Sapa
Sapa is famous for both its fine, rugged scenery and its rich culture diversity. Sapa is nestling of many ethnic minority village and vivid green rice terraces are sculpted into the mountain sides. It would be of considerably less interest without the HMong and Dzao people, the largest ethnic groups in the region. Its lush, deep river valleys, in the shadows of Vietnam’s tallest peak Mount Fansipan.
General information:
Area: 678,6 sq. km
Population: 52.5 thousand habitants (2007)
Administrative division:
- Townlet: Sapa
- Communes: Ban Khoang, Ta Giang Phinh, Trung Chai, Ta Phin, Sa Pa, San Sa Ho, Ban Phung, Lao Chai, Hau Thao, Thanh Kim, Ta Van, Su Pan, Suoi Thau, Ban Ho, Thanh Phu, Nam Sai, Nam Cang.
Ethnic groups: H’Mong, Dao, Tay, Kinh, Day, Xa Pha (Phu La) and Chinese.
Location:
Located 38km from Lao Cai City, Sapa is a mountainous district of Lao Cai Province. Sapa District is very well-known with Sapa Townlet, a beautiful and romantic resort. At the height of from 1,200 m to 1,800 m above sea level, the highest point is Fansipan Mount at 3,143 m above sea level. The average temperature of the area is 15-18oC. It is cool in summer and cold in winter and an attractive tourist spot to visitors on all over the world.
Weather and climate:
Sapa weather is very pleasant due to high location and the effect from monsoon in the North. Visitor to Sapa in summer can feel the climate of four seasons in one day. In the morning and afternoon, it is cool like the weather of spring and autumn. At noon, it is as sunny and cloudless as the weather of summer. And it is cold in the evening. With no advance warning of a thunderstorm short and heavy rains may come at noon on any summer day. Subsequently, a rainbow appears, transforming Sapa into a magic land, which for years has been a constant source of poetic inspiration, lights up the whole region.
The best time to witness the scenic beauty of Sapa is in April and May. Before that period, the weather might be cold and foggy; after that period is the rainy season. In April and May, Sapa is blooming with flowers and green pastures. The clouds that settle in the valley in early morning quickly disappear into thin air.
Getting to Sapa:
Sapa is some 400 km from Hanoi, visitors can get to Sapa by bus/train or flight.
- By train: there is night train with air-condition and soft sleepers from deluxe to luxury level of services. Normally, a night train departs Hanoi railway station at 9:00 pm (9:30 pm with Victoria train), arrives Lao Cai railways station at around 5:30 am (6:00 am). The return time is 8:10 pm – 4:35 am or 9:00 pm – 5:05 am. Day train is also available but offer not much comfort and convenience as night one, usually taken by locals. It’s advised to take a night train for safety, comfort and convenience for tourists.
- By bus: there are open buses or private cars for visitors. The open buses can run at day or night time.
- By flight: from Hanoi, take the flight to Dien Bien and then continue get on a bus trip to reach Sapa which is some 250 km from the airport.
Sapa tourism:
Sapa is famous for both its fine, rugged scenery and its rich culture diversity. Sapa is nestling of many ethnic minority village and vivid green rice terraces are sculpted into the mountain sides. It would be of considerably less interest without the HMong and Dzao people, the largest ethnic groups in the region. Sapa has many natural sites such as Sapa ancient rock field, Ham Rong Mountain, Silver Waterfall, Rattan Bridge, Bamboo Forest and Ta Phin Cave.Sapa is also the starting point for many climbers and scientists who want to reach the top of Fansipan Mountain, the highest mountain in Vietnam at 3,143m. Hoang Lien Mountain Range is also called the Alps of the North Sea area since Fansipan Mountain is not only the highest peak in Vietnam, but also in the Indochina Peninsula. The pyramid-shaped mountain is covered with clouds all year round and temperatures often drop below zero, especially at high elevations.
The first thing you notice when approaching the resort town are some detached wooden mansions and villas perched on a hill top or hillside, behind thick pine forests and almost invisible on this foggy morning. Old and new villas with red roofs now appear and now disappear in the green rows of pomu trees, bringing the town the beauty of European towns.
Sapa is home to various families of flowers of captivating colors, which can be found nowhere else in the country. When Tet, the Lunar New Year Festival, comes, the whole township of Sapa is filled with the pink colour of peach blossom brought from the vast forests of peach just outside the town. Sapa is regarded as the kingdom of orchids. Here, orchid lovers are even amazed by the choice, when trekking in the forest filled with several hundred kinds of orchids of brilliant colours and fantastic shapes, such as Orchid Princess, Orchid of My Fair Lady’s Shoe. Some orchids are named after lovely singing birds such as the canary, salangane’s nest, and more.
Sapa is most beautiful in spring. Apricot, plum and cherry flowers are splendidly beautiful. Markets are crowded and merry, and are especially attractive to visitors. Minority groups come here to exchange and trade goods and products. Market sessions are also a chance for locals to promenade and young men and women in colorful costumes to meet, date or seek sweethearts.
Visitors to Sapa will have opportunities to discover the unique customs of the local residents as well as many colorful ethnic markets…Some main market in Sapa and Lao Cai:
Sapa market
Bac Ha market
Lung Phin market
Binh Lu & Tam Duong market
Pha Long market
Muong Khuong market
Can Cau market
Coc Ly market
Muong Hum market
