On a recent trip to Sapa, it was beyond my wildest dreams that I would find myself in an episode of National Geographic. After all these years of tourism to Sapa, it is very uplifting to find some villages so unaffected by tourism and retaining rich culture and traditions.

Red Dao people in Sapa, Vietnam

After arriving in Sapa on a crisp, clear spring morning, I made my way to a beautiful ecolodge located in Thanh Kim, 20km outside of Sapa, surrounded by Hmong, Tay and Red Dao villages. After spending a day trekking and cycling through dramatic landscapes, I had an unexpected invitation to a Red Dao village to join in their TET (Vietnamese lunar New Year) celebrations. The tables were turned when I arrived at the simple wood-hut village and was greeted by over 100 set of eyes – fixated on me and my foreign appearance. Sometimes as a traveler, I feel like such a voyeur, so it was enlightening to experience a role reversal.

The celebrations involved praying to ancestors and ceremonial dancing to ensure a fruitful year of rice in the upcoming harvest. All the men in the village with the surname “Lee” were involved in these prayers which sent them into a trance-like state before they jumped into a fire and walked on hot coals. YES – WALKED ON HOT COALS. This experience was a feast for my senses….drums beating, fire roaring, chanting and singing, electric-red traditional head dress and the glares and giggles of the children as they tugged on my arms and touched my foreign skin. The ceremony continued for 5 hours, with more dancing, fire walking, beating of drums and the scattering of rice. The Dao ethnic minority is incredibly diverse in all aspects of life: social and religious practices, architecture, agriculture and dress. Rows of terraced rice fields zigzag up steep mountains, creating breathtaking views in an area where farming remains the major source of income. Rice is still the staple crop and this annual ceremony is a very important part of the Dao calendar to ensure a plentiful harvest.

Dao people

Dao people came to Vietnam some six centuries ago and now number around 500,000 in Vietnam, with related groups in Laos, Thailand and China. They boast a particularly striking traditional dress, characterized by a rectangular patch of embroidery sewn onto the back of their jackets, and both men and women sport silver or copper jewellery and tasseled shoulder bags. Dao women wear elaborate headgear, usually a triangular-shaped turban, either embroidered or decorated with silver coins, beads and colored tassels. It’s also common for Dao women to shave their eyebrows and sometimes the whole head, coating the skull with wax.

So to discover this Red Dao village, still so rich in tradition – without televisions and coca cola – was exciting. Travelers can still step into their own personal  Discovery channel. But we must ensure this is how we leave it. To be sensitive and respectful of these local cultures so our children can have the same experiences and our world can continue to be a melting pot of traditions and cultures.

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Source: Internet

Recomment Trek in the trekking paradise _ Sapa Trekking & Homestay from ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA 

For our Sapa Remote Trek tour, please click here.

Visitors to Sapa should not miss Sapa Bac Ha market, a famous highland market throughout the Northwest region

Along the way, visitors will see the high mountain, the terraced fields and encounter each ethnic group laughing gurglingly and leading horses to market to sell. To keep up with the market, they have to get up early. Even there is someone who starts their journey to market from the previous day.

Bac Ha market

Previously, Bac Ha market took place on a sloping hill, then this market was built on a concrete floor and divided into sales area so it lost the pristine beauty.

Bac Ha market sells all products of the highlands, the necessary items for the ethnic such as plow, hoe, shovel, knife, fruits, honey..

Booths selling jewelry, dresses, brocade and even attan baskets always attract many tourists. Here, you can optionally select Brocade products, dazzled with the brilliant colors of dresses of Hmong, Red Dzao.

Ethnic minority people in Sapa

Foreign tourists often would like to admire the paintings that are hand-woven with vivid motifs, harmonious colors.

The booths of jewelry attract many tourists

For men, Bac Ha market is also a place where they can meet their fiends and drink around the “thang co” pot (large pot).

Tourists to Bac Ha, they are very interested in exploring life and customs of the locals.

Tourist & local people

The ethnic usually bring baskets of vegetables, potatoes, maize or other crops to sell at Bac Ha market. They also lead the cows, pigs intended to sell in market. The place selling horse always attracts men most, they come from remote villages, even those from the provinces of Bac Giang, Ha Tay..coming here to buy horse.

In the trend of commercializing the highland markets,  Bac Ha market is one of the rare places retaining ethnic identity, unique features of the old market.

Recommend a Sapa Trekking & Homestay itinerary from ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA: 4-day tour with 2-day trek and 2-night homestay

Hanoi - Lao Cai - Sapa - Hanoi 

At an elevation of 1,600 meters, Sapa is a delightful former French hill station situated in the mountainous region of Vietnam's northwest, close to the Chinese border. The region is home to many ethnic minority groups, each wearing traditional and colorful attire. This trip includes a trek through the hills and valleys of the Sapa region, discovering several different minorities along the way. You will experience overnight accommodation in the hospitable villages of Giay and Tay ethnic minorities. The apparent hardships are worth it though as we walk through some of the most spectacular scenery that Vietnam has to offer and experience unique villages culture.

