05 Oct
Vancouver Tours Blog

The Beautiful Mountain Town of Sapa Vietnam

Sapa is one of the naturally serene and lush towns in Vietnam. It attracts many travelers with its magnificent landscape, which features colorful tribal villages, French colonial villas, lush vegetation and numerous green fields stacked on one after another.

Sapa is also close to Fansipan, the highest peak in Vietnam. Nestled at an elevation of 4921 feet or 1500 meters, Sapa is in Hoang Lien Son mountain range, in the northwest region of the country. Because of its geographical location, the town’s rugged scenery usually experiences being clouded by a warm mist, which only adds to Sapa’s beauty and charm, and making it truly a unique place to visit.

Sapa is about 376 kilometers from capital city of Hanoi. Sapa has risen to be the most popular mountainous district in Vietnam. You will easily be charmed by the terraced rice fields, the ethnic lifestyle and the cool climate, inviting you to stay longer in Sapa than you intended. Becoming a tourist destination paved the way for the establishment of hotels and accommodation facilities in this town so you don’t have to worry about finding a place to sleep during those tranquil nights. If you really want to immerse yourself into the Sapa lifestyle, you can also arrange for a homestay in one of the tribal villages.

One of the best things to do in Sapa is walk around the town early in the morning as the tourist crowd is not yet in full swing. The town is small, so you can easily navigate your way on foot. In fact, everything in and around town can be explored on foot making the most popular activity in Sapa – trekking. Trekking to various villages is fun and adventurous. Just make sure that you have good trekking shoes or boots and waterproof bag. There are also tours that involve renting a bicycle or motorbike to explore the countryside and visit waterfalls.

There are other less rigorous things to do while in Sapa. You can always visit other neighboring villages like the Lao Chai Village, by hiring local transport like a jeep or van. You may also watch ethnic minority dance performances, sign up for the Hmong sewing classis and visit notable attractions like the Han Rong Resort, Sapa Culture Museum, the Sapa Lake, Bac Ha weekend market and the European orchid gardens and colonial buildings.

Sapa is home to a couple of ethnic minorities such as the Dzao and Hmong. These people live a simple life and have managed to maintain their culture and traditions. It is a rewarding travel experience to visit their villages and learn about their way of life. You can ask them to be your trekking guide instead of getting one through the hotel. Other than agriculture, the tribes are also now relying on tourism for a living.

Remember to always be respectful and courteous when dealing with them, especially when taking photos; always ask their permission first. The best time to visit the town is arguably from September to October as this is the period when the rice fields are turning their color from green to yellow. During wintertime, the town receives more of that appealing fog. No matter when you visit Sapa, you will definitely enjoy this new pin on your travel map!

Source by Nagib Georges Araman

19 Aug
Vancouver Tours Blog

Romford-Essex – Facts About the Town

The town of Romford – Essex is located in northeast London, England. The town is also the headquarters of the London Borough of Havering. If you are in Charing Crossing, you can reach the town by travelling 23 kilometres in the northeastern direction. The town can be found on the London metropolitan plan that lists all the major centres in the area.

Romford started as a small market town.During the time, it was a part of the Essex county and the headquarters of the Liberty of Havering, until 1892.The construction of a railway line and road networks opened the way for further development. The population grew and other industries came into being. The economy of Romford thrived on agriculture, but as time went on, emphasis was on light product manufacturing. The light industry became the backbone of the economy but other forms of industry such as retail have become dominant. By the turn of the 20th century, urban settlements began to form around the area. The town was rapidly expanding and it was not long before the town was granted municipal borough status in 1937.By the beginning of 1965, the borough merged with Greater London.

Modern Romford is a large town with many facilities for shopping and entertainment. Visitors will find large shopping complexes, restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, bars and sports clubs. The town never sleeps because the nightlife is vibrant.

The original town can be traced back to the Medieval Ages. Early Romford grew along the main London road. The town was given market status in 1247.During the time, the population relied on agriculture. Historical records show that corn grinding was done by several mills that were scattered around the town. Besides agriculture, leather processing was one of the main activities.

Records show that many types of industries such as brewing, metalworking, charcoal burning, weaving and cloth making existed in the region. The introduction of transport systems was the main factor in the growth of the town. A road linking London and Romford was constructed in 1721.The project was carried out by the Turnpike Trust.

By the turn of the 18th century, coach services plied the London-Romford road. The Romford Canal was seen as an ideal link between the Thames and the town, but attempts at making the links failed and the idea was finally abandoned. Had the project been successful, it could have provided a channel for transporting goods between London and Romford.

Source by Simon Haughtone