Along the way, you will see small and dusty towns, mountains over mountains, and cow carts that transport people and merchandize.
Lao Cai is a border city with China (Hekou in the Yunnan province). From Lao Cai; it’s another 30-40 km to Sapa; up the mountain. Sapa is just a small town with many Western tourists. It’s a hub for travelers to do nature traveling, visits the minorities, and hike the highest peak in Indo-China; the Fansipan.
In Sapa town, there are lots of minorities that stay in the mountain side and walk all the way to this town to sell their handmade souvenirs. The majority of them are Hmong tribe.
The Sapa market is also famous as it’s the hub for the minorities to stock up before heading home to their mountain side homes.
From Sapa town itself, you can see some good mountain sceneries.
From Sapa town, we walk to the Cat Cat village; about 40-50 minutes walk from Sapa town (about 5km downhill). Along the nature walk, I saw a lady carrying her baby to Sapa; while another minority couple seems to be rushing room with their kid.
After a slight walk down hill; there came the picturesque mountain view. I saw a group of Hmongs sitting by the picturesque view; weaving over their handicrafts for sale to tourists. This may be called the real "Enjoy life".
It cost VND 15,000/pax to enter the village. After the entrance; its still about 30 minutes walk down the hill. On the way, saw a minority girl walking up from hill route. I’m using the normal tarred road; of course. Ha ha ha….. She was so fast; like a thunder walking up the hill. Within minutes she was on top of another hill. Amazing…….
Then, saw a goose sitting by the side watching over the mountains. Wondering what is she thinking……
After walking for about 20+ minutes; I stop over at a hilltop café and watch over the beautiful panoramic mountains. The mountains are huge and long.
Looking below; saw a woman waiting at the hillside (probably for a ride up the hill) and a kids’ couple bathing at the courtyard. They were really having fun together and maybe they will be husband and wife one day later???
After rest for about 5 minutes; I continue my journey to the heart of the Cat Cat village. The road down is on a cobbled pavement.
Visited a Hmong’s traditional home. Saw a traditional water tool used by the Hmongs and some dried corns in the house as well.
Then, continue my journey downward to the waterfall. On the way, saw a goose drinking the drain water; which is very clear and clean. Also, I experienced the Hmong’s rice terraces; which look interesting to me.
Further down by another 5 minutes, we reached the waterfall. It was so refreshing.
Spent about 10 minutes at the waterfall, we have to walk back up the hill to the original entrance through another route. In the Cat Cat village, you can see lots of black pigs wondering around the rice terraces.
After a tiring, yet wonderful walk down the Cat Cat village, we took a rest at Sapa town before heading to the Fansipan trail foothill. There are 3 entrance points to climb Fansipan. One is from Cat Cat village, the second one is this place, and the third one is from another town in Lai Chau province (next to Lao Cai province). As we do not plan to climb the mountain; we took the other alternative to walk through the jungle to see a waterfall. The trail was quite rocky and slightly wet. It was cold in the jungle. The guide told us that it should take 20 min to reach the waterfall. However, about 20 min. walk in the jungle; still could not hear any sound of waterfall. As the day is getting dark; we decided to walk back to the entrance. Though was not able to see the waterfall; we saw a small stream with refreshing water.
After spending a day in Sapa; I’m prepared to head back to Hanoi. Travel from Sapa to Lao Cai actually will give you a great sight in the morning (which I did not see anything on the way to Sapa as it was at night). That day was a foggy day in Lao Cai. So, from Sapa; you will see a sea of clouds over the Lao Cai city. The scenery is just amazing. We asked the driver to stop the car by the road side for us to take a photo.
Then, we continue back our tiring journey back to Hanoi; over the rugged road. As a recommendation; take the train option from Hanoi to Lao Cai (about 10 hrs). There are a morning and overnight train service between these 2 cities. Visiting the tribes made me think whether they are happier or we are happier living in the city. Things can be so simple and easy-going for them. Fresh air and magnificient scenery for them everyday. Probably they are happier as they have less worries about economic situation, war, etc…. War in Iraq won’t mean anything to them. Financial crisis in the US won’t worry them. But, I guess if they have been too commercialized by the tourists later; the worries will come. Bye bye to Sapa……..
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