like travelling inside a glass of milk 🥛. Still, despite the lack of visibility, the ride was smooth and enjoyable, and we wondered how incredible the view must be on a clear day 🥹

Freezing Gardens, Quick Photos & Cultural Handicrafts

Just As We Got Down The Monorail Got Packed And Departed Towards Sapa Station

When we arrived at the Sun World complex, we were surprised by how huge and beautifully designed the whole place was. The gardens were filled with colourful flowers, the hedges were shaped into beautiful figurines, and there were plenty of local handicraft stalls. The problem, however, was that the weather was so cold that we had to do everything quickly unless we wanted our fingers to stop functioning. Even then, I managed to take several pictures of Yugadi, who suddenly entered full photoshoot mode and removed all her winter layers in ten seconds flat. It was almost supernatural how fast she went from “layered snowman” to “model ready for Instagram 🤣🤌🏼❤️” She struck a few poses, we captured some really nice photos, and just as quickly, she put everything back on and we ran indoors again for a quick second.

We popped back out again to visit the handicraft section which was interesting, and many local women in cultural attire were making incense cones by hand, showing the traditional method of shaping and drying them, and they even had several bundles for sale. There was also another stall offering homemade wines, and naturally, I had to try some because when someone says “homemade wine,” it is basically an invitation. The wine was surprisingly smooth and genuinely delicious, and I would recommend anyone visiting to buy at least one bottle, although I decided not to purchase one at that moment since we still had a full day ahead of us.

Making Of Incense Cones

With All The Rain & Terrible Visibility I Had To Stick To Using My Phone Instead Of The DSLR 🥹

Thee A Small Pagoda In This Section And I Got This Great Image Of This Man Praying,
Well I'm Not Sure If He Was Praying Or Posing For Me 😂

Is It Just Me Or Does Everyone Think That This Image Looks Creepy ASF ? For Some Reason Those Statues Look Like They Were About To Hunt Me Down 🥲

Propped My Phone Against A Column And Took These Shots Of Us Using A Timer ❤️✨

Guinness World Record Cable Car with Zero Views

Eventually, we walked to the cable car station and boarded the cable car that is famously known for being the tallest, longest, and most advanced three-wire cable car system in Asia, as registered by the Guinness World Records. The ride takes about fifteen minutes, but because the weather was so bad, we could barely see anything outside except for bright white nothingness yet again. The only time visibility improved was when another cable car passed us in the opposite direction, and for a brief moment, we could confirm that we were indeed travelling through the mountains and not floating through heaven 😂

Frozen Faces, Cheap Raincoats & the Final Climb

When the cable car doors opened at the next station, the cold wind slapped us so hard that my face went numb within two seconds 🥶 The temperature was brutal, and the wind made it even worse, so we rushed indoors to a heated section that had souvenir shops, restaurants, and the entrance to the staircases leading towards the pagodas and upper viewpoints. Since it was raining lightly, we bought those flimsy plastic raincoats from the gift shop, the ones that make you look like a walking plastic bag but still manage to save you from getting soaked. They weren’t fancy, but they did the job.

We climbed the first couple of flights of stairs to explore a nearby pagoda, but the mist was so thick that you could barely see anything beyond a few meters. Continuing upward on foot would have taken too long and would have been too uncomfortable in the cold so we decided to skip a few sites and we quickly boarded the funicular railway, which would take us up to the summit. Some people choose to climb all the way to the top using the stairs, and while I admire their fitness levels and determination, we were not about to torture ourselves in that weather.

Heading Back Down & Warming Up Indoors

Once we reached the summit, the view that so many people rave about was completely invisible. Everything was white. The sky was white, the surroundings were white, the air itself was white. I felt like I was standing inside a badly designed video game where the graphics hadn’t loaded. Still, we made the best of it by taking a few pictures, since we had come all this way and needed at least some proof that we stood on the roof of Indochina, even if the roof was covered in fog that day. Realising that walking down was out of the question, we bought the return tram ticket and made our way back to the indoor area.

We sat inside for a while because the warmth felt heavenly compared to the freezing summit. Yugadi had a slight headache, probably from the cold and the change in altitude, so she rested her head on the table while I wandered around, grabbed something to eat for us, and took a small break myself. After relaxing for about half an hour, we took the cable car down the mountain again, rode the monorail back to the station, and felt the relief of being at a lower altitude where the air was at least slightly less painful.

My Personal Highlight - The Gacha Machine

Just as we exited the monorail, something magical happened. I saw a Gacha vending machine 🥹 If you know anything about me, you know how much I love these machines, and for a moment, I forgot about the cold, the fog, the lack of views, and the entire morning’s struggle. I genuinely thought these machines only existed in Japan, so seeing one in Vietnam felt like winning the lottery. Gacha machines dispense small capsule toys based on themes, and the one that caught my eye had a Hello Kitty collection. I immediately inserted money, twisted the knob with the enthusiasm of a child in a candy store, and out came the cutest Hello Kitty figurine. I am not exaggerating when I say that this tiny toy became the highlight of my day 🤣🫶🏼 Forget Fansipan, forget fog, forget the cold!!!! the Gacha machine stole the show 🤌🏼

The Alpine Coaster Experience

After this emotional high, we headed to the Alpine Coaster because we had already paid for the activity and wanted to experience it despite knowing that the views would be disappointing. The road leading to the coaster was a bit rough due to the road construction, but we eventually got there. The Alpine Coaster is basically a rollercoaster that you control yourself using a lever to increase or decrease your speed. The ride was thrilling and fun, and I wished the weather had allowed us to see more of the scenery, but even without the views, it was still an enjoyable experience. There was a mandatory photo point where you had to pose while riding, and you could purchase the printed or digital version later, but since the weather didn’t allow for a good background, we skipped buying the picture.

Ending the Day With Warm Drinks, Cup Noodles & a Movie

By this point, we were exhausted, so we returned to our hostel to rest for a while. For dinner, we weren’t too hungry, so we visited Cong Caphe and ordered some warm drinks. The cafe had this cosy couch area with a big metal basket of charcoal underneath, and sitting there felt like being in front of a warm fireplace.

We relaxed there for a bit, warming our frozen hands and feet, before heading to a convenience store to pick up a light dinner. Yes, it was cup noodles again, but honestly, after a day of freezing cold, misty mountain tops, cable cars, trams, and roller coasters, cup noodles felt comforting. We returned to our hostel room, watched a movie in bed, and slowly drifted off to sleep, ending a day that was chaotic, cold, unpredictable, and still completely unforgettable.

Just Keeping My Hands Warm With Yugadis Hot Chocolate 🫣

Looking back, Day 2 in Sapa may not have given us the breathtaking views we expected, but it gave us something else entirely which was some crazy stories to tell, silly moments to laugh about, small surprises like the Gacha toy that made the day brighter, and memories we will probably cherish far more than a perfect photographs-with-clouds-below-us moment. Travel isn’t always about perfect weather or perfect pictures; sometimes it’s about embracing everything that goes wrong and still finding joy in the smallest things.