Sapa

Hi everyone, I have been to Sapa and several other places in Vietnam. I think this is the most wonderful place to visit. I was there twice in the summer. The weather was great. Can you imagine at the middle of July where the temperature can reach over 35 degree in other cities, it is only 15 degree in Sapa, so cool! And it would be better if you bring a coat with you in case the temperature drops lower.
People living there are mainly minority groups. You will find it very interesting to visit their villages in the hidden mountains, and their food, their dressing as well. Especially, people in Sapa are very friendly. They always keep their smiles on face and will be happy to take pictures with you.
Just come and enjoy this wonderful place

buy a map, rent a moto, and ride with the sun in your eyes and wind whipping around you.

follow a tour, and you most likely get roped along into unworthy false shows of villagers, grown numb to tourists.

go a little bit farther and find trekking, valleys, and less “where you from? buy something from me?”

This is truly asia. So exotic and far from civilization as can be. The prettiest views you can imagine, up in the mountains of north Vietnam. Of all the places we visited in Vietnam, Sa Pa was the prettiest of all. Extremely nice for hikes.

I loved the scenery of the Sapa area. But, I just think its cultural-based tourism out of control up there. And I didn’t see very much nature, just endless rice paddies. If you want to learn about the amazing ethnic groups of the uplands, go to Luang Nam Tha and Vieng Phouka in Laos, where tourism is still low key, and the villagers are not parading around for tourists, they are just living their lives and also enjoying improved incomes thanks to (mostly) carefully planned tourism initiatives up there. And there are treks through the national park.
I did, however, fall in love with the Minsk motorbikes.

Trekking to be done. village children are willing to be photographed.

The weather, the landscape, the people… So fab!
It’s easy to take a train from Hanoi to Laocai, and then take a bus to Sapa. There’re many trekking tour programs in Sapa for you to choose. And it’s cheap.
At night, you should go to the Church square and try bamboo-tube rice.

Sapa is the most beautiful place that I have been in the 3 months that I have been in Southeast Asia. It simply doesn’t compare to anything else. The people are amazing. The terraced rice patties are out of a picture book. The mountains are lush and jagged. At trip to Vietnam is not complete without a few days in Sapa. Halong Bay is pretty but Sapa is in a class by itself.

One of my favorite places in Vietnam