A change of pace in beautiful Sapa

  Sapa, Vietnam
Thursday, September 14, 2006

4 day trip to Sapa, a small town in the North West of Vietnam, close to the Chinese border. The people are H'mong and Dzao people, a minority group. Homestayed one night with a local family. Beautiful mountains and rice fields. Really friendly people. One of my favourite places so far.

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THURSDAY 14/09/2006
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Trekking to Ta Van, where we homestayed overnight with a local family

Caught the overnight sleeper train to Sapa. After a 8 1/2 train ride we arrived in Sapa at 6:30am.

IMPRESSION: Very friendly tribe people, rice fields, buffaloes, trekking, women and girls selling souveniers "you buy from me".

After a quick shower in the hotel and breakfast of noodle soup, Mel and I were met by Ya, our guide. She was an 18 year old girl from the Black H'mong tribe. She was very pretty, very funny and talkative - lots of fun.

Our friendly and funny guide, Ya.

A buffalo resting in the rice field

Rice fields everywhere

We trekked through the mountains, amongst the rice fields. It was not too bad trekking, and the views were amazing and peaceful. We arrived at Lao Cai, a small village where we had lunch of french bread and egg. We met Harry (from Malvern, Australia) and Adam (on a one year trip around the world, from UK). Seems like EVERY Australian we have met on this trip is from MELBOURNE!!!

Bev and Ya

IMPRESSION: Ya telling us funny stories of all her "boyfriends" that she meets on the internet and singing folk songs while trekking through the rice fields. Ya and her friends listening to Harry's ipod (which had Britney Spears on it). Ya telling us how rice is made and how the local people weave material from hemp and dye it with the Indigo plant.

After lunch walked to Ta Van which is the village where would have our overnight homestay. The family we stayed in were very friendly. Mel and I took a quick swim in the river nearby. Very cooling to wash off the sweat.

Working on my tan by the river

Local Black H'mong people

Everyone helped to wrap spring rolls for dinner, cooked on the open fire

There was another tour group there and we all joined in to wrap spring rolls for dinner. Dinner was a delicious home cooked meal (cooked on an open fire) with shots of potent rice wine. After dinner we all sat around and sang songs. Ya sang lots of local Black H'mong songs and she had a lovely voice. She also made each of us sing one song. It was lots of fun.

IMPRESSION:Ya's lovely singing voice and non-stop chattering during and after dinner. Lots of fun.

Delicous home cooked meal with a local homestay family

People we met on the other group included David (Arizona, USA on a 7 month trip through South East Asia), Gesa (Korean born in Germany), Linda and Mikoh (Finland), Kum Ming (Korea) and their guide John.

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FRIDAY 15/09/2006
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Woke up early to the sound of roosters calling and dogs barking. Laid in bed for a while, and eventually got up only to realise it was 7:30am!!

Had a delicious breakfast of freshly made pancakes, lemon, sugar and bananas and instant coffee.

Mel getting a bargain early in the morning

Cute little old lady with a gorgeous smile wearing my sunglasses.

Fresh pancakes for breakfast

Taking a rest in front of a waterfall

Trekked down to Gian Ta Chai, home of the Red Zao people. Lunch of noodle soup made by Ya, and fresh Nashi fruit. Yum.

Cute little girl with her baby sister. Couldn't resist her smile and bought a bracelet from her.

More Black H'mong people trying to make a sale before lunch.

Picked up by a army jeep to take us back to Sapa.

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SATURDAY 16/09/2006
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Cat Cat village

Breakfast on the hotel balcony. Gorgeous view of the misty cloudy mountains.

View of the mountains early in the morning.

Thought we had a relaxing day, but Ya met us in the lobby to take us for some more trekking. This time we went to Cat Cat village. A "easy" 3 hour trek.

Stopping for a rest by the waterfall at Cat Cat village

Saw some buffaloes on the roadside

Another cute little girl. Couldn't resist yet again, so bought another bracelet.

Red Zao tribe people selling goods on the roadside.

The local market in Sapa

Back in Sapa, Mel and I went for a walk around Sapa. There is a local market selling lots of fruit and vegetables. They also sold meat (chicken and what we thought was a piglet, but Mel had a closer look and it was dog!!!) - a horrible sight and enough to turn me vegetarian. Vowing to be vegetarian, we quickly ran out of the market. Horrible!! They also sold bat and starfish bags, used to make a healthy drink.

Anyone for a bat and starfish drink?

Grubs in a tub in the market

We stuck to the normal fruit

A local motor driver. "You want motor"

I really enjoyed Sapa. Beautiful scenary. Friendly people. I definitely recommend the homestay.

Caught the overnight sleeper train and arrived back in Hanoi at 5:30am. Not as comfortable this time, kept waking cos the train kept stopping!!