{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/philippines/sapa","updatedAt":"2026-10-13T10:52:28.998Z","place":{"city":"Sapa","country":"Philippines","countryCode":"PH","lat":5.1544,"lon":120.3241},"safety":{"score":64,"level":"MODERATE","answer":"Mostly — take normal precautions","saferThanPctOfCountries":63,"confidence":0.85,"caps":[],"databaseScore":65,"travellerSentiment":{"score":59,"label":"Mixed to Negative","summary":"Traveler sentiment is difficult to gauge specifically for Sapa, but the broader regional advisories and past incidents suggest a cautious approach is warranted.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":45,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":62,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":63,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":59,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":75,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":55,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":77,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":3,"label":"Advises against all travel to parts of the country","updated":"2026-10-07T11:19:22Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/philippines"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","updated":"2026-09-25T07:02:51.804176-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/philippines"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":4.34759149828352,"display":"4.3 / 100k","year":"2023","score":70,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":3.5,"display":"3.5%","year":"2015","score":89,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0.8562599650464408,"display":"0.86 / million","year":"2021","score":75,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":9.7,"display":"9.7 / 100k","year":"2021","score":67,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":50.9742832,"display":"51/100","year":"2025","score":51,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":50.8716444,"display":"51/100","year":"2025","score":51,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":36.4736544,"display":"36/100","year":"2025","score":36,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":56.3282918,"display":"56/100","year":"2025","score":56,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":58.45753,"display":"58/100","year":"2025","score":58,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":53.0315965,"display":"53/100","year":"2025","score":53,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"city_population_scale","label":"Urban scale factor","value":2572,"display":"3k residents","year":null,"score":94,"source":"City Geocoding"},{"key":"violence_victimization","label":"Physical assault (past year)","value":5,"display":"5.0%","year":"2017","score":76,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"sexual_violence","label":"Sexual violence (past year)","value":2,"display":"2.0%","year":"2017","score":77,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":1.58,"display":"1.58 / 100k","year":"2024","score":71,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":5.5,"display":"5.5%","year":"2019","score":87,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":81,"display":"US AQI 81 · Moderate","year":null,"score":75,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"hospitals","label":"Hospitals nearby","value":9.694613786,"display":"10 beds / 10k · country avg","year":"2021","score":48,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":33,"display":"October: highs ~33°C · wet spell","year":null,"score":92,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · 4 quakes ≥M4.5 past yr","year":null,"score":94,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)","year":null,"score":75,"source":"Government of Canada"},{"key":"research_robbery_risk","label":"Mugging & robbery risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":62,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_pickpocket_risk","label":"Pickpocketing & theft risk","value":3,"display":"Moderate risk","year":null,"score":78,"source":"City Web Research"},{"key":"research_sentiment_score","label":"Visitor safety sentiment","value":45,"display":"45 / 100 (Mixed to Negative)","year":null,"score":45,"source":"City Web Research"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Sapa, Philippines requires a high degree of caution due to ongoing security concerns and advisories for the wider region.","summary":"While Sapa itself is a small town, it is located in the Tawi-Tawi province, which faces significant security advisories. Travelers should be aware of the potential for crime and the need for heightened vigilance, particularly given the regional instability.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"While specific data for Sapa is limited, the wider Tawi-Tawi province has a history of crime, including violent incidents targeting officials, suggesting a moderate risk for visitors."},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"In crowded areas or markets, there is a moderate risk of pickpocketing and bag-snatching, common in many tourist destinations."},"safeAreas":[],"avoidAreas":["Mindanao and Sulu Archipelago: UK FCDO advises against all travel."],"scams":["Be wary of overly friendly strangers offering unsolicited tours or assistance, as they may attempt to scam you.","Ensure all prices for goods and services are agreed upon upfront to avoid inflated charges."],"zones":[{"name":"Sapa Town Proper","level":"caution","note":"General caution advised due to broader regional security concerns."},{"name":"Coastal Areas","level":"caution","note":"Potential for petty crime; be aware of surroundings."},{"name":"Inland Villages","level":"caution","note":"Less populated areas may have limited services and require extra vigilance."},{"name":"Market Areas","level":"caution","note":"Higher risk of pickpocketing and petty theft."},{"name":"Outskirts","level":"caution","note":"Exercise increased caution, especially after dark."}]}}