H'Mong Ethnic Minority

History: The Black Hmong immigrated from China approximately 300 years ago.  Language: The spoken language belongs to the Hmong - Dao language family.  The Hmong writing was romanized in 1961 but is not widely used today. Costume: The Black Hmong women are famous for making cloth from hemp and dying it a deep indigo blue. They wear long blouses decorated with batik flowers over short trousers, and wrap long scarves around their legs. They wrap their long hair around their head and wear a blue turban. The men wear long jackets with shirts and a long waist coat embroidered at the collar, and a small hat. Today some Hmong wear Viet or western clothes. Social organisation: Hmong women are respected in their community as being equal with Hmong men.  Husbands and wives are very affectionate and do many of their tasks together like going to the market, working on the field and visiting relatives. In this way, they help each other to develop a strong community life.  Marriage: For the Black Hmong it is important that a girl knows how to embroider and work well in the field. These skills are more important than her beauty. Boys and girls are allowed to get to know each other before they get married. They go to the love market where they eat and sing songs together. After this time, the boy can propose marriage and if the girl agrees, she goes to live in his house.  She is put in a small room and visited by the boy’s mother and sisters who give her food to persuade her to accept the marriage.  The boy must give the bride s family silver coins, pigs, chicken and rice wine for the wedding ceremony.  The bride has some time to decide if she accepts the marriage - even after living with her husband for a few days, she can choose to break their agreement. If the boy doesn’t have a dowry to give to the girl’s family, he lives in her house until he is able to marry her.  Funeral: When there is a death in the family, the deceased’s children fire a gun to let everyone in the area know.  People in the village come to deceased s house with anything they have -  chicken, rice, a small pig or rice wine -  to help the family.  Everybody sings and eats until the deceased is wrapped in a mat and carried to a grave by one group, while a coffin, which has been kept in a cave somewhere near the grave, is carried by another. Both groups have to run very fast to meet at the grave to make the deceased forget the way home. If the deceased’s family is not able to supervise the funeral rituals, they can wait for a few years before organising a special one called ma kho. They invite people in the village to a place by the grave for the funeral for a celebration, at which they sing and dance. Beliefs: Many places are reserved for worshipping in a Hmong house – there s a place for ancestors, for the house spirit, for the kitchen spirit, even the door spirit. There are different rituals which forbid people to walk into the Hmong house or their villages.  For example, a green tree branch on the front door indicates that entrance is forbidden.  Artistic activities: The Black Hmong are very good at making agricultural tools, wooden furniture, musical instruments and jewelry. They are also famous for their handicraft and embroidery.  They generally only make such items to meet their own needs, but other minorities in the area buy their produce because of its high quality.  Since the advent of tourism in Sapa, many Hmong women make decorated cloth to sell on the town s main streets. Festivals: Like the other minorities, the Black Hmong have lots of different festivals during the year. They ensure that there is always time for community activities, which play an important role in their life. One of the most important festivals is the New Year, which they celebrate for an entire month. It happens about one month earlier than Vietnamese Tet. During this time, boys play flutes and girls play an instrument made from two leaves. They all spend time together playing traditional games.  The Blue Hmong minority The Blue Hmong share the same origin as the Black Hmong.  Most of their rites and rituals are the same -  only their clothes are different. The Blue Hmong women wear long skirts over long trousers, with a blue bib worn over the top.

