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VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

University of Social Sciences and Humanities

Group 3

Teacher: Ms. Thu Cúc

Major: English for tourism

Class: CK17.01 – TQ17.02

SAPA, THE FANCIFUL TOWN IN FOG

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Member list

Together we achieve more!

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Contents

1. Introduction ······························································································· 4

1.1. Other view ······················································································ 4

1.2. History ··························································································· 4

1.3. Geography & Weather ········································································ 4

2. Things to do and see in Sapa ·········································································· 5

2.1. Ethnic minority markets ····································································· 5

2.2. Sapa - fairy home of ethnic minorities ···················································· 5

2.3. Specialties& Food ············································································· 6

3. How to get there? ························································································ 7

4. Suggest Sapa tour ························································································ 8

4.1. Sapa home stays tour ········································································· 8

4.2. Trekking tours ················································································· 8

4.3. Market Tours ··················································································· 8

4.4. Biking tour ······················································································ 8

4.5. Fansipan climbing tours ····································································· 9

5. Advantage and disadvantage in Sapa ······························································ 10

5.1. Advantage ···················································································· 10

5.2. Disadvantage ················································································· 11

6. Conclusion ································································································ 12

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1. Introduction:

1.1. Overview

Sa Pa District is located in Lao Cai Province, north-west Vietnam, and 350 km from Hanoi, close

to the border with China. Sapa is famous both for its fine, rugged scenery and for its rich cultural

diversity. French used to consider Sapa as Summer Capital of Northern Vietnam in the early

decades of the 20th century. Its naturally gifted beauty keeps attracting more and more people to

spend their vacation there since then. Particularly, the place is the foremost choice for

honeymoon couples.

1.2. History

Being unknown until 1880s when the French arrived, Sapa town was quickly became well-

known for its natural beauty, fresh and cool climate. As a result, in early decades of 20th

Century, It was built into a summer resort by the French with some hundred villas to

accommodate their colonials to escape away from summer heat of cities in lower regions.

The resistant war against the French (1945-1955), caused a lot of damages and Sapa was almost

isolated and forgotten until 1990s when tourism started again in Vietnam. Sapa woke up to

welcome the first tourists in early 1990s and be developing into a large town to serve the

booming tourism. Going through many ups and downs, nowadays, Sapa is the prominent holiday

destination, favoured by both locals and foreign tourists.

1.3. Geography & Weather

Geographically:

Sapa is exactly a mountainous area of Northwest Vietnam. The whole Sapa District is

dominated by the Hoang Lien Son mountain range which is at the Eastern extremity of the

Himalayas, being famous with the Vietnam’s highest mountain of Fasipan at a height of 3,142

m above sea level. The town of Sa Pa lies at an altitude of about 1,600 m, bringing in a cool and

foggy site of Sa Pa.

Come to the weather:

Sapa takes its pride in its unique climate in Vietnam. It is highly seasonal, with a subtropical

climate in the summer and a temperate climate during the winter. Mean annual temperature for

Sa Pa town is 15.4°C, with a maximum of 29.4°C and a minimum of 1°C. The warmest months

are July and August, and the coldest months are December and January. Snow falls in some

years on the highest peaks. In the morning and afternoon, it is as cool as in spring and autumn.

Yet, at noon, it is as sunny and cloudless as in summer. In the evening, it drastically changes into

coldness just as in winter. This is actually a unique advantage, making Sapa different from

anywhere else in the nation. However, travelers should be noticed that there might be sudden

thunderstorm and heavy rains at noon in summer. Yet, subsequently, a rainbow appears turning

Sapa into a beautifully magic land with seven colors! So, remember to bring your best camera so

as not to miss this magnificent view!

*April and May are the best time for tourists to watch the most scenic beauties of Sapa, or else it

might be cold and foggy before that and rainy after that. During these two peak months, the town

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is blossoming with pink and white flowers, and green pastures in valleys. The clouds that settle

in the valley in early morning would quickly disappear*

2. Things to do and see in Sapa

2.1. Sapa - fairy home of ethnic minorities

There is nowhere in Vietnam can tourists easily meet the local ethnic minorities like in Sapa. The

district is the home of a great diversity of ethnic people, including five main groups of Hmong,

Yao, Tay, Zay and Xa Pho. They do not live in center area but in hamlets scattering on the

valleys throughout Sapa District. Actually, not until the 20th century did a majority of the ethnic

people changed to sedentary lifestyle with intensive farming method on sloping terraces, instead

of slash-and-burn culture like in the past. Town of Sapa is where ethnic minority people gather,

trade or sell their farming products such as rice, corn, fruits, as well as handicrafts and souvenirs

to tourists. There is one interesting fact about ethnic minority people in Sapa that besides their

dialects, many of them, especially small children, can speak English pretty well with clear

pronunciation.

