Thứ Ba, 25 tháng 10, 2016

Interesting facts about Sapa

The permanent population of Sapa is less than 10.000 people, which is at least 20 times lower than the annual number of local and overseas travelers visiting the town.

The majority of the town’s population is ethnic Vietnamese who live in nearby villages around Sapa, coming to town mainly to shop or to sell their products.

Ethnic Vietnamese from the lowland only migrated to Sapa in the early 1960s, with support of the Government program on migration.

Terraced rice fields in Sapa was ranked as the world's most beautiful terraces by USA Travel and Leisure Magazine



Fan Si Pan Mountain is the highest mountain peak in Vietnam and Indochina which is located only a few kilometers west of Sapa, and can be easily seen from the town itself.

Tram Ton mountain passes between Sapa and Lai Chau, located at nearly 2.000 meters (6.500 feet) is the highest mountain pass in Vietnam.

Muong Hoa valley has 196 strange carvings of the ancient inhabitants thousands of years ago and so far archaeologists haven’t been able to explain this information yet.

Sapa is the "kingdom" of the fruit with a large variety of wild flowers especially immortal flowers which live forever.

Sapa is one of the very few places in Vietnam to see snow. Snow tour is very popular among Vietnamese students.



Perhaps it is the only destination in Vietnam that you must ask for permission if you want to take a photo of an ethnic person.

Teenagers in Sapa speak foreign languages much more fluently than Vietnamese. It is no surprise that sometimes they do not speak national language but prefer English.

There is one Catholic Church in Sapa, which was built in stone in 1930.

Lao Chai, Ta Van and Ta Phin are the most favorite trekking trails. Thousands of tourists who come to Sapa every year walk hundreds of miles of trekking trails between and around the tribal villages.

Sapa appears on the national map of tourist fully in 1993, when all obstacles were cleared to welcome international tourists.

Thứ Ba, 13 tháng 9, 2016

Peru Family Vacation, Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Urubamba White Water Rafting, Mara Salt Mines


Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip? Peru
Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:
We just returned from a 10 day trip to Peru with 15 family members. Our agent worked with me to plan every detail of the trip.   Everything went according to schedule and without a single hitch!  Our agent lined up a trip to satisfy every single member in our group ages 71 to 10.  We will never forget this trip of a lifetime!  The trip was planned so that we could adjust to the elevation appropriately.  We started with 3 days, 2 nights in the Amazon jungle.  The resort we stayed at and the activities planned were awesome!  The food was good too.  The kids, ages 10-18 loved that part of the trip the best.  We moved on to the Sacred Valley for 4 days, day 1 full day touring at Pisac ruins,

Ollantaytambo ruins, day 2 full day touring included Chincero weaving demonstration, Moray ruins & Mara salt mines, day 3 was horseback riding for 11 in our group and the other 4 went whitewater rafting on the Urubamba river, and day 4 was our trip to Machu Picchu.  We moved on to Cusco for 2 nights.  Our first full day in Cusco, we did a 1/2 day tour, and a late afternoon chocolate making event for 1 hour at the Choco Museo.  The next morning we left for Lima, spent 1 night in Lima and did a 1/2 day city tour.  We had the afternoon free and headed to the airport by 7:00 pm for our flights back to the U.S.  We were met by representatives at every location at the times stated.  All our tours were private for our group and the guides were awesome.  The food was so tasty throughout our trip.  Our agent made reservations in advance for our dinners.  Be flexible.  We are used to eating lunches around noon, but while touring, most lunches were around 2-3 pm in the afternoon.  We did have protein bars that we packed in our backpack.  Bonus item working with this agent....my husband had requested a surprise birthday cake for me at the restaurant in our Sacred Valley hotel. Our agent personally ordered a cake from a known bakery in Cusco and drove 1.5-2 hours to our hotel to personally deliver it with a nice birthday present!  That is going way above and beyond!  It was a pleasure meeting him in person!  I would not hesitate to recommend this agent and his company for any travel in South America!



