Travelogue | Sapa, Vietnam

Type: Throwback

Month: December 2019 (Wet and cold weather)

Country: Vietnam

Place: Sapa

We booked a Free & Easy tour thru Chan Brothers, or should I say more like a half Full and Free & Easy tour? Food and walking tour plus transport provided. Coming to Sapa was more like a backpackers' route cum walking tour so wearing trekking shoes is ideal for walking on uneven, muddy roads and paths. Not advisable for the elderly who have knee problems or cannot walk a lot as it will be a tiring trip that includes traveling by train or bus. So we flew in from Singapore to Hanoi, then took a 7-8 hours bumpy, night train ride to Lao Cai (7-8hrs ride or 5-6hrs bus/car ride), then transferred to a transport up to Sapa. We actually paid extra to have the whole 4-bedded bunk-bed berth to ourselves as we didn't like to share with strangers. The train staff will go cabin by cabin to sell snacks and cup noodles, and also wake-up calls by knocking at every door towards the last station.

Arrived in Hanoi. Transfer to Hanoi Station after dinner.

Inside station's waiting area. Backpackers' paradise. 

Be prepared to drag your luggage on the rocky path. Look for the correct train number. 

Our 4-bedded berth. Bottled water and nuts provided.

Arrived after 7-8 hrs of overnight train ride at Lao Cai Station at 4-5+am. Many drivers waiting outside for their customers.

Our hotel stay, Holiday Sapa. Very foggy and misty weather up here. 

Big room with balcony. Can't see nice view due to the fog. Too cool for just 1 night stay. 

Steep hill ride up to Sapa and arriving at our hotel, Holiday Sapa. Opposite our hotel are more hotels, hostels, shops and restaurants. Most shops sell identical stuff like hiking wears, winter wears, trekking shoes and etc. So we decided to get our trekking shoes at one of those shops for SGD30-40 a pair. Great deal for us.

After our decent lunch arranged by the travel agent, we started on the walking tour after a decent lunch to Cat Cat and Sin Chai Village. Please note that you need to pay for entrance fee. 

Aboriginal tribes living in the village and doing what they do best: Weaving. They sell them too and you can buy if you like. Bags, beanies and more.

In this village lives the H'Mong Tribe

The stairs are like their terraced rice fields

The wet weather dampen the mood as I wanna see the greenery side

Tranquility from the Streams

Listen to the water and the surrounding forests. 

People mountain, People sea. 

We saw indigo plants. They use that to dye the materials. And they are doing their crafts.

When we were at Cat Cat Village, the tour guide pointed us at a lady with a handful of marijuana. We were like, what the hell! First time in my life I saw the real thing. See only, never do anything. Not even a photo taken.

My mood was super spoilt by the weather. Google yourself on more of Cat Cat Village (or even Sapa). It is a very beautiful place with great scenic places. My photo walk here is just giving you a reality when you go during this wet season. 

But have to say we are lucky to have gone there already because at this period of time with the Coronavirus, not advisable to go anywhere as people are so afraid to get this brutal virus and also to be quarantined for at least 14 days at home.

Enough ranting.

Let's continue.

The next morning, we head to Lao Cai Village, where the Tay and Day Tribes live.

Trek along the bottom of Sapa Valley to Ta Van Village.

As we walked into the area, the native kids carrying a basket on their back followed us through till a certain stop. They will not disturb you though following us is disturbing already, so don't really need to be defensive against them. Afterall, they are just kids (girls somemore). They can even help you across muddy uneven paths, or ask you where you from. But try not to let too many of them near you. Avoid eye contact if possible. Because they actually wanna sell you their handcrafts. You feel obliged to buy from them. You buy from one, the other one will come to you. But that is their way of survival. 

This is supposed to be the nicest terraced rice field sight. No thanks to the rain.

Little streams coming from the mountains

Cow dung alert! 

Wet paddy field

'Give the local a rod. Don't give them any fishes.' Understand the meaning behind? It makes sense.

Random grocery shop

Dog meat, anyone? Don't believe me, go Google the signboard.

After the morning trekking tour, lunch was provided. We have a few hours to roam around till our pick-up time. So explore the place near our hotel.

Eglise Notre-Dame Du Rosaire

The picture taken on the fridge magnet is the real thing at the back

An unexpected find while roaming around. Inside the plaza are bubble tea shops, souvenir shops, ticket offices, and supermarkets. Nothing much but the exterior of this building is lovely, if less foggy.

Sun Plaza/Sapa Station

Sometimes I do envy people from other countries bigger than Singapore. Because they can travel within their own country for holidays. We saw many locals around, enjoying their trip up to Sapa with families or friends. What can we do in Singapore? Stay-cations? Meh... stay at home better.

Still room for improvement in Sapa, like their road maybe. Too narrow and on foggy days like this period, you can't see the road ahead while driving, sometimes walking too. Yes, you can see them constructing roads and so on. This place will be a hit for Vietnam tourism coming soon, or even now.

Let us talk a quick one on food.

Our meals at Sapa are provided. Decent meals and I realized the staples are stir-fry cabbages, hotplates of meat (chicken or pork) and their spring rolls. SERIOUSLY! Let me show you an example.

After Sapa, we headed back to Hanoi and Halong Bay and had all the pho, banh mi, and beer! Don't want spring rolls anymore. I don't even want rice. I WANT MY NOODLES!

So if you ask worth a trip to Sapa, I would say yes. At least this place is not about shopping. It is about seeing the rural side of Vietnam. Nowadays, I want quality holidays. The exposure and expanding my knowledge bank while traveling is more important than anything else as we grow older. Lastly, do not come in December if you want a scenery. Watch my video on Youtube now!

This is Sapa, Vietnam for you. Signing off.