Can Cau Market

Can Cau market is one of the most fascinating open-air markets in the region, specialising in livestock. It's 20km North of Bac Ha and just 9km south of the Chinese border. Visitors are generally H'mong groups from highland villages

Can Cau market is one of the most fascinating open-air markets in the region, specialising in livestock. It's 20km North of Bac Ha and just 9km south of the Chinese border. Visitors are generally H'mong groups from highland villages. The local H'mong are the famous variegated or Flower H'mong due to the intricate and colourful nature of their costumes, and their colourful dresses makes is a beautiful sight. Almost every Saturday around 8 different minorities are represented at the market. Travel is often made by horseback as a way of carrying the heavy loads to and from market. Can Cau also attracts a large number of Chinese traders, evidenced by the booming dog trade here

Source: www.traveltosapa.com

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 Tours

Lao Chai village: Located 7 Kms from Sapa, it is quite approachable from Sapa for a travllers who do not have much time. In this village which you will have a welcome feeling  at any house of the hospitable people there. You can interact them, learn about their culture and customs.
Ta Van is located in the northern province of Lao Cai, about 5 kilometres from Sapa, at an altitude of 1, 816 meters.  This province borders the province of Yunnan in south-west China, and the indigenous people here share many cultural features with their Chinese neighbours.
 

Hanoi – Lao Cai

Vietnam TripAdvisor’s private car come to pick you up from your hotel then transfer to Ha Noi Railway Station and catch the night train to Lao Cai (soft sleeper with airconditioning)., Arrive Lao Cai

Lao Cai – Sapa home stay (B/ L/ D)

(Sapa - Y linh ho - Lao chai San - Lao chai - Ta van)

The bus ride uphill to Sa Pa takes a little over an hour, giving you a glimpse of the stunning vistas and impressive rice terraces. You'll have breakfast in a local Restaurant.
The first part is on the road but we soon turn to the right and walk on a small path down the valley to the Muong Hoa River along Y Linh Ho valley and from here lead to the Black H'mong village Lao Chai. Black H'mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area. They are proud of their culture and keep their traditions and way of living. They have their own language and wear traditional indigio blue clothing. After this you continue to Ta Van village (1.200 m) to visit Zay people. Zay is a fairly small minority group of about 38.000 people who live mainly in the mountains in Northwest Vietnam . The development has meant that some of their old customs have been lost but many women still wear traditional shirts with a purple, blue or green color. The Zay houses are build of wood and bamboo with a clay floor. We stay overnight with a local family in Ta Van and have our dinner here.

Meals:Breakfast,lunch,dinner

Tavan - Giang Ta Chai - Su pan – Sapa (B,L,D)

After the breakfast we continue to visit Red Dao people at Giang Ta Chai where we also have short break near by a hanging brigde made from cane and a beautiful waterfall. The Red Dao women have very colorful red embroidery and coins on their clothing. On their head they wear a red scarf. Some of the women have shaved off their eyebrows because of a nice Red Zao Legend.
We continue along small paths in the rice fields, cross the Muong Hoa River and trek up to Su pan where you will meet the jeep and transfer back to Sapa. Have late lunch in Sapa in discover Sapa town in your own before departure to LaoCai train station. You'll have dinner either in a restaurant in Sapa or on the way back to Lao Cai to catch a night train back to Ha Noi.
Take night train from Lao Cai station to go back to Hanoi. Arrive Hanoi next morning.End of services.

Meals: Breakfast,lunch,dinner

VietnamTripAdvisor can arrange additional customized trips for you if the above itinerary does not match your expectations.

