Sapa - northwest of Hanoi, close to China
About this album
Sapa (Sa Pa) was the mountain resort for the French and is north-west of Hanoi, not far from the border to China. The 'base town', Lao Cai is approximately 7 km from the border.
The surrounding area of Sapa is inhabited by the ethnic minority people and are generally not of the Viet Nam race. They still dress in their traditional clothes, which make them an attraction for the visitor.
The dining area of Chapa Garden Hotel where we stayed. A very cosy & currently 4 bedroom establishment
Doing the usual thing we can't get away from - using the internet & eating chocolate
Front of the hotel
The rather bland street on which most hotels and restaurants were located on (Cau May St)
View down the valley close to Sapa town. The Hoang Lien Son range of mountains dominates the district, which is at the eastern extremity of the Himalayas
Same view, slightly different angle
Many of the houses simply perched precariously on the slopes
Another view from the edge of the town. A hotel to the right with some great views
Tending the veggies
Another typical view from Sapa to the valley and mountains
People live in these houses ... and it gets very cold in winter too.
Another example of a typical home around Sapa.
Looking back at the town - Sapa was the resort hideaway for the French particularly during the warmer months in Hanoi
A restaurant with a great view that we ate at. Food was quite good too ... except for the rather rude Americans that came pointing at the food asking "What is that?" They were f...ing springrolls!
Closer view - to the left is the motorbike we had hired for the day
Nearby view out the window of the restaurant. Note person using the well outside the house to wash clothes
Not quite sure where we took this photo
Farm house
The Red H'mong minority people selling their craft in town
On a motorbike ride around the area
Someone showing off that he can ride a bike
Central Sapa in background
On the way down to 'Cat Cat Village' of the Black H'mong ethnic minority people
A little closer to the village. Pigs were always roaming wild and never caged
We had to take a picture of the two ducks
Some of the houses in Cat Cat village
This was a decidedly flimsy bridge
Not that we have never seen a cow, but this one seemed rather friendly
Notice the nose ring
Waterfall in Cat Cat village
Posing near the waterfalls
Think this used to or still houses turbine engines to harness energy from the waterfall
Village stall near the waterfalls selling traditional H'mong craft
Childhood freedom
Kids playing (or were they working?) in a nearby open area
The lake in central Sapa
The Black H'mong minority peoples selling their craft in the town. They are industrious, can be tenacious but always had a smile
Family of Black H'mong walking into town
A H'mong school south of Sapa
The scenery of the Sa Pa region in large part reflects the relationship between the minority people and nature. This is seen especially in the paddy fields carpeting the rolling lower slopes of the Hoang Lien Mountains.
Terraced hillsides - a typical scene throughout the area. Note terraces on opposite side of valley as well
Close up of farm houses amongst the terraces
Another group of houses amongst the terraces
Another wooden house that must become freezing cold in winter
Posing for the camera in front of some houses in the valley
Close up of houses in valley. We did notice plenty of tourist down that way, so it must be one of those 'must see' places
Topas Ecolodge - fancy expensive accommodation a distance from Sapa and with a view to match
Red H'mong ethinic minority on a motorbike
Red Clunite minority on a motorbike. Note the winding road in the distance that we had come on
Cluster of ramshackle houses
These looked like Mongolian horses - seen on our motorbike ride
Typical Vietnamese scene of waterbuffalo in padi field (no padi growing at this time of year though)
Mother pig with piglets in front of man carrying bamboo pole for use as irrigation pipe or other construction
This is how you get gas in some parts of the area
Coffee break after a long (and cold) motorbike ride
The little things on the skewers we were told are 'baby chickens'. Not sure if it is pigeons next to them, but it looks like small instestine marinated in chilli to the left
Mostly chicken and some fish. Nothing really unusual
Sapa market - great place to shop, but tourists get hassled constantly
Think the cow was just laid on the table and butchered. I'm sure you could buy hoof and all to take home
We started referring to these as 'Legs Up Chicken'
Not a pleasant site, but reality. Lassie isn't always a pet
Fiesty Red H'mong minority
