North Vietnam Visit

tOGGY · 27th December 2004

Visited North Vietnam, Sapa highland recently. I find the hilltribe people and their cultures (there are different 5 tribes) very interesting. For example, the girls marry at the age of 13! And have 2 kids by the age of 17.

I visited one of their homes. The 'kitchen' consist of a charcoal hole in the ground. The walls are made of bamboo strips or planks. Some has holes in them and they have to face winter temperature of sub zero.
They take 2 weeks to hand embroide a blanket that sells for a few dollars. A large bowl of beef (tasted very fresh) noodle cost 20 cents at the Cocli market. One liter of fiery rice wine cost me less than a dollar.

I feel very well to do in Singapore after visiting these hilltribe people. I can really feel how lucky we are in Singapore.

There are some shots of these people posted in my gallery. Below is a link to one picture of a beautiful vietnam hilltribe lady. But my photos is not able to capture the full atmosphere of the lively environment and people there. They are full of their own unique and rich culture, wears brilliantly (really brilliant) coloured clothes, have no airs, very friendly and host a truly hospitable spirit.

For example, at the Cocli market, I sat down to enjoy their market makanan lifestyle and immediately, 3 men from the next table start offering me their fiery wines. After 4 small cups, my face was flushed and body heated up by their wines and hospitality!

http://gallery.clubsnap.com/showphot...cat/500/page/1

StreetShooter · 27th December 2004

Hi, how did you get there? Is there a travel agent who arranges these trips?

Thanks.

tOGGY · 27th December 2004

Originally Posted by StreetShooter

Hi, how did you get there? Is there a travel agent who arranges these trips?

Thanks.

It was a free and easy trip for four that I arranged by myself. I took a morning flight to Hanoi Airport in late November. The flight took around 3 hours. Then took a cab from the airport to Hanoi city costing US$10 to Hanoi Train station. I booked a soft sleeper berth for four costing US$12 each for the 300km night train trip to Lao Cai (the northernmost city bordering China Hekou). I also booked at the Hanoi train station bus tickets to Sapa Town. It is one hour plus trip up a picturesque mountain.

Sapa town is a semi busy one. The market is right in the middle of the town. You can easily book a return bus trip and train ticket down to Lao Cai and back to Hanoi at Sapa town itself. Quite a few agencies are dealing with it. It will cost very slightly more for the train. eg US $13 for one soft sleeper train berth.
The best time to visit Sapa is in September when the rice are being harvested and it is less misty - beautiful for photography.
Hotels are quite cheap - ranging from US$5 (for two) per night onwards at some joints. I stayed at Green Bamboo. It is a mid class joint costing US$45 per night for four plus breakfast, for a rather large and tastefully decorated room. It has TV, hot water, very clean and good restaurant.
Many Sapa shopkeepers and quite a few tribal pedlars speak English but not in Hanoi. This is because of the bustling tourist industry.
I spent 3 nights & 4 full days at Sapa. It is nice esp the market and the people.

27th December 2004	#1
tOGGY Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 522	North Vietnam Visit Visited North Vietnam, Sapa highland recently. I find the hilltribe people and their cultures (there are different 5 tribes) very interesting. For example, the girls marry at the age of 13! And have 2 kids by the age of 17. I visited one of their homes. The 'kitchen' consist of a charcoal hole in the ground. The walls are made of bamboo strips or planks. Some has holes in them and they have to face winter temperature of sub zero. They take 2 weeks to hand embroide a blanket that sells for a few dollars. A large bowl of beef (tasted very fresh) noodle cost 20 cents at the Cocli market. One liter of fiery rice wine cost me less than a dollar. I feel very well to do in Singapore after visiting these hilltribe people. I can really feel how lucky we are in Singapore. There are some shots of these people posted in my gallery. Below is a link to one picture of a beautiful vietnam hilltribe lady. But my photos is not able to capture the full atmosphere of the lively environment and people there. They are full of their own unique and rich culture, wears brilliantly (really brilliant) coloured clothes, have no airs, very friendly and host a truly hospitable spirit. For example, at the Cocli market, I sat down to enjoy their market makanan lifestyle and immediately, 3 men from the next table start offering me their fiery wines. After 4 small cups, my face was flushed and body heated up by their wines and hospitality! http://gallery.clubsnap.com/showphot...cat/500/page/1 Last edited by tOGGY; 27th December 2004 at 12:35 PM.

27th December 2004	#2
StreetShooter Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Katong Posts: 4,702	Hi, how did you get there? Is there a travel agent who arranges these trips? Thanks.