In the northernmost reaches of Vietnam lies Sapa, surrounded by small villages. This is a destination that we have really been looking forward to as we have seen incredible pictures of the beautiful nature found here. We did some research beforehand and decided to book accommodation about 10 kilometers outside of Sapa—all to ensure we’d have the best possible views. We are staying in an area called Ta Van, at a guesthouse. Initially, we had booked a ”homestay”—a setup where we would have stayed in the home of a local woman who was also going to act as our guide. However, after several unsuccessful attempts to reach her in the days leading up to our arrival, we decided to book something else. While our current place is well-located, it feels dirty and quite neglected. Still, we’re doing what we always do: making the best of the situation. Since we’re only staying for three nights and plan to spend most of our time outdoors, we feel we can handle the lack of cleanliness. At the very least, the bed is comfortable, and the view from the property is beautiful!

Unfortunately, Andreas is still feeling quite unwell when we arrive, so he spends the first afternoon and the following day in bed. Sabina and the children, on the other hand, decide to spend the full day outdoors. Sabina has mapped out a hiking route to take in the stunning Muong Hoa Valley—a spot many consider one of the most beautiful areas around. The trail crosses the Cầu Treo Lao Chải San II—a steel bridge set amidst the rice paddies—continues past a beautiful viewpoint, and eventually loops back to where we are staying. The entire walk takes about 6 hours, including stops for food. And we can confirm that those who recommended Muong Hoa Valley were absolutely right. The scenery here is truly magical! Rice terraces, looking like giant green staircases, surround us, and wherever we look, there are mountains or valleys. According to Sabina, this is probably one of the most beautiful places we have ever visited (though Norway is still in the lead 😉).

The next day, Andreas is feeling better, but both Loke and Penny are tired and a bit under the weather. So, the adults—along with Johannes—decide to head out for a walk in the opposite direction from where we’re staying. We spotted a nice viewpoint on Google Maps about an hour and a half away, which seems like a manageable distance, given that Andreas is only just recovering. The view is incredibly beautiful here too, though perhaps not quite as grand as yesterday’s. Still, the weather is pleasant, and we’re enjoying the fact that it’s a bit cooler and less humid here than in the places we’ve visited previously.

The following day, it’s time to head to the town of Sapa, where we’ll spend 24 hours before moving on again. We take a taxi from our accommodation, enjoy a nice lunch at a restaurant with a beautiful view of the town, and then head to our lodging to check in. Once again, we’re staying at a guesthouse, just a few minutes’ walk from the town center. It feels significantly fresher than the previous place, and the woman who runs it is incredibly helpful.

After dropping off our luggage, we head straight back to the center to explore the town. Sapa is a charming place to wander around. There are plenty of shops and restaurants, though we find that most of them offer much the same things. The only things we buy are a small souvenir to take home and some fruit for the evening.

Back at our accommodation, we enjoy the fruit and watch a movie before it’s time to go to sleep. The next day is another travel day. This time, it involves an 8–9 hour bus journey (in a so called sleeper-bus) as we make our way to Ha Long Bay.

//Sabdreasworld