Tết (New Year) festivals in mountainous northern Vietnam move to a soundtrack of rhythmical drum beats and laughter. People dance, sing, play games and socialise during a series of separate events scattered throughout the highlands.
This short video shows the Dao, Lao, Thai and Hmong celebrations in both Lai Chau and Lao Cai provinces.
Tết Guide 2025
Tết, or Lunar New Year, will be celebrated from January 25 to February 2, 2025. Festivals take place from the 4th to 12th of February. Tết is festive with colourful decorations and vibrant celebrations, but be cautious; local travel increases exponentially meaning costs rise, and business hours become irregular.
As more people venture up to Sapa, we are becoming increasingly surprised by the choices people make.
The vast majority of people visit Fansipan Cable Car, Moana, the Alpine Roller Coaster and the bustling Cat Cat. These are great places for a selfie, but are not great places. They offer no real culture. Any attempt at culture is manufactured, manicured and manipulated. These places are nothing more than mass tourism locations complete with ticket offices, souvenir shops, snacks stalls and vendors trying to eek more money out of you everywhere you turn.
The good news is Sapa is so much more. Most typical backpackers wander a little further into Lao Chai and Ta Van villages hoping for more adventure and authenticity never realising that the real Sapa is elsewhere. Travel agents with no knowledge of the area still talk about these villages as being remote, wild and beautiful. They are not. They are touristy. Extremely. But there are real villages and the locals that live there are welcoming, genuine and kind.
But there is more. The great news is that for anyone prepared to explore, Sapa has so many hidden gems. There are waterfalls less than 7km from Sapa town that offer incredible views. They aren’t named and are not listed on Google maps. Thank goodness. Hardly anyone ever ventures there. There are epic rice terraces, winding rivers, wonderful forests and vast lakes to be found all across the district, and most of these location ever see a soul other than locals tending to the land or herding their water buffalo. Most impressive of all is the culture. It’s everywhere. It’s fascinating. It’s beautiful.
We are not film makers. We’re just a small team of people with a passion for the area we live in. This video was shot on an old iPhone and a DJI mini 2 drone over various seasons. We love to explore. We love to ride. We love to wild camp and walk. We love to learn. If you want to learn too, send us a message and we can help you adventure with us.
Cloud watching in Sapa is special due to our stunning mountainous landscape and unique weather conditions. Over the winter months (November to January), the region often experiences a natural phenomenon called "cloud sea," where clouds settle in the valleys, creating a breathtaking view that resembles an ocean of clouds.
The combination o terraced rice fields, towering mountains, and the ethereal mist adds to the magical atmosphere. Additionally, the tranquility of the area allows for a peaceful and reflective experience, making it a favourite time of year for both tourists and photographers.
Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Workshop
In the next step for our team, our five Hmong youth leaders took responsibility to organise a venue, to gather participants and arrange all of the planning for this class.
Despite the thick fog and rain, those who attended were not put off by the adverse weather and were able to learn a lot about how to protect themselves against the perils of human trafficking.
Just like our other recent workshops, around 40% of the 12 to 16 year old Hmong girls in attendance have lost friends or family members to the human trafficking trade.
Together, we can make a difference.
Our Hmong peer role models are powerful because they provide relatable examples of success and behaviour that other Hmong teenagers can aspire to. They demonstrate that achievement is possible within the same social or contextual environment, fostering motivation and a sense of belonging. Additionally, peer role models can offer support and guidance that resonate more deeply with individuals, as they often share similar experiences and challenges. This relatability can inspire positive change and encourage others to pursue their goals.
We now have a team of five Hmong Peer leaders, ages 17 to 24, all of who show great pride in teaching their community about the human trafficking trade and how best to protect themselves.
#fighttrafficking #endhumantrafficing #endslavery #humantraffickingawareness #NotForSale #endhumanslavery #slaverystillexists #sapavietnam #freedomforall #ethosspiritsapa #ethicaltravel #sustainabletourism #vietnam #CulturalDiversity #sustainability #ethosspiritofthecommunity #ExploreVietnam #culture #sapa
Our two day motorcycle loop from Sapa puts culture right at the heart of the experience. As we ride through rice terraces, national park forest and green tea plantations, we visit people from the Lao, Hmong and Dao communities.
Exchanges between cultures foster greater understanding and appreciation of different perspectives, traditions, and values. Travellers benefit from exposure to different cultures, gaining new insights and experiences that contribute to personal development and global citizenship.
