After busy Hanoi, we all longed for a bit of peace and quiet, so visiting Sapa after Hanoi is just perfect! After a mere 8-hour shaky train ride, you arrive in Lào Cai (an hour from Sapa town ). Seriously, although the kids slept through the rumbling train all night, Max and I didn't sleep much. The train goes so fast and the squeaking noises are hard to ignore, but hey, we had another great adventure!
If you are ever looking for a great homestay just outside Sapa, Chapa Farmestay is the perfect place! Surrounded by the most beautiful scenery, the sweetest owners made sure this is the best place to unwind from our busy days in Hanoi. This place has such a serene vibe, the food is fantastic and the owners were very helpful in arranging everything we needed.
A Sapa trekking was definitely an adventure on our list and also our main reason for visiting Sapa. The scenery is insanely beautiful, we explored about 12 kilometers of rice terraces, hills, villages, and rivers. Spending our Christmas Day trekking through all this beauty is something we will never forget. The children played badminton with the locals, we met people from the Black Hmong tribes and had a great lunch at a local house.
We spent our last day in Sapa at our homestay, so we could catch up and chill around the charcoal fire with Alice, the owners' adorable daughter.
I hope to come back one day in spring when the rice planting starts and the plants and flowers begin to bloom. And oh yes, if it's a bit warmer too. If you visit Sapa in December don't forget to bring warm clothes.... :)