Source: www.sapatravelguide.com

Bac Ha - Can Cau

Lao Chai village: Located 7 Kms from Sapa, it is quite approachable from Sapa for a travllers who do not have much time. In this village which you will have a welcome feeling  at any house of the hospitable people there. You can interact them, learn about their culture and customs. Ta Van is located in the northern province of Lao Cai, about 5 kilometres from Sapa, at an altitude of 1, 816 meters.  This province borders the province of Yunnan in south-west China, and the indigenous people here share many cultural features with their Chinese neighbours.   Hanoi – Lao Cai   Vietnam TripAdvisor’s private car come to pick you up from your hotel then transfer to Ha Noi Railway Station and catch the night train to Lao Cai (soft sleeper with airconditioning).   Lao Cai – Sapa home stay (B/ L/ D) (Sapa - Y linh ho - Lao chai San - Lao chai - Ta van) The bus ride uphill to Sa Pa takes a little over an hour, giving you a glimpse of the stunning vistas and impressive rice terraces. You'll have breakfast in a local Restaurant. The first part is on the road but we soon turn to the right and walk on a small path down the valley to the Muong Hoa River along Y Linh Ho valley and from here lead to the Black H'mong village Lao Chai. Black H'mong is one of the biggest minority groups in the Sapa area. They are proud of their culture and keep their traditions and way of living. They have their own language and wear traditional indigio blue clothing. After this you continue to Ta Van village (1.200 m) to visit Zay people. Zay is a fairly small minority group of about 38.000 people who live mainly in the mountains in Northwest Vietnam . The development has meant that some of their old customs have been lost but many women still wear traditional shirts with a purple, blue or green color. The Zay houses are build of wood and bamboo with a clay floor. We stay overnight with a local family in Ta Van and have our dinner here. Meals:Breakfast,lunch,dinner Tavan - Giang Ta Chai - Su pan – Sapa (B,L,D) After the breakfast we continue to visit Red Dao people at Giang Ta Chai where we also have short break near by a hanging brigde made from cane and a beautiful waterfall. The Red Dao women have very colorful red embroidery and coins on their clothing. On their head they wear a red scarf. Some of the women have shaved off their eyebrows because of a nice Red Zao Legend. We continue along small paths in the rice fields, cross the Muong Hoa River and trek up to Su pan where you will meet the jeep and transfer back to Sapa. Have late lunch in Sapa in discover Sapa town in your own before departure to LaoCai train station. You'll have dinner either in a restaurant in Sapa or on the way back to Lao Cai to catch a night train back to Ha Noi. Take night train from Lao Cai station to go back to Hanoi. Arrive Hanoi next morning.End of services. Meals: Breakfast,lunch,dinner VietnamTripAdvisor can arrange additional customized trips for you if the above itinerary does not match your expectations. Source: www.sapatravelguide.com

Sa pa Lao cai

Sapa

Area: 678.6 sq. km Population: 52.5 thousand habitants(2007) Administrative division: - Townlet:Sapa - Communes:Ban Khoang, Ta Giang Phinh, Trung Chai, Ta Phin, Sa Pa, San Sa Ho, Ban Phung, Lao Chai, Hau Thao, Thanh Kim, Ta Van, Su Pan, Suoi Thau, Ban Ho, Thanh Phu, Nam Sai, Nam Cang. Located 38km from Lao Cai City, Sapa is a mountainous district of Lao Cai Province. Sapa District is very well-known with Sapa Townlet, a beautiful and romantic resort. At the height of 1,600m above sea level, the average temperature of the area is 15-18oC. It is cool in summer and cold in winter. Visitor to Sapa in summer can feel the climate of four seasons in one day. In the morning and afternoon, it is cool like the weather of spring and autumn. At noon, it is as sunny and cloudless as the weather of summer. And it is cold in the evening. With no advance warning of a thunderstorm short and heavy rains may come at noon on any summer day. Subsequently, a rainbow appears, transforming Sapa into a magic land, which for years has been a constant source of poetic inspiration, lights up the whole region. The best time to witness the scenic beauty of Sapa is in April and May. Before that period, the weather might be cold and foggy; after that period is the rainy season. In April and May, Sapa is blooming with flowers and green pastures. The clouds that settle in the valley in early morning quickly disappear into thin air. Sapa has many natural sites such as Ham Rong Mountain, Silver Waterfall, Rattan Bridge, Bamboo Forest and Ta Phin Cave.Sapa is also the starting point for many climbers and scientists who want to reach the top of Fansipan Mountain, the highest mountain in Vietnam at 3,143m. Hoang Lien Mountain Range is also called the Alps of the North Sea area since Fansipan Mountain is not only the highest peak in Vietnam, but also in the Indochina Peninsula. The pyramid-shaped mountain is covered with clouds all year round and temperatures often drop below zero, especially at high elevations. The first thing you notice when approaching the resort town are some detached wooden mansions and villas perched on a hill top or hillside, behind thick pine forests and almost invisible on this foggy morning. Old and new villas with red roofs now appear and now disappear in the green rows of pomu trees, bringing the town the beauty of European towns. Fresh and cool air in Sapa is an idea climate condition for growing temperate vegetables such as cabbage, chayote, precious medicinal herbs, and fruit trees such as plum, pear... Sapa is home to various families of flowers of captivating colours, which can be found nowhere else in the country. When Tet, the Lunar New Year Festival, comes, the whole township of Sapa is filled with the pink colour of peach blossom brought from the vast forests of peach just outside the town. Sapa is regarded as the kingdom of orchids. Here, orchid lovers are even amazed by the choice, when trekking in the forest filled with several hundred kinds of orchids of brilliant colours and fantastic shapes, such as Orchid Princess, Orchid of My Fair Lady's Shoe. Some orchids are named after lovely singing birds such as the canary, salangane's nest, and more. Sapa is most beautiful in spring. Apricot, plum and cherry flowers are splendidly beautiful. Markets are crowded and merry, and are especially attractive to visitors. Minority groups come here to exchange and trade goods and products. Market sessions are also a chance for locals to promenade and young men and women in colorful costumes to meet, date or seek sweethearts. Visitors to Sapa will have opportunities to discover the unique customs of the local residents.  Source: www.vietnamtourism.com