This seven day loop is for experienced riders only. There are two days with a mix of challenging terrain. Off-road riding experience is essential and previous riding experience in Vietnam is highly recommended.
Accommodation involves camping (one, two or three nights) and staying over in local tribal homestays, making this ride ideal for those wanting a uniquely immersive and experiential travel experience with lots of culture.
This epic road trip is one of the most enriching cultural experiences in Vietnam. Our journey meanders through rice terraces, along the shores of great lakes, through coffee plantations, green tea fields as well as rubber and cinnamon woodland. Beginning in Lao Cai, the loop passes through Son La, Dien Bien Phu and Lai Chau provinces and into some of the most remote villages in the northern highlands. We will spend time with the Flower Dao, Lu, Black Thai, Hmong, Red Dao and Lan Tien ethnic minority groups.
This seven day loop is a great way of discovering some of Vietnam's greatest secrets. Weather is always difficult to predict in this region, but spring (February - May) and Autumn (September - November) are probably the best months for warmth, light, and colour. The lakes are at their most beautiful between October and March while June to August see the rice terraces at their most beautiful. These months are also typically warmer and wetter. Our recommended months for this loop would be October, November, January, February and March.
The four Northern provinces are known for their beautiful natural landscapes, including mountains, forests, and great lakes. The area is also home to diverse ethnic communities, each with its own unique cultural traditions. The district is a popular destination for those interested in exploring the cultural heritage and natural beauty of northern Vietnam.
If you’re lucky and the weather is good, then the scenery on the loop is fabulous. The grandeur and scale of the mountains and valleys of the nort
Targeting vulnerable Hmong teenagers, our Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Workshops are designed to educate and empower. Taught exclusively in Hmong by young, female community leaders, classes aim to break stereotypes and challenge the issues behind the trade in young girls.
Our young Hmong female leadership team are role models that share similar backgrounds or experiences with those they influence, making them relatable. This can encourage individuals to aspire to similar achievements because they see someone like themselves succeeding. Peer role models can inspire their peers to overcome challenges and pursue their passions.
The girls in attendance often learn better from their peers, as they feel comfortable asking questions and seeking advice from someone they perceive as an equal.
Fighting against human trafficking in Sapa means standing up for vulnerable women and girls. Generally, victims of human trafficking are subjected to coercion for the purpose of sexual exploitation or misrepresented marriages in China. Education is therefore an essential tool to help end this form of modern day slavery.
Our latest class took place in Ta Giang Phin. Thanks to the organisers and teachers for making this happen.
#endhumanslavery #endhumantrafficing #humantraffickingawareness #fighttrafficking #NotForSale #endslavery #slaverystillexists #freedomforall
Most years, the annual rice harvest in Sapa concludes in late September. Although exact dates vary, villages plant and harvest rice depending on local weather patterns. As we enter October and the drier season, Sapa becomes a wonderful place to witness free roaming water buffalo, wild meadow flowers and beautiful butterflies.
Four day road trip adventure loop from Sapa.
Our motorbike loops are designed to take in some of the best scenery in all of Vietnam in areas barely travelled. The multi day loops create opportunities for travellers to immerse in vibrant cultures, allowing engaging cultural exchanges with local communities throughout the duration of the trip and beyond. All experiences are made to promote learning and cultural interaction.
This four day loop includes swimming in waterfalls, camping in caves, foraging walks with local people, ethnic minority markets and so much more.
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Update from Sapa 24th of September 2024 ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Contrary to some false reports that Sapa is still suffering from the after affects of flooding and landslides caused by Super Typhoon Yagi, here is a video shot in Sapa today. Make your own mind up!
• All of the main trekking routes are walkable as usual with about 30% of the rice still golden yellow and yet to be harvested. Scenery is more autumnal now. There are lots of meadows flowers and temperatures are pleasantly cool.
• Fansipan cable car and the mountain trekking route up Fansipan are both open as usual.
• The Silver and Love waterfalls are both accessible and looking spectacular.
• The Red Dao herbal baths are open and welcoming guests as normal.
• The glass bridge in Tam Duong (35 minutes from Sapa) is open as usual.
• The Alpine Coaster is open as usual.
• Cat Cat village is open as usual.
• All hotels and restaurants are open as usual
• Both the Hanoi - Lao Cai trains and bus services are all running.
Community based Social Enterprise helping ethnic minority groups in Vietnam overcome hardship. ETHOS giúp đỡ nhiều người nghèo vượt qua những khó khăn.
