SKETCH OF NORTH INDOCHINA- Day 6: 100328-Lao Cai, Bac Ha, Sapa

Sleeping in train is only slightly better than flight. However, I automatically wake up about 4.30am due to the air is become very cold. We met Tan(pronounce as Deng) at Lao Cai Train station.

The Lao Cai meant old street. The train railway stop here and is gate to Sapa. After the breakfast, we met with 2 French and direct drive to BacHa. Bac Ha Sunday market is only weekly market that available for minority tribes for business and also met their love one. We are very lucky as we have the chance to see it during this trip.

Due to the transport at mountain area is not convenient, some of them even walking few hours to get to the market. Bac Ha area is nominate by Hmong(in China call Miao tribe). The Hmong here is flower Hmong as their costume is more colorful. Bac Ha market is offer variety of things from craft to food, wine. The most interesting is most of the local people is wearing their traditional costume and it is the killing point for our memory card.

After Bac Ha market, we stop over at local Hmong village. My tears drop when I saw the condition of their home, the discolor TV is still using, no any proper chair and table at home, the only dish for their lunch is 1 pack of instant noodle. By comparing minority tribe at Vietnam and China, we conclude that China is take care to minority group. However, form the eye of the children, their life is more happy and simple. Sometime is very difficult to measure the meaning of happy.

After Bac ha market, we transfer to Sapa town. Sapa is a small town like Brinchang in Cameron Highland. The mist is usually cover up the whole area. Franch built a churt at the center of town. The colorful window decoration is the attraction of this old church.

Opposite the church have many stalls selling backpack, wind breaker and craft form minority tribe. The left hand side of church is fruit stall. I like their local plum and peach. However, if you don’t like sour fruits, then better don’t try the plum. Hahahaha

By waling, we reach the wet market of Sapa. The vegetable available here is mostly same as Cameron Highland. But the food is mainly Phor, kerabu(mixture of pig skin, onions, peanuts and chilly), BBQ. The most interesting thing is we saw they have many variety of dry Phor is selling there.

Shopping in Sapa is not a good suggestion. Due to the cold wind blow from Mongolia during our visit, the stall selling sweater and wind breaker don’t want to reduce the price for us. 2 layer North Face wind breaker is sell on USD50, so expensive….

Due to the cold weather, we have steamboat on the night at Sapa. This is the best steamboat that we have. Cold air with hot sour soup. The nice combination.