Source:  www.traveltosapa.com

Red Dao Ethnic Minority

History: The origin of the Red Dao is uncertain. It has been surmised that they arrived not long before the Hmong during the 18th Century. Language: The Red Dao spoken language belongs to the Hmong - Dao language family. Their writing is based on Chinese characters adjusted to accommodate their own spelling. Costume: Red Dao women usually wear a long blouse over trousers. Their clothes are colorfully embroidered with designs that appear on both sides of the material.  The men typically wear a short shirt with long trousers, and a head-scarf.  Both men and women have a square piece of fabric on the back of their shirts which represents that they are children of God.  They wear similar hairstyles - long on top, with the rest smoothly shaved.  Many women shave their eyebrows as well.  Women also wear a distinctive red triangular shaped turban decorated with silver coins and red tassels. Social organization: The Red Dao men play a dominant role in the family, community and the economy.  They also play a major role in ceremonies such as marriages, funerals, and building new houses. The Dao people have many different family names. Each lineage has its own system of different middle names to distinguish people of different generations. Birth: The Red Dao women usually give birth in their bedroom with help of their mother and sisters. The new born is given a bath with hot water. The family hangs green tree branches or banana flowers in front of the door to prevent evil spirits from bringing harm and wickedness to the baby. When the baby is three days old, they celebrate a ritual in honour of the mother. Marriage: Parents select partners for their sons.  When a boy is fourteen or fifteen years old, his father takes him to have a look at a girl he thinks is fit and healthy and can help  with the housework.  The couple chosen to be married then have to consult a diviner who judges their compatibility based in a ritual using a chicken leg, and their horoscopes. The girl s value is shown by how many silver coins, chickens, pigs and jars of rice wine the boy s family have to give her family. During the marriage ceremony, it is customary to stretch a piece of string in front of the procession.  The groom carries the bride on his back, and she must step over a blessed pair of scissors to cross the threshold into his house. When a family has no son, the parents can buy a groom who will live happily with his bride s family.  However, if a boy is so poor that his family can’t afford a dowry,  he has to live in his bride s house - which causes him great shame. Funerals: When there is a death in the family, the deceased s children have to invite a man called thay tao to supervise the rituals and find the right piece of land for a grave. The deceased is wrapped in a mat, placed in a coffin inside their house and carried to a grave built of stones.  In the past, if the deceased was over 12 years old the body was cremated. The funeral rituals celebrated ensure that the deceased rests in peace. The ceremony, which lasts for three days, usually coincides with initiation rites for Red Dao boys.  The first day liberates the spirit of the deceased, the second day is a time to worship the deceased in the home, and the third day is the boy’s initiation rite. The boy has to sit on a throne at the highest place in the village until he falls into hammocks hanging below him.  This represents him falling down from the sky to be born on earth, another symbol of the Dao belief that they are the direct descendants of God. Housing: The Dao ritual to select land for a new house is very important  At night, the household digs a bowl sized hole and fill it with rice grains that represent people, cows, buffalo, money and property.  The family will know where to build the house based on the dreams that follow during the night.  In the morning, the family inspects the hole to see if the rice remains - if not, the house will be built elsewhere.   Beliefs: Dao religion has elements of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism.  They worship the ancestors of the family together with the legendary holy man Ban Vuong, who is considered the earliest ancestor of the Dao people.

Source: www.traveltosapa.com

Sapa Restaurants , Gerbera Restaurant

GERBERA RESTAURANT

Address: No. 31, Cau May Road, Sapa town, Lao Cai, Vietnam
Tel: (84-20) 871 064 ; Fax: (84-20) 871 064
Website: http://www.sapatravelguide.com/nha-hang-gerbera.htm

Welcome to Sapa! Welcome to Restaurant Gerbera! Restaurant Gerbera is a fine dining restaurant with Vietnamese and international cuisines. An excellent and wide choice of domestic and international wines is available. With its classical style and casually friendly atmosphere, Restaurant Gerberca welcomes you for breakfast or pre- and apres theatre dinner. Our restaurant was built with Sapa’s bamboo, it combines the traditional and modern architecture in an warm and comfortable atmosphere.

From Restaurant Gerbera, you can see the whole view of Sapa town in a magic beauty, and further is the Hoang Lien Son range with the highest peak in Vietnam and in Indochina, Fansipan.

If you want to see some of the traditional people who live in the area, want to know which excursions one can do from here, and want to see some nice pictures of the landscapes in the region, we can book a tour or hire vehicles for you.

Breakfast

Our restaurant serves some special dishes for breakfast including Vietnamese breakfast, Asian and European breakfast, and Pancake.

Starter

Customers can start with Soup, Salad, Spring Roll or Potato and Sweet Potato.

Main Course

Various kinds of special dishes are available for customers to choose namely Sapa chicken (with steamed rice), Sapa duck (with steamed rice), Sapa goose, Sapa rabbit (with steamed rice), Sapa wild pork (with steamed rice), Sapa pork (with steamed rice), Venison (with steamed rice), Sapa beef (with steamed rice), Shrimp (with steamed rice), Squid (with steamed rice), Sapa fish (with steamed rice), Curry (with steamed rice), Tofu, Sapa vegetable, Green bean sprout, Bamboo person shoot, Rice, Noodle, Spaghetti, Pasta, Hamburger, Special food, and Hotpot.

