Buzz
Sapa is increasingly crowded and bustling, but amidst the chaos, you can still find incredibly private and stylish spaces.
Weekend Getaway: Discover Two Hidden Gems in Sapa
Since the opening of the Hanoi - Lao Cai expressway at the end of 2014, Sapa has become a popular weekend destination and during Tet holidays due to its convenient accessibility. The travel time from Hanoi to Sapa now only takes about 4-5 hours, instead of the previous 10-12 hours. Consequently, this misty town is always packed with tourists, feeling cramped and stuffy... Instead of squeezing into the town center, seek out spaces outdoors, where you'll feel more relaxed and enjoy life more.
Gem Valley Cafe and Art Gallery
Gem Valley is an art gallery combined with a café, restaurant, and small accommodation owned by a Hanoi-based artist couple who have been living in Sapa for the past 10 years. Located about 3 km from the center of Sapa town, along the path to Cat Cat village, after passing the ticket booth, descending into the valley and up the Viet - Japan hill for about 50 meters, you will arrive at Gem Valley. It has become a popular spot for young locals and foreign backpackers to check in recently.
The owners of the café are exceptionally welcoming. They moved to Sapa to pursue a peaceful life, akin to a true paradise, away from the urban hustle and bustle. Despite initial shock, they gradually grew fond of this place, eventually falling in love with it. The first impression of Gem Valley is its sweeping vista of valleys, rice fields, and majestic mountains right before your eyes. You might find yourself enraptured, especially on sunny days when the sky is clear, clouds gently drifting, and the climate cool. You could spend hours sitting by the long table along the railing, gazing out into the vast expanse ahead, with endless rice fields and the distant Fansipan peak. Enjoying a warm cup of tea, reading a book, and occasionally inhaling the crisp air is truly delightful.
Initially, their home was just a small wooden lodging available for rent as a homestay, but later it was upgraded with the entire second floor dedicated to guests, although quite limited. Guests coming for a stay often need to make prior arrangements, with costs ranging from 200,000 VND upwards per person. You can opt for shared accommodation in the common activity room. Here, you can also order lunch and dinner with homemade dishes such as freshly picked squash from the garden, local pork, fried rice, or plain rice... at a cheaper cost than in the town center.
Topas Ecolodge Resort
Topas Ecolodge is located 18 km away from the town center of Sapa, accessible via a 45-minute car ride through winding mountainous roads. Situated on a hill, all 25 small houses at Topas Ecolodge are designed like an arch facing the surrounding mountain ranges. Each house resembles a quaint tent, clean and built with white granite stone and palm leaf roofs. The guest rooms are modestly decorated with furnishings close to nature, using materials like wood, bamboo, and rattan... Each room has a balcony overlooking the valley, where you can sit and chat, read a book, listen to music, or simply relax amidst vast surroundings...
The aim of the Topas Ecolodge hosts is to create a space unlike typical hotels or resorts. This is truly an ideal place for nature lovers, those who wish to disconnect from the modern world and its hustle and bustle. If you're someone who values convenience, with electronic entertainment devices, you might want to reconsider before coming here as there are no TVs in the guest rooms. All houses within the resort use solar energy for power supply.
The resort does not have a communal swimming pool; instead, there are large wooden bathtubs in each room, accompanied by relaxation spa services using medicinal leaves from the Red Dao people. Here, guests will indulge in special shampoo and shower gel that does not harm the environment.
From any spot within the entire resort area, visitors can indulge in the scenery of the surrounding mountains cascading down to the lush green Muong Hoa valley. On clear days, guests can even catch sight of the winding roads and the rooftops of Ban Ho village, with streams flowing incessantly. Topas Ecolodge is also where Facebook's owner, Mark Zuckerberg, stayed during his visit to Vietnam.
As per Ngôi Sao
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Reference: Travel guide by Mytour
MytourFebruary 3, 2016
