Sa Pa is gorgeous with beautiful green mountains covered in terraces of rice paddies. We arrived after an overnight train from Hanoi. Immediately upon getting off the bus, we were greated by children from the H'Mong hilltribe who asked us where we were from, our names, etc. We were shocked that they didn't try to sell us anything at first, but after hiking with us down the mountain, we got the cries "Buy from me!"
Hiking was beautiful and fun. We hiked down from the clouds on the top of the mountain, across watefalls, and down the terraces into the villages. We saw lots of animals, butterflies, children following water buffalo, villagers farming etc. The traditional costumes are very pretty and the girls are stunning, but it seems like the village life takes are hard toll on the older women. We met a 20-year old who already had 3 kids. They hike every day for 2 hours to get to Sa Pa to greet tourists and then hike with them down the mountain to eventually sell us stuff. I ended up buying two terrible musical instruments just to get the kids to stop bothering me.
Overall, it was a beautiful trip but tourism has commercialized the town and the hilltribes. I think for a more authentic experience, you would have to travel on your own deep into the mountains for days.
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