Sapa will become a resort site by international standards, aiming to welcome 3 to 4 million visitors until 2030 with an average growth rate of 7.2 percent per year.

The US well-known street fashion, Free People, has chosen Vietnam as its destination to take “look book” photographs for its March publication. On its website, Free People described Vietnam as an interesting nation – a mix of bustling and modern cities and peaceful villages. Free People’s photographers experienced life during their long journey from Hanoi [...]

Ha Long Bay day 1 From seeing this place on TV, pictures on postcards, I had a fair idea what I was going to see. And like the pyramids of Giza, Petra, Angkor Wat, etc. I was really looking forward to experiencing it for myself. Not created by human hands this time though, Ha Long [...]

It’s a strange land that leaves me with different feelings whenever I come to rediscover it. Sa Pa is an incredibly picturesque town in the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range near the Chinese border in northwestern Viet Nam, 350km from Hanoi.

Located in the northwestern mountains of the country, Sapa is a modest town nestled within the Hoang Lien Son mountain range in Lao Cai Province. Sapa is an excellent destination to enjoy outdoor activities with stunning landscapes that attract both domestic and foreign tourists. Travelling in Sapa, few tourists miss an opportunity to trek to [...]

Day one and in the evening. I have survived. I am actually kind of blown away by where I am at right now. Which by the way I really don’t know where I am at. I kind of think somewhere NE of Lao Cai. My guide Khun speaks almost no English. Actually let me rephrase [...]

After a lousy night on a ‘sleeper’ bus to the China/Vietnam border (although they did let us stay on the bus till border opening time) we were pretty much front of the queue to cross the bridge to Lao Cai in Vietnam. Apparently still a bit politically unstable since the 17 day invasion by China [...]

Sapa! Mais quel decor epoustouflant! Le trajet en train pour venir ici fut penible, meme dans un wagon “sleepers”, mais une fois ici on oublie tout. Ces paysages de montagnes toutes aussi verdoyantes qu’acerees, parsemes de rizieres et parcourus par la riviere et ses chutes en son fonds, avec ses brouillards qui ne quittent jamais [...]

Most visitors to Sapa end up wishing they could spend more time there, and no wonder — this highland town in northern Vietnam has got it all, from spectacular mountain views to colorful hilltribe markets.  Spend a few extra days there if you can, and be sure to check out the strolls, treks and scenic [...]

The 4 hour bus-boat tango back to Hanoi seemed less taxing on the way back from Cat Ba. All was going smoothly till we arrived at the bus station in Hanoi. In a moment of weakness we agreed to get in a slightly scruffy looking taxi. The fact that he had to roll it out [...]