5 Reasons to Stay at a Homestay in Sapa, Vietnam

5 Reasons You Should Stay at a Homestay in Sapa, Vietnam

Ms. May Kieu's Homestay in the Taphin Village

1. Cost

When searching for hotel accommodations in Sapa, you’ll be looking at spending $18-$127 per night. If you’re expecting a certain level of comfort, then homestays may not be right for you, but keep in mind that even with hotels, you never know exactly what you’re going to get. If you’re going for a homestay however, you’ll be looking at spending just $10-20 per night, and that’s with meals included! Food and accommodation as a package when living at a homestay costs a fraction of what you would pay for at a hotel (depending on the hotel). That leaves a lot more room to splurge on other things, like authentic handicrafts made by the local women as souvenirs for your friends and family back home!

2. Culture

Food preparation at Ms. Ly May Phuong's homestay in the Taphin Village

Sure, you can get a taste of the Vietnamese culture by strolling down the streets and reading a guidebook, but staying with a family will allow you to see the behind-the-scenes moments that most tourists just don’t get to see. Living with a local host gives you insight and perspective on how they really live, act, and feel by being fully immersed in their culture. This is something you just can’t experience from staying at a hotel.

3. Insider tips

Not only will you be able to see how these amazing ethnic minority cultures live, but also, chances are, if you build a friendship with them, they will let you in on some insider tips and secrets. Getting to know the locals can give you the opportunity to really enhance your experience abroad. If you’re new to a culture, you may not know where to start, what to do, or where to go. That’s where they come in. Ask your hosts for their thoughts and advice on what things you can do while you’re there, and you might just discover the best pho spot ever…yum!

4. Learn the language

It’s no secret that he best way to learn a language is to be fully immersed in it. Homestays offer you that very unique opportunity to learn the local language. Ask your hosts if they are up for a language exchange. They can teach you basics of their language in exchange for some English lessons. Most of them already speak English well, but you can always teach them more. You can also ask them to refrain from using English for basic conversations, that way you are forced to talk back in their language! Not only is it actually useful to know the local language while you’re there, but it will make you look pretty cool when you’re back home too!

5. Home cooked foods

A delicious home-cooked meal at Ms. Chao Ta May's home in the Taphin Village

Few things beat a home cooked meal. In fact, food is often considered a language of love; we cook for those we love and share meals with those important to us. Meal sharing at a local’s home has now become a popular option amongst travelers who are looking for a more personal experience, especially with the birth of meal sharing apps like EatWith and MealSharing. If you’re staying at a homestay though, you can skip the formalities because the hosts will be the one preparing the meals! If you’re up for it, try offering to help them prepare the food or ask them to teach you their recipes. This will help strengthen your friendship and make the experience even more extraordinary. And, of course, you will learn some delicious recipes to take home!

Those are our 5 reasons why you should stay at a homestay while you're in Sapa, Vietnam! Not yet convinced? Hop on over to our “Homestays” page on our website for more information on the homestays that are currently being offered. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to answer them.

And finally, as always, be respectful to your hosts and their culture. You may experience culture shock when you're there, but as long as you stay open-minded, you will have an incredible time!

Good luck!