Sapa, Vietnam

This summer Robin and I both had the opportunity to visit Sapa, Vietnam. It's one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam. It is located in northern Vietnam near the China border. We took a train from Hanoi to Lao Cai, Vietnam then a 45 minute van ride to Sapa. Sapa is located in a mountainous area and is home to the tallest mountian in all of Vietnam. Sapa and it's surrounding villages are home to a number of Vietnam's minoroity tribes. Robin, Joshua and Aunt Bonita (a friend) went to Sapa in July. They visited three different tribabl groups: H'mong, Tay and Red Dao. The only way to distinguish them apart is by their beautfully colorerd clothes. Robin and I had great language experiences as we were able to practice our Vietnamese with some of the local people; however, some only spoke their tribabl language.

I went to Sapa in August with our dear friend form the states Blake (Vn call him Anh Black). Our trip was a bit more physically demanding than Robin's. Don't tell her I said that!... please! They rode a jeep to their villages and we hiked (trekked) to ours. The first day Blake and I trekked about 5 hours to several H'mong villages and a beautiful waterfall where we were able to swim and dive off of a huge rock. Of course I had to do a back flip in order to out do Blake. The water was crystal clear and didn't smell like the "stinky river" in Hanoi. The next day we trekked for 8-9 hours through several H'mong, Tay, Flower H'mong and Red Dao villages. We saw so many amazing sights! From the beautiful terraced rice paddies, to children leading their water buffalo to their favorite water or mud holes. The people were extremely nice and hospitable. After our 8-9 hour trekk, we went for a swim in another fast moving river (not quite like the Guadelupe!). After our swim, we settled down at the home of a Tay family where we spent the night. The experience was one I will never forget. The next day we made our way back to Sapa and then boarded the train for the trip back to Hanoi. I've been coming to Vietnam since 2001, and our Sapa trip has to be the best of all! If you ever get to Vietnam you must go to Sapa!


(Look closely for the boy on the rock and his buffaloes in the water!)