What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?
Everything was memorable so it's hard for me to pick.  Definitely the Amazon, and the ruins in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu!f you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?
We had 10 days to fit a lot in.  I'd say having a a little more down time would have been helpful, but we were not willing to extend our trip at the time we planned it.  I would drop the Lima tour and just travel back to Lima from Cusco and fly out in the evening.  By the time we were done with everything, we were ready to head home. I think a trip to Lake Titicaca would have been nice to fit in if we had a couple of extra days to spare.

Thứ Ba, 9 tháng 8, 2016

9 unforgettable dishes when traveling Sapa

Sapa tourism is not only famous for magnificent beauty of nature, the fresh cool climate, but also a place has many special foods with bold flavours of the northwestern mountains. We will give you some suggestion of what food you must try when visit Sapa which impressed all of the tourists visiting here.
Bamboo tube sticky rice


Traditional Sapa bamboo tube sticky rice Bamboo tube sticky rice is typical dish of ethnic minorities Northwest region of our country, the main ingredient is sticky rice cooked in bamboo. When it is done, the singed skin of the bamboo is removed, leaving a thin cover that is also peeled away when you eat. Bamboo tube sticky rice is popular and favorite because of impressive taste of sticky rice, mineral water and soft fragrancy of bamboo.
Seven colours sticky rice


Seven colours sticky rice is traditional dish of Nung ethnic minority in Muong Khuong District, Lao Cai province.

Seven colours sticky rice is traditional dish of Nung ethnic minority in Muong Khuong District, Lao Cai province. This dish has seven colors such as pink, vermilion, scarlet, bright green, yellow green, banana leaf green and yellow and especially these colors is made from natural tree so the sticky rice has typical taste of the nature here and you can totally feel secure when eating it. In New year day, every family eats this sticky rice and wish for lucky and happy New Year. Cap Nach pork
Grilled Cap Nach pork


A delicious food hard to resist in Sapa.

It is easy to meet the picture of local people carrying pigs or even carring under armpit to sell in the market, and the name "lon cap nach" ( or “ carried-under-arm”) is originated from that. This is special pigs of upland people, local people do not lock pigs in pigpen, they free- range them to find food in the forest or garden since they are piglet. Therefore, after 1 year the pigs weight just about 20kgs and then are brought to the market for sale. Cap Nach Pork is very famous and used for processing a lot of delicious food in many luxurious restaurants.
Grilled food


The cool weather is so perfect for grilled food

The weather in Sapa is cool all year, that why you should never forget to try grilled dishes such as the skewered pork, grilled pork side, quail, skewered beef with enokitake mushroom or “Cai Meo” - a special kale in Sapa,... Cai Meo is a special vegetables here, the bitter taste of this vegetables stagnating on the tongue will make tourist enjoy.
Sapa Peach


Sapa Peach is not only beautiful but also very tasty- one of characteristic of this place

The sweet, sour, acrid taste and unmistakable fragrance is the unique taste of genuine Sapa peach. The gardens of Sapa Peach full of fruit around the town always attracts tourists visiting Sapa. A basket of Sapa peaches will certainly be precious gift for friends and relatives from northwest region.


In addition, if you visit a restaurant here, do not forget to order apple pies served with Sapa honey.
Thang Co


Eating Thang Co together with drinking corn wine which is warm and fragrant, is the essence of the mountains.

Thang Co is one of the most famous dishes of the Mong in the northwest of Vietnam. It exists in every villages and market of the H'mong. Thang Co Sapa is made from horse, a pot of soup which includes meat, organs of horse, vegetables and special kinds of spices. The technique of making it is quite simple. After the animal is killed and washed, its internal parts are removed, which are later cut up. These parts are put in a big pan and fried in their own grease. Minutes later, water is added to the pan and the meat is simmered for hours.


Thang Co is often served with Cai Meo, Ngon Su Hao, Cai Lau – some special vegetables in Sapa... Eating Thang Co together with drinking corn wine which is warm and fragrant, is the essence of the mountains. When food and drinks mix together will create a sense of comfort and unforgetability.
Smoked meat


This is a popular dish of ethnic minorities in Sapa.

