Vietnam ::Sapa::.

Getting transport to Sapa from Hanoi was a day in itself. It first started with the possibility to buy a motorbike and self drive. Sauce and Mustard went and checked out the bulletin board at Hanoi Backpackers Hostel. There were all sorts of bikes for sale from other travellers leaving the country, priced between US$250-$350. However, this plan fell through, as neither Sauce nor Mustard wanted to learn to ride a manual bike in the busy city of Hanoi.


The next option was to catch the 11 hours train. Train tickets from Hanoi to Sapa were US$18 for a hard sleeper, US$11 for a soft seat and US$7 for a hard seat. However, the train tickets were sold out.


While Sauce and Mustard were weighting up their options, they inadvertently found a cheap all inclusive 5 nights 4 days tour package from a laundromat. For US$78, they had their transport, accommodation, all meals, entrance fees and local guide covered. So they were all set to go on their adventure to Sapa the next day.

Sauce and Mustard woke up in the morning from the 11 hours sleeper bus, for a full day ahead in Sapa. Greeting them were a couple of local minority people in their traditional dress. They were then taken to their hotel for breakfast and met Mong, their local guide.

There were seven people in the group, a Polish couple, three Spaniard and the two kiwi condiments. Mong led the group on a 5 hours trek to her local village for the homestay experience. Along the way, the group were followed by a vanguard of local minorities down through amazing rice terraces.

Sauce and Mustard got to see how the local village people live their lives. The village women make their living by making and selling handicrafts to tourists. Most of them learn to speak English by following tourists around from a young age. On the other hand, the men does the more physical jobs like, plowing the fields, construction work and fishing. School is optional in the villages and children trend to work alongside their parents from a very young age.

Sauce and Mustard had a quick stop for lunch at one of the villages and were surrounded by old women and young girls selling their handicrafts. Mustard bought a mini satchel, a bangle and a headband and got a handful of friendship bracelets for free.

After that the group was introduced to their homestay family, and were given time to won't around the village before dinner.Sauce and Mustard went down to the river for a swim and washed their clothes. At dinner, Sauce shared some home brewed rice wine shots with their homestay host.

Waking up to the noise of roosters, roused Sauce and Mustard to an endless pancake breakfast with banana, pineapple and honey.Full of hearty pancake energy, the group set off for a walk to the next village, that took them through more beautiful sceneries.

The group stopped for a short break at a waterfall and once again, Sauce went off the beaten track and ended up falling down to the bottom of the waterfall, breaking his head. After his rescue, the group wound their way through a refreshing bamboo forest that overlooked the valley and had noodle soup for lunch.

Cat Cat falls the next day was nothing spectacular, but it was still a nice walk on a warm day. At Cat Cat falls there is a cultural theatre built out of an old hydroelectric where Sauce and Mustard got to enjoy a cultural performance.

While in Sapa, Sauce and Mustard also had some spared time to explore the markets and did some shopping.