Spending time visiting ethnic minorities’ villages, observing their daily’s activities or even

living home stay, in order to understand more about their culture is now the top priority of

visitors, especially international ones. A trip to Sapa would definitely more meaningful with

participatory activities, such as learning to make handicrafts or helping the local with farm work!

In case time does not allow, you can always hire a local guide for your trekking routes. Chances

are these boys and girls will tell you lovely stories about their traditions, their lives or even ask

you to join their family activities.

2.2. Ethnic minority markets

The Sapa markets are attractive places for

visitors who are keen on exploring traditional

cultures. This cultural activity has a long history

and is still significant in the modern life of the

minority people. This market of the minorities

takes place every Saturday night. The market is

a place for trading and exchanging local goods

and products, as well as a meeting place for

young people who seek partners by singing love

songs and playing pan-pipes and mouth organs.

When the sun goes down, the H’Mong and Red Dao boys and girls cluster together in groups of

five to ten. Looking and smiling at each other, they sit side by side in the dim yellow light and

sing and talk through the night. When they have met their soul mate, they exchange gifts and

make plans to see each other again the following week.

There are a lot of markets you can visit: Can Cau Market (Saturday morning), Muong

Hum Market (Sunday), Sapa market (everyday), Bac Ha Market (Sunday) , Lung Khau Nhin

Market (Thursday) – , Cao Son Market (Wednesday), Coc Ly Market(Tuesday)...However,

there are some really famous markets below you shouldn’t miss:

Sapa love market (Saturday evenings)

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Sapa love market Sapa is also famous for its love market, which takes place on Saturday

evenings. The love market of Sapa used to be the place to find a partner to get married.

Do not miss it any way if you are staying here a Saturday night. Young Red Dzao hill tribe used

to come to Sapa to sing songs to the opposite sex. Girls sang the songs hidden in the dark, when

a boy found them, and if they matched together, they disappeared into the forest for three days.

Some of them got married after that.

While Dao women are indeed highly industrious, the men,

it seems, prefer to spend most of their time drinking,

smoking opium or sleeping.

The Sapa love markets are attractive places for visitors

who are keen on exploring traditional cultures. This

cultural activity has a long history and is still significant in

the modern life of the minority people. This market of the

Hmong and Red Dao minorities takes place every Saturday night. The market is a place for

trading and exchanging local goods and products, as well as a meeting place for young people

who seek partners by singing love songs and playing pan-pipes and mouth organs.

When the sun goes down, the H’Mong and Red Dao boys and girls cluster together in groups of

five to ten. Looking and smiling at each other, they sit side by side in the dim yellow light and

sing and talk through the night. When they have met their soul mate, they exchange gifts and

make plans to see each other again the following week.

Bac Ha Market: Opened every Sunday at the centre of Bac Ha township, this is the

biggest ethnic market in Lao Cai Province and probably among some most interesting ones in

the northern mountains

Muong Hum Market on Sunday: Muong Hum is a large and important market in the

northwest region of Lao Cai Province. Very different from Bac Ha and Sapa market which lye

inside the district townships, Muong Hum Market is set on open flat land at the bottom of a large

and scenic valley by a small river and surrounded by terraced rice paddies. It is often empty and

quiet on the other weekday, waken up and busy on Sunday.

2.3. Specialties& Food

Sapa’s specialties are another reason attracting more and

more tourists travelling to this town. A wide range of sub-

tropical vegetables such as white cauliflower, red beet, or

chayote are planted here. There are dishes that will be a

must to enjoy for every visitor - boiled chayote consumed

with sesame or “lon cap nach”- pig carried under armpit,

which are home pigs but are raised in the field or forest.

The cool weather of the region makes barbecued meat and

fish with mushroom and vegetables the most preferred

street foods in Sapa. People grill corn, sweet potatoes, dumpling, bamboo-tube rice, or even eggs

as well. Nevertheless, tourists can try many other local foods like purple sticky rice or “thắng

Bamboo-tube rice

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cố”- horse meat right in Sapa market. More surprisingly, Western restaurants, from Italian to

French ones, can also be found around the center of Sapa, at a very reasonable price.

3. How to get there?

Visitors can choose to go to Sapa by train

or car, but train is more advisable

because of the long and bumpy road.

The train from Hanoi to Lao Cai station

takes around 9 hours. After arriving into

Lao Cai station, you’ll need to hire a

shuttle bus or taxi to Sapa town.