As a popular dish of ethnic minorities in Sapa. Smoked meat is made from the meat of shoulder and back of pigs, buffalos, cows and horses. To make smoked meat, they first clarify fat and muscle from the meat, cut into 2-3 centimeters pieces, then marinate with mashed Mac Khen leave, granular salt, pepper and crushed banana nuts. Lastly hang it up over wood stove, the heat and smoke from stove are not only preserved meat not to be spoiled but also make the meat has a very particular taste. Fried bacon with Cai Meo will be very exotic dishes, it is tasty enough to keep tourists this place.


Silkie Chicken ( or silky chicken)


The studies have shown that Silkie Chicken has not only effect of sex ability but also medicinal value especially in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. 

As a special kind of chicken of the Mong with black skin, meat and bone. The meat of Silkie chicken is firm, delicious, crispy skin make eaters feel interesting. The studies have shown that Silkie Chicken has not only effect of sex ability but also medicinal value especially in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The most famous dish made from Silkie chicken in Sapa is grilled chicken with honey. Delicious grilled chicken eating with mint leaves, pepper and salt in lime, will surely sastify the most discerning diners. Silkie chiken is very small, about 1.2 kilogram per one with pitch black skin. the people who sees it the first time will feel a little “disgusting”. Silkie chiken can be processed into many different food but the most delicious dish is grilled chicken with honey. Grilled chicken after finishing still steaming hot, the best is that we eat with mint leaves, pepper and salt in lime, so delicious. Your Sapa trip will be imperfect if you do not try this dish.
Salmon


Salmon Sapa is fine cuisine here, low fat, nutritious and indescribable delicious

Salmon is recently reared sucessfully in Sapa thanks to the temperate climate, similiar to the climate of Europe and North America where is the habitat of salmon. Unlike imported salmon are usually fat, friable meat, farmed salmon in Sapa has firm meat, beautiful pink, low fat and high nutritional value, which can be processed into many different dishes, especially salmon salad, salmon hot pot, grilled salmon ... That is why salmon dish is gradually becoming a luxury dish to treat travelers when coming to Sapa.

Thứ Sáu, 29 tháng 7, 2016

Sapa - Vietnam: DELTA RESTAURANT

Delta is an up-market Italian restaurant and wine bar, making the most of fresh local and imported products.

sapatravel688.blogspot.com

The decor is a little spartan, but the wine list makes up for it. The dessert menu matches the main menus in quality, featuring homemade chocolate gateau and crepes.

 sapatravel688.blogspot.com

Thứ Sáu, 15 tháng 7, 2016

Sapa - Vietnam: TOPAS ECOLODGE

Topas Ecolodge is perfectly located for both business and leisure guests in Sapa (Lao Cai). The hotel offers guests a range of services and amenities designed to provide comfort and convenience. 24hr room service, bicycle rental, safety deposit boxes, coffee shop, restaurant are there for guest's enjoyment. Guestrooms are designed to provide an optimal level of comfort with welcoming decor and convenient amenities like refrigerator, television, shower, in room safe, air conditioning. Take a break from a long day and make use of garden. Convenience and comfort makes Topas Ecolodge the perfect choice for your stay in Sapa (Lao Cai).


Based on ecological principles, Topas Ecolodge actively seeks to be a minimum impact facility. The lodge employs local people and uses local products wherever possible. The 25 individual cottages have breathtaking valley views and feel quite secluded, scattered across the hill.

Thứ Sáu, 1 tháng 7, 2016

Sapa - Vietnam: the mountains of northern Vietnam

Lovers of hiking, trekking and nature can enjoy Sapa, the mountains of Vietnam, a city located to the Northwest of the country.
The mountainous region of Sapa (Pa Sa in Vietnamese) Although remote, and remote region is famous for its rice terraces, its breathtaking mountain scenery, its biological variety and also the Vietnamese ethnic groups that inhabit the mountain from Sapa region.

Sapa - Vietnam

What to see in Sapa?

The impressive rice terraces, where the Sapa ethnic groups are dedicated to growing rice with help of livestock.

The it Iguazu Thac Bac (Thác Bạc or silver waterfall), a waterfall of 200 meters.

The Bridge May (cầu May), historic bridge that stands on a spectacular mountain landscape.

