Boasting sublime unspoiled beauty, from rolling verdant hills to
spectacular terraced fields, Sa Pa is a mix of natural wonder.
Near the Chinese border in the northwest province of Lao Cai and around
376 kilometers from Hanoi, Sa Pa, founded as a scenic resort by the French in
1903, is best known for its wild, unspoiled landscapes.
Sa Pa's scenic highlights include Hoang Lien Son National Park and the
awe-inspiring 3,143-meter-high Mount Fan Si Pan - the highest mountain
peak in Indochina. Every year, the area attracts thousands of tourists from all
over the world who come to marvel at Sa Pa's lush vegetation and spectacular
scenery.
Nestled around 1,600 meters above sea level, Sa Pa is cloud-covered and
cool year-round, with occasional snowfalls in the winter.
It is said that visitors who come to Sa Pa in the summer can experience
up to three seasons in a single day. In the morning and afternoon, the weather
is cool like that in the spring and autumn, while at noon, it is as sunny and
cloudless as a warm summer's day.
Visitors often travel to the city of Lao Cai by train before heading by
coach to Sa Pa. Upon arrival, tourists can learn about the area's sprawling
rice paddies and observe the ethnic H'Mong and Dao peoples who wear a brilliant
array of colorful, traditional clothing.
Stunning terraced fields
According to a survey carried out by US-based Travel and Leisure
magazine, Sa Pa's verdant terraced fields were ranked among the seven most
beautiful in the world.
The most beautiful terraced field area is Suoi Thau, which is
cultivated by the Dao people.
The other fields voted most beautiful by the magazine's readers include
those in Banaye (the Philippines), Yuangyang (Yunnan, China), Ubud (Bali,
Indonesia), Annapurna (Nepal), Mae Rim (Chiang Mai, Thailand), and Longji
(Guilin, China).
Sa Pa's terraced fields belong to the ethnic H'Mong, Dao and Giay
people, and are located in the Muong Hoa Valley of Lao Chai District. The area
totals around 10 square kilometers and tourists can visit to learn about the
process of rice planting and cultivation.
The fields were described by Travel and Leisure as "Ladders to the
sky" because of their astounding natural beauty.
"It's the best place in Vietnam with a rich cultural heritage and
splendid landscape," said a Singaporean tourist.
"The scenery and people were amazing," echoed a tourist from
the UK.
Lao Cai's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also proposed that
provincial authorities and the culture ministry should carry out research and
compile information on Sa Pa's terraced fields, Hoang Lien Son National Park,
and an ancient rock bank to submit to UNESCO for recognition as world cultural
heritage sites.
"This is a difficult task but we are trying to turn Sa Pa's
terraced fields into a world heritage site for the many foreign travelers who
love Sapa and Vietnam," said Tran Huu Son, the department's chief.
Cultural diversity
Home to several ethnic groups like the H'Mong, Red Dao, Kinh, Tay,
Giay, Hoa, and Xa Pho, Sa Pa is a mosaic of cultures and traditions. Many
visitors enjoy learning about the ethnic people's daily activities, traditions
and beliefs.
Tourists are often astonished by the many billowing red headdresses
worn by women of the Red Dao minority, visible all over town.
The H'Mong and Dao people make up the largest ethnic groups in the
region. Their villages may appear simple and old-fashioned from afar, but many
people now own mobile phones and regularly access their email from communal
computers.
While some of the older generations of the ethnic minorities have had
little formal education and are illiterate, most of the younger generations receive
schooling and have a good command of English, French and a handful of other
languages.
Tourists can also choose to go on two treks while staying in Sa Pa. The
first is a 7 km journey, which takes about four hours and includes a stop for
lunch. The other is a full-day adventure, covering around 17 km and following
the perimeter of the rice paddies, through forested areas, past the doorsteps
of tribal people's homes, and across rivers and waterfalls.
Watching the locals go about their daily business is also an
interesting experience. The children in Sa Pa work extremely hard-tending
buffaloes, working in the fields, and caring for their younger siblings. Many
of the young girls learn the timeless art of embroidery from their mothers.
The ethnic girls often marry young, at around age 14, and depend on the
skills learned from their mothers to start new families of their own.
Sa Pa is also famous for its "love market," which takes place
on Saturday evenings. This cultural tradition once served as a way for ethnic
locals to meet, socialize, and find a partner to marry.
In the past, young girls from the Red Dao hill tribes used to come to
Sa Pa and sing songs to find partners. The girls would sing while hidden in the
dark and when a boy found them " if they liked each other " they
would disappear into the forest for three days and would then marry at a later
date.
But with the development of tourism, the original love market, with its
purpose of uniting young couples, has faded away. Visitors can still visit the
area on Saturday nights, however, and be treated to a lively market atmosphere.
With its astonishing beauty and diverse peoples, Sa Pa is a remarkable
travel destination and well worth a visit.