7 compelling reasons to grab your backpack and head to Sapa for a getaway

Not every time you get to experience a winter 'abroad' without actually leaving the country, like when you travel to Sapa right now.

7 compelling reasons to grab your backpack and head to Sapa for a getaway

1. Understand what it feels like when the temperature drops below 5 degrees

Born in a tropical land, the concept of extreme cold is as distant to us as the autumn breeze is to the West. Instead of going abroad to experience temperatures below 5 degrees, a simple solution is to just travel to Sapa, enough for you to imagine. Skin-cutting, bone-chilling cold, hiding beneath layers of warm fleece and puffy jackets will still make you shiver.

2. You might actually witness snowfall

Because snow is an incredibly distant concept in Vietnam, anyone who visits Sapa in winter carries a dream of white snow. Everyone wants to gaze at snow without having to go to France or England. Everyone desires to play with snowballs, tossing them like foreign kids. Everyone hopes to see snowflakes landing on leaves and roofs, reminiscent of a winter scene in a Korean movie. A pure, innocent longing that can be completely satisfied when visiting Sapa on the coldest days.

3. Stroll through the freezing cold streets

Many Saigonese look forward to going to Hanoi to stroll through the cold, misty streets. Similarly, people in Hanoi want to go to Sapa in winter. Because, just like in London, you can wander through small, charming lanes in the mist and chilly drizzle. It might be uncomfortable at first, but it's a delightful experience for those who want to enjoy the winter of a foreign land.

4. Admire the true essence of Misty Sapa

Sapa is known as the city of mist, so there's nothing more fitting than admiring it when it's covered in cold mist. Quiet villages immersed in shades of silver-gray, traditional costumes standing out brightly in the hazy mist... A scene with a melancholic tone yet full of poetic charm.

5. Indulge in grilled dishes and Sapa hot pot

Especially for grilled dishes, don't claim you've traveled to Sapa without indulging in grilled delights; otherwise, you might face some 'discrimination.' Grilled specialties or catfish hot pot are already delicious in winter. Eating them in Sapa's super chilly, 5-degree Celsius weather is an even more complete and satisfying experience. Just imagine the fragrant mountainous fish, spicy beef wrapped in mustard greens sizzling on the charcoal stove; it's enough to make Hanoi's grilled dishes seem a bit less appetizing (though there might be a hint of disloyalty in saying that).

6. Sit at a cafe on Cloud Bridge Street

In such bone-chilling weather, don't miss the chance to escape to a cozy cafe on Cloud Bridge Street and enjoy a hot drink. It might sound ordinary, but it will bring a completely different feeling as you immerse yourself in the clean air and the freezing cold of this beautiful town.

7. But also to learn to empathize with those in need

The joy of immersing yourself in the 5-degree cold, admiring the white snow, is a pure, bright desire that cannot be judged. But at that moment, you will also learn to love, to empathize with those less fortunate. When you see cold wooden houses in the winter wind, skinny children wearing thin coats and bare feet running on dirt paths, elderly ladies wrapped in ethnic scarves but still unable to escape the shivers... at that moment, you will understand their circumstances better, and your heart will be moved by these people living in scarcity.

According to Trí Thức Trẻ/Photos: Đầu Tròn, Tú Quách

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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour