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Nam Cang commune is the most remote region of Sapa district, situated 36 km from Sapa town. The village is inhabited by the Red Dao & Black Hmong minority people. The commune includes 267 households with round 1,578 persons. Before year 2000, nearly 80% of households were in hunger and poverty and over 70% of the population were illiterate, but due to a local development plan the and investments in education and farming the population is now living under much better conditions however still poor. As part of the development strategy the growth of cardamom was initially a pilot project in two households in the commune. But as the result with high economic outcome quickly change the numbers of farmers. Now, Nam Cang farmers grow around 600 hectares of cardamom deep in the forest with an important income in return. But still the biggest croup is rice, whish is somehow the foundation of all livelihood in the mountainous area. During your stay you are welcome to participate in daily traditional activities of Nam Cang people: rice planting or harvesting, fishing, archery, silver smith, bamboo paper making. Nowaday, the Topas Travel has built a community-based home stay for travellers. It is called Nam Cang Riverside Lodge. Located deep in the remote Sapa Valley with a beautiful river running in front of the lodge and green forest just behind you don’t find a better location for staying overnight in an old traditional minority village, in the heart of the Vietnamese mountains. This new lodge is built and owned by a Red Dao minority family and operated in partnership with Sapa Travel and opened in the end of 2013. The area is brand new to visitors so prepare to whiteness the real and remote Vietnam when we go beyond the normal tourist routes, the surprised but friendly looks of local minority people, the children who swim in the river next to your lodge and to be welcomed to private homes as the local mountainous hospitality is unique. We hope you would like to share our interest in unique experiences and welcome you a remote stay but in comfortable rooms combined with good food and service. To book the package to Nam Cang Home Stay, contact our travel expert, Mr. Tran Quoc Long Email: longquoctran@hotmail.com or Sapa Travel...
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Sapa Travel can arrange two, three, and some four day treks with home stays, these are a great way to see the beautiful Sapa Valley and get further from the Sapa Town. Homestays are a type of Inn which is normally run by Giay families down in the valley. When you choose to stay the night at a homestay you wake up already in the valley, which enables you to explore more of the scenery. The guests share one big loft room, on the second floor of a traditional house. The host and their family stay in a separate part of the house. There are no private bedrooms in the homestays. There are hot showers, western standard toilets, beds and tasty traditional food. The homestays are clean and safe. Where is the home stay: – In Ta Van Village – In Ban Khoang village – In Ban Ho village – In Ta Phin...
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Fansipan is branded “the Roof of Indochina” at the height of 3,143m; Fansipan is to be approved as one of the very few eco-tourist spots of Vietnam, with about 2,024 floral varieties and 327 faunal species. The climb is rough, wet and cold, but the views are rewarding if the weather is good. The top is accessible year-round to anyone who is in good shape and properly equipped. No ropes or technical climbing skills are needed, just endurance.Trekking time is 5 – 8 hours per day. Equipment that you should bring Besides your good health, the only thing you should bring yourself is a pair of good walking-boots, or another kind of solid foot-wear. You should have tried them out beforehand, and know that you can walk in them all through the day ! Essentials: – Good hiking shoes (should be soft, well fitted and anti-slippery) – 2 pairs of thick socks ( for use in the walking-boots)Sandals or light footwear ( for use in the evening ) – Sun-cream (with a high factor ; 10-20 ) -Mosquito repellent -Hat or cap, with a shade -Bathing suit -Medicine for your own use (fever, bad stomach etc.) – Warm jacket and pullover (expected to be very cold), preferable with head cover – Rain coat (big enough to cover you backpack as well), cap, glasses – Flash light – Well-fitted gloves to help grab while trekking. – First aid kit (aspirin, anti-biotic, salon pas, healing tape, energy pills…) – Personal hygiene stuffs -Towel -Toilet requisitesOptionals: – Sleeping bag (otherwise will be provided on spot) – Insect spray (not really necessary in this season) – Protectors for knees and ankles- Whistle (to alert in case of emergencies) Additional tips: – All belongings should be compact, light and just sufficient for the trek and to avoid unnecessary burden – Clothing should be loose to make it easy for long treks – Always stick to the group or local porters in case of assistance, don’t deviate. – Keep a good stable pace, no need to rush in any case. If you are ahead of the group, slow down and wait for the company. – Always provide yourself enough energy from the meals, particularly breakfast. See the package for trekking Fansipan with Sapa Travel – Fansipan in 3 days 2 nights – Fansipan in 2 days 1...
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Trekking up to the top of the highest mount to hug that triangle metal piece saying “Fansipan 3,143m” has become a long time tradition among young trekker. And obviously, Fansipan is also a kind of tourist attraction since it is very close to Sapa, a famous destination for tourists in the North of Vietnam, and a few adventurous and athletic travelers love to combine their Sapa trip with this Fansipan Mount trekking. Best time to do this whole trekking thing is April and May when the weather is good, not cold (and especially) not rainy, and you will also have a clear view of the beautiful valley with flowers in bloom. A common question from the trekker is that how is the campsite or the tent when overnight in Fansipan This is the camp at the height of 2,800m where the trekkers have dinner and spend an oh-so-cold night after 6.5 hours of climbing. It is quite dirty, especially on a rainy day Actually the view from the camp will be very nice if it is not rainy or too foggy. And in fact in dry weather you can even do camp fire here. Inside the tin house at night. The hole on the door keeps the winds blowing in all night. It is quite crowded in the camp at...
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Thousands of domestic and international tourists gathered for the 2015 Khau Vai Love Market Culture-Tourism Week, which kicked off on May 13th in Meo Vac district of the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang. The week, which will run through May 16th, features a wide variety of activities including the northernmost beauty contest, cow fighting festivals, horse races, traditional dish exhibitions, and incense offerings at two temples in Khau Vai commune. Vice Chairman of the district People’s Committee Tran Kim Ngoc, who is also head of the organising board, said the week aims to preserve and uphold the traditional ethnic minority culture in the province. The Khau Vai Love Market has its origins in a legend about a couple who were deeply in love but were forbidden to be together because they hailed from differed ethnic groups. The two promised to meet once every year in Khau Vai on the 27th of the third lunar month. The “Phong Luu” market of Son Vi commune is also a highlight of the event, drawing crowds of local residents and neighbouring Chinese people to join and enjoy the event’s art performances and games, according to Ngoc. During the event, tourism service quality, social order and traffic safety have been ensured to serve tourists, he added. The century-old festival, which is held annually in the third lunar month, is a popular meeting place for ethnic groups in the locality, particularly those in love./. USEFUL LINKS Bac Ha Market Sapa Travel...
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People from the south – especially big cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho – think of plums as a Hanoi specialty. But in reality they’re grown on Bac Ha Plateau, 340km from the capital. Plums in Bac Ha, called Tam Hoa plums, are different from those in other regions. Bac Ha’s plums are greenish-red, while those of Lang Son province are pink. Out of all of Vietnam’s different plums, most say Bac Ha’s are the tastiest because they’re so sweet and have small pits. The region is called the White Plateau because it’s home to more than 1,000ha of plum trees. It’s the northwest region’s biggest plum-growing area. Tam Hoa plum farming has helped thousands of ethnic minority households in Bac Ha district in Lao Cai province escape poverty. Bac Ha is home to the Mong, Nung, Tay and Phu La ethnic minority groups. Plum season from late May is prime tourist season in Bac Ha. In recent years it has lured a huge number of foreign and domestic visitors USEFUL LINKS Bac Ha Sunday Market Bac Ha Tour About Sapa...
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