According to the Dao language, Sa Pa means “sand-bank” which was then called “Sapa” by the French, and this famous tourism destination of Vietnam has had this name for more than 110 years.
When the Hanoi – Lao Cai Railway was completed in 1920, the French built nearly 300 villas in Sapa to turn it into the “summer capital” of North Vietnam. Since then, Sapa has developed into a popular tourist complex of a number of beautiful spots, such as the Stone Church, Cau May Street, Ham Rong Mountain, Muong Hoa Valley and Cat Cat Village which attracts a large number of both domestic and foreign visitors.
When the Hanoi – Lao Cai Railway was completed in 1920, the French built nearly 300 villas in Sapa to turn it into the “summer capital” of North Vietnam. Since then, Sapa has developed into a popular tourist complex of a number of beautiful spots, such as the Stone Church, Cau May Street, Ham Rong Mountain, Muong Hoa Valley and Cat Cat Village which attracts a large number of both domestic and foreign visitors.
 Sapa, dubbed as “The Pearl of the Northwest”, seen from Ham Rong Mountain. Photo: Nguyen Thang/VNP      Sapa, the fanciful misty town with a series of cafés and souvenirs shops, attracts a large number of visitors. Photo: Nguyen Thang/VNP  The beautiful landscape of Ta Van Valley with terraced fields surrounding the villages. Photo: Nguyen Thang/VNP  The picturesque scene seen from Ham Rong Mountain. Photo: Nguyen Thang/VNP  Cat Cat Village, 2km away from Sapa Town, is a place for visitors to discover the culture of local Mong people. Photo: Nguyen Thang/VNP   White plum blossoms littering narrow paths and villages in Sapa. Photo: Nguyen Thang/VNP  On the way to Ham Rong Peak, tourists will pass a huge colourful flower garden that looks like a miniature plateau. Photo: Cong Dat/VNP  Sapa is a fascinating destination for visitors, especially during the festive season in spring. Photo: Thanh Giang/VNP  Sapa is inhabited by six ethnic groups (Kinh, Mong, Dao Do, Tay, Day and Xa Pho). It is the place where visitors can buy numerous souvenirs made by the ethnic people. Photo: Trong Chinh/VNP |
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After Hanoi – Lao Cai Expressway was opened to traffic in September, 2014, the number of visitors to Sapa has increased by 40% (Nhan Dan Newspaper). According to Roughguides - a famous tourist website in the United Kingdom, Sapa is one of the nine new tourist attractions to visit in 2015. |
By VNP’s Golden Moment Photography Club