Most tourists arrive in Lao Cai, the

province to which Sapa belongs, by train

and it is definitely an impressive ride.

The train leaves Hanoi train station in the

evening and arrives in Lao Cai train

station in early morning. From Lao Cai

train station to Sapa is another hour bus ride, which gives your eyes a massage with the endless

blue sky and colourful terraced paddy field. The road is curved around the mountain and you will

just go from one surprise to another. The further you go, the closer you are to the sky and to

nature.

Therefore, the best way for tourists to travel to Sapa - one of the most attractive destinations in

Vietnam - is to travel by train, thanks to its advantage of both time and money. To meet the

needs of tourists, service providers have upgraded the train with full amenities such as air-

conditioner, clean bathroom, and comfortable beds with different names for each type of cars.

When you hear Sapaly Express or Livitrans Express, they are not actual trains but just different

cars attached to the same train operated by national railways.

Generally, it can be divided into three types of cabins: 4-berth cabin, 6-berth cabin and soft-seat

cabin. Tourist trains also run VIP cabin where the upper berths are removed, allowing for more

space and privacy for just 2 people. The price per person in a 4-berth room ranges from $35 to

$45 and 6-berth cabin is between $20-$25. A return ticket can also be bought right from Hanoi.

Children less than five years old will not be charged any ticket fee and will share beds with their

parents.

Each ride takes approximately eight to nine hours per way. There are also two morning trains

that depart at 6:10 and 8:20 and arrive in the afternoon at 15:40 and 17:05 though it is not

recommended that you take these trains as they make many stops along the way.

Lao Cai station is about 38 kilometers from Sapa, which takes about one hour going by bus or by

car. The bus cost from Lao Cai – Sapa is $2-3 and ticket is available for purchase at the train

station gate. Normally the bus stop is right in front of Sapa church, but tourists can also ask the

bus driver to drop them off at their booked hotel.

How to book:

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Please email: info@vietnamonline.com for checking availability and making reservation of the

train tickets.

4. Suggest Sapatour

Sapa is the most popular spot to go in the Northwest of Vietnam for tourist with a budget

packages. You can find many Sapa tour packages for your selection on our website: www.sapa-

tour.net.

4.1. Sapa home stay tour: is one of the most interesting tours in Sapa, it takes us to discover

the life style as well as the custom of the hill tribe in Sapa. We will trek through many beautiful

sights in this area, enjoy the beauty of terraces fields, valley view and meet the local people

such as: H’mong, red dzao, Zay,Tay,Xa pho, Ha Nhi… At night, we also overnight at stilt house

of the local in here. This home stay they have hot water for shower, soft sleeper, blanket…etc.

We can join the local dancing and taste delicious local foods that made from them. It’s worth

for us to experience this trip.

4.2. Trekking tours: Hikers and adventure lovers will never be disappointed when choosing

one of our Sapa trekking tours. With all the best that Sapa offers, every of your trekking days is a

combination of your love to adventure with new culture discovery and nature wanders.

They have selected certain trekking routes from dozens of trails so that to bring the most

beautiful scenery into your lens with a lot chances to visit tribal villages and meet Sapa’s tribal

peoples at homes and at works. Home stay in remote tribal villages is another interesting

experience of local life. And after all, we promise that your trip will be knowledgeable,

educational, and full of fun.

4.3. Market Tours: Ethnic markets in Lao Cai is an special tours, here you can meet many

ethnic minorities such as Flower Hmong, Black Dao, Phu La, Tay, Nung …These markets gather

only one time per week and they offer its variety of local products, which could not be found in

others areas (Bac Ha market & Muong Hum market on Sundays, Coc Ly market on Tuesdays,

Lung Khau Nhin market on Thursdays & Can Cau markets on Saturdays only)

4.4. Biking tour: We arrange bicycle trips from 1 day up to 5 day trips. These are led by a

local English speaking guide. On all the trips, your luggage will be transported by our supply

vehicles or jeep. We provide high quality mountain bikes for all our trips. It is also possible to

combine bicycle trips with trekking, walking or market trips. All bicycle trips are carried out on a

one to one basis, of you and your guide.

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4.5. Fansipan climbing tours: Fansipan itself is an attraction of Sapa area as well as

Northern Vietnam. The peak is a part of Hoang Lien mountain range, which is under the

protection of Hoang Lien National Park. The trip offers you an opportunity to explore the

beautiful nature and challenge yourself.