Highlights 

Awesome scenery

Rice terraces

Colorful minority groups 

Homestays in minority villages

When visitting Sapa, espcially if you are a foriegn visitor, you will like to visit villagers here. May be ,thet following tips will help your trips be more exciting.

Visit  minority villages

Coming villages in small groups

For many people, one of the highlights of travelling in Sapa is the experience of visiting minority villages.

If at all possible, it’s preferable to visit the minority villages as a part of a small group, ideally four people or less, as this causes least disruption and allows for greater communication. There is a whole debate about the ethnics of cultural tourism and its negative impact on traditional ways of life.

Most villagers are genuinely welcoming and hospitable to foreigners, appreciating contact with Westerners and the material benefits which they bring.

Remember you are a guest

Behavior that we take for granted may cause offence to some ethnic minority people; remember you are a guest. Apart from being sensitive to the situation and keeping an open mind, the following simple rules should be observed when visiting the ethnic minority areas.

Dress modestly, in long trousers or skirt and T-shirt or shirt.

Dress modestly, in long trousers

When taking photographs

Be sensitive to people’s wishes when taking photographs, particularly of older people who are suspicious of camera; always ask permission first.

When enterting their house

Only go inside a house when invited and remove your shoes before entering.

When giving gifts

Small gifts, such as fresh fruit from the local market, are always welcome. However, there is a view that even this can foster begging, and that you should only ever give in return for some service or as a sign of appreciation for hospitality. A compromise is to buy craftwork produced by the villagers-most communities should have some embroidery, textiles or basketry for sale.

Trekking through villages

Learning local  basic terms of address

As a mark of respect, learn the local term of address, either in dialect or at least in Vietnamese, such as chao ong, chao ba.

Be careful with local environments

Try to minimize your impact on the often fragile local environment; take litter back to the towns and be sensitive to the use of wood and other scarce resources.

Opium using is illegal

Growing and using opium is illegal in Vietnam and is punished with a fine or prison sentence; do not encourage its production by buying or smoking opium.

Trekking practicalities

Foreigners are now permitted to stay in minority villages, which has opened up to the possibility of trekking, and created a small industry focused on Sapa.You can arrange a tailored individual programme through a tour agent; it is important to ask for a guide with a good level of English who is familiar with the villages and the minorities’ culture traditions.

Note that it’s not a good ideal to turn up at a minority’s village and expect to find accommodation; you host may find themselves in trouble with the authorities and there’s also a growing problem of petty crime, particularly around Sapa. Far better to make arrangements beforehand with someone who know the current situation. If you go with local guide, you are also less likely to cause offence and will probably have a more interesting time.

Clothers when walking in mountains

It is very important to ear the right clothing when walking in these mountains; strong boots with ankle support are the best footwear, though you can get away with training shoes in the dry season. Choose thin, loose clothing-long trousers offer some protection from thorns and leeches; wear a hat and sun block; take plenty of water; rain coast and carry a basic medical kit.

If you plan on spending the night in a village you will need warm clothing as temperatures can drop to around freezing, and you may want to take a sleeping bag, mosquito net and food, though may be provided on organized tours.

Carrying a stick when trekking

Finally, dogs can be a problem when entering minority villages, so it is a good ideal to carry a strong stick when trekking, and always be watchful for the poisonous snakes that are common in this area.

Recommend a Sapa Trekking & Homestay itinerary from ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA: 4-day tour with 2-day trek and 2-night homestay

Hanoi - Lao Cai - Sapa - Hanoi 

At an elevation of 1,600 meters, Sapa is a delightful former French hill station situated in the mountainous region of Vietnam's northwest, close to the Chinese border. The region is home to many ethnic minority groups, each wearing traditional and colorful attire. This trip includes a trek through the hills and valleys of the Sapa region, discovering several different minorities along the way. You will experience overnight accommodation in the hospitable villages of Giay and Tay ethnic minorities. The apparent hardships are worth it though as we walk through some of the most spectacular scenery that Vietnam has to offer and experience unique villages culture.

Highlights 

Awesome scenery

Rice terraces

Colorful minority groups 

Homestays in minority villages

Sapa, Vietnam

Sapa is considered the second destination of Vietnam after Halong Bay. This town is located in the Northern mountainous area with the endless terraced field and interesting experience to visit the ethnic villages. You can easily catch up with the heavy rain and storm. However, with me – Jeremy Jones, this is not an obstacles but an exciting challenge though I have to prepare a lot more when the rain falls.

Rain, rain, rain – it always rains

If you are a unlucky guy coming to Sapa in the middle of storm rain or after a rainy week, then you are in the major. The muddy paths made everyone fell down at least once, and our luggage were sent quite a lot of souvenir from mud.

The extraordinary Sapa landscape

Seems like being aware of this, the stalls in the villages offered most of the things to prevent slipping in every kind of terrain. The sellers are quite smart ladies, and especially when you are buying in the tough weather, the price would be indefinable. A raincoat and a pair of rain boot would be the salvation even in just two days.

Do not leave out homestays

Every visitors to Sapa should spend a night or two at homestay, for not only experience the local life experience but also come into the rural life and visit the beautiful places of the land. The further the land is, the more beautiful the landscape. And the homestay will let you see those landscape.

