Sapa is normally the number one attraction of backpackers coming to Vietnam and a few seconds after arriving we realized why. Absolutely stunning landscapes adorn the so-called Queen of the Mountains.
Sapa is normally the number one attraction of backpackers coming to Vietnam and a few seconds after arriving we realized why. Absolutely stunning landscapes adorn the so-called Queen of the Mountains.
The town overlooks a beautiful valley, with the large mountains protecting Sapa from all corners.
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We had just arrived when I imagined childhood stories of Hansel and Grettel from German masters the Brothers Grimm. I was just hoping we didn’t come across the woodcutter’s evil wife and nope no chocolate house either.
It is such a romantic setting even when it gets a bit chilly with the misty mountains and stunning valleys but it is literally a breath of fresh air from city life. So much so that you actually forget that you are a city slicker and become a tourist for a short spell.
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The rice fields, though, are something else. Wow, they are so beautiful you honestly have to see them with your own eyes to believe it. The colors, the patterns, they are just sublime.
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And then there are the majestic waterfalls which are breathtaking and in abundance. Every village you visit seems to have their own waterfall and you could stand there forever with the water spraying on your face.
Did I say this place was romantic? It was so special I feel sad reminiscing about our time there. I would go back with my family in a heartbeat.
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Like many tourist sites in the north Sapa has been ravaged by war but after Vietnam opened up to tourism, it was reborn and is a hotspot for tourists who flock to the picturesque area. And of course their appearance hasn’t gone unnoticed by local people.
If you pop along and visit the villages which are populated by ethnic peoples of the H’mong and Dzao tribes which are the largest ethnic groups in the region, you learn that they have obviously grasped the importance of speaking English due to the riches it can bring.
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I have to warn you, though, if you are not a walker don’t bother coming because every trip is not worth the bother unless you go on foot, well within reason.
This is the real beauty of Sapa, walking around just taking it all in. You don’t need a guide just explore it for yourselves; it’s the best decision you will ever make.
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(Source: SGT)
