Sa Pa (or Sapa) district is situated at the Hoang Lien Son mountain range about 1500 meters above sea level in northwest Vietnam about 380 km from Hanoi. This region that spreads around a valley and mountainsides and is surrounded by towering mountains with thick fog over the peaks is probably best known for two things:

1) ethnic minorities such as Black Hmong, Red Dao, Giay (Day) and Tao living in the valley and around it in the mountainside villages

2) an amazing mountainous landscape with picturesque terraced rice fields offering great trekking and photo opportunities. Those were the main things that made us come here. Being so high above the sea the climate is moderate and much cooler compared to places like Hanoi, Halong bay or Saigon which after weeks of sweating 24/7 suited us as well.