"SAPA is more than just breathtaking... " a Sapa Travel Page by woeiyann

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Sapa in June

When Heaven & Earth meet

Northern Vietnam is my favourite travel destinantion. I love Sapa with it's beauty , people and handicrafts. But what was drawing me back again and again was the hilltribes there and their beautiful emboridery. I am an ethnicmania, I find great joy in meeting ethnic minorities and are sooo facisnated with their costumes. There are 54 ethnic minoriteis in throughout Vietnam which has given me enough reason to revisit Vietnam.

Sapa setting blissfully at the elevation of 1,650 meters on the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, is a hill station built in 1922 and a fine resort town. Besides the fertile terraced paddy fields and primal hill tribal villages, it is home to the fog-swirled Fasipan peak at 3,143 meters, the highest in the countries. Fasipan peak may only br 9km from Sapa but it take at least 3-5 days to reach to the peak only by foot. Many of the local hilltribes never been to the peak. Out of my 3 visits, I have'nt get a chance to take the hike to Fasipan as visiting hill tribes villages and spending time with them had kept me busy.

It is best to come on weekdays and depart to Bac Ha on the weekend. Or
the other way. Sunday & Monday are quite days in Sapa. There are time, many of the H'mong and Red Dao who hawk around town or by the street would return to their home in the villages. So as with some of the young H'mong tour guides who station in Sapa by renting nut size rooms.

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Drizzle in Ta Phin-Red Dao village

Sapa is beautiful in June and July

It was a wet season when I first visited Sapa in June 2004. The green in Sapa and surrounding villages was so refreshing. Half of the day it was drizzling and the weather was cold. Nevertheless, the warmnest of the hilltribes remained.

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Mie, Shawn, Boa & Lu

Little H'mong friends

They are the reason that I love Sapa. I have the intention of supporting Mie and Shawn for their education. Free education is only for elementary school. Yet, many are unable to attend school regularly as they need to help their parents in the field or taking care of their young siblings. By buying their handicrafts or using a hilltribe guides are good ways of helping them to improve their life.

Well, though living in poverty, they are happy people, wealthy with the beautiful nature.

Sapa is a great place for nature lovers, hikers/trekkers, and etnicmanias like me. I have visited Sapa in March, April, May & June. For my 4th visit to Sapa, I wil probably go in July or August. Why not make your next excursion to Sapa and around.