The main destination in the Northwest, Sapa is hidden in a superb valley, in a beautiful mountain cirque covered with hamlets, close to the Chinese border. This magnificent region is populated by several ethnic minorities: the Hmong and the Dzao.
As in other regions of Asia, external influences have gradually eroded the rich cultural identity of so many Vietnamese ethnic minorities. Few of them still wear traditional costume, with the exception of women in the remote villages of the far north of the country. While the introduction of electricity, modern medicine, and education represent undeniable advances, this evolution is accompanied by the abandonment of ancestral traditions.
Sapa - Fanxipan, sitting at 3,143m above sea level, it is in northwest Vietnam, 350 km from Hanoi. It locates in the heart of the superb mountain range that stretches along the border of China and Laos, that the most remarkable hill tribes reside. The main destination in the Northwest, Sapa is hidden in a superb valley, in a beautiful cirque of mountains covered with hamlets, close to the Chinese border. This magnificent region is populated by several ethnic minorities: the Hmong and the Dzao.
As in other regions of Asia, external influences have gradually eroded the rich cultural identity of so many Vietnamese ethnic minorities. Few of them still wear traditional dress, with the exception of women in remote villages in the far north of the country. While the introduction of electricity, modern medicine, and education represent undeniable advances, this development has been accompanied by the abandonment of ancestral traditions.
Vietnamese minorities enjoy complete autonomy, and although the official national language is Vietnamese, children continue to learn their own language. Police and military personnel often belong to local ethnic groups, well represented in the National Assembly in Hanoi.
The poor condition of the roads once made access to Sapa difficult from Hanoi. But since the improvement of the roads, Sapa has become a very touristy place. However, this "blue country," as it is called, located at an altitude of 1,650 m, is still worth the detour.
Almost daily, the local mountain people don their most vibrant costumes and head to the Sapa market. It's on Saturdays that the action reaches its peak: watching farmers going to the market and returning to their villages and hamlets, most of which are less than 3 km from the town, is a spectacle in itself.
Set up in the main village square and on the surrounding stairs, the large market takes place on Saturdays: most of the region's ethnic groups come to sell their products. The Black Hmong, the majority, are recognizable by the lovely silver earrings worn by the women in their ears (sometimes several on top of each other).
One can also observe the amorous games of teenage girls of marriageable age (13-15 years old): dressed in their finest Wearing clothes that are different from those of married women, they meet at nightfall in the corners of the market; not to sell trinkets to tourists, but to meet each other and get to know the boys, away from prying eyes if possible. This is what is called in Sapa "the lovers' night market." For this courtship, the young boys wear up to three turbans around their heads. This ritual is far from simply folkloric, but absolutely essential for the social cohesion of these dispersed groups, and it is a determining factor in the group's reproductive system to avoid inbreeding.
Around Sapa, rice terraces stretch across the mountain slopes, and hikes are organized to reach the hamlets where, with a guide, you can meet the villagers and communicate with them more easily.
Because of the climate in Sapa, you should bring a light sweater, sometimes even in summer: let's not forget that we It is at an altitude of 1,600 m, and the rain is often threatening, without being truly bothersome or lasting. In winter, however, you need to wrap up warmly because it's cold (0°C) and humid: January and February are the coldest and foggiest months. From March to May, the climate is excellent most of the time.