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Sapa Sapa is an incredibly picturesque village located in the marvelous valley of Hoang Lien Son mountains near a Chinese border in the northwest of Vietnam. The town was discovered by Jesuit missionaries in 1918, attracted by its stunning scenery and cool climate. During the arrival of westerners, French established it as a pleasant hill station in 1920 and formed numerous constructions such as a church, hotels, tennis courts, airport, hydro-electronic station and summer villas. As the consequence of expelling of France, most of these constructions were abandoned or destroyed, however, the colonial influences still remains. Located at the 1,650 meters above sea level, Sapa holds the spectacular misty panoramic views. The town year-round congregates with fog, mist, and clouds which frequently makes the whole area shrouded in mist. Nicknamed as 'Tonkinese Alps', the area features vaulting rice terraces, lush vegetation and Vietnam's highest mountain peak, Fansipan, which elevate the village to 3,143 meters above sea level. It is 19km from Sapa and can be reached only on foot. The peak is year-round accessible but with its challenging conditions, which is usually wet and cold, this place is becoming a premier tourist destination for backpackers and trekking lovers. People go to Sapa for the scenery and also to see and share in the lives of the ethnic minorities. Sapa is a big home of Vietnam's diverse hill tribes including Hmong, Dao and Dai which comprise the majority of inhabitants in the area, outnumbering the Vietnamese live in the lowlands. Saturday market, Sapa's central market, is the main gathering place for hill tribe people from surrounding villages. Their contribution is not only sale and buy handicrafts, jewelry, orchids, mushrooms, and honey, but also to grow relations with other groups, playing games or perhaps find a sole mate. In some weekend evening, singing courtships and marriages take place. Tourist peak period begins between March and May or October and November as this is dry season which is the good season for trekking. Between June and August is mostly avoided by trekkers as it usually rains. Misty scenery is mostly obtained during winter, between January and February, which is very cold at night and sometimes there is snow.
North
Vietnam: Hanoi | Ha
Long | Hoa Lu | Hoa
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