Sapa is a mountainous town in Northwest Vietnam. It is located at an altitude of 1500m – 1600m from sea level, 317km northwest of Hanoi. This town has a large concentration of ethnic minorities such as: H’Mong, Red Dzao, Tay, Giay and Xa Pho. Sapa is surrounded by majestic landscapes and, together with its unique culture and cool weather all year round. It attracts both local and international tourists alike.
“Sa Pả”
The name “Sapa” is derived from “Sa Pả” in the H’Mong language which means “Sand”, because the town had a sandy area which was used as a big market for people in the region. Since 1898, when Vietnam was fully occupied, the first French expeditions discovered this beautiful town and built approximately 300 villas here. They transformed Sapa into the summer capital of the North (called Tonkin at that time) where the French would go to relax. The French read “Sa Pả” without tone which sounds like “Sapa” nowadays.
Thanks to its excellent location in the mountains of the Northern border, the average temperature of Sapa is only about 15 degrees C. Visitors can experience 4 seasons on a summer day: a warm morning; a sunny afternoon; a foggy dusk and a colder evening. Sapa is undoubtedly the most beautiful from September when the rice terraces start to ripen. Because of the soil characteristics of the high mountains with less cultivated land, the local people are able to cultivate their rice terraces on rich soil hills, water is taken from the higher mountain. The thousands of hectares of terraced fields which existed many years ago have now become an integral part of Sapa.
Fanxipan
Sapa is not only known for its culture, rice terraces or unique cuisine but also for the Fanxipan peak, The roof of Indochina. Located at an altitude of 3147m, it summons conquering dream of any Vietnamese. Today, a system of 3-wire cable car, completed on February 2nd, 2016, contributes to the realization of that dream. Visitors to Fanxipan will be truly amazed by its wonderful scenery, its memory will forever be etched in their minds.
It is difficult to describe Sapa’s beauty in a short article. If you are a lover of adventure, poetic natural landscapes and terraced fields, please don’t hesitate. Sapa is exactly your dream destination.
(Justin Ngoc Pham)
