Scouts Foreign Report 3: Hanoi & Sapa

I had a short and relaxed flight from the Laos capital to Hanoi with a lovely sunset and mountains peaks rising above the mist. The taxi from the airport was less relaxing. I had to barter with the driver to take me to the old quarter for a set price rather than getting ripped off on the meter but this meant that he decided to try and set his personal best time! An average of about 70 was set and I have no idea how he avoided the hundreds of mopeds and even wooden carts that seem to frequent the motorway.

Hanoi is unbelievable - the old quarter is frantically busy, full of mopeds and produce with narrow streets lined with shady hanging trees. The french influence is obvious and you still see old Vietnamese men shuffling along with berets and goatee beards.

After a couple of days I took the overnight train to Sapa with some friends I originally met in Thailand, another couple and an Aussie guy. Had a good laugh on the sleeper and arrived in the misty cold north - literally a few miles from the Chinese boarder. A minibus took us up through the rice paddies and the fog to Sapa, an old French strategic mountain town. It feels like an Alpine ski resort with cosy cafes serving hot chocolate by the fire and stunning views all around. We hired motorbikes and went with a guide to discover the mountains and valleys.

You will see the photos of the Zao people who came down from China in the 13C. Many of the the tribal people have become very used to tourists and westerners - some of them demonstrating a good understanding of English, French, Spanish, Vietnamese and their own Chineese dialect. After a hard day selling their handicrafts the girls end up on the pool table where they inevitably wipe the floor with the likes of me!




Scout. Reporting for the Pony Club. Sapa, Vietnam