Topas Ecolodge

Xin Chao! Thank you for choosing Topas Ecolodge, part of the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World collection. We would like to share some useful information with you to help prepare for your journey and hope you enjoy the authentic and magical experience that is discovering Sapa, Vietnam. After Hours & Early Arrivals: Topas Ecolodge has a Welcome House on the roadside; our welcome team is there daily from 7,30am to 5,00pm. Please note that if you are arriving outside of this schedule, you will find a phone on the entrance wall; kindly dial "0" and one of our Front Office staff will come and accompany you to the main lodge building which is a mere 300 meters away. While you wait, please take a seat, relax and enjoy the spectacular views from the Welcome House. Arrival & Departure: The easiest way to reach Topas Ecolodge is with our daily luxury limousine van departing Hanoi at 6,30am to 7,00am and arriving at our property at 12,00pm. The cost is USD 50 per person each way. The return journey to Hanoi departs Topas Ecolodge at 2,30pm and arrives in Hanoi at 7,30pm. Our vehicles are comfortable, our drivers are highly experienced and refreshments are provided on board. It is highly recommended to book in advance as we are limited to 6 or 7 passengers per vehicle to ensure maximum comfort for all guests. This service operates on a fixed schedule and unfortunately cannot be adjusted. If you prefer a private transfer, this can be arranged for you, please consult with our team for scheduling and pricing. If you intend to take a train to Sapa, there are a number of options available including overnight sleeping trains, which can be an interesting experience but will require a bit more coordination. Please note the train ticket ranges in price from USD 30 - USD 36 and arrives at Lao Cai Train Station, which is located 38km from Sapa town. We are more than happy to assist you with train tickets. You can then book a private transfer from the train station to Topas Ecolodge for USD 70/private car. Local buses also provide transport to Sapa town, where you can take advantage of the free shuttle service to Topas Ecolodge. Our complimentary shuttle bus departs Topas Ecolodge daily at 9,00am, 12,00pm and 3,30pm, and returns from Sapa (015 Le Van Tam Street) daily at 7,30am and 1,15pm. Please book at least 3 hours in advance to ensure seat availability. The schedule may be subject to change so please confirm with your booking consultant. If you would like to stay in Sapa town a bit longer, there are taxis available for hire and the fare is approximately USD 20 to 25. Local Adventures: The best way to experience Sapa outside the beautiful views and hospitality of Topas Ecolodge is by joining one of our carefully designed excursions of the region. We offer a number of daily excursions, exclusive to Topas Ecolodge guests, including visits to local villages, rice terraces and local forests, our professional guides speak good English and are highly knowledgeable about the area and the history and culture of the local people. At Topas Ecolodge we endeavor to show our guests the “real” Sapa and Vietnam, keeping the local experiences we provide our guests as authentic and genuine as possible; as such, our excursions take you off the beaten track and further than any other tours available in Sapa as we aim to avoid the hustle and bustle of the main town and tourist trekking areas which can be a bit overwhelming due to mass tourism. There is a limited number of guests we take out daily, so please be sure to check available excursions and reserve your place through your booking consultant prior to arrival. Weather: Topas Ecolodge is situated in one of the most unique mountainous locations in all of Vietnam, and probably the reason you have chosen to stay with us. Weather is always somewhat unpredictable, as with any destination, but we’d like to share some of the general conditions to give you an idea of suitable attire to bring with you and what to expect in terms climate and seasonal weather conditions. Firstly, Sapa is 1,500m above sea level, whilst Topas Ecolodge is at 950m above sea level, thus the temperature can fluctuate by around 5 degrees at the lodge when compared to Sapa town. Between December and February the average temperature is of 8 to 10 degrees Celsius in Sapa town, and on the rare occasion it can even snow. It is usually quite foggy during this time of year which reduces visibility somewhat, but it certainly adds a whimsical element to your winter getaway. During spring which is from March to May and in the autumn months of September to November, you can expect average temperatures of around 20 degrees Celsius in Sapa Town with relatively stable sunny days and cool nights. From June to August you will be looking at warmer days with average temperatures of around 20 to 25 degrees Celsius; rainfall is common during this time of year, especially in the