Thursday, April 28
We were up so early that we were ready to run at. 5 am to Sapa, situated at the Chinese border. It was pouring rain when we left our hotel Camellia 4 to run. There had been a driver in when Khoa did not want to drive so far only as a driver. We were four in the car: driver, Khoa, Henning and Erik. Khoa took over the steering wheel sometimes. There was not much life around the hotel but since we just came out at a slightly higher road, we were amazed at all the life we saw. It was lots of life and stir around a wholesale vegetable market, which had been underway since at. 1 am and then Small was closing down. A little later, the flower market, we came by, which also was filled with people. At the same time traffic toward Hanoi increasing, while there was very little traffic outside. During the first few hours we met lots of schoolchildren through the small villages. Tract we drove in was initially wide, but gradually became very varying quality - to put it mildly. We had to drive about 400 km to reach our destination - Sa Pa. Travel time embedded short breaks plus a lunch break was designed for 12 hours, what a Dane seems incomprehensible. We saw much of the Vietnamese countryside with many small villages. All tourists to Sa Pa or Bac Ha. We have decided to take the night train back to Hanoi. We had bought yuogurt for the trip in Hanoi. The last 10 km we drove along the Chinese border. Border Station is Lao Cai, and here is only 100 meters to China, which lies on the other side of river. We took some pictures at the border station. Now it is 38 km upwards until we reach Sa Pa. When we reached was at 15.45 and we could accommodate us at Hotel Lotus! It was again begun to pour down. There was now time for a little tour of the city after discovering. We can probably feel the temperature is different here because there is something colder. We ate at a restaurant beside the hotel Lotus. The restaurant is called Sapa Gourmet.
Phuong Doung
Chinese border
Our Hotel Lotus
Friday, April 29
Because of the weather, we take a different program today. There are approx. 6 km to the village of Ta Phin (Davin) Village. Henning has visited it many times. We drive our car to the village. They're Red Dzau, We started in pouring rengvejr, but it cleared up as we went. When we arrived we were greeted by an incredible number of Red Dzau. They followed us all the way through the village. We visited a few homes. Many famous Henning from previous visits. It's very exciting to get there. In particular, there are 2 Red Dzauer that Henning has helped with many things. Henning had 4 packs of clothes. When Henning sees a young woman with 1 child they receive a packet. Henning had 4 packets. Could have used many more. Lunch we had on the market. We ate at a restaurant Luyen, but she and daughter Phung Dung was not there when her husband had died recently. In the afternoon we walked through the market and then came way down the hill to black Mong villages. We walked around. 3 km on the road before we turned left and there are many stairs. At the bottom a large waterfall. On the way back we reach a suspension bridge, where our driver waited for us with the car. It's too hard to pass up. Now relax there on the terrace.
Sapa walk with Google Earth. possibly right-click
Henning and May Senh
Video Clips with Red Dzao 2011
Red Dzauer
May, Mays mother and Si May
Sa Pa
Si May gets children clothes
Henning
Village in Sapa
Red Dzauer
Erik and Red Dzauer
Henning and Red Dzauer
Video Clips with Red Dzao etc.. Right click any.
Video Clips with Red Dzao from www.vktour.com 2008
Manager at Chau Long Hotel
Saturday, April 30
We drove to Lao Chai and started a little tough trek of 20 km including driving. We started at. 9.00 and the weather was fine. The trip was reduced at the beginning because of the slippery trails. It is an incredibly beautiful landscape. One must put up with that many would like to sell to us. Their income is not great. Should we have given a little too much for clothes, then they course, been helpful for many hours. There are many aggressive sellers. It can probably be no different. We drank a little at 12 oclock. Our driver picked us up at the bottom of the valley. All were slightly squashed.
Video with school in Bacha.
For lunch, got Henning and Erik lasagna + Tiger beer. Erik had chosen the menu because of a little indigestion. We were on the market and asked for a real Rolex watch. It cost $ 40 and is probably produced in China. We did not buy. Everywhere is celebrated on April 30 due to unification. Since it is already day off will also free the Vietnamese 2 and 3 May Now we sit on the patio and drink coffee. The weather has improved by afternoon. We had dinner near the hotel and got a good menu for 87000 dong. Cheap. In the evening there was great show for the festivities around April 30, which is Reunification Day. It was really professinelt made.
Black Mong our trekking
Black Mong our trekking
Black Mong
Sa Pa Black Mong
Bac Ha: Flav Mong
Erik with Black Mong
Henning with Black Mong, who received a bag of clothes
Henning with grilled pork
Sunday, May 1
We drove from Sapa at. 6.30 towards Bacha with a Red Dazouer as passengers. Goodbye to the Hotel Lotus, hello So Mai hotel in Bac Ha It is approx. 80 km away. We have a room and must not stay overnight. Luggage we brought into this room. We walked quickly to the market. It is northern Vietnam's largest market for ethnic groups. Most are Flav Mong, but there are also some Thai and Bac Ha Dzau. There are people from the village which lies more than 50 km from Bac Ha. There was much to see but also very crowded. Both Henning and Erik was a hairdresser, because it is incredibly cheap. We ate lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we made a trip to the opposite side along the valley and walked over to a musician Mr. Ho. He played for us and we tasted his grain whiskey, which was very strong. His grain whiskey is 55% and he poured it out on the table where it was ignited. It is a little mixed but pleasant way of walking. In Bac Ha is an incredible number of plum trees. We left at Bacha. 16.30 and had again this Red dzauer with to Lao Cai. We ate dinner in Lao Cai. We must reach the train is running at. 20.00 with a sleeper 15 seat 10 and 12 There were many who were involved in Hanoi. The Vietnamese have had 4 days off: Freedom Day 30 / 4, Saturday 1 / 5 and Sunday 2 / 5 and Monday 3 / 5 and Tuesday 4 / 5. The 30 / 4 and 1 / 5 are always free day, but this time they fall with a weekend, so it is Monday and Tuesday also holiday. We ate at a good restaurant opposite banegårdren which was vacant. This is also where the website is updated. They had WiFi. The train, we drove to Hanoi, was a better train than we had previously traveled. We shared a compartment with a Vietnamese family who could not English, so we did not talk much with them. We had coffee and rum in the train before we went to bed.
Market in Bac Ha
Market in Bac Ha
Erik gets clipped on the market
At Mr. Ho
Fiddler Ho
Video with Mr. Ho.