Sapa travel guide, Vietnam city guide

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Sapa travel guide, Vietnam city guide

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Sapa is located in the Lao Cai province in the mountainous region in the far northwest of the Vietnam, almost near the border of China.  Sapa was originally a hill station built by the French in 1922 for summer retreats from Hanoi.

Sapa is the home to diverse mountain tribe communities including the H’mong, Tay, Dao and Thai ethnic groups, and visits to the markets and nearby villages of the ethnic tribes are one of the highlights of most trips.

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.

"Although Sapa is one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam, many travelers find visiting the old French hill station can be a huge disappointment. The problems arise in all aspects, from the journey shopping and other activities once they arrive." Sapa, Vietnam - a huge disappointment

What to Do ?

Shrouded in mist, Sapa was originally a hill station built by the French in 1922 for summer retreats from Hanoi - North Vietnam. Here, people can relax and enjoy the breathtaking views. The best way to get around Sapa is to walk and almost everywhere it's steep. Besides, Sapa is also a good base for trekking, climbing, cycling and motorbike trips to explore the mountainous region as well as Montagnard villages. Visits to markets are also a highlight of most trips.

When to go?

The best time to visit Sapa, Vietnam is March and May or mid-September to early December when the weather is pleasant. Before or after these periods, it is different experiences. The winter is cold and brings fog and drizzles while the summer is warm and has frequent showers. The rainy season starts in May through September.

Travel Tips:

In Sapa, you will meet ethnic vendors, who keep following you to sell handmade articles. It is fine to buy, but if you are not interested, you might want to take care to show lack of interest. Also please note that it'd better to separate handmade articles within your bag preventing some color bleeding as those beautiful articles are used natural dyes. Riding on motorbikes around Sapa is interesting, adventurous and becomes a popular option. However, just do it with experienced riders or a tour guide to Sapa.

Tourism festival kicks off in the misty mountainous of Sapa

Traditional rites and crafts of ethnic minority groups will take center stage at a festival which opens Friday in Sapa, a popular resort town in Vietnam’s northern mountains.

Le Hoi Tren May (Festival in the Mist) – Sapa Festival 2006, which runs until May 3, includes displays of ornamental trees and colorful flowers, and photographs capturing the misty town’s peoples and landscapes. Read more here