Huge Interest in Markets of Bac Ha and Can Cau as Sapa Tours Increase

Sapa is proving to be one of the most popular regions in Vietnam for holiday makers this summer. What used to be only a target for trekkers has seen more and more holiday makers including the sleepy mountain town in their itineraries.

Asia Tour Advisor (ATA) have announced huge upturn in the number of tours to this scenic area high in the mountains of north east Vietnam. As the best time to visit Vietnam, for this area gets near, bookings have really taken off.

Situated in the heart of the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range, Sa Pa is known for its stunning scenery. The mild weather here especially from September to December makes it a superb spot for a holiday. Many local hill-tribes reside here adding magnificently to the and cultural diversity. It is these people that have run the markets through generations, changing little.

Sapa town is a languid, peaceful place, high in the mountains and surrounded by picturesque mountains and the most amazing rice terraces. They are sometimes referred to as 'the ladder in the sky' and definitely look their best when view from above. Local people here include the Hmong, Yao, Tay and Giay ethnic minorities. Many provide home stay holidays for travelers, keen to get in touch with real local life.

Bac Ha is about 45 miles north of the town and ASA tours take you be car. It is a delightful journey through the rich green countryside, to the border area with China. Can Cau market is a small affair, in an extremely scenic setting. It only opens on Saturdays so demand is high. The Flower Hmong run the market and are keen to pose for photographs and to meet tourists.

On the Sunday these ATA Sapa tours, take in the much larger market at Bac Ha. Enjoy a morning wake up cup of coffee before heading over to the market, stopping at an old castle on the way. The market itself, will occupy the whole morning. It is a blaze of color and activity as the local Flower H'Mong, Phu La, Black Dao, Tay and Nung tribes people, in traditional costumes, gather to sell and trade their hand made crafts. The textiles are superb, intricately woven materials and hand woven silks are everywhere.

These tours are proving very popular. Mr. Tran Truong CEO of ATA says, "The markets are seeing much larger numbers than they used