Sa Pa District is located in Lao Cai Province, north-west Vietnam, and 350 km north-west of Hanoi, close to the border with China. The Hoang Lien Son range of mountains dominates the district, which is at the eastern extremity of the Himalayas. This range includes Vietnam's highest mountain, Fan Si Pan, at a height of 3142m above sea level. The town of Sa Pa lies at an altitude of about 1600 m. The climate is moderate and rainy in summer (May-August)
Sapa is a small town that has been a gathering spot for many local hill tribes for nearly 200 years. Hmong and Dzao people, among others, still come here to conduct trade, socialize. Sapa, with its mercifully cool climate, became a holiday escape for French colonists, complete with rail connection, upscale hotels, and a tourist bureau as early as 1917. The outpost was retaken by the Vietnamese in 1950, attacked and destroyed later by the French, and left in ruin, only brief occupied by Chinese troops in 1979. The town reopened for tourism in the 1990s.
This five day trek will offer you a real experience of the mountainous town of Sapa. You will spend some days trekking to visit some minority villages including H'mong, Red Dzao, Tay and Giay people. The trip will take you through many nice scenery, isolated ethnic village, rain forests and flowers fields. Have stops in route to meet local people, talk with them and you will understand more their way of life, their culture, customs. Sample also some homemade specialties such as sticky rice wine, fresh green tea. You will also explore the most colorfull market in the area, Bac Ha market which is open on Sunday morning only.
For more information about the tour either visit its website http://www.lotussiatravel.com or email to info[at]lotussiatravel.com
