After a twelve hour journey on a sleeper bus we finally arrived in the mountain village of Sapa, Northwest Vietnam, right alongside the Chinese border. We immediately found ourselves freezing our best bits off in 'the coldest place in Vietnam', located high up in the mountains at an elevation of just under 2000 meters above mean sea level. Sapa is constantly shrouded in mist which gives it an eerie and mysterious look and feel. After settling into the Mountain View Hotel (we looked at no less than 15 other place before settling on the MVHotel) we got round to exploring the sights Sapa had to offer. Sapa and the surrounds are dubbed to offer Vietnam's best trekking with overnight 'homestays' and trips to the local minority villages being the main attraction. At over $70 per person per trek we opted for the 'solo mission' instead. Sticking to budget, as always. We wandered the surrounding hills for hours, getting lost in the clouds and along the numerous mountain trails. Nothing like the trekking we did in Nepal but a decent 5 hour trekking day overall.
Sapa is a must see if you ever find yourselves in Northern Vietnam, with the great trekking on offer for everyones capabilities, to the quaint restaurants and locals dressed in their traditional gear all eager to show you their way of life. It is a humbling experience that leaves you feeling refreshed and energised after days spent wading through the surrounding rice paddies taking you from village to village. Here there are no T.V's or computer games so you find yourself watching children play outside, laughing and talking to each other - something the western culture is losing quickly due to technology and our hunger for the latest and greatest gimics. What a magical destination, one of our favourite places in Nam!
