Vietnam introduces itself as a picturesque destination for it is blessed with hills, beaches and endless mountainous terrains. Little known, the perfect landscape has been the background of many Hollywood movies like Kong: Skull Island.
One such place is Sapa, a district in Lao Cai just northwest of Vietnam. Standing at 1500 meters (4,921 feet) above sea level, Sapa has vast terraced rice fields, indigenous tribes and many national parks.
The hill tribes, known as H’Mong in Sapa is recognised for their amazing crafts, fabrics, spices and herbal remedies. There is the Main Square, where travellers can find crafts ranging from bags, wallets and pillow covers sold by hill tribe vendors.
But ultimately, trekking along the valleys of Sapa shows you the cascading rice terraces, a result of amazing work over a hundred years by local hill tribes. To enjoy the view of the rice terraces, travellers are advised to have good trekking shoes as some places can be muddy.
There are quite a number of hotels, guesthouses and homestay available in Sapa for travellers. Most of these hotels offer a stunning view of the mountains. Sapa Clay House and the Topas Ecolodge are two notable choices.
When in Sapa, tasting their local cuisine is a must. Try Thang Co, a traditional horsemeat soup from the H
How To Get There
Catch an overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai station, which takes about 9 hours. At Lao Cai, hop on a shuttle bus or taxi on the winding road to Sapa town. Although hired motorcycles are available, you can walk around town on a clear day to catch the highland landscape and paddy fields.
This article first appeared in GOASIAPLUS Asean Guide in 2017. ASEAN Guide is a collaboration with AirAsia to promote places for travellers in Southeast Asia countries from how to go, where to stay, what to do and eat.
