January 5 - 6, 2014 @ Sapa, Vietnam


Comfortable leg space

Best overnight bus I have been on

FF ready to sleep

Young Black Hmong girls

They walk with us trying to be friendly

International highend resort on the build

Shopping time for local

Tickets and checking station

Visibility is low

Wish the weather is better

This is also not the season for growing rice

12km trek down the Muong Hoa Village

Wild animals enroute

So young but few are already mother

The older women wear the traditional black hat

They still like to have big family

Terraced fields in Sa Pa

Hide and seek

Happy kids

Beautiful view of rice paddy fields

The Hoang Lien Son mountain range dominates the district

The eastern extremity of the Himalayas

Lao Chai

A hanging bridge

Buy, buy from me

After 2 hours trekking together, their ultimate goal show

They are VERY aggressive

Mostly young girls/mothers or elderly women

Lunch along the Muong Hoa river in Lao Chai

Each group has a different color headband

Strategy session before dismiss to chase the tourists

You feel bad that they walk with you for 2 hours

After lunch another group blend into our group

August is the best time for rice paddy field viewing

The young boys play while the girls work

Duck duck

Creative kid

This is what happen when mom is not watching

Generally the boys are cleaner than the girls

Girl helping out with baby when mom is sewing

Last sell opportunity, they would not let you go easy

Big stove

More like a hostel in the village

Can fit 10+ tourist during peak season

These are the VIP beds

More kids

Preparing for dinner

French fries with ginger, good!

These fried springrolls are soooo tasty

Banana crepe for breakfast

Host family and our guide

Another misty morning

Walking in the junle

Looks easy

Need some good balance

The local are here to help

I have fun trekking

Need to pee?

Very wet

Another group of ladies accompany us today

Trek to Dzang Ta Chai of the Red Dzao tribe

Local girls are trained to speak English to be tour guide

Another hanging bridge

Last sell opportunity for this group

Cool hair style

You feel bad not buying from them

A hot instant noodles with fried noodle is the best in the cold

You buy one from her buy one from me

2pm still misty

Sa Pa market

Of course I cannot pass on this

The sun is out!

$70 for 3N2D 6 meals 2 overnight bus/train

Overnight train from Lao Cai to Hanoi

Similar to the train in China