|
Sapa is a summer resort located 1,600m above sea level. The mountainous topography of this area gives a new impression to visitors. Th temperate climate, with an annual average temperature, varying between 15oC and 18oC (59-64.4oF), is fresh all year round with a little snow in winter . January and February are the coldest month . The best time for tourist is from March to May. In September to mid- December is also pleasant time to be in Sapa , though there is bit of raining. The French were seduced by Sapa's landscapes and climate and started building at the beginning of the century. By 1943, more than 200 villas bordered the streets of Sapa unfortunately , they have been almost entirely destroyed by the war. Sapa has become an attractive tourist site and welcomes thousands of domestic and foreign visitors. It has remained primitive with hamlets and villages of H'Mong, Dao, Tay, and Xa pho ethnic minorities. Several interesting sites can be visited such as Silver Fall , Heaven's gate, CloudBridge, Wind grotto, and Dragon's Jaw mountain. Sapa is also interesting for those who want to learn more about custom and habits of the mountain people.
Tour of your choice
|
 |
Sapa Ancient Rock Field
This 8 square kilometers area of vestiges consists of multi-grade large stones engraves with ancient images and is located in the Muong Hoa Valley, between the terraced rice paddies of ethnic minority groups. The exploration research in 1925 recorded that there are 200 stones of various dimensions concentrated in the area, of which Hon Bo, 15m long and 6m high, is the biggest one. The engravings on the stone surfaces are either pictographic or decorative. Remarkable among them are drawing of human, houses on stills of the ethnic minorities and other symbols which are believed to be the primitive form of writing but whose meanings have not yet been discovered. In addition, the biggest impressions are made by Da chong stone (The husband stone), Da vo stone (The wife stone), stones that look like tigers and stone stelae with an incantation written on it by the carve to help his people to defeat the tigers. The Da chong and Da vo tell the story of faithful love between couple who overcame all difficulties to be happy together, even though they have been changed into stones, they are still dedicated to each other.
Archeologists have proven that this area has been inhabited since ancient time, and it is therefore on of the ancient Viet?s vestiges. It has drawn the attention of scientists and is being considered by UNESCO to rank as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
Sapa Market
This market, of the H?Mong and Dzao people, takes place every Saturday night. This is an attractive, unique economic and cultural activity in the mountain area of Vietnam. The market is a place for trading and exchange of local goods and products as well as a meeting place for young people who seek a partner and singing love songs and playing pan-pipes and mouth harps.
When the sun goes down, here and there in the market, H?Mong and Dzao boys and girls cluster together in groups of five or ten. Looking and smiling at each other, they sit side by side in the dim yellow light, singing and talking all the night through. Once meeting the person of their dreams, they exchange gifts and plan to see each other again next week.
This cultural activity has a long history and is still maintained in the minority peoples? more modern life. The Sapa Market is surely an attractive place for visitors who are keen to explore traditional cultures.
|