Beyond.: Sapa, Vietnam

(Lao Cai Train Station)

Sa Pa is a town in the Hoàng Liên Son Mountains of northwestern Vietnam. A popular trekking base, it overlooks the terraced rice fields of the Muong Hoa Valley, and is near the 3,143m-tall Phang Xi Pang peak, which is climbable via a steep, multiday guided walk. Hill tribes, such as the Hmong, Tay and Dao, make up much of the town's local population.

The best time to visit Sapa is from March to May and from September to November, cus less rain and more sun! Suitable for people who wants to go trekking.

To reach Sapa, we took a flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. We took a morning flight to Hanoi so we could spend the day walking around the beautiful city, and of course, EAT all the local delicacies.

We have pre booked our train ticket online with Hanoi Sapa Train.

They have a few companies to choose from, the price ranges from USD30 to USD110.

We end up getting the King Express as it is more value for money and review is not bad. We chose the shared cabin, total 4 beds in a cabin. We slept all the way to Lao Cai. (:

Also, I recommend you to go to the train station earlier than time stated so you could figure out which gate to be at. We were lucky as we have our Vietnamese friend with us and she helped us to navigate around. Vietnamese at Hanoi hardly speak English, so it is better to maybe learn a few Vietnamese words over there.

Finally, after about 8 hours train ride, we arrived at Lao Cai. (English: Lao Gai)

We book a tour with Sapa Sisters and we have arranged a mini bus from Sapa Sisters from Lao Cai train station to Sapa town. Note that the transport is only one-way, to go back to Lao Cai train station from Sapa town, you have to book with Sapa Sisters at the reception counter.

Pros: much cheaper than taxi rides

Cons: Only available at certain timing and limited seats

SAPA DAY 1

View while on the mini bus

This is a common sight in Sapa

I have input the cost (in USD) of our tour here:

We choose the tour with Homestay so we can experience the local life and to support them. People in Sapa grow their own food, like corns, rice, potatoes and so on. I researched abit before I went Sapa and I saw things like horses and dogs meat, but I didnt really see those exotic meat when I was there.

"Homestays are run by families who choose to welcome travellers and have prepared their houses to accommodate guests. At the homestay the guests shears one big loft our room, on the second floor in a beautiful traditional house. The host and their family stay in a separate part of the house but you often eat dinner together. There are no private bedroom in the homestays. There are hot showers, western standard toilets, mosquito nets over the beds and tasty traditional food. You don’t need to bring bed sheets, towel or sleeping bags. The homestays are clean and safe." - Sapa Sisters

After a short 1 hour + ride, we reached Graceful Hotel where Sapa Sisters is at.

The cafe, we were really hungry!!!

This was super good, esp with my fav laughing cow cheese spread.

No time wasted, we start the trip once we finish our breakfast. Our personal guide waited for us outside Graceful Hotel and explain to us the route we gonna take, the level of difficulties of our trek and let us choose which level we are comfortable with. I chose the medium one. :P

Here we go!

Thats our guide in their traditional clothes

Fresh berries

There are a few stops for us to rest. This is one of them. The lady in black belongs to one of the many tribe in Sapa.

She made us these (see pic below too)

After a fews hours, we reached this place for our lunch.

After lunch, we continue our trek, this time I choose the easy route, haha I just wanna go and rest + BATH! I think we ended our trek pretty early cus I keep saying I don't want to walk anymore and keep taking the easy way.

So we were pretty early to our host house. They made us some nice fries, prolly the best garlic fries we had in our life! I SWEAR.

We made dinner and we ate with them. All home grown and organic.

That black thing in the middle is baby eel I think. I saw them alive few hours ago before dinner time.

White Poppy Wine

We had their special "happy wine" and also this poppy wine.

This cute little boy.

Although we can't communicate at all but we can still "talk" with our hand gesture. Lol

Amazing how people from different country can understand each other just by body language.

SAPA DAY 2

We continue trekking for Day 2 and went to our guide's cousin house for lunch.

Day 2 trekking was much scarier because we had to cross the paddy fields. They are full of water and I almost fell inside. Luckily, I didnt. I cant imagine.