Sapa & Ethnic Minorities Markets: 3-Day Weekend Tour (Cost 260 USD/person)

http://www.getyourguide.com

What You'll Do

Visit colorful ethnic minority markets

Enjoy a trek to H'Mong and Dzay villages

Overview

Spend a 3-day weekend exploring the ethnic minority markets and villages of the Lao Cai region

of northern Vietnam. This area is famous for its beautiful landscapes and cool climate as well as

its colorful markets.

What to Expect

This tour is offered weekly, on Saturdays. On Friday night you’ll travel by overnight train from

Hanoi to Lao Cai in soft sleeper accommodation.

The highlights of our 3-day excursion include visits to Coc Ly market and Ban Ho, Su Pan and

Trung Do villages. During the tour you’ll visit markets at Can Cau and Bac Ha and the villages

of Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van and Ban Pho, where 8 different minority groups live. These are

the Black H’Mong, Day, Red Dao, Flower H’mong, Black Dao, Tay, Day, Ha Nhi and Nung.

Night 1 (Friday): Hanoi – Lao Cai On Friday evening at 20:00 we’ll pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi and take you to the Hanoi

Railway Station. You’ll board the night train to Lao Cai, with soft sleeper accommodation on the

train.

Day 1 (Saturday): Lao Cai – Can Cau – Bac Ha You arrive in Lao Cai early in the morning. We’ll pick you up for the transfer to Can Cau

market, which is about a 2-hour drive. This is a small market set in a valley surrounded by

mountains. It’s within 7 kilometers of the Chinese border and reflects typical ethnic minority

culture in remote, mountainous areas of Vietnam.

After visiting the market we’ll continue on to Bac Ha. On the way, we’ll stop to visit a Flower

H’mong village. On arrival in Bac Ha, you’ll check in at your hotel and then you’re free to

explore the town. Lunch will be in Can Cau or in Bac Ha.

Dinner will be in Bac Ha and you’ll spend the night at your hotel there.

Day 2 (Sunday): Bac Ha – Sapa After breakfast we begin the day with a visit to Bac Ha market. This is a very busy place that’s

popular with many different hill tribes. It is northern Vietnam’s most colorful market as well.

At the market, you have chance to try simple but unique foods and special wines made from rice,

cassava, corn and different sorts of fruits such as plums, apples and peaches. You’ll also be able

to speak with ethnic minority people with your guide acting as an interpreter.

After exploring the market we’ll head to the Hmong King’s house, which was built by the

French colonists and the Chinese in 1920. We’ll return to the town for lunch.

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In the afternoon, we’ll visit Ban Pho village and then leave Bac Ha to travel to Sapa. We’ll stop

at the Vietnam-China border in Lao Cai, reaching Sapa late in the afternoon.

After checking in to your hotel in Sapa you’ll have time to explore this busy hillside town.

You’ll have dinner and spend the night in Sapa.

Day 3 (Monday): Sapa – Y Linh Ho – Lao Chai – Ta Van – Sapa – Lao Cai The day begins with breakfast at your hotel. After checking out, we’ll head downhill to the

valley to visit the villages of Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai and Ta Van. These are home to the Black

Hmong and the Day people. You’ll have lunch during this part of the day’s tour.

By mid-afternoon, we’ll head back to Sapa by car and at 17:00 board the bus to Lao Cai. When

we arrive in Lao Cai we’ll have dinner before boarding the night train back to Hanoi.

After the night in your soft sleeper on the train you’ll arrive in Hanoi early morning. We’ll pick

you up at the station and drop you off at your hotel.

What's Included?

- Transfer from Hanoi hotel to Hanoi Railway Station and return.

- English-speaking guide.

- Train ticket Hanoi to Lao Cai and return (soft sleeper in 4-bed air-conditioned wooden cabin).

- Bus from Lao Cai to Sapa and return.

- 3-star hotel in Sapa; Sao Mai hotel in Bac Ha.

- Entrance fees to the villages.

- All meals on tour.

- Pick-up from Ta Van.

What's Not Included?

- VAT, Insurance, Drinks and phones, Personal expenses.

5. Advantage & Disadvantage

5.1. Advantage

Natural Resource.

The weather is fresh and cool:

The climate is temperate and subtropical climate of Asia, so cool throughout the year , the

average air temperature is 18 degrees. If the peak heat wave up to 38 - 39 degrees in the Northern

provinces, Sapa visitors will feel the pleasant, cool as the temperature during the day ranges from

20-25 degrees, even it can fall below at night. So in summer, travelling to Sapa is the perfect way

to avoid the sun of the North.