H'mong People in Sapa

Most of the homestay is a spacious house with sleeping rooms being built next to the main house. People say only those who stayed for two nights could experience the traditional house in the second one. However, after six hours of experiencing, the most expectation for the pervasive numbness is a fare hot shower with common conveniences.

Sapa Town, Vietnam

A homestay in Sapa

In the whole or part of the journey, all of the travelers are followed by the sellers in the village in the hope of selling something. These local ladies became the sufficient supporters when they showed us which way to go, holding our hand to “saving” us from falling down.

In general, Sapa is a perfect destination for coming after a hard rain with every conditions of muddy marshy land that you could ever imagine. However for me, I wish I had known how the trip was to prepare myself more carefully and save some cloths for becoming clouts because of mud. I will definitely not prevent anyone from traveling to Sapa in the rain weather, but I would love to suggest them to prepare well. You will not regret.

Recommended Sapa Trekking & Homestay by ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA

Hanoi - Lao Cai - Sapa - Hanoi 

4-day tour with 2-day trek and 2-night homestay

Trekking grade: Moderate

This trip includes a trek through the hills and valleys of the Sapa region, discovering several different minorities along the way. You will experience overnight accommodation in the hospitable villages of Giay and Tay ethnic minorities. The apparent hardships are worth it though as we walk through some of the most spectacular scenery that Vietnam has to offer and experience unique villages culture.

Highlights 

• Awesome scenery
• Rice terraces
• Colorful minority groups 
• Homestays in minority villages

Trek-outside of Sa Pa Day 2 Sunday, December 30, 2012

We wanted an easy walk, so we trekked to two villages, up and down the local hills through the rice paddies of Lao Chai and Ta Van Village. 

We went to firstly Lao Chai village, 6 km from the centre town, where the H’mong people are living. The trek was through rice fields and quite steep. The most difficult part was walking and balancing on the edge of the terraced rice paddies. In my embarrassment of being 65 a village girl had to hold my hand over quite a long stretch that was about six inches wide and straight down a long ways on the right and into the water on the left. I managed to slip into the water several times but the girl kept me from falling down the mountain.

We took about two hours to get down to the bottom to the beginning of the Muong Hoa valley.

Then we went  to Ta Phin village about an hour’s drive and two hour walk from Sapa, the little hillside village located in midst of the Hoang Lien Mountains. Several tribes live peacefully here: the Kinh, Red Dao and Black Hmong people. We had lunch at her village and went on to to Ta Van Village which borders Lao Chai Village.

Tavan Village, Sapa, Vietnam

 “Ta Van means “a big turning road” like a basket brim, or tripod-leg line. Vast terrace fields with unique position of a big turning road become a landscape and a destination of Ta Van. Seo Mi Ti scenery-old pine forest, a half day of sloping road away from township centre, is also a particularly interesting eco-tourist site of Ta Van. And Ta van has become an integral tourist site for ecological excursions in Sapa.” 

I am not sure how much the villages are affected by the tourist coming through. They are better off and have built schools off the proceeds so we are doing our little bit. The village by Western standards are quite poor and I am not sure we could live like they do for very long which probably illustrates our materialistic ways.

Children in Laochai village

Children in Tavan vilage

There are six major groups in the Sa Pa area each speaks their own language though they share Vietnamese they do not understand the other village’s languages. Each village has its own culture and beliefs.  Our guide was from the H’mong tribe and she spoke good English. She is Buddhist and she married a fellow from another village. Some villages are Christian some have no beliefs – which is impossible because we all believe something or the other – but they all co-exist and have for I suppose many hundreds if not thousands of years. Apparently they were not affected by the American war in the 1960s and early 1970s and the government has pretty much left them alone, probably because they are so isolated and non-threatening. This is really something to see; we, with all our Western beliefs and wants and to see tribes living like they have for so long makes one believe that society may continue. They will be still here when all the Christians, Muslims, Jews and spiritualists of many hues destroy themselves. The teenagers do not run off to Hanoi but stay in their villages and keep the traditions going.

Black Mong people in Tavan Village

Source: DR. TERRELL NEUAGE’s blog

Recommended Sapa trek tour by ACTIVETRAVEL ASIA

Sapa trek & Topas Eco Lodge - "Stunning trek and great combination of homestay & eco-lodge"

At an elevation of 1,600 meters, Sapa is a delightful former French hill station situated in the mountainous region of Vietnam's northwest, close to the Chinese border. The region is home to many ethnic minority groups, each wearing traditional and colorful attire. This trip includes a trek through the hills and valleys of the Sapa region, discovering several different minorities along the way. You will experience overnight accommodation in the hospitable villages of Dzay and Tay ethnic minorities. Round off the trek with a nice stay in Topas Eco Lodge. The apparent hardships are worth it though as we walk through some of the most spectacular scenery that Vietnam has to offer and experience unique villages culture.

Highlights 

• Awesome scenery

• Rice terraces

• Colorful minority groups

• Homestays in minority villages

• Topas Eco-lodge