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Sapa lies on the side of Hoang Lien Son Mountains, 333 km northwest of Hanoi, close to Chinese border. This area has spectacular scenery, many natural sites and is home to diverse mountain tribe communities; especially, it is also the starting point for those who want to conquer the top of Fansipan Mountain, the highest mountain in Vietnam at 3,143 m.
Getting to Sapa from Hanoi, it is very convenient to take a train to Lao Cai and then continue with a 45-minute drive to Sapa. Alternatively, adventurers can reach Sapa by road.
Sapa & Minority People
Beaming Red Dao women crowd the front steps of Sapa's gothic, grey stone church and pull strips of colorful embroidered fabric from their woven rattan backpacks. Their huge read headdresses as they call to passers-by. Ethnic minority people in various styles of traditional dress, indigo tunics and leggings, elaborate pleated skirts, silver-studded jackets stroll up from the valley, all bound for Sapa's bustling weekend market. They carry bundles of produce and lead pack-ponies through the village's steep streets.
Tucked high in Vietnam's remote northern mountains, the former French military out post of Sapa offers some of Vietnam's most colorful experiences. The view are breath-taking. Vietnam's highest peak, the 3,143 m Mount Fansipan, looms overhead, while the surrounding valleys feature terraced rice paddies and blazing green fields cut by fast flowing streams. Layer upon layer of green ridges fade into the distance, edged by sharp, rocky peaks.
Visitors to this isolated village can browse in the traditional market, then hike into the valleys and explore the surrounding ethnic minority villages. Here, people live as they have for centuries, raising water buffaloes and pot-bellied pigs, cultivating paddy, corn and cassava, and weaving their colorful clothing. Come to these northern mountains and you will feel the drill of discovery. This is one of the rare corners of the world where people's traditions continue to flourish and nautre reigns supreme.
Sapa packages
> Sapa at a glimpse 3 nights 2 days > Sapa - Deep Into Valleys (06 days 05 nights)
> Sapa & Minorities Market (4 nights 3 days) > Sapa Trekking & Homestay (5 nights 4 days)
> Sapa Biking & Homestay (4 nights 3 days) > Conquer Fansipan Moutain (3 days)
Bac Ha Market
Bac Ha market is well-known for its naturally sub-tropical scenery. Tam Hoa plums are really a local specialty: sweet and fresh. This seems to be created by its own land, people and nature.
Average temperature here is 19°C and it's not so cold as in Sa Pa. Bac Ha is specifically identified by each mount, each house and naturally-made carpet of white plum-flowers in spring. There are 14 ethnic minorities and the Mong ethnics count for 47% then the Dao, Tay, Nung, Phu La... Mountaineers take care of their horses as their properties, means of transport and close friends.
Besides plums, Bac Ha is reputed for its alcohol (made of maize). Maize is grown on high mountains, its low in productivity but high in nutrition. To make alcohol, it's f ermented with Hong My seed (the local only plant). Bac Ha alcohol is well-known due to its source of water. So it's surely believed never to have faulted one in Bac Ha market. Visitors can see the locals selling their own alcohol without feelings to be cheated.
Brocades are for sales in the market or in shops or by street-vendors. There are hand-made or manufactured products. It takes a village-girl even half a month to make a brocade of 20cm long. Their skirts or costumes cost them long time to make. Their dresses express their patience, skills. Visitors can see the girls making brocades right in the market.
Traditional values and identities are well-maintained in the market. Such markets as Bac Ha, Coc Ly have really become rendezvous for visitors at home and abroad. There is almost no bargaining or competition here. Sales girls look quite naive, sincere. They go to the market mainly to meet people and exchange funs. Especially, there is a horse market in town-centre, each market-day there are almost 100 - 200 horses for sales or exchange.
Mong or Tay or Dao ethnics’ minority girls and boys, with their best dresses on, go to the market to relax and meet their friends. At sunset, they leave with a promise to see again.
Visitors to Bac Ha are opportune to understand the local traditions and customs, taste local specialties, meet nice people and know a land code-named: white plateau.
Local Train: Hanoi <-> Lao Cai
The Ha Noi-Lao Cai trains runs every evening, departing from Ha Noi Train Station at 120 Le Duan Street. Three run at night, and one makes a day trip. The following are the trains from Ha Noi to Lao Cai (PM: SP1, LC1, LC3; AM: LC5) and vice versa (PM: SP2, LC2, LC4; AM: LC 6) daily. The daytime route offers only hard seats, whereas travelers can enjoy soft-sleepers, Air-conditioned, four-berth cabins on the night trains.
In the SP3 & SP4, there are 2 Victoria Carriages. In SP1 & SP2, there are 2 Tulico Carriages, 1 Friendly Carriages, 2 Ratraco Carriages, and 2 TSC Carriages, 2 King Express Carriages, 2 Royal Carriages. All of these are alternatives for tourists to Sapa from Hanoi.
Train to Sapa
> Victoria train express > Royal train express
> King train express > Fasipan train express
> Livitran express > Ratraco rain express