Sa Pa – “where heaven and earth meet”

“Floating, floating white clouds, looming forests/ The stream is sparkling blue, the colors of the market are swaying.../ The sound of the flute echoes as he goes to the market, who is he meeting? Why is he so happy?/ What does the sound of your mouth harp say for us to sit together tonight?”...

Hmong man playing flute on the streets of Sa Pa

True to the lyrics of musician Phung Chien, the outstanding features of Sa Pa are white clouds, forests, colorful markets, panpipe sounds... as if they are inherently of Sa Pa.

Sa Pa town seen from Ham Rong mountain

More than 20 years ago, we came to Sa Pa when this place was still called a town, with a unique cold climate and witnessed a rare hailstorm in the evening. This September 2023, when we returned to this place, Lao Cai province is organizing a celebration to celebrate 120 years of Sa Pa tourism (1903 - 2023) - an event marking the maturity and development of Sa Pa tourism. In my personal opinion, Sa Pa is now becoming more "crowded" even though Lao Cai province has planned to expand the town from 120 hectares to 300 hectares and has been approved by ministries and branches.

Tien Sa Waterfall in Sa Pa

Sa Pa town is a famous tourist destination, about 30 km from Lao Cai city center. This distance has now been shortened when Mong Sen bridge was completed and put into use, visitors do not have to go through dangerous and winding mountain passes. Sa Pa is located at an average altitude of 1,500 - 1,800 m above sea level, Sa Pa is always immersed in floating clouds, creating a strangely beautiful and magical picture. Here, there is an invaluable resource which is the year-round cool and fresh climate, with an average temperature of 15-18°C.

Day ethnic women embroider brocade products

Red Dao women sell brocade at the market

Coming to Sa Pa, grilled dishes are popular with tourists.

Day ethnic women with brocade products

Tourists come here not only to enjoy the fresh air, the simple peace of a land in the Northwest, but Sa Pa is also a destination for you to admire the wild beauty of terraced fields, waterfalls, majestic mountains, explore the customs, cultural beauty, dishes of ethnic groups in the mountains such as: Mong, Red Dao, Tay, Day ...

The way up Ham Rong mountain

Mong village

Sa Pa has Ham Rong Mountain right in the center of the town, any tourist can go up there to see the whole town, Muong Hoa valley, Sa Pa, Ta Phin hidden in the mist. Currently, with the hand of human embellishment, Ham Rong is truly a beautiful landscape full of flowers of Sa Pa. Going up Ham Rong, tourists feel like they are lost in a fairy garden, clouds cover their bodies, flowers are brilliant on the ground.

Flower garden on Ham Rong mountain and ancient stone church in Sa Pa

Sa Pa also has an ancient stone church right in the town and from the town going northeast on the way to Ta Phin cave there is a monastery built almost entirely of stone on a clear, airy hillside.

Sapa Ancient Stone Field

Throughout its development, Sa Pa has built unique tourism products such as: one of the 7 most beautiful and majestic terraced fields in the world, announced by Travel and Leisure Magazine (USA) in 2009; one of the 10 most beautiful trails in the world, announced by Lonely Planet Travel Guide Publishing House in 2011. In 2022, the most challenging race on the planet (Vietnam Mountain Marathon), with many distances; in which, the 160 km running distance with the route through ethnic minority villages, terraced fields of Sa Pa in the ripe rice season, helping athletes enjoy the amazing natural scenery of the mountains and forests, the tournament attracts 5,300 athletes from 48 countries and territories.

Ripe rice season on terraced fields in Sa Pa

Sa Pa has Fansipan peak 3,143 m high on Hoang Lien Son mountain range. Called Hoang Lien Son, because only on this mountain range there is Hoang Lien tree, a rare and precious medicinal herb. Coming to Sa Pa, you cannot miss this place. Known as the "Roof of Indochina", it only takes you 15 minutes to conquer the highest point in Southeast Asia, looking at the national flag fluttering, your heart feels even more proud of your homeland. On the cable car, visitors can witness the amazing scenery of constantly changing clouds, creating a mesmerizing natural picture.

Cable car to Fansipan peak and visitors taking pictures on the mountain top

According to data from Lao Cai newspaper colleagues, in 2022, Sa Pa welcomed over 2.5 million visitors, with revenue from tourism and services reaching over 7,000 billion VND. It is estimated that in 2023, Sa Pa will welcome over 3.5 million visitors, with revenue reaching over 12,000 billion VND.

Amazing clouds on top of Fansipan

In the future, Sa Pa will develop further, because on March 20, 2023, the Prime Minister approved the master plan for the construction of Sa Pa National Tourist Area - Sa Pa town, Lao Cai province until 2040. And Lao Cai province has fully prepared the conditions to start construction of Sa Pa Airport. 120 years of Sa Pa tourism is a milestone marking the continuous and unceasing development so that this place continues to shine on the tourism map of Vietnam and the world.