Dessert

Customers can enjoy some kinds of fruits and cakes

Source: www.sapatravelguide.com

Sapa Hotels

ROYAL VIEW HOTEL Address: Cau May Street, Sapa, Vietnam Phone: (84-20) 3872 989/ 3990 / 991 Fax: (84-20) 3872 992 One of the newest hotels in Sapa the Royal View Sapa Hotel has impeccable facilities and fantastic views. There are 24 rooms overlooking the valley and 18 rooms overlooking the garden and all are well furnished. There are electric heaters in all rooms and fireplaces in some. Location: One of the newest hotels in Sapa the Royal View Sapa Hotel has impeccable facilities and fantastic views. There are 24 rooms overlooking the valley and 18 rooms overlooking the garden and all are well furnished. There are electric heaters in all rooms and fireplaces in some. Royal View is ideal for those who like some luxury during their travels. The location and services have been carefully planned to allow guests to experience something different and unique in close harmony with nature and the local hill tribe people. Royal View Accommodation Individual controlled air-conditioning Satellite TV with international channels Private bathroom with bathtub or shower IDD Telephone and ceiling fan (available in Deluxe rooms only) Hair-dryer (on request) and balcony in room Tea/coffee making facility Mini-bar and heater Safe deposit box in room Royal View Hotel's Amenities Train station pick-up service. Foreign currency exchange TA VAN restaurant and TA FIN bar Vehicles for rent
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Bamboo Hotel Sapa The three star BAMBOO SAPA HOTEL, the only luxury hotel in North-Western Vietnam, opened in March 1995. Built as a traditional mountain chalet with accented wooden decor and a welcoming stone hearth fireplace, the Bamboo Sapa Hotel overhangs the village with great view to Hoang Lien Mountain range, blending perfectly with the natural surroundings.   The location and luxury services of the hotel have been carefully planned to allow guests to experience something different and unique, in close harmony with nature and with the local hill tribe people. Bamboo Sapa Hotel  is located in Sapa, 380 km (236 miles) Northwest of Hanoi, among the Hoang Lien Mountains, in Lao Cai Province, near the Chinese border. 1650 meters (5413 feet) above sea level, famous for its pristine environment, its unparalleled scenery and its cool climate, Sapa is home to more than 30 colorful hill tribes and close to Vietnam's highest peak, the 3143 meters (10311 feet) Mount Fansipan . .   Add: Cau May, Sapa District, Lao Cai Province, S.R. Vietnam Tel: (84.20) 3871 075/076/214 Fax: (84.20) 3871945

