Sapa, or TÃÂ y Sa Pa, is a Southwestern Tai language of Sa Pa, LÃÂ o Cai Province, northern Vietnam. According to Pittayaporn (2009) and Glottolog, it is the closest relative of the Southwestern Tai languages, but does not share the phonological innovations that define that group. There are about 300 speakers. TÃÂ y Sa Pa speakers are classified by the Vietnamese as ethnic Tay people, most of whom speak Central Tai languages rather than Southwestern Tai languages. According to Jerold Edmondson, the phonology, tones, and lexicon of TÃÂ y Sa Pa is similar to that of Standard Thai.
A similar Southwestern Tai language called Padi is spoken in Mðá»Âng Khðáng District, Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam.