The unspoiled beauty of Sapa
Boasting sublime unspoiled beauty,
from rolling verdant hills to spectacular terraced fields, Sa Pa is a mix of
natural wonder. Near the Chinese border in the northwest province of Lao
Cai and around 376 kilometers from Hanoi, Sa Pa, founded as a scenic resort
by the French in 1903, is best known for its wild, unspoiled landscapes. Sa
Pa's scenic highlights include Hoang Lien Son National Park and the
awe-inspiring 3,143-meter-high Mount Fan Si Pan - the highest mountain peak
in Indochina. Every year, the area attracts thousands of tourists from all
over the world who come to marvel at Sa Pa's lush vegetation and spectacular
scenery. Nestled around 1,600 meters above sea level, Sa Pa is
cloud-covered and cool year-round, with occasional snowfalls in the winter.
It is said that visitors who come to Sa Pa in the summer can experience up
to three seasons in a single day. In the morning and afternoon, the weather
is cool like that in the spring and autumn, while at noon, it is as sunny
and cloudless as a warm summer's day. Visitors often travel to the city of
Lao Cai by train before heading by Coach to Sa Pa. Upon arrival, tourists
can learn about the area's sprawling rice paddies and observe the ethnic
H'Mong and Dao peoples who wear a brilliant array of colorful, traditional
clothing. Stunning terraced fields According to a survey carried out
by US-based Travel and Leisuremagazine, Sa Pa's verdant terraced fields were
ranked among the seven most beautiful in the world. The most beautiful
terraced field area is Suoi Thau, which is cultivated by the Dao people. The
other fields voted most beautiful by the magazine's readersinclude those in
Banaye (the Philippines), Yuangyang (Yunnan, China), Ubud (Bali, Indonesia),
Annapurna (Nepal), Mae Rim (Chiang Mai, Thailand), and Longji (Guilin,
China).Sa Pa's terraced fields belong to the ethnic H'Mong, Dao and Giay
people, and are located in the Muong Hoa Valley of Lao Chai District. The
area totals around 10 square kilometers and tourists can visit to learn
about the process of rice planting and cultivation. The fields were
described by Travel and Leisure as "Ladders to the sky" because of their
astounding natural beauty. "It's the best place in Vietnam with a rich
cultural heritage and splendid landscape," said a Singaporean tourist. "The
scenery and people were amazing," echoed a tourist from the UK. Lao Cai's
Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also proposed that provincial
authorities and the culture ministry should carry out research and compile
information on Sa Pa's terraced fields, Hoang Lien Son National Park, and an
ancient rock bank to submit to UNESCO for recognition as world cultural
heritage sites. "This is a difficult task but we are trying to turn Sa Pa's
terraced fields into a world heritage site for the many foreign travelers
who love Sapa and Vietnam," said Tran Huu Son, the department's chief.
Cultural diversity Home to several ethnic groups
like the H'Mong, Red Dao, Kinh, Tay, Giay, Hoa, and Xa Pho, Sa Pa is a
mosaic of cultures and traditions. Many visitors enjoy learning about the
ethnic people's daily activities, traditions and beliefs. H'Mong ethnic
girl brings the young rice plants to the fields Tourists are often
astonished by the many billowing red headdresses worn by women of the Red
Dao minority, visible all over town. The H'Mong and Dao people make up
the largest ethnic groups in the region. Their villages may appear simple
and old-fashioned from afar, but many people now own mobile phones and
regularly access their email from communal computers. While some of the
older generations of the ethnic minorities have had little formal education
and are illiterate, most of the younger generations receive schooling and
have a good command of English, French and a handful of other languages.
Tourists can also choose to go on two treks while staying in Sa Pa. The
first is a 7 km journey, which takes about four hours and includes a stop
for lunch. The other is a full-day adventure, covering around 17 km and
following the perimeter of the rice paddies, through forested areas, past
the doorsteps of tribal people's homes, and across rivers and waterfalls.
Watching the locals go about their daily business is also an interesting
experience. The children in Sa Pa work extremely hard-tending buffaloes,
working in the fields, and caring for their younger siblings. Many of the
young girls learn the timeless art of embroidery from their mothers. The
ethnic girls often marry young, at around age 14, and depend on the skills
learned from their mothers to start new families of their own. Sa Pa is
also famous for its "love market," which takes place on Saturday evenings.
This cultural tradition once served as a way for ethnic locals to meet,
socialize, and find a partner to marry. In the past, young girls from
the Red Dao hill tribes used to come to Sa Pa and sing songs to find
partners. The girls would sing while hidden in the dark and when a boy found
them - if they liked each other - they would disappear into the forest for
three days and would then marry at a later date. But with the
development of tourism, the original love market, with its purpose of
uniting young couples, has faded away. Visitors can still visit the area on
Saturday nights, however, and be treated to a lively market
atmosphere With its astonishing beauty and diverse peoples, SaPa is
a remarkable travel destination and well worth a visit. Recommend Sapa
Tours at http://www.traintosapa.net
Sapa Budget Tours
- Sapa Day Tours - Sapa Day Excursions - Day Trips Sapa Vietnam
- Sapa Walk and Bac ha Market
- Sapa Hard Trekking Two
- Sapa Hard Trekking One
- Sapa Medium Trek Two
- Sapa Medium Trek
Sapa Trekking and Adventures
- Fansipan peak conquering VIP tour (3 days - 2 nights)
- Fansipan peak conquering VIP tour (2 days - 1 nights)
- Fansipan peak conquering Deluxe tour (4 days - 3 nights)
- Fansipan peak conquering Deluxe tour (3 days - 2 nights)
- Fansipan peak conquering Deluxe tour (2 days - 1 nights)
- Fansipan peak conquering Standard tour (4 days - 3 nights)
Sapa Cycling Options
- Sapa - Binh Lu - Lai Chau(with biking)
- Sapa - Lao Chai - Ta Van - Ban Ho
- Sapa Biking Tour - Ban Ho Village
- Sapa Biking Tour - Binh Lu - Lai Chau
- SaPa - Bac Ha Market with biking
- Pedalling The Remote Sapa\'s Northwest
Sapa Luxury Holidays
Traditional Minority Discovery Packages
- Green Sapa bus (Hanoi – Sapa)
- Eco Sapa Limousine Van (Hanoi – Sapa)
- Private car Hanoi Sapa
- Hanoi Sapa Private Cabin bus
- Coc Ly market with boat trip
- Cao Son market -boat trip on Chay river- Sapa Tours
Sapa Classic Trips
Northern Mountain Discovery Packages
Topas Ecolodge Sapa tours
- Topas Ecolodge and Market Package 3D/4N
- Topas Ecolodge and Market Package-2D/3N
- Topas Ecolodge and Victoria Sapa Package – 4D/5N
- Topas Ecolodge and Victoria Sapa Package – 3D/4N
- Topas Ecolodge Package – 3D/4N
- Topas Ecolodge Package 2D/3N