Sa Pa () or Sapa is a ward of Lào Cai Province in Northwest Vietnam. Prior to July 2025, it was a frontier township and capital of the former Sa Pa District.
The Standing Committee of the National Assembly enacted Resolution No. 1673 on the arrangement of commune-level administrative units in Lào Cai Province in 2025. Accordingly, the entire natural area and population of the wards of Hàm Rồng, Ô Quý Hồ, Sa Pả, Cầu Mây, Phan Si Păng and Sa Pa (Sa Pa Town) were reorganized to form a new ward named Sa Pa Ward.
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Geography
Sa Pa lies in the Lo Suoi Tung plateau of Northwest Vietnam. It borders Ngũ Chỉ Sơn commune to the north, Tả Phìn commune to the east, Tả Van commune to the south, and Lai Châu Province to the west.
History
During World War II, Sa Pa was originally settled as a hill resort station by colonialists in French-ruled Indochina, who deemed the cool mountain climate ideal for escaping the heat. Settlers equipped the town with railways and European-style hotels and villas to suit the preferences of the elite class.