| Take an overnight train ride from bustling Hanoi | | | | under the gaze of the nearby mountains and the |
| and you will arrive in the remote mountainous | | | | border with China. Here you will see tribes people |
| region of Sapa Valley, home to beautiful | | | | from all over the region and even from over the |
| mountains and valleys, many minority hill-tribes | | | | chinese border who come here to barter and |
| and fascinating street markets. By escaping to | | | | trade. This is a very common sight at all of the |
| Sapa you will find here real life and culture and | | | | markets in the Sapa region, a real cultural |
| pure relaxation. | | | | experience, where horseback is the mode of |
| Sapa is an old French Colonial Hill station nestled | | | | transportation of goods for sale. |
| amongst the highest mountain range in Vietnam, | | | | A Hmong culinary specialty you may wish to try |
| Hoang Lien Son which is close to the Chinese | | | | is Thang Co Blood Porridge, made from a mixture |
| border. Sapa is well known for its outstanding | | | | of pony and goats meat, slow cooked to produce |
| natural beauty and the variety of hill-tribes people | | | | a fine 'blood soup' served in a large hot-pot. This |
| that live in the area. As a destination it offers | | | | dish is a popular staple of the hill-tribes people in |
| many adventure outdoor activities, cycling and | | | | the region and is shared by everyone, using |
| trekking are the most popular of these. | | | | chopsticks to dip the succulently cooked meat |
| The best trek in the area takes three days to | | | | into a spicy dip and then eaten, normally |
| the summit of Fansipan, standing at 3143 meters, | | | | accompanied with bread, instant noodles, |
| it is the highest peak in Vietnam, affording | | | | vegetables and herbs. |
| breathtaking panoramic views into neighboring | | | | It is best to try this dish at one of the |
| China. Travelling to the summit, is not the hardest | | | | restaurants in the Sapa area, as opposed to |
| trek in the world, so if you are fit and healthy and | | | | experiencing it at one of the markets, like Bac Ha, |
| have plenty of energy, you should consider | | | | here you will see the locals socialize, eat and wash |
| making this trek to the roof of Vietnam, where | | | | the soup down with wine! Thang Co is very |
| you'll be amongst the clouds. | | | | popular among the locals and warms the body in |
| Sapa is home to many minority Hill-tribe, visits and | | | | a region where temperatures and plummet |
| home-stays are a very popular activity in the | | | | dramatically in the evenings. |
| Sapa region. One of the most well known | | | | Other activities you would be able to arrange are |
| hill-tribes in the area is the Black Hmong Hill-tribe, | | | | Cycling, camping and trekking and even traveling |
| who frequent the villages throughout the area. | | | | by motorcycle are all very popular ways to |
| They have their own culture and customs and | | | | explore the Sapa Region. To get to Sapa you |
| many tourists enjoying visiting and learning about | | | | need to travel by train from Hanoi, overnight to |
| their ways of life, by taking a tour or even | | | | Lao Cai, the main town in the region and then |
| arranging an overnight home-stay. By visiting the | | | | take a 90 minute journey by road and dirt track |
| tribes people you will learn about farming | | | | to get to Sapa itself. |
| techniques, how their wonderful garments are | | | | For a short break to visit hill-tribes and trek, 3 to |
| made and be treated to traditional hill-tribe fare | | | | 4 days is the recommended amount of time for |
| and music, a fascinating experience, which will | | | | a tour here, for the more adventurous there are |
| allow you to immerse yourself in how simple life | | | | various treks, cycling routes and home-stays that |
| can be! | | | | can be arranged for those wishing to spend |
| Home-stays are an ideal choice if you wish to | | | | longer, and a perfect combination with the Sapa |
| have a real life experience of how these people | | | | Region would be Hanoi and a cruise around |
| live and work their daily lives and the people of | | | | stunning Ha-long Bay, well known for its limestone |
| the Hmong tribe and other minority groups are | | | | cliffs, commonly referred to as the Gullin of |
| very welcoming to foreigners visiting them. | | | | Vietnam! |
| Another aspect of local culture not to be missed | | | | So consider visiting the Sapa region as part of a |
| is a visit to one of the numerous, hill-tribe | | | | tour to Vietnam and indeed Indochina, Vietnam |
| markets. Each market has its own unique feel and | | | | offers a fantastic mix of history, culture, |
| is generally a place for the locals to get together | | | | outstanding natural beauty and stunning beaches, |
| to sell their wares and to socialize with friends and | | | | more than comparable to other Asian destinations |
| family, perhaps even meet a partner! | | | | such as Thailand and Malaysia. You would also be |
| The largest of these markets in Bac Ha market, | | | | supporting Responsible and Sustainable tourism |
| 80 Kilometres from downtown Sapa in the Lao | | | | and growth throughout the region as a whole. |
| Cai region, this market takes place every Sunday | | | | |