Located in the northwest of Vietnam, Sapa-a quite town has a special charm to visitors because of its spectacular scenery and fresh, cool climate.
Lying from 1,500 meters - 1.800 meters above the sea level, Sapa has a mild temperature of 15 to 18 Celsius degree. During summer from May to August, the rain season sets in. However, rains don't affect fanciful scenery of Sapa. Therefore, during summer, Sapa welcome thousands of domestic and foreign travelers.
And this is here that adventurers can climb to Vietnam's rooftop on Fansipan Mountain of the Hoang Lien Son Range at 3,143 meters above the sea level. Scientists said that the Hoang Lien Son Range is the habitat of numerous precious varieties of wood, species of bird and animal and especially thousand varieties of medicinal herb. The Hoang Lien Son National Park has 864 varieties of flora including 173 medical herb varieties, 136 bird species, 56 animal species and 553 insect species. Of this 37 animal species are recorded in the Vietnam Red Book.
As going to Sapa, travelers often visit the Ham Rong Mountain because it is located in the center of Sapa Townlet. Climbing to the peak of the Ham Rong Mountain, visitors will have a chance to throw their view to farer to make most of poetic beauty of Sapa Town, Muong Hoa and Ta Phin Valleys looming in clouds. In addition, charming landscapes in the mountain with beautiful and colorful flower gardens and clouds will make visitors feel like they are coming to the heaven.
A typical image of Sapa Town is the ancient cathedral in the center of the town. The cathedral was built in the early twenty century by French architecture. The cathedral stands in a favorable topography, protected by the Ham Rong Mountain on the back, expanded on the front by flat area which is suitable for building socio-cultural works. The cathedral is also located in the center of the town which is easier for visitors to view other relics. From the cathedral to the Ta Phin Cave in the northeast, there has a stone monastery lying in a hill side. Three kilometers from the monastery is the miraculous Ta Phin Cave which has a lot of stalactites of different shapes inside such as shapes of fairies in different postures of dancing, seating, a field, a sparkling forest and more.
Arriving in Sapa, it is impossible not to mention the ancient rocks ground in Muong Hoa. The ancient rocks ground includes 196 large and mall stones with carving shapes. Lines of strange letters and images carved on rocks the ancient people's hallmarks which are still decoded yet. It has both arts and virtual values as a secrete message of ancient ancestors. The ancient rocks ground was acknowledged a national-level cultural historical vestige.
Some 12 kilometers in the west from Sapa Townlet to Lai Chau, visitors will see the Silver Waterfall at a height of over 200 meters with impressive sounds.
Sapa market is another impressive site in Sapa. The market day takes place in Sapa town from Sunday early morning to late evening. To start the market day on time, people often go to market from Saturday. They sit late and sing folk songs of their own minorities together. They use lip musical instrument, flute, pan-pipe and bowls of wine to express their affection. It is also called Sapa love market.
Therefore, wild and mysterious beauty of Sapa is compared to a beautiful girl with shady eyebrow lines and dreaming eyes which have special attraction to visitors.
Thanh Tam
(Source: MONRE)