Sapa Vietnam
PHOTO GALLERY: Sapa – Vietnam
Sapa is a small charming town situated in the rugged mountains of far Northwest Vietnam near the Chinese border. Historically Sapa was the largest market town in the region and local hill tribe people visited the markets regularly to buy and sell goods.
In the 1880s the French discovered Sapa and liked it so much that they made it their hill station retreat from the baking heat of Hanoi and the lower plains. They eventually set up a military base there and several wealthy Frenchmen built lavish second homes in the cool hilltop town.
Fast forward to today… The French have long since gone and most of the original buildings destroyed, but Sapa still retains many remnants of their influence. Landscaped gardens, open lawns and European-style buildings are scattered around the hilltop town, making it feel more like a village in the Alps than in SE Asia.
two traditionally dressed Hmong girls return to their villages from market
Surrounding Sapa are beautiful, steep mountains often shrouded in mist and fog. Terraced rice fields grace the mountain slopes and quaint villages rest in the valleys. Stunning views of the gorgeous scenery emerge from different vantage points around town.
Not surprisingly, Sapa is a popular destination for travelers to Vietnam. Many lovely guest houses and hotels are available. Guides offer treks to hill tribe villages. And Sapa market still attracts local hill people, who sell beautiful fabrics, bags, clothes and other hand made traditional goods.
Sapa was one of my favorite places in Vietnam. Despite the chilly weather in November, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I’ve written about my trip here: Train to Sapa and Vietnam’s North West Mountains
Meanwhile, please enjoy these 24 pictures of Sapa, traditional markets and the surrounding countryside.
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You might also enjoy the following photo galleries from my trip to Vietnam:
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Hi! I'm Lash, an American nomadic world traveler who's been traveling solo since 1998. I’m passionate about traveling the world nomadically and then sharing it all with you. I hope to inspire you to travel the world, to entertain you with tales from the road, and to help you reach your travel dreams. Welcome! 
