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333km northwest from Hanoi Sapa, which is 1,600m above sea level bordered with China, is homeland of minorities. As surrounded by the highest and largest mountains range in Indochina, the air and the wind blowing from the mountains are really fresh. They said "Sapa has four seasons, spring, summer, autumn and winter, in one day.
Moning view of Sapa After Ha Long Bay I joined 'Sapa - Bac Ha market, 3 days / 4 nights' tour. I took night train to Lao Cai town, 37km east gateway of Sapa, and 1 hour ride to Sapa town. Young man and two H'mong girls were waiting me and greeted. They were my guide and porters, 30 minutes later we started trekking to Lao Chai village.
Included : Train ticket 2 ways, Taxi to train station (except the day back), Jeep from village, Accommodation, Entrance fee, Food in village, English or French speaking guide. |
Our porter were girls of H'mong tribe In Vietnam there are several groups in H'mong tribes. The girls were Black H'mong, wore indigo-dyed dress with embroidered. Their typical wearing is skirt, outerwear, apron and wrap-on leggings. It seemed suitable for highland living. 
Ticket office of historic area : adult - 5000 dong 
Elementary school built on edge of mountain |
Amazing rice terraces described beautiful curve For a while we walked on a under constructed car road looking deep valley, when I stopped to take photograph of this rice terraces, guide said "Here we are, let's go down a village." Then we went down narrow path on a steep slope. It was a first visiting point Lao Chai village. 
Venders, children to old women, of the village As soon as entered the village, people handed their handy crafts gathered and we were surrounded vendors. I bought an indigo-dyed blanket with embroidered for 9US$. Although indigo-blue is very beautiful guidebook said that as dyed were not set be careful from running. 
Farm road along river lead to Ta Van village of Dzay people After Lao Chai village we kept trekking on a path through foot of hill, bottom of Sapa valley. Landscape of mountain and river view was really calm and peaceful. I felt myself in another world in the firm. |
Rice terraces glowing with the splendor of the setting sun
Ta Van village houses emembered me old Japanese rural |
Second day began to watch this sunrise 
Top of the village there was a small square woman gathered basking in the morning sun just as if they took council of war. After then they broke up in all direction for selling tourist their handcrafts as traditional clothes, cotton blankets, pillow covers and silver accessories. 
Trekking road |
Talking
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Last visiting point of 2 days trekking was this water fall After that we went down and crossed the river you could see on this photo. 
Bridge between village and town 
On opposite bank there are under constructed road lead to Sapa town. At 3:00 PM charter jeep came and brought back us to the town. Although we took 2 days to walk on the right base of a mountain, jeep took us to Sapa only around twenty minutes. Vietnam government works out for hill tribe minorities to construction of roads, hospitals and school. It must be good thing for them, but it will be force to change their life style. I'm anxious if it would finish we would lose these landscape. |
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