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CHAU LONG HOTEL Address: Cau May - Sapa Telephone: (+84) 20 871 245        Fax: (+84) 20 871 844 Chau Long Sapa Hotel can be found in a lane of Cau May street which is perched on a hill in this mountainous region. Location: Sapa is located in one of the most beautiful and unspoiled regions in North Vietnam, close to Chinese border. It's a quiet mountain town that lies at an altitude of about 1600 m, being a home to a great diversity of ethnic minority people. The scenery is a spectacular combination of high green mountains cuddled in clouds, scattered rice terraces and rich agricultural areas where the native inhabitants live and harvest their crops... Designed as a red-stone castle, Chau Long Sapa Hotel - New wing & Old wing, is ideally located at the quite side street, in the heart of Sapa town - home to many colorful native hill tribes, within easy walking to Sapa market and the Church. Chau Long Hotel offers to its guests and visitors magnificent views of the Hoan Lien mountains range, cuddled in clouds, and the view point to the highest peak in Indochina - Fansipan Mountain (3,143m) Chau Long Accommodation - Individual controlled air-conditioning - Satellite TV with international channels - Private bathroom with bathtub or shower - IDD Telephone - Hair-dryer and refrigerator - Personal safety box in room - Balcony and Heater - Tea/Coffee making facilities Standard (Run of House): Old wing features 2 spacious 26m2 rooms with double size bed or twin bed with a private balcony, overlooking Mount Fansipan. Superior: 18 rooms with twin/double beds offer a private balcony overlooking Muong Hoa valley & Mount Fansipan in 28m2. Deluxe: 53 rooms with queen bed and a private balcony overlooking Muong Hoa valley & Mount Fansipan, fireplace in room in 32m2. Quadruple: 4 single size bed, a large living room area with a writing desk and overlooking Muong Hoa valley & Mount Fansipan in 60m2. Suite: 02 suites with king size bed, a large writing desk. All Sapa Suites offer large living room with sofa, private balcony overlooking Muong Hoa valley & Mount Fansipan in 60m2. Hotel’s Services & Facilities - Transportation from Lao Cai train station to the hotel and back to Lao Cai - 24 hours front desk & 24 hours security team at the hotel’s entries - Tour information and booking, providing private tours in lao Cai and lai Chau provinces - Free internet service and Wi-Fi access in the lobby and restaurant area (also in the rooms from 2009) - Administrative assistance and flight/train reconfirmation and booking services - Express or regular Laundry service and free shoes cleaning service - Foreign currency exchange - Room service; Wake-up service; Postal service; Babysitting - Luggage storage Free parking
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VICTORIA HOTEL Built as a traditional mountain chalet with accented wooden decor and a welcoming stone hearth fireplace, Victoria Sapa Resort overhangs the village, blending perfectly with the natural surroundings. Address: Sapa District, Lao Cai Province, S.R. Vietnam Phone: +84 20 871522/ 04.933 0318 Fax: +84 20 871539/ 04.933 0319 Location: Victoria Sapa Resort, the only luxury hotel in the area, opened in March 1998. Built as a traditional mountain chalet with accented wooden decor and a welcoming stone hearth fireplace, Victoria Sapa Resort overhangs the village, blending perfectly with the natural surroundings. The location and services have been carefully planned to allow guests to experience something different and unique in close harmony with nature and the local hill tribe people. The location and services have been carefully planned to allow guests to experience something different and unique in close harmony with nature and the local hill tribe people. Victoria Sapa Accommodation: Individual controlled air-conditioning Satellite TV with international channels Private bathroom with bathtub or shower IDD Telephone and ceiling fan (available in Deluxe rooms only) Hair-dryer (on request) and balcony in room Tea/coffee making facility Mini-bar and heater Safe deposit box in room Superior: spacious rooms are at garden level, feature comfortable sitting area with sofa & writing desk in 25m2. Deluxe: rooms at second and third level feature a balcony, with sofa, overlooking Mount Fansipan in 25m2. Suite: Victoria suites offer a living room & a bed room with queen size bed en-suite; large balcony, Mount Fansipan view in 50m2. Victoria Sapa Hotel's Amenities: Train station pick-up service. Foreign currency exchange TA VAN restaurant and TA FIN bar Vehicles for rent Travel tour arrangement Bar/Pub/Lounge Tennis Court Visa extension and air-ticket booking service Facilities: Indoor-outdoor heated swimming pool, Sauna/Massage, Billiard table, Free use of bicycles, Parking. Services: Laundry services, Transportation facilities, Motorbike rental, Russian Jeep or minibus with driver rental, Hairdressing & Beauty salon, Souvenir shop, Postal services. Meeting room facilities (with capacity up to 100 persons)
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TOPAS ECO LODGE HOTEL Address: 24 Muonghoa, Cau May, Sapa, Laocai, Vietnam Topas Ecolodge is situated in the perfect location at two cone-shaped hills set deep in the spectacular Sapa valley of Northern Vietnam. Code words for our little place are simplicity, quality and character.Topas Eco Lodge provide daily transportation according to schedule from Sapa to the Eco Lodge. Even though the road is under constructing some parts are still dirt road. It takes about one to one and a half hour to go from Sapa to the Eco lodge. Despite the fact that some part are dirt road it is a interesting journey. On the way you will see daily life in the rice fields, minorities on there way to Sapa to sell handcrafts, vegetables etc. Topas Ecolodge is based on ecological principles. Here are a few of them: We have implemented a wastewater facility to avoid pollution of the local area We employ local people and use local products and goods in order to bring economic benefits to the local community We use solar technology to supply every lodge with energy and hot water Click here for the location of Topas Ecolodge Hotel. Topas Ecolodge Accommodation Individual controlled air-conditioning Satellite TV with international channels Private bathroom with bathtub or shower IDD Telephone and ceiling fan (available in Deluxe rooms only) Hair-dryer (on request) and balcony in room Tea/coffee making facility Mini-bar and heater Safe deposit box in room 25 bungalows made of white granite from a nearby quarry, and roofs thatched with palm branches. All bungalows are double or twin rooms Private balcony with a magnificent view over the valley Solar system for hot water facility Solar system that produce electricity for the bungalows Topas Ecolodge's Amenities Train station pick-up service. Foreign currency exchange Restaurant and bar Vehicles for rent Train tickets from Hanoi - Lao Cai - Hanoi: The price for a soft sleeper in 4-berth coach with air-conditioning is 23 US$/ way; 46 US$/ return. The tickets would be collected at our office in Hanoi or delivered to your residence or hotel. Pick-up from the train station: It takes 1 hour drive from Lao Cai Station to Topas Ecolodge: USD7/person by bus. Sapa office: 24 Muong Hoa Street, Sapa, Lao Cai Province Online Booking Room Rate All rates are in USD/night/double room, including buffet breakfast, 10% VAT &  5% service charges Package Price including for double room 2008: Overnight Full board (dinner on arrival date; lunch on arrival or departure day; breakfast the following day; additional nights full  board) Shuttle bus transfer Sapa – Topas Ecolodge return way according to schedule, Maximum of 2 children under 12 years old sharing the bungalow with the parents Extension of check out time is subject to availability and to be charged 25 % of the package rate until 6 PM. Extension till after 6 PM is to be charged full day rate Extra bed adds USD35 -/night Extra bed for children under 12 years old: USD25/night Children under 12 yso sharing parent's bed: USD10 Peak seasons surcharge: USD25/person. 24 Dec - 25 Dec 08: 1 night/person 31 Dec. 08 - 01 Jan 09: 1 night/person Check-in time at 13:00 or sooner, Check-out time at 12:00. Payment: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Traveler's Cheques, Bank Transfer and Cash. All rates are subject to change without notice. These rates are available only for bookings made with hotels-in-vietnam.com and NOT available from the hotel directly.

