I took the overnight train from Hanoi and arrived in Sapa on Sunday at 4:45am. The guest house had incredible views of the mountains and valleys below, particularly at sunrise. I spent the morning exploring the covered market and in the afternoon, trekked down to the town of CatCat, which is a Black H’mong village, when I came back, the power was out in the entire village and remained that way overnight.
Yesterday, rain and fog rolled through Sapa. I trekked for 6 hours through mudslides and rice terraces until I reached the Village of Lao Chai, also a H’mong village. I stopped for lunch there and then continued to Ta Van village, where the Zay people live. I stayed overnight there as a guest of a Zay grandmother – it was definitely an adventure but the food was delicious! Today was the most treacherous of the treks, through the bamboo forest and back to Sapa, where I’ve taken a much needed hot shower and am repacking for the overnight train back to Hanoi.