SAPA Town

Located at 1,500 m above sea level, Sapa lies on the side of Hoang Lien Son Mountains, 333 km northwest of Hanoi. Sapa’s flora is diversified, ranging from flowers to tropical fruits; among the most popular fruits produced in Sapa are apples, pears, peaches, and plums.

Sapa has many natural sites such as Thac Bac, Thuy Cung Grotto, Gio Cave, Troi Gate, and Truc Forest. Sapa is also the starting point of many climbers and scientists who want to reach the top of Fansipan Mountain, the highest mountain in Vietnam at 3,143 m. Hoang Lien Son Mountains is also called the Alps of the North Sea area, since Fansipan Mountain is not only the highest peak in Vietnam, but also in the Indochina Peninsula. The pyramid-shaped mountain is covered with clouds all year round and temperatures often drop below zero, especially at high elevations.

The best time to witness the scenic beauty of Sapa is in April and May. Before that period, the weather might be cold and foggy; after that period is the rainy season. In April and May, Sapa is blooming with flowers and green pastures. The clouds that settle in the valley in early mornings quickly disappear into thin air.

To reach Sapa, one can take a train to Lao Cai and take a bus to Sapa from there. On Sundays, Nung, Dao, Tay, Cao Lan, Paxi, and Xa Phong minorities in their colorful clothes ride down the mountain to take part in the Sunday market at the foot of Fansipan Mountain.

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Love market - a place for a date, Sapa

Every Saturday, the picturesque mountain village of Sa Pa comes alive with shoppers who know what they want: love. They travel from near and far to size up the goods of the day, hoping something will tickle their fancy.

Tall or short, sweet or sultry, they are all on the market, looking for love. Love markets (cho tinh) take place in the northern mountain provinces of Lao Cai, Ha Giang and Son La. A rare opportunity to mix, mingle and find a match, they are often a not-to-be-missed social event. For many young villagers, the love fests are a vital marital resource, given that many live in villages where all the inhabitants are blood relatives.

Here’s how it goes: singles strut their stuff through the market, hoping they will be lucky enough to be asked out on a date. What follows is not as simple as dinner and a movie – amorous couples must abide by the ways and mores of their ethnic nationality.

Unlike the steady flow of sensuality at Sa Pa, some loves must stand the test of time. Khai Vau market in Ha Giang province takes place only once a year, on March 27 in the lunar calendar, a date known as Phong Luu (Prosperity Day), which gives the market its name of Cho Phong Luu (market of Prosperity). According to legend, the market’s beginnings date back to the unrequited love between a young boy and girl. They met in Meo Vac, but as they were from different tribes, were forbidden to be together.

In true Shakespearean fashion, a bitter quarrel erupted between the families, and the couple was forced to end the affair. Unable to bear the thought of never seeing each other again, they decided to meet on the same day every year in Khau Vai. Today, the site of the forbidden rendezvous is home to the love market.

The market is not just for marriage hopefuls. In this rural area, it is also the social event of the year, where old friends meet up and new ones are made. No matter their age, everyone looks forward to the chance to chat over sticky rice, grilled cassava or rice dumplings. Although the market does not officially start until March 27, the celebrations begin the evening before. March 26 is a night of song and dance, the performances expressing fervent wishes for eternal love. Romantic melodies fill the night air.

There is one day in the year

I dedicate to you

I have no gold or silver

Just my true love

Come with me if you believe in me

The dancing and singing continue into the early hours, often persuading men and women into each other’s arms. That first magical night, some are lucky enough to leave the market with their new partners and walk hand in hand through the forest. But others are simply nervous: tomorrow is the big day, after all. Many have waited months for the chance to find their soul mate. The day of the Market of Prosperity is alive with different moods: happiness at meeting old friends, anxiety as others wait to meet someone new.

Whether they find a partner or not, the happy memories of the day linger in the minds of many of these mountain people. And anyway, there is always next year. Because at this market, the goods are always ripe.

Silver Falls, Thac Bac, Sapa

Eight miles (13km) from Sapa is the Thac Bac Water fall (the one in the picture). You can get here easily on a motorbike.

This is one of the region's major attractions. It is possible to climb to the top of the waterfalls. From there, there is an excellent view of the waterfalls. If you come here, follow the road and you will get to the Tram Ton pass

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EVENTS:

Vietnamese Tourists Favor China Travel

Nearly 4,000 Vietnamese tourists have passed by Pingxiang, the border city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and entered China for sightseeing in the first two days of the week-long holiday.

"Now more and more Vietnamese would like to choose China as their tourism destination, especially during the holiday time, "said He Shaolin, official with the ports and harbors management office of Pingxiang City of Guangxi.

In order to cope with the sharp increase of foreign visitors, Guangxi's Friendship Pass linking China and Vietnam has set up two more passageways to deal with the passing procedure, He said, noting that the passageways may be increased further with the constantly soar of foreign visitors.

Statistics showed that more than 140,000 Vietnamese visitors were received by Guangxi in 2005, and nowadays, Guangxi has gradually become the first station, not the only station, for the Vietnamese tourists.

More and more Vietnamese tourists would pass by Guangxi, and then visit other cities of China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

China's rich tourism resources, either the natural scenery or modern cities, with its comparatively lower traveling cost, are very attractive for Vietnamese tourists, according to a Vietnamese guide.

The domestic tourism agencies of Vietnam would strive for attracting customers to travel to China on festive and holiday occasions, the guide said.

The convenient transport network at the China-Vietnam border, including the highway and sea route connecting the two countries, has played an important role in the craze for travel to China, according to experts.