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SAPA HOTEL Address: Ngu Chi Son Street - Sapa Town -  Lao Cai Province - Vietnam Conveniently located in the heart of downtown, next to Ham Rong mountain, with a beautiful Lakeview, Sapa Hotel is a desirable place for any tourists coming to Sapa to explore the natural landscapes of this area. Sapa Hotel is a 3-star hotel with up-to-date equipment and luxurious and perfect services. Its wonderful and romantic terrain - encompassed by a tranquil blue-watered lake at the front and the stunningly splendid Ham Rong mountain at the back - attracts a great deal of tourists coming to the town. Its outstanding French-style architecture harmonizes beautifully with the fascinating holiday resort discovered in the French colonial period. Sapa Accommodation Heater with individual temperature control Satellite TV with international channels Private bathroom with bathtub or shower IDD Telephone and mini-bar Electronic Card key system Executive writing desk with chair Hair-dryer (on request), shaver outlet, mini clothes line. Tea/coffee making facility Safe deposit box in room Superior: rooms with large windows for lake and Sapa view, sitting area with sofa set in 21m2. Deluxe: rooms with large windows for lake and Sapa view, sitting area with sofa set in 24m2. Royal Suite: rooms with large windows for lake and Sapa view, sitting area with sofa set in 45m2. Sapa Hotel's Amenities Train station pick-up service Indoor swimming pool Thac Bac and Cong Troi Restaurant DJ - Black Jack discotheque Fitness center, Sauna and Massage Foreign currency exchange Vehicles for rent Express Laundry & dry-cleaning daily Travel tour and ticket booking Souvenir/Gift shop Internet and Email service Business center service Online Booking Room Rate All rates are in USD, including 10% VAT &  5% service charges. Special discount for long-term staying guest. No extra charge for child under 12 sharing bed with parents. (without extra bed). Extra bed adds US$ 10/night/person. Check-in time at 13:00 or sooner, Check-out time at 12:00. Payment: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Traveler's Cheques, Bank Transfer and Cash. All rates are subject to change without notice. These rates are available only for bookings made with hotels-in-vietnam.com and NOT available from the hotel directly.

Source: www.sapatravelguide.com