INTRODUCTION

SAPA

Some 400 km North-West of Hanoi which access by train or car takes almost 10 hours. Sapa is nestled in a valley in the Tonkin mountains of Vietnam at an elevation of 1,650 meters. It overlooks the highest peak in Indochina, Mt. Fan Si Pang at 3143m.  Journey to Sapa and experience a unique 'off the beaten track' day trek....

The premier destination of northwest Vietnam, Sapa is a former hill station during the French occupation. Nestled in a beautiful valley close to the Chinese border, the spectacular scenery that surrounds Sapa includes cascading rich terraces that hug the heights looming over town. The valleys and villages are home to a host of hill-tribe people who wander into town to buy, sell and trade.
Today, a few buildings have been restored, notably the church, shelled by the French as the Viet Minh began to advance through the northern mountains. Several of the new buildings are vaguely based on the long gone French villas – the Auberge Hotel is a good example. Apart from that, the only enduring memento of the French presence is the inclusion of open fires and chimneys in many buildings – a welcome addition as the temperature often slips below zero in winter.

Two main roads wend their way into the north western mountain area: the latter part of the trip offers good views, but the roads are poor and the twelve-hour journey is tiring. For most visitors, overnight train travel to Lao Cai and by road to Sapa is the best option.

Because of its location near the tallest mountain range in the country, it is possibly the most scenic mountain location in Vietnam.  Home to numerous ethnic hill tribes and boasting the highest mountain in Indochina, visitors to the region will understand why the area was a favorite with French colonialists as far back as 1920. Sapa area is the doorway to a network of valleys and cultures that contain a myriad of riches. On weekends, one can see many hill tribes congregating in the town and around the markets. Around the town, there are also other colorful and ethnic markets held in fixed days during the week which the attracting factor is not only a place for exchanging goods but rather more significant as a place for people to meet each other. Bac Ha market, Muong Hum market, Coc Ly market, Can Cau Simacai market...is among these examples.