According to Condé Nast Traveler, every country on the planet has a fabulous small-town worth seeking out, from historic villages in Japan to desert oases in Egypt.
“Far from Vietnam’s popular beach resorts, massive metropolises, and teeming World Heritage Sites, Sapa is a relatively quiet mountain town near the Chinese border”, noted Condé Nast Traveler.
It is famous for mountain vistas, shockingly green rice terraces, and the proximity to waterfalls and hiking trails.
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Viewing the Muong Hoa Valley from the train is an unforgettable experience. (Photo: collaborator) |
With a fresh and cold climate and impressive terraced fields, Sapa has long been an attractive destination for both domestic and international tourists. Sapa is famous for Fansipan Peak, 3,147m in height on the Hoang Lien Son range.
Destinations not to be missed when coming to Sapa include Bac (Silver) waterfall, Ta Phin cave, Sapa ancient stone beach, Cat Cat village and Muong Hoa Valley.
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Visitors enjoy five-colour sticky rice in the cultural space of the Giay. (Photo: collaborator) |
Visitors to Sapa can not only enjoy the poetic beauty of the Northwestern mountains but also have the opportunity to discover the customs, habits, and cultural beauty of the ethnic minority groups living in this land for many generations, including black H’Mong, Red Dao, Tay and Giay.
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A famous destination for people to pose for photos during the ripe rice season. (Photo: Quoc Hong) |
In its list of 50 most beautiful small towns in the world, Condé Nast Traveler also honours many others including Albarracín (Spain), Ban Rak Thai (Thailand), Baños (Ecuador), Biei (Japan), Castle Combe (the UK), Giethoorn (Netherlands), Ilulissat (Greenland), and Luang Prabang (Laos).
