Day 3

May 12 Friday – Sapa – a Village in the Clouds

Our morning started in a beautiful hotel in Phu Thinh, with rain clouds and fog covering the sky. After breakfast, we drove to Sapa, which is a very well-known region of Vietnam. The drive up into the mountainous region was filled with breathtaking views and the students couldn’t get enough pictures of the first glimpses of the Vietnamese countryside. We arrived in the town of Sapa which had a bustling down-town area filled with many shops, restaurants, and picture spots. Our larger bus was too big to bring us into the smaller villages in the mountains so we switched to smaller buses that would bring us into the heart of the Sapa region and village.

Part of the walk

 

Terraced rice fields

After another short drive, we arrived to where we would start our trek through the terraced rice farms that makes the Sapa region famous. We were instantly greeted by several small, Vietnamese women that were selling traditional Vietnamese clothing and accessories. They accompanied us throughout the trek and even made our students hearts and horses out of the plants along the trail. The first half of our hike was mostly downhill as we descended into the fields and terraces. 

Terraced rice fields

Terraced rice fields

Terraced rice fields

Terraced rice fields

 The first views that we were able to experience were some of the most breathtaking and beautiful views that we had ever seen, with rice fields and terraces spanning over many miles and many hills. This view was continual throughout our hike as we traveled from the top of the mountain into the valley near the river. 

Rice farmer in his field

Shoes off to plant rice

Planting rice

 Once we had reached the bottom of the valley, our tour guide spoke to a local farmer that eagerly allowed us to help plant some rice plants in one of the paddies. Our students were so excited to experience such a unique opportunity and it was very interesting to muck through the rice paddy and plant the rice. After cleaning off, we started our trek out of the valley which was filled with more beautiful views and rice fields. We saw many small houses, structures, and the living spaces of the Vietnamese while many of them walked or rode past on their motorbikes. Our hike finally came to an end after approximately 5 miles and 3 hours of walking where we ended up back in the town of Sapa.

Sapa plowing

 We enjoyed lunch in the town of Sapa and continued our experience of the diverse Vietnamese palate. After lunch, our group drove to the top of a nearby mountain to see views of the region. The view was covered mostly by clouds and fog but was still an enjoyable experience. We drove back down the mountain and had an early dinner at a local pizza restaurant that still featured some Vietnamese dishes. The students especially enjoyed the familiar taste of pizza after a long day of walking. We ended the day with a long bus ride back to the capital city of Hanoi where we will rest for the night before starting a new adventure in Hanoi tomorrow!

 

Emily Matejka and Ella Kreber