Fansipan is the highest mountain in Vietnam and Indochina, at 3,143 meters.

Enjoying clouds on the Roof of Indochina

May 22, 2011 about News, Travel

LookAtVietnam - Fansipan is the highest mountain in Vietnam and Indochina, at 3,143 meters. It is located in Lao Cai province in northwest Vietnam, 9km southwest of Sa Pa Township in the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range.

Fansipan is dubbed “the Roof of Indochina”. It is also one of the very few ecotourist spots of Vietnam, with about 2,024 floral varieties and 327 faunal species.

The topography of Fansipan is varied. Muong Hoa Valley, at the lowest altitude (950 to 1 000m), is created by a narrow strip of land at the base on the east side of the mountain. It can be climbed in a steep and fairly strenuous hike.

“Hunting clouds” on the Roof of Indochina has been always an interesting tour for adventurers. The feeling of bobbing on clouds to see the grandiose landscape of the nature is worthy for their efforts to conquer this 3,143m peak.

How to get there?

The most popular means of transport chosen to save your time and money is train. From Hanoi, you can get the train at Tran Quy Cap railway station to Lao Cai, then get a bus to Sapa and start your adventure.

You should book train tickets 1-2 weeks before the trip, especially if your trip is scheduled at the weekend. The ticket price may be different if you book it directly at the railway station or through travel agents. You should also book the return ticket early at your hotel or travel agents in Sapa or Lao Cai.

To adventure the Fansipan, you need the license granted by the Hoang Lien Son National Par to get into the park. You can take the license in the morning, when you start to visit Fansipan.

There are many ways to the peak of Fansipan. There are four major roads. The first way is from Cat Cat to Sin Chai. This is the most difficult road in Lao Cai to conquer Fansipan. Those with good physical strength and want a long trip often choose this road to adventure the Roof of Indochina.

The second way is from Cat Cat to Tram Ton. This road is good to see Fansipan clearly. However, it is quite long.

The third way is from Sapa to Tram Ton: This is the shortest and most simple road for everyone. You can hire a car of a travel agent to go from Sapa to Tram Ton. You should book the return.

From Tram Ton, you will get into the jungle at around 10 am. You will pass many streams and stop at Bai Soi for lunch at around 12.30-1 pm. From Bai Soi, the road will be more sloping. After two hours of walking from Bai Soi, you will reach a camp at the height of 2,200m and you will rest there.

The next day you will continue the trip to the camp at the height of 2,900m and then to the peak. This is a long and sloping road so you should walk slowly to maintain their breath. You can have lunch on the peak and return to the camp at the 2,900 or 2,200m for a night rest and return the next morning.

The route to Fansipan doesn’t require so-good physical strength but endurance. You should practice exercises on a daily basis at least one week before the tour.

Pictures of Fansipan:

The road to Fansipan

Wild flowers on the Fansipan

Thuy Thom (photo: quycoctu.multiply.com, phuot.com)

Sapa’s terraced fields suggested for world heritage recognition

The northern mountainous province of Lao Cai has proposed the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ask for UNESCO’s recognition of Sapa’s terraced fields as a world heritage.ED Note: We stayed in Sapa in Dec 06. The train from Hanoi to Lao Cai was late at night, arriving 6 am in morning. To see our gallery of pictures go to http://www.pbase.com/ckuhn55/sapa_vietnam Travel blog at http://www.yvietnam.blogspot.com Interested in travel to Sapa? Please contact me for time and dates.
The terraced field is a form of cultivation in the mountainous topographies of many ethnic groups in the world, such as the Inca people in Peru, in Yunnan, China, and in Banaue, the Philippines, which w by UNESCO as a world heritage.Seven most magnificent terraced fields in the world as voted by Travel & Leisure: Banaue (Philippines), Yuangyang (Yunnan, China), Ubud (Bali, Indonesia), Annapurna (Nepal), Mae Rim (Chiang Mai, Thailand), Sapa (Lao Cai, Vietnam), and Long Ji (Kuei Lin, China).Sapa’s terraced fields were recently recognised as one of the world’s seven most beautiful and magnificent terraced fields in the world by US-based Travel & Leisure magazine. This was only a vote of readers of a tourism magazine but it is good news for Vietnam. Dr. Tran Huu Son, Lao Cai provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s chief, said that the department proposed that provincial authorities and the culture ministry make a survey and compile files on Sapa’s terraced fields, Hoang Lien national park and the ancient rock bank in Sapa to submit to UNESCO for recognition as world cultural heritages. “This is a difficult task but we are trying to turn Sapa’s terraced fields into a world heritage for the many foreign travellers who love Sapa and Vietnam,” Son said. Do you think that it is good luck Sapa’s terraced fields were voted one of the seven most magnificent terraced fields in the world by Travel and Leisure? I think that with the natural beauty of that landscape, it is not at all surprising they were recognised as one of the seven most magnificent terraced fields in Asia and the world by Travel and Leisure. There are some terraced field tours in Sapa, including two major tours: From Sapa town to Ly Lao Chai – Ta Van and Sapa town – Ly Lao Chai – Ta Van – Ban Ho – Thanh Phu – Suoi Thau. Terraced fields in Sapa are a product of H’Mong and Dao people. This kind of terraced field is different from the fields of Ha Nhi people in Yunnan (China) or in the Philippines because each ethnic group has its own cultivation. The owners of terraced fields in Sapa have abundant folk knowledge. Their fields are as beautiful as terraced fields in Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai, Vietnam) or in the Philippines. Could you tell us more about terraced fields in Sapa and in your opinion, what aspects of Sapa’s terraced fields can be considered outstanding in the world? Terraced fields are the most popular in the following areas: on abrupt mountain slopes along roads in Trung Chai commune, along the road from Lao Cai city to Sapa town. These are terraced fields of H’Mong people. Terraced fields owned by H’Mong, Dao and Giay people are located in Muong Hoa valley. This is the combination between cultivation of wet rice in narrow valleys of Giay people and cultivation on high mountains of H’Mong and Dao people.In Muong Hoa valley, Lao Chai district, visitors can observe a complex of terraced fields from Muong Hoa stream to the middle of the mountain, totaling around 10sq.km. In this area, the beauty of terraced fields is outstanding thanks to the vast space. Another beautiful terraced field area is Suoi Thau, which was created by Dao people.Terraced fields appear in many provinces in Vietnam. The field in Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai province was recognized as a national relic in 2007. How about the fields in Sapa?Terraced fields in Sapa are very beautiful. We are making surveys and preparing documents to ask for recognition as a national heritage. We also proposed that competent agencies ask for UNESCO’s recognition of the complex of the terraced fields, the ancient stone bank and Hoang Lien national park as world heritages.What is the role of terraced fields in today’s farming?Terraced fields are H’Mong, Dao and Giay people’s farming techniques for sloping topography. It is an achievement in terms of culture and folk knowledge. Terraced fields help maintain food stability in mountainous areas.