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In winter, Sapa welcomes guests with its cold weather temperature that can go down to one Celsius degree now and then
Although tourists are accustomed to the chilling cold weather in Hanoi, they will find it hard to instantly adapt to the sensation frozen to the marrow in Sapa. It is not only cold and misty, but also so cloudy that no one can see everything just one meter ahead. All seem to be covered, even the highest stone church in the downtown area is hidden in the dense mist. So, tourists will feel difficult to find the way to go around.
Sapa welcomes guests with clouds and coldness but no one wants to wrap themselves in blankets to enjoy the warmth at hotels or guesthouses. From the old to the young one, from locals to tourists, all rush to the streets and grope their way in the heavy fog. They want to experience the weather, forests and special landscapes that Mother Nature offered to Sapa. They want to exercise to warm up their bodies and try their strength before the nature.
Therefore, the rhythm of the life in Sapa is always bustling and alive in the cloud and frost. From the central town to famous tourist attractions such as Ham Rong Mountain, Cat Cat Village, Ta Van Village, a fairy waterfall or an ancient rocky field, are full of visitors. People admire drivers in Sapa. No one can see anything ahead but thanks to their memories of every bend and every stump on the road, drivers still bring travelers to the destinations safely after several times the hearts of tourists jump up and down in their first trip to Sapa.
Although tourists are accustomed to the chilling cold weather in Hanoi, they will find it hard to instantly adapt to the sensation frozen to the marrow in Sapa. It is not only cold and misty, but also so cloudy that no one can see everything just one meter ahead. All seem to be covered, even the highest stone church in the downtown area is hidden in the dense mist. So, tourists will feel difficult to find the way to go around.
Sapa welcomes guests with clouds and coldness but no one wants to wrap themselves in blankets to enjoy the warmth at hotels or guesthouses. From the old to the young one, from locals to tourists, all rush to the streets and grope their way in the heavy fog. They want to experience the weather, forests and special landscapes that Mother Nature offered to Sapa. They want to exercise to warm up their bodies and try their strength before the nature.
Therefore, the rhythm of the life in Sapa is always bustling and alive in the cloud and frost. From the central town to famous tourist attractions such as Ham Rong Mountain, Cat Cat Village, Ta Van Village, a fairy waterfall or an ancient rocky field, are full of visitors. People admire drivers in Sapa. No one can see anything ahead but thanks to their memories of every bend and every stump on the road, drivers still bring travelers to the destinations safely after several times the hearts of tourists jump up and down in their first trip to Sapa.
Arriving in the highland town, tourists will be impressed by the splendid landscapes and professionalism in doing tourism business of the people in Sapa. Ham Rong Mountain is kept clean, and trees are well taken care of. Cat Cat Village has many souvenir shops and local sellers are always friendly and happy to local and foreign visitors.
Homestay product has better changed the life of Dao and Day ethnic minorities in Ta Van Village. A large number of houses there were repaired and decorated beautifully, and each house has its clean toilets. Prices for homestay are not expensive. It costs VND50,000-60,000 a tourist for one night stay. Foreign visitors who want to eat three meals with the host and stay one night at a local house have to pay nearly US$12, or some VND250,000, each.
All show that Sapa people are more aware of the importance of luring visitors to come back than those in other tourist sites nationwide. Sapa people protect their scenic spots well and decrease charges of some tourist destinations, and says ‘no’ to overcharging visitors at hotels and restaurants during the peak season.
Japanese sakura flowers are blooming at the Sapa People’s Committee and visitors can take photos or take a walk around this place as there is no barrier between governmental offices and tourists.
However, it is regrettable that Ham Rong Mountain and Cat Cat Village are managed by travelcompanies, and admission fee is decided by these winning bidders. Some shops on Ham Rong Mountain sell made-in-China souvenir items instead of domestically-made ones. The intervention of a travel firm has turned Ham Rong with many impressive mountains into a seemingly artificial garden that erodes the natural beauty of this scenic spot. A garden with 12 animal designations painted in red and blue was set up. The garden also has a Mickey Mouse statue and snakes wearing felt hats, which have no relations with ancient sakura stumps or houses on stilts of ethnic minorities.
Cat Cat Village is thinly populated but its land is divided into small lots for lease. A souvenir shop owner has to pay VND2 million a month for a small land lot. Most of souvenir items are made in China. There is only one stall standing lonely at the end of the road and selling dyed cloth weaved by locals.
Sapa tourism business is not as chaotic as other places, thanks to good services and the hospitality of local residents and tour guides. Clear-headed people in doing tourism business make the roads leading to tourist attractions easier and beauty spots more attractive to visitors.
The most striking factor in Sapa is its culture and people, but they seem to fall into oblivion. Typical roofs of houses in Cat Cat Village seem to be lost in the commercialization process. Roads are opened but in remote villages, under the extreme cold weather, children still wear very thin clothes and worn-out slippers, or even go to school on bare foot. And at nights, many kids huddled themselves in the chilly wind of one Celsius degree to dance with khèn, a local music instrument, to make fun for guests so as to earn some money for their families.
At first, commercialization in doing tourism business may reap success but the poverty of locals still exists. They still meet difficulties in earning money, so they have to sell goods at tourist sites or look for the kindness of travelers instead of wearing new clothes, joining festivals, playing traditional games and luring tourists from other regions.
Ethnic people cannot tolerate cold weather better than visitors from afar. And travelers cannot leave Sapa without a cold feeling in their hearts. When will ethnic minorities in Sapa feel the warmth and sufficiency of the benefits from the tourism industry in which they play an important role?
However, it is regrettable that Ham Rong Mountain and Cat Cat Village are managed by travelcompanies, and admission fee is decided by these winning bidders. Some shops on Ham Rong Mountain sell made-in-China souvenir items instead of domestically-made ones. The intervention of a travel firm has turned Ham Rong with many impressive mountains into a seemingly artificial garden that erodes the natural beauty of this scenic spot. A garden with 12 animal designations painted in red and blue was set up. The garden also has a Mickey Mouse statue and snakes wearing felt hats, which have no relations with ancient sakura stumps or houses on stilts of ethnic minorities.
Cat Cat Village is thinly populated but its land is divided into small lots for lease. A souvenir shop owner has to pay VND2 million a month for a small land lot. Most of souvenir items are made in China. There is only one stall standing lonely at the end of the road and selling dyed cloth weaved by locals.
Sapa tourism business is not as chaotic as other places, thanks to good services and the hospitality of local residents and tour guides. Clear-headed people in doing tourism business make the roads leading to tourist attractions easier and beauty spots more attractive to visitors.
The most striking factor in Sapa is its culture and people, but they seem to fall into oblivion. Typical roofs of houses in Cat Cat Village seem to be lost in the commercialization process. Roads are opened but in remote villages, under the extreme cold weather, children still wear very thin clothes and worn-out slippers, or even go to school on bare foot. And at nights, many kids huddled themselves in the chilly wind of one Celsius degree to dance with khèn, a local music instrument, to make fun for guests so as to earn some money for their families.
At first, commercialization in doing tourism business may reap success but the poverty of locals still exists. They still meet difficulties in earning money, so they have to sell goods at tourist sites or look for the kindness of travelers instead of wearing new clothes, joining festivals, playing traditional games and luring tourists from other regions.
Ethnic people cannot tolerate cold weather better than visitors from afar. And travelers cannot leave Sapa without a cold feeling in their hearts. When will ethnic minorities in Sapa feel the warmth and sufficiency of the benefits from the tourism industry in which they play an important role?
Source: SaigonTime
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