Heavenly gate (Cổng Chuyện), the end of the mountain from where we can see the highest peak of Vietnam, Fansipan mountain.

The Hoang Lien National Park, with its forests of Dwarf bamboo (Rừng Trúc) and great diversity of orchids.

The Cathedral of Sapa, Sapa Town Hall, Sapa market and the plaza de la Catedral.

The beautiful Lake of Sapa.

About stone carvings or petroglyphs of ancestral Sapa stones (Bai với cổ Sa Pa).

The Colorful costumes Vietnamese tribal ethnic groups in the mountains of Sapa.

What to do in Sapa?

We recommend visiting the Cat Cat village. Small village where we will see how they live the ethnic Vietnamese from the mountains. To access the village Cat Cat there a symbolic price to pay, and for those who want to experience life there, for a small fee you can sleep in a house in the village.

Note: to scroll through Sapa to Cat Cat village you can rent a moto-taxi.

Hiking, climbing, cycling and trekking in Sapa

Due to the high mountain terrain, Sapa is the ideal place for hiking and trekking through Vietnam.
Many agencies organize us a trekking route, where we will see the Grotto Thuy Cung, Gio cave, Gate heavenly, etc.

As an alternative to walking, many tourist agencies organize excursions by bike by Sapa.

What is the best time of year to visit Sapa?

The best time of year to visit Sapa is April and may.
Why? because it is the era in which the vegetation is flourishing and by the climatic conditions of Sapa, will ensure the absence of fog and rain.

Where is Sapa?

Sapa is a city in the pronvicia of Lao Cai, in the North of Vietnam and very near the border with China, distant 376 kilometers Northwest of Hanoi and 38 kilometres from the town of Lao Cai.

Getting to Sapa?

The best option to get to Sapa is catching a train from Hanoi to Lao Cai city, then a bus, from Lao Cai to Sapa.

The more adventurous can opt to rent a motorbike in Hanoi and depart Sapa.

How long does the train from Hanoi to Sapa?

The train from Hanoi to Sapa takes 8 hours on average.

How much is the train ticket to Sapa?

It depends on the company train and the class in which we travel. We recommend the night train, the ticket only one-way cheaper costs about 250. 000VND

What 's railway companies to go to Sapa (Lai Cao)?

There is a Vietnamese public company called Vietnam Railway (the equivalent of the Spanish renfe), which is the cheapest and also of lower quality.
Major private train companies are Tulico, Ratraco, Victoria Express, Livitrans, TSC Express, Royal Train, Et pumpkin, Friendly Express and TransVietnam Train.
Note: one higher price does not mean higher quality, you have to look at the type of train, equipment and the class in which we travel.


Hanoi Railway Station to go to Sapa


Climate and weather in Sapa (Vietnam)

Because of its altitude the climate in Sapa is moderate and with plentiful banks of fog. Winters are cold, even snow. To make an idea, the climate in Sapa is very similar to the weather in Madrid.

Sapa Altutid

Sapa town is located 1600 metres above sea level, being the highest town of throughout Vietnam.

Sapa Mountains

The Sapa area lies on the Hoang Lien Son (Hoang Lien son) mountain range, which is the part East of the Himalayas. The highest of Vietnam and the Indochinese peninsula peak, mountain (Phan-Xi-Pǎng) Fansipan, 3143 meters, is part of the Sa Pa area.

Ethnic tribal Sapa

There are five ethnic groups or tribes in Sapa: H Mong, Dao Do, Tay, Giay and Xa Pho.

Recommendations for Sapa

We recommend buying a train ticket to Sapa (Lai Cao city) round trip. Because sometimes it's hard to find a train ticket to Sapa.

There are many ATMs in Sapa (just on the main street) and bureaux de change usually give an exchange rate low, sowe recommend to carry enough cash (preferably Vietnamese Dong) to cover the cats.

Thứ Sáu, 24 tháng 6, 2016

Sapa - Vietnam: BAC HA MARKET


Just over 90kms from Sapa, the Sunday market at Bac Ha is a large local market, populated largely by Flower H’mong and other ethnic minority villagers from the area. Goods range from vegetables to domestic animals. Regular tours to the market depart Sapa at 7.30am.