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Home●Tours and routings●Northwest
of Ha Noi - the detail |
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Northwest, by rail |
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This is the
second destination WomPom recommends you use the services of a Tour Operator.
This trip usually involves rail transportation and the experience will serve you
well before you explore the south independently. |
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Northwest
- Sa Pa, Bac Ha, Ban Ho,
etc. |
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The northwest region of ViętNam usually involves travelling to Lao Cai, a legal
border crossing point for Travellers, with Hekou, China.
Bus services provide links to the north - for Ban Lau, Bac Ha,
Ban Pho,
Can Cau market, Hoang So Phi and points northerly and easterly.
Please note that permits are required for Travellers and out-of-town Vietnamese
to visit parts of the borderlands in the north.
Bac Ha, centre of the Flower H'mong ethnic minority people. The Sunday market is
a must as the very colourful Flower H'mong people gather from remote villages to
trade and exchange goods here.
Local farm produce, Tho Cam (Indigo coloured clothing) dogs, cats, pigs, horses
and more are tendered here. Local people, especially the young men and girls
wearing their colourful formal dress come from many of the surrounding villages
in order to court each other.
The bus service to the south and west are the ones used to reach Sa Pa,
Binh Lu and Pa Nam Cum.
A five to six hour trek to the hill tribe villages of Cat Cat, Ta Van and Cua
May is an enjoyable exercise. Cat Cat is home to the H'mong people who
originated from China about 300 years ago.
The H'mong people are easily recognisable with their dark blue or black
clothing. The dye is made from the indigo plant which is native to the area.
H'mong women wear long aprons with embroidered waitscoats and have their hair
rolled up into a turban-like hat, while the men wear a black skullcap.
Ta Van is home to the Zay people who are very skilled at rice cultivation and in
marked contrast to the H'mong, have a higher living standard, resulting from
their agricultural endeavors.
Using a local guide, ask at any hotel, these villages nestled in the valleys
below Sa Pa, you will be introduced to some of the ethnic minority groups on
their travels.
These minority people, including the Red Zao, H'mong and Tay peoples, walk to Sa
Pa to trade at the markets. |
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