Business in Sapa

The mountains of the area are terraced to allow rice crops. A typical day long guided trek takes you through paddy fields and through small villages. Pigs, chickens, and buffalo wander through the fields.

Our guide was a 17 year old local H'mong girl, called Lily. Children from the villages wait along the paths to sell you their handicrafts.

Black H'mong children

The children of the Black H'mong tribe are as persistant with their sales patter as they are delightful.



Only girls come to Sapa to sell their handmade goods. Small groups of little girls come with even smaller children strapped to their backs.

They generally speak excellent English, and can engage in conversations in English, Vietnamese, and French.

Trekking in Sapa

I have been having a great time in Sapa. It is very comfortable here as the town is dedicated to tourism.

The ethnic minority groups that live in the villages around here add local colour, as is evidenced by this typical market scene.




The main groups that come to the market at Sapa are the Black H'mong who are the largest ethnic group,



and the red Dao people. This tribe shaves their forehead and eyebrows and wear these striking red turbans.