Sapa, mountains, and rice paddies
Yesterday we returned from Sapa, which is in the northwest of the country. Sapa is a town in the mountains surrounded by many villages home to different ethnic minority groups. We spent two full days walking around the town and exploring the villages that surrounded Sapa. Because of the mountainous terrain, people have to farm on terraced land. The rice paddies were beautiful giant staircases. Although it was foggy most of the time we were there, the views were quite spectacular.
In Sapa we all encountered numerous children who spoke English very well. Many were younger than 10 and had learned English just from speaking with tourists. All were dressed in the traditional clothing of their respective villages. They sold bracelets, blankets, clothing, and various other souvenirs. Many of these goods were dyed in indigo; which is one of the plants grown around Sapa.
On the second day, I went off on my own to see what I could find. I headed up the mountains as far as I could and until I got above the fog. After three hours of walking on a narrow road, I made it to a peak where I could see the fog rolling through the surrounding hills. I then ventured down a dirt trail into a valley below in which I ended up in someone's vegetable field. From a distance I observed a few farmers tending to their crops.
Although the drives to and from Sapa were long, we drove through beautiful mountain passes. The roads were narrow and winded around steep cliffs. Along the way we saw the tallest mountain in Vietnam (Fansipan) and numerous waterfalls. Now that we are back in Hanoi, I miss the fresh air and the silence of the mountains.