Sapa

Very popular and with good reason, Sapa is where you can find one of the most beautiful rice terraces in the world. Despite the heavy tourism that has flooded its gates in recent years, it has largely remained unchanged and still enjoys the rural they were accustomed to for centuries. This region in northwestern Vietnam could be described as having four seasons in one day – winter chill in the early morning, springtime after sunrise, summer heat in the afternoon, and an autumn breeze that turns into winter cold as the night progresses. So beautiful is this place that there is a legendary accommodation that National Geographic has recognized as one of the Unique Lodges of the World, so do check out Topas Ecolodge while you are there. But with various ethnic communities that call Sapa home, any choice you make to call home for a couple of days or nights will be a great one.

Sapa Town is a sight in itself as its nestled in a valley surrounded by the Hoang Lien Son mountains and has a spectacular view of Vietnam’s highest peak, the imposing Mount Fansipan where you can hire a guide to help you trek all the way to the top. But if you’re content to stay ground-level, the verdant fields and vast rice-paddies are enough to make you dream about this place long after you’ve left. Ethnic minorities are a major part of Sapa and your interaction with them will be inevitable as they’ll be your guide if you decide to go trekking and they run the markets through which you will find a lot of interest in because of the diversity of products that they sell – local food, traditional clothing and handicrafts, and even trekking gear. When in Sapa, the major places to visit are Ham Rong, the Silver Waterfall, the Sky Gate, the Rattan Bridge, the Ancient Rock Field, and the Lao Chai, Cat Cat, and Ta Phin Villages. Must eat dishes are Lon Cap Nach, Com Lam, and Thang Co. To get to this marvelous destination, the best, most scenic and most affordable way is via the scenic sleeper train