| Located in the northwestern mountains of the country, | | | | located 12km from the centre of Sapa, which still |
| Sapa is a modest town nestled within the Hoang Lien | | | | retains traditional customs and lifestyles of the Dao, |
| Son mountain range in Lao Cai Province. Sapa is an | | | | Tay and Mong ethnic groups. |
| excellent destination to enjoy outdoor activities with | | | | It’s recommended for tourists to catch a local xe |
| stunning landscapes that attract both domestic and | | | | om (motorbike taxi) at price of VND180,000 (US$10) in |
| foreign tourists. | | | | order to get there. Another option is to rent a |
| Travelling in Sapa, few tourists miss an opportunity to | | | | motorbike for VND100,000 ($5.50) a day, which |
| trek to mountain villages and majestic waterfalls. | | | | provides a convenient and interesting way to discover |
| Cat Cat Village sits atop unspoiled landscapes and is a | | | | the landscape and villages. |
| desirable destination for trekkers seeking to spend full | | | | Despite the winding road to the village, tourists can see |
| days walking in a world of natural charm and tranquility. | | | | picturesque rolling hills and terraced fields on the way. |
| Visiting the village, tourists will discover various | | | | Much of the Sapa valley has been cultivated into |
| traditional trades of the local people such as weaving, | | | | verdant rice paddy fields equipped with irrigation |
| jewellery manipulation, metal work and stone carvings. | | | | systems. |
| The road from Sapa winds through hilly terrain, past | | | | Ta Phin Village seeks to capitalise from tourism and |
| terraced paddy fields. A sign reads "Welcome to Cat | | | | thus causes local children and adults to constantly |
| Cat Cultural Village", greeting visitors as they arrive at | | | | follow visitors, in an effort to persuade them to buy |
| the entrance of the village. | | | | wallets, hats, bags or fabric. However, these sellers |
| A leisurely walk within the old village provides visitors | | | | tend to be friendly and hospitable. |
| with a better understanding of the traditional customs | | | | The villagers often invite tourists to visit their homes, |
| and practices of the ethnic Mong people that live here. | | | | where they show them how they live and what they |
| While wandering around the village, I continually asked | | | | have, and tell about their families. Their living standard is |
| the locals about their crafts and houses. I was curious | | | | still low, but their lives have been improved by the |
| about everything and the locals were friendly and | | | | expanding tourism industry. |
| ready to help. They also politely asked me to buy | | | | "We women are so active – not only do we grow |
| some hand-made souvenirs. | | | | vegetables and raise pigs and get wood for the fire, |
| Visitors in Cat Cat have an opportunity to admire and | | | | we also try to learn English so we can talk to tourists," |
| watch locals sit with looms and create colourful pieces | | | | said a 25-year-old Dao woman. "Before there were |
| of brocade. When these pieces of brocade are | | | | tourists we were very poor, but now we can make |
| finished, they are dyed and embroidered with beautiful | | | | handicrafts, make money and meet people." |
| designs of flowers and birds. Interestingly, Mong | | | | Ta Phin Village is able to win tourists’ hearts thanks |
| women use plants and leaves to dye the fabrics. | | | | to the beautiful sights that surround it. Lavie Waterfall is |
| After dyeing the fabric, they then roll a round, smooth | | | | a common destination for trekkers. After trekking |
| piece of wood, covered with wax, over the material in | | | | through forests, maize fields and mountains, tourists |
| order to polish. By doing this it helps to make the | | | | often enjoy soaking in Lavie Stream and sunbathing on |
| colours more durable on the fabric. | | | | flat boulders. |
| In addition to their weaving craft, many residents in Cat | | | | After a long day of walking on the curvy roads and |
| Cat are good at making gold and silver jewellery. Their | | | | hills around Sapa, it was pleasant to soak my bones |
| products are quite sophisticated, especially the | | | | and muscles in a traditional Dao herbal bath at Ta Phin. |
| women’s jewellery. | | | | The price was reasonable, VND60,000 ($3.30) for a |
| Further into the village are waterfalls along with a | | | | one-hour bath. Soaking in medicinal waters may make |
| stream that weaves its way around boulders, hills and | | | | you feel a little tipsy. When you start feeling dizzy, |
| mountains. The pristine stream is spanned by a | | | | it’s time to get out of the wooden bathtub. After |
| suspension bridge, which offers a good view of the | | | | the soak, I finally felt relaxed. The herbal bath was |
| waterfalls and mountains. | | | | good for my health, mind and bones. |
| The path after the bridge passes through bamboo | | | | I was very happy to have a chance to travel to Sapa. |
| forests filled with wild flowers and past tranquil brooks. | | | | I will never forget how it felt to stand in front of |
| Another must-see village is Ta Phin, a remote village | | | | imposing, beautiful mountains. |