Sweet and bitter in Sapa - Week 2 in Vietnam 2 -

We took a night train to Sapa, located in northern Vietnam, and enjoyed an 8-hour journey from Hanoi. While some people mentioned the discomfort of turbulence, we found it quite manageable. A sleeping tablet helped us fall asleep easily and allowed us to return to slumber after waking in the middle of the night, so we felt refreshed when we arrived at Lao Cai station at 6 AM.

Sapa is renowned for its natural beauty, including rice paddies, waterfalls, and mountains, along with the rich culture of various ethnic tribes such as the Hmong, Red Dao, Tay, and Giay. This was my first visit to Sapa, but my partner had come here about 10 years ago while backpacking. He noted that it has become more tourist-oriented, with numerous hotels and attractions, while it used to be a simpler, charming town.

During our stay, we experienced a lot of rain due to the rainy season, but we were fortunate to enjoy two days of blue skies! The mountain views were breathtaking, with clouds hovering just above our eye level, indicating the high altitude. It was no surprise to see that bags of crisps were bursting with steam! The top photo shows a stunning landscape where the hotel staff kindly took us to the back of their building to show us this scenery. These accommodations were built on a steep slope, so the main entrance was on the first or second floor.

The lake view reminded me a lot of Da Lat, with its colonial architecture set against the mountain backdrop. It had similarities to other areas as well.

I took some random photos at a café, and one of my favorites is of flowers and plants holding shiny raindrops that reflected a bit of sunshine. They looked adorable, and I appreciated my phone's micro-zoom function for capturing that moment. Most days, we took short walks in the center wearing ponchos—essential items for traveling—before heading back to the hotel to relax. This was a nice way to enjoy a leisurely holiday.

We were lucky to have two beautiful days with blue skies! We rented a bike and ventured north to explore the countryside. An amazing valley view awaited us, featuring not only rice paddies but also cornfields and more, resembling a natural supermarket! We assumed the locals lived a self-sufficient lifestyle, visiting town only to earn some extra cash.

The vegetables at the local market looked incredibly fresh, and there were craft shops inside. Although I didn't take pictures or remember the name, I discovered a lovely sweet tea made from flowers and leaves, which was non-sugar and delicious!

However, I was surprised to see many children in the streets, not homeless but performing dances and selling items while carrying younger siblings on their backs. They did this both during the day and at night, even in the rain, with their parents supervising from a distance. It was shocking to witness. I understand they do it to support their families, and that children can often earn money more effectively than adults, but it made me wonder about the necessity of such a situation. I hope they won't have to continue this in the future.

While we didn't find many Banh Mè (Vietnamese sandwiches) in Sapa, we enjoyed pancakes and omelets for breakfast. The coconut curry was delicious, served in a real coconut shell, and it was still steaming even after we finished eating.The stir-fied tofu with tomato sauce was yummy too I would try to cook it when going back to Japan.