1-Week Paragliding Course in Mu Cang Chai and Sa Pa

Do you want more than a tandem flight - do you want to control the wing yourself and gradually master your own flight? The 01-week paragliding course by Sapa Paragliding takes you through the whole path: from theory and equipment to ground skills, and on to your first practice flights under the direct supervision of an instructor.

💰 Tuition, duration and training location

💰 Tuition: 15,000,000 VND per course ⏱️ Duration: 01 week (5–7 days, depending on the weather and each student's progress) 📍 Location: the Mu Cang Chai flying site (Khau Pha Pass) or the Sa Pa flying site — Mu Cang Chai is our preferred training base 👨‍✈️ One-on-one training: 1 instructor – 1 student 🏠 Free accommodation at our paragliding homestay right by the flying site for the whole course

🏠 Why we train in Mu Cang Chai first

The Khau Pha Pass site in Mu Cang Chai has a take-off area at 1,268m directly on National Highway 32 and a wide landing field down in the valley, reachable by a concrete road. That layout lets students spend whole sessions on ground handling and get truly comfortable with the wing before their first flight. Our shuttle runs between the landing field and the take-off all day long, so you can repeat each exercise many times instead of waiting around. Throughout the course, students stay free of charge at our paragliding homestay right at the flying site: you eat, rest and train in the same place, with no commuting, and you are ready the moment your instructor calls a good wind window - which matters enormously in a weather-dependent sport.

👨‍✈️ A professional instructor team

The course is led by pilot Dang Van My - P5, founder of Sapa Paragliding, together with the company's professional instructor team. He holds an APPI Parapro P5 rating and a P5 from the JHF (Japan), and has translated several classic paragliding textbooks into Vietnamese, among them Burkhard Martens' Thermal Flying and Cross-Country Flying. From the first sessions with the wing - ground handling, take-off and landing technique - through to airborne exercises, students are guided step by step, corrected on the spot, and trained in the safety mindset, awareness and decision-making of a pilot.

📚 Course content

✅ Paragliding fundamentals: equipment and the principles of flight ✅ Basic meteorology - wind direction - assessing safe flying conditions ✅ Pre-flight checks and safety principles ✅ Ground handling - inflating and controlling the wing ✅ Run-up and take-off technique ✅ Take-off decision-making: choosing the right moment to launch ✅ Controlling direction, speed and body position in the air ✅ Choosing a flight path and reading the landing area ✅ Approach, flare and landing technique ✅ Folding and caring for the equipment properly ✅ Supervised flying practice with instructor guidance ✅ Review and final assessment with the head instructor

🎓 What is included in the course

✔️ One free tandem flight with an instructor ✔️ All training equipment provided throughout the course ✔️ Professional certified instructors ✔️ Insurance during training and flights ✔️ A minimum of 10 assisted solo flights with instructor support ✔️ Free accommodation at the paragliding homestay during the course

You do not need to buy any equipment before the course. Afterwards we help you choose and source new or second-hand gear that suits your level and build - the step where new pilots most often go wrong.

🪂 After the course: the mentoring model

After a few days of training you reach the first level (P1), and a few days more allow basic solo flying. Full independence in the air, however, takes several months or longer, depending on aptitude and how often you fly. We tell every student this on day one. ✔️ Permission to fly at every site operated by our company ✔️ Ongoing mentoring from an instructor, with guidance and technical support through the first months and up to one or two years ✔️ Help choosing equipment that matches your level This is the most important stage in a new pilot's safe development.

🛡️ Final assessment and safety principles

At the end of the training, students take a final assessment with the head instructor. Completion is judged on each student's actual competence, not simply on days attended: you must demonstrate wing control, correct take-off, control and landing procedures, solid safety knowledge and the ability to handle basic situations. Paragliding depends heavily on the weather. The schedule, the pace and the actual number of flights may be adjusted according to conditions and the instructor's judgement. We never trade safety for a timetable - knowing when not to fly is part of a pilot's training.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Can I join with no flying experience at all? Yes. The course is built for complete beginners, starting from theory and ground skills. Is a tandem flight with the instructor required? No. Our programme does not need tandem flights to teach in the air; most students learn and fly solo without ever flying tandem. The course still includes one free tandem flight so you can feel the air before you start. What matters most for a new student? Discipline: listening to and following radio commands, understanding the flight rules, equipment handling, and take-off and landing procedures. All of it can be learned and drilled on the ground. Mu Cang Chai or Sa Pa? We train at both sites and give priority to Mu Cang Chai. The exact location of each course is confirmed when you register, depending on wind conditions and instructor availability. How do I register? Contact Sapa Paragliding by hotline / Zalo / WhatsApp at +84 386 887 489 (Ms. Judy) or +84 964 073 555 (Mr. My, head pilot), or email sapa.paragliding@gmail.com to get the next training dates.