We took an overnight train to get here, about 50 km from China's border. This train was not your Cary Grant/ Eva Marie Saint rom-com type of ride though; here's what we got:
If you look closely, our two bags had to fit under the small table and we slept in bunkers. When our guide told us to make sure we lock our door for the night, I had visions of robbers patrolling once lights were out. Fortunately we got to Sa Pa in tact with no items missing, but the ride was incredibly bumping making sleep difficult and a 5:20 am disembark.
But it was so worth it!! Sa Pa is a quaint city where there are terraced rice fields all along the valley. Some of the views look as if Van Gogh brushed magic on canvas as the hillsides are stunning:
You get a sense of time standing still here. Farming is plowed by water buffalos because of the steepness of the terrain and harvested by hand:
The rice here is not exported; there is only one harvest per year and a family of five eats 2- 3 kg per day; all is consumed by the people living here.
There are five different indigenous tribes living in the valley with their main employment being farming, hawking handmade gifts and if you're lucky, getting a job in the tourist industry:
We were told by our guide not to buy from the children who were selling bracelets per government request in attempts to discourage them from selling as they should be in school.
On our 15 km hike (yup- hiking boots, trekking up and down mountains, barefoot through rivers), we ate in a small village and were treated to the best meal we've had since arriving in Vietnam:
The locals don't eat this much and we think it was just to show the kinds of food they prepare; the spring rolls with chicken, carrots, onion and glass noodles were absolutely delicious. This food is also served at breakfast in vietnamese restaurants.
Well, our train awaits us- it's amazing how quickly the fun and adventure of train travel escapes us!
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