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Located 38km from
Lao Cai City, Sapa
is a mountainous
district of
Lao Cai
Province. Sapa
District is very
well-known with Sapa
Townlet, a beautiful
and romantic resort.
At the height of
1,600m above sea
level, the average
temperature of the
area is 15-18°C. It
is cool in summer
and cold in winter.
Visitor to
Sapa in
summer can feel the
climate of four
seasons in one day.
In the morning and
afternoon, it is
cool like the
weather of spring
and autumn. At noon,
it is as sunny and
cloudless as the
weather of summer.
And it is cold in
the evening. With no
advance warning of a
thunderstorm short
and heavy rains may
come at noon on any
summer day.
Subsequently, a
rainbow appears,
transforming Sapa
into a magic land,
which for years has
been a constant
source of poetic
inspiration, lights
up the whole region.
The best time to
witness the scenic
beauty of Sapa is in
April and May.
Before that period,
the weather might be
cold and foggy;
after that period is
the rainy season. In
April and May,
Sapa
is blooming with
flowers and green
pastures. The clouds
that settle in the
valley in early
morning quickly
disappear into thin
air.
Sapa has many
natural sites such
as Ham Rong
Mountain, Silver
Waterfall, Rattan
Bridge, Bamboo
Forest and Ta Phin
Cave.
Sapa is also
the starting point
for many climbers
and scientists who
want to reach the
top of Fansipan
Mountain, the
highest mountain in
Vietnam at 3,143m.
Hoang Lien Mountain
Range is also called
the Alps of the
North Sea area since
Fansipan Mountain is
not only the highest
peak in Vietnam, but
also in the
Indochina Peninsula.
The pyramid-shaped
mountain is covered
with clouds all year
round and
temperatures often
drop below zero,
especially at high
elevations.
The first thing you
notice when
approaching the
resort town are some
detached wooden
mansions and villas
perched on a hill
top or hillside,
behind thick pine
forests and almost
invisible on this
foggy morning. Old
and new villas with
red roofs now appear
and now disappear in
the green rows of
pomu trees, bringing
the town the beauty
of European towns.
Fresh and cool air
in Sapa is an idea
climate condition
for growing
temperate vegetables
such as cabbage,
chayote, precious
medicinal herbs, and
fruit trees such as
plum, pear…
Sapa is home to
various families of
flowers of
captivating colours,
which can be found
nowhere else in the
country. When Tet,
the Lunar New Year
Festival, comes, the
whole township of
Sapa is filled with
the pink colour of
peach blossom
brought from the
vast forests of
peach just outside
the town.
Sapa is
regarded as the
kingdom of orchids.
Here, orchid lovers
are even amazed by
the choice, when
trekking in the
forest filled with
several hundred
kinds of orchids of
brilliant colours
and fantastic
shapes, such as
Orchid Princess,
Orchid of My Fair
Lady's Shoe. Some
orchids are named
after lovely singing
birds such as the
canary, salangane's
nest, and more.
Sapa is most
beautiful in spring.
Apricot, plum and
cherry flowers are
splendidly
beautiful. Markets
are crowded and
merry, and are
especially
attractive to
visitors. Minority
groups come here to
exchange and trade
goods and products.
Market sessions are
also a chance for
locals to promenade
and young men and
women in colorful
costumes to meet,
date or seek
sweethearts.
Visitors to Sapa
will have
opportunities to
discover the unique
customs of the local
residents. |
