Located in Lao Cai City, Sapa is a mountainousdistrict in the Southernwest of Lao Cai Province. Sapa District is verywell-known with Sapa Townlet, a beautiful and romantic resort.
At the height of 1, 600m above sea level, the average temperature of thearea is 15-18°C. It is cool in summer and cold in winter.
Sapa has many natural sites such as Ham RongMountain, Silver Waterfall, Rattan Bridge, Bamboo Forest and Ta PhinCave.Sapa is also the starting point for many climbers and scientistswho want to reach the top of Fansipan Mountain, the highest mountain inVietnam at 3, 143m. Hoang Lien Mountain Range is also called the Alps ofthe North Sea area since Fansipan Mountain is not only the highest peakin Vietnam, but also in the Indochina Peninsula. The pyramid-shapedmountain is covered with clouds all year round and temperatures oftendrop below zero, especially at high elevations.
The first thing you notice when approaching theresort town are some detached wooden mansions and villas perched on ahill top or hillside, behind thick pine forests and almost invisible onthis foggy morning. Old and new villas with red roofs now appear and nowdisappear in the green rows of pomu trees, bringing the town the beautyof European towns. Fresh and cool air in Sapa is an idea climatecondition for growing temperate vegetables such as cabbage, chayote,precious medicinal herbs, and fruit trees such as plum, pear…
Sapa is home to various families of flowers ofcaptivating colours, which can be found nowhere else in the country.When Tet, the Lunar New Year Festival comes, the whole township of Sapais filled with the pink colour of peach blossom brought from the vastforests of peach just outside the town. Sapa is regarded as the kingdomof orchids. Here, orchid lovers are even amazed by the choice, whentrekking in the forest filled with several hundred kinds of orchids ofbrilliant colours and fantastic shapes, such as Orchid Princess, Orchidof My Fair Lady's Shoe. Some orchids are named after lovely singingbirds such as the canary, salangane's nest, and more.
Sapa is most beautiful in spring. Apricot, plum andcherry flowers are splendidly beautiful. Markets are crowded and merry,and are especially attractive to visitors. Minority groups come here toexchange and trade goods and products. Market sessions are also a chancefor locals to promenade and young men and women in colorful costumes tomeet, date or seek sweethearts.