Sapa stands among the most beautiful landscapes in Vietnam. Its name means “town of sand” in Vietnamese although those city and region within the Tonkinese Alps are famous for its greenery and its terraced rice fields. Moreover, Sapa is a great venue to meet Northern minority groups such as the Hmong.

Sapa is located North-West of Vietnam, in Lao Cai province, not far from the Chinese border. The city is perched on a Red River’s tributary named Song Hong, over 1 500 meters above the sea.

The vicinity was usually known for its opium production. Nevertheless, the latter was prohibited during the second half of the 20^th century and then replaced by rice production. Terraced paddy fields spread across the land and eventually changed the region’s scenery.

From the very beginning, French colonists saw the assets of this picturesque place and decided to settle a military position, the bases of the current city along with a catholic mission in the 20^th century. In 1913, a sanatorium dedicated to weary military officials was built in order for them to escape the heat. Legend had it that Sapa had miraculous healing properties. From then on, it became a top well-being destination, and the city expanded, becoming a famous travel site.

One thing that firstly attracted French people is the climate of the region, colder than in the rest of the country. The climate is moderated and the average temperature is 15-18 Celsius degrees, while South of Vietnam has an average temperature of 27,5 Celsius degrees. This makes sense since Sapa is located over 1 500 meters high from the ground level. Temperatures may be fresh as well during summer. Therefore you might want to bring a jacket, in case the weather would not be so cool. Winters may get so cold that snow starts falling. Suddenly, rice field and mountain landscapes disappear over a brand new scenery.

In Sapa’s surroundings, Thac Bac’s Silver Falls are worth the visit. A 100-meter high waterfall, pouring down from 1 800 meters from the sea level: this is a must-see. The waterfall is formed by sources of water from Lo Sui Tong mountain peak. A wooden bridge has been built in the middle of the water to give visitors a better viewpoint on the stunning landscape.

Near Thac Bac’s Silver Falls lies the so-called Heaven Gate, a breathtaking viewpoint over the whole valley, and especially over the Fansipan Mountain (Phan Xi Pang, in Vietnamese). The latter is the highest summit of Indochina (3 143 meters high). Climbing to the top requires being in a good physical shape, but not any specific knowledge or experience in rock climbing. Indeed, the path may be a steep slope but it is passable. It goes through a very well preserved natural environment that belongs to Hoang Lien National Park, one of Vietnam’s biggest nature reserves.

Hoang Lien National Park is located on the way to Lai Chau. It harbours 20% of the national flora. It features several activities such as oil and other component extraction for pharmaceutical purposes. Besides, its richness earned it the ASEAN’s recognition. Some minority groups live in the park as well including Hmong, Day and Giay. Tourists may visit their villages, meet them and join some of their traditional sport and art activities.

In town, Sapa’s ancient cathedral sharply contrasts with the rest of the overview. Indeed, it was built in 1895. Made of stones, its architecture mixes Romanesque and Gothic styles. Among the best-known churches in the country, the cathedral is also one of the five oldest, since it was built over a century ago.

To enjoy a panoramic vista over Sapa, you may want to reach Ham Rong Mountain, literally meaning “Dragon Jaw Mountain” in Vietnamese. Its name comes from its shape that resembles a dragon’s head. It is located near Sapa’s city center. The most beautiful scenery may be found in San May, “Cloud Yard,” which stands as the best spot to contemplate the fruit trees’ flowers from above. You may also hike in the vicinity, and access the orchid garden, comprising around 6 000 pots and 200 different orchid kinds. Ham Rong Mountain features other treasures, such as Tam Mon Cave.

Both tourists and locals love Sapa’s most famous specialties, thang co. It consists of a soup including horse meat that has been cooked in a pan on a clay oven. Thang co comes from Bac Ha. It may also be complemented with buffalo or goat meat, even though its name literally means “horse soup.”

Com lam is another famous dish in the area. It is made of glutinous rice. Com lam comes from the Muong, who did not have any tools to cook rice and would then use bamboo tubes. Nowadays, the technique is still used: pieces of bamboo are stuffed with glutinous rice and grilled until the bark is burnt. The bark is then removed, and only the white soft part of the bamboo fiber remains. People eat the latter, cold, along with chicken, pork, or bamboo sprouts.