This beautiful landscape is full of captivating mountains, enchanting valleys of green and yellows, mysterious fog and sensational minority cultures (Hill Tribes) that transport you to an imaginary world. Yet the fascinating element of this dream is that it is very much our world and a place where life seems to be moving at a slower pace than the rest of the world.  This quaint town is on the verge of disruption and losing its charm due to the government allowing this town to transform into a resort style destination for Vietnam (…think Aspen).  With towering uncompleted steel beams resembling the skeleton of a building the development of hotels are under way and it is easy to imagine that you have been transported to an age when cities were experiencing the growth of the industrial revolution.  As you stroll through the small alluring dusty streets you encounter pubs offering cheap deals to any takers they can get, spas (cheap massage parlors) begging you to indulge in their services (questionable on whether good or bad), and colorful ethnic minorities staking claim on the street pavement to sell their handmade crafts.  In the midst of all this transformation, Sapa still hold tightly to the charming characteristics it is known for and it is without a doubt a place where you can lose yourself for a few days and realize that you have to make a decision to leave and move on.

Sapa itself sits overlooking a beautiful valley and leads out to a network of twisting mountain roads plagued with a mysterious fog and lite rain that keeps its riders on the edge of suspense to what breath taking views will appear around the corner.  Vanessa and I decided to rent a motorbike for a few days and tour the countryside and it was truly amazing driving the motorbike as if I was a local and some speed demon from Hanoi racing down the twisting and curving mountain roads while Vanessa hung on tightly to ensure her own safety.  The views of sun ray breaking through the cloud illuminating sections of villages laying quietly nested between the mountain valleys.  A powerful moment of realization occurs to us as we pulled over to the edge of the mountain just inches away from the edge and we eased back and soaked in the glorious views of cascading rice terraces that spill down the mountains like a patchwork quilt or steps leading to the heavens. These golden emerald rice fields and ethnic hill tribes working the watery fields clinches the soul tightly and etches a special part in your memory for all of time.

While wandering endlessly around the quiet town of Sapa, the feeling of appreciation strikes quietly into your soul without you ever realizing it. Hmong (Hill Tribe) kids darting around pleading with you to buy a small craft or older women slowly strolling with baskets of goods on their backs or babies bundled up from the coolness of the air. The people of Vietnam and especially Sapa are some of the most friendly.  Its remarkable to know this life still exists in a modern age when people are not too rush to enjoy a quick break to sit and enjoy the view in front of them or too overly protective of danger to quickly say hello to a complete stranger and bring out another sunny smile. Life here in Sapa is a dream but a dream that sadly might be transformed as the town itself caters to the incoming future tourist.

Sapa is an alluring world and one I highly encourage people to see if the opportunity ever permitted.

-Jason R.