Birthday celebration on the top of Fansipan

Afternoon !

A week ago, after my little camping trip at Ha Long Bay, I met up with my mum in Hanoi and we headed to Sa Pa. Sa Pa is a small town near the boarder of China, 8 h train ride north from Ha Noi inhabited by tribes such as the Hmong people. From a friend's recommendation we decided to travel via a sleeper train. Seat61.com provides great service for international train tickets at decent prices.

The train was quite comfortable and morning come we were in Sa Pa. It was too early for us to check in so we headed out for my birthday breakfast and my mum's first Vietnamese meal. Watching the morning spread across the vales and fields from the village was beautiful. My mum immediately fell in love with Vietnamese traditional coffee like I had so many months before.

We were promised a free upgrade at the hotel if we waited for a little bit longer so we decided to head to Fansipan for the morning. Fansipan is a 3 143 meters high mountain towering over the Sa Pa town as the highest mountain in Indochina. It is possible to hike to the top, however, this is illegal without a guide which costs 120 USD per person. The hike takes a full day and there is a camping site near the top. Another way to reach the top is the Fansipan Legend cable car costing 25 dollars each and taking about half an hour. The cable car is super modern and the views from the box are stunning. Below you you can see a cable system that transports goods between houses that live underneath the mountain.

I was wearing a top and shorts, the Vietnamese people and other tourists were wearing rain coats and winter clothes. I guess it is true that Finnish people have a little warmer blood than the rest. Watching me jump up and down the rocks barely dressed was a huge amusement to the other people. From the cable car station there is still a good thousand steps to walk to the actual top of the mountain. The peak is so high that it is often covered in clouds and you won't be able to see the villages spreading below you.

Daily, there are small Hmong markets around the town as well as plenty of people walking around selling bags and other small ornaments. The town is quite touristy, filled with restaurants from around the world. The Hmong are not even to be compared with other Vietnamese people. They are delightful and happy, speak better English than Vietnamese and represent their cultural heritage with pride. They are hardcore sellers and hagglers and will walk around after you and make you love them so much you cannot help but to buy something. They are very eager to take you to their villages and to show you around and talk about Sa Pa. Forget any guide, go with a Hmong.

We rented a motorbike to head to the famous waterfalls; Silver Line and Love waterfalls. My mum had never even been on a motorbike before so it was fun to get her on one. Driving slow and safe for her, we had a good chance to check out the scenery. The waterfalls are 12 km out of town, on the route past Fansipan. They were not overly crowded with tourists which was pleasant. There is a small entrance fee for access. Pictures coming up !

We spent a day exploring around the Hmong villages, hiking up and down their hills and fields, drinking more coffee and tasting the local flavours. We visited the Golden waterfall in the Cat Cat village and saw a traditional dance performance. It was magical; the ancient music echoing around the vales and the roar of the waterfall in the background.

Very different kind of birthday than I have had in the past but it was once in a lifetime experience. Barely in touch with the rest of the world just in amiss between the untouched, endless fields and slopes. A place where you can easily find your inner peace and experience something out of this world.


Peace,

Mira