After landing in Hanoi, Sapa was my next stop.
It is a region close to the Chinese border known for its rice terraces and ethnic tribes. If you are up for the adventure, you can hire private tour guides to drive you through more remote regions to experience countryside living without the crowd.
Due to time constraints, I opted to hire a Black H’Mong tribe lady upon arrival to take me on a private hike to her village and drop me off at my pre-booked hotel. There are also experiences where you can book a local homestay to really immerse yourself. But I opted for the more comfortable route since it was my second stop.
Hope you enjoy the photo journey below!
We began our journey by filling our stomachs with a savory bowl of pho ga in a restaurant that is a few blocks away from the main street. The great thing about the country side is that everything is organic and as natural as it comes. The chicken was so tender that I still dream about it some days.
Soon after breakfast on this foggy day, we meandered through bamboo forests nested in rice paddies on a muddy (and sometimes slippery) path.
We passed plenty of oxen
piglets
and there were roosters too.
Even though the day was foggy (mixed with light mist at times), the view was breathtaking.
There were flat portions of the hike.
But be prepared for hilly portions too.
Some scenery were so pretty that I had to come back to enjoy it for a 2nd time before I left for my next stop.
And if you haven’t found a place to stay yet, consider La Dao HomeStay in Ta Van. I found my stay very pleasant with a comfortable room and a patio offering a great view to enjoy and unwind.
I hope you will visit (or have visited) Sapa and have just as great of a time as I did.