Landscape is plentiful and attractive:

Sapa's Natural scenery, which forest mountain terrain created various harmonious scenery. It is

known for winding terraced fields, shy with the love market. Besides, the beauty of Sapa is also

adorned by heavenly grandeur of the mountainous northwest area.

In the distance, the Mount Fansipan is considered the highest mountain in Vietnam and is "the

roof of Indochina ".

Humanities Resources

The ethnic minorities:

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The minorities is one of the key factors attract many tourists into Sapa. Sapa has over 5 ethnic

minorities, but in fact many foreign tourists interested primarily to the ethnic Hmong, Dao, Xa

Pho, which are the poorest population groups, especially the Hmong.

Moreover, travellers also attend the colourful vibrant market of highland villages.

Other conditions:

National road from Lao Cai to Sapa 4D has improved, paved, upgrade and expand the narrow

passage, reducing crab and slope , smoothly throughout the year.

The important sightseeing route and inter-commune and district roads are done (such as Ta Phin

Sapa , Sapa - hookahs)

The investment in tourism, including the above-mentioned traffic, water supply, urban sanitation,

electricity for the town and postal communication, project ditch, build villages and ethnic

cultural centers…

5.2. Disadvantage

Weather:

In winter (the 4 months November to February), the

weather in Sapa is invariably cold, wet and foggy

(temperatures can drop to freezing and there was

snow). Sapa also experiences a marked wet season

from May to September, with the heaviest rainfall

occurring in July and August

If you chose to visit in winter, bring along warm

clothes or prepare to be cold and miserable, as many

hotels do not have efficient heating in their rooms.

You should wear good shoes, if it rains the trekking road will be muddy and slippery, and

bring a rain coat because of the changing weather.

Study up on safety precautions if hiking into an area known for poisonous snakes, or

other potentially dangerous wildlife.

Drugs: Being located in the Golden Triangle where opium is being cultivated, raw drug is

easy to be obtaining here. In the evening, if you just walk around the town area, the

Hmong men would offer to sell you Marawana. Don't even try, you may end up addicted and do something stupid which you going to

regret later.

The street vendors:

“You buy” and “Buy from me”, you’ll

hear on the streets. The Black Hmong

women and children are everywhere,

stalking tourist hotels to doggedly selling

their wares. When dealing with touts,

especially village children, be warned

that if you buy something from one of

them, all of them will flock to you, it’s

mean you’ll tempt more children, who

want you to patron their products as well.

It’s a real problem- the kids come all the

way from their villages to sell souvenirs

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to help support their families and sometimes they sleep in the market or don’t attend school. So

never answer a tribe’s person with a “Maybe”, unless you mean it. They’ll follow you until you

purchase something.

the taboo of ethnic minorities:

Tourists visiting the village should listen carefully to the

instructions of the guides to not commit the taboo of ethnic

minorities such as sleeping accommodation, lodging

drinking water, dining table, for furniture placement, how

to travel, using household objects ….Because every nation

has its own taboo.

Do not touch the mascot; do not go into the

sacred area.

Do not drink alcohol, do not yell or act, gesture,

rude gestures

No kissing, couples show affection too openly in public places.

Please ask for permission when photographing local people

Permission before you wish to visit the locals.sometimes you can see a bunch of

green leaves hung on the top the high pillar inside villages such as Cat Cat, Ta Van,

and Ta Phin … That is the signal to recommend you not to go into the village. It

means that, the local is worshipping gods or dispelling evil spirits so they do not want

other people to come in.

You are not permitted to play inside the place and littering trash is unacceptable.

Besides, whistling is tabooed there because the ethnic believe that whistle is the

sound calls evil spirits.

6. Conclusion

Sapa is not only one of the most spectacular places you will ever see, but it is so different to

other parts of Vietnam that you won’t have truly experienced all that the country has to offer

without going here. Go straight to the locals for a true village home stays experience and we

promise you won’t regret it.

If you want a place of cultural authenticity and natural tranquillity, you have found the right

place. Sapa is a mountainous town in Northern Vietnam where you write poem, have your

cameras on for most of your time, cheer over a community wine pot, learn to appreciate

indigenous culture or just to escape heat and noise city. Being one of the most attractive tourism

destinations of the country, Sapa is a precious gift that Mother Nature dedicates to Vietnam.

It likely seems to be too long if talking about Sapa, land with many wonders. Take a chance to

make a trip to discover this wonderful land that you have ever never known and then you will

find out how interesting Sapa is!

For all above, our group believes that Sapa Vietnam is a most attractive tourism destination of

country; it’s definitely a wonderful place for visitor to come and return as well!

Wish you have a meaningful journey to Sapa!

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