Peaceful Sapa

Trains are punctual in Vietnam. One is required to be board the train earlier. Taking a cab from Old Quarter to the railway station (30,000 VND) after a tasty meal of Cha Ca La Vong (one of Hanoi's famous specialty) for dinner and cocktail for dessert, we found ourselves at another station, not the one where we bought our train tickets to Hue earlier of the day.

We took the 11pm train to Lao Cai

This is how narrow it is in the train. When I carry my backpack, I would've hog the whole alley. It's truly a Vietnamese train, for I doubt anybody a little on the *ahem* healthier side can cross it. 
(Read: Vietnamese all slim and lean)

After about 9 hours, we reached Lao Cai.

向左走向右走?

When we got down from the train, there are people turning left and there are people turning right. We wonder, how on earth they know which direction to go? It turns out either way is ok, depending on which side you are nearer to. We just picked a side and walk.

At this point of time, reading back KennySia's post on Sapa brings back fond memories rather than just a place that he went.

Sapa is the home to the H'mong and Dzao people, also has beautiful view of rice terraces. However view is cloaked in mist as especially during this time of the year, as March is consider one of the colder months in Northern Vietnam. We were told if we wish to climb Fansipan (the highest mountain in Indochina at 3 143 m, we could do it in August/September during summer.

Misty view from Cat Cat Guesthouse

Tourist usually travels to Sapa for the Saturday market.

Hence it is common to see H'mong people dressed in their traditional wear trying to make a sale.

A H'mong girl smile happily for my sis to take her pic after we bought the "pillow" from her

Right after that, we started our trek to Cat Cat Village.

Be it the beautiful scenery,

or watching the locals playing a game of footy,

or seeing the kid creatively producing a picture on the soil,

or this little boy sitting quietly by himself

or this cute dog

Cat Cat Village gives a quiet and serene feel despite being the nearest village to Sapa Town.
I'm glad we did not drop Sapa from the itinery.


Side note: Time seem to pass faster when I'm not working

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