afternoon. Inspired Dining Experiences & Special Dietary Needs Topas Ecolodge has two restaurants, one indoor restaurant serving a delicious buffet breakfast, and an A la Carte lunch and dinner. Our Danish Head Chef works closely with our local team to source a wide range of high quality local produce and poultry, along with a selection of imported meats, to prepare a complete dining experience that is inspired by the region and the mountains of Sapa. Our outdoor BBQ space offers a set themed culinary experience on selected days when weather permits; please book at reception prior to 2,00pm for this delicious alfresco dining opportunity. Kindly note that outside food and drinks cannot be brought into the lodge with the exception of your favourite bottle of wine, which will incur a corkage fee on your room bill. Our restaurant is open from 7am through to 9pm. If you are arriving late and would like any meals prepared before the kitchen closes, please let us know. Topas Ecolodge can cater to most special dietary needs if notified in advance. Please kindly inform us at the time of booking so we can ensure our team is adequately briefed, necessary produce is sourced prior to your arrival, and we are ready to cater to your specific needs throughout the duration of your stay. Filming & Drones: According to Vietnamese law, foreigners are not allowed to import or fly drones in Vietnam without the necessary filming permissions from the Ministry of Defense. For any local Vietnamese guests, please request permission in advance before arrival at the lodge and approval will be subject to strict flying areas so we can preserve the privacy and comfort of all our guests (e.g. no flying around the pool or rooms or bungalows). National Park Entrance Fees: If you are arriving to Topas Ecolodge via your own means of transport you will be charged an entrance ticket of VND 75,000 at the entrance to the Hoang Lien National Park, where Topas Ecolodge is located. There is plenty of parking and you will be guided by our team after check in to the appropriate area. Local Ethnic Minorities: Topas Ecolodge was developed through a partnership with a local family and the Danish Development Fund, and we are proud to now have over 95% of our team made up of local minority people from surrounding communities and villages. We ask guests to be sensitive to this fact as sometimes the English level of our team is not as proficient as some of our front office or reception team. Please ask for help at reception if you have a specific question that cannot be answered by a member of our team due to language barriers. Outside the lodge there are some minority ladies who may offer you their handicrafts, and will follow you if you are walking around the area without a guide. They can be persistent at times as this is one of their only sources of income, some people may find this annoying. If so, please reach out to one of our team members and they will speak with the ladies directly. Conservation & Refillable Water Bottles: Topas Ecolodge is strongly committed to conservation and continuously strives to reduce the usage of single use plastic, and ultimately plastic in general wherever possible. It is a journey that we are all passionate about and we look forward to your support in achieving our goal to minimize our carbon footprint and protect this pristine natural environment for future generations. Topas Ecolodge provides all guests with a complimentary stainless-steel refillable bottle at check in. If you are taking the Topas Mountain Express, you will be provided with one prior to departure from Hanoi. A water station to refill your bottles is located at reception, and we are working to implement refill stations at other locations around the lodge and on our excursions. Our Commitment to Local Communities: Topas Ecolodge is committed to supporting local communities by providing employment and training for individuals that otherwise have limited access to education and employment opportunities; we also partake in a number of social initiatives in an effort to contribute to improving the lifestyle of local communities. Topas Ecolodge is also a strong supporter of the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, a charity that has become a powerful force of change on the streets of Vietnam, both in the bustling cities and also in the more rural areas where poverty is very much present. The foundation offers children and families in crisis the chance to turn their lives around, providing practical solutions to the everyday problems that keep poverty alive. Spot and adopt the Blue Dragon in your room and help us support this valuable cause! Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to assist you on your travels to Sapa or around Vietnam. We look forward to welcoming you to Topas Ecolodge and we wish you a memorable experience in magical Sapa. Happy travels!

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