Friday, April 27
Arriving by night train at. six in the morning to Lao Cai and then by car to Sa Pa in the 1700 meters. Here in the area live many ethnic minorities. Breakfast is served at the hotel, and we're ready for the first hike through the rice fields in a small village inhabited by the group Red Dzau. The immigrants from China in the 18th - 19 century. Women wearing trousers and a tunic and a red headdress. We got a reception like we were celebrities. As soon as the women saw the car, threw what they had in their hands, the basket of goods onto his back and trot after us. Fast was a separation, so every Dane was joined by one red Dzau. We soon learned that it was nice with a little help on breakwaters, where our companions gave us a hand for support. At the end of the trip came when products are, and we bought in those who had helped us. Somewhere on the route we were invited in to tea with a family who had arranged an extension to the house as "bed and breakfast." The houses have natural air conditioning, as they are leaking, so you can see through walls. It may be well now in the heat, but winter can here be snow in the mountains. Lunch at the market, and after lunch a trip to a Black Mong village of Cat Cat. Mong'erne comes from Mongolia. It's a trip down the mountain, and we end at a small waterfall and a suspension bridge. On the way down you can buy goods (believe it or not). At the bottom of the valley is a small show with folk dancing and music. The trip home takes place on the back of a motorcycle
The Chinese Border
Our Hotel Lotus
Le Mai
Sa Pa
Red Dzauer
May, Mays mum and Si May
Sa Pa
Clips with Red Dzao etc.. Right-click any.
Clips with Red Dzao from www.vktour.com 2008
Saturday, April 28
A hard trek of approx. 10 km down the mountain, again accompanied by helpful locals, this time Black Mong. And this time there is extra need help, as the terrain is very uneven, and a single bridge is washed away. We are going through several ethnic villages, Black Mong, Red Dzau and Zay, and we see a small museum with different clothing outfits. Again, we pay our helpers by buying their goods. Repatriation takes place in the car, and then when we have a little rest before we go on the market and eat "black chicken". The meat is really blue-black, and when the grill is quite black, but it tastes excellent. We have expanded our experiences in the culinary: Pho, a noodle soup with vegetables, blood pudding chicken blood, roasted cockroaches to name some things, and now the black chick. Saturday evening, many people in the square in front of the church, including "love market" where the young people look at each other.
Black Mong
Black Mong
Black Mong
Hike
Hike. Missing 2 bamboo rods
Hike. Close to lunch spot
Black Mong
Bac Ha: Flaver Mong
Sunday, April 29
Kl. 6.30 goodbye to Sa Pa to drive your car around. 80 kms to Bac Ha, North Vietnam's largest market for ethnic groups. Here we encounter new minorities, Flower Mong (very gaudy dress), Tay and Bac Ha Dzau. There are not many tourists, but a host of local, coming from a larger area to market which takes place only on Sundays. In the afternoon, a beautiful but steep walk through plum orchards to a musician, mr. Ho. He plays a little for us, and we taste his corn whiskey. Driving back to Lao Cai border city in China, and the night train to Hanoi. Departure at. 19.30 and arrive in Hanoi at. 4.00 morning (or night).
At the border to China
Market in Bac Ha
market in Bac Ha
Market in Bac Ha
At musician Ho
Fiddler Ho
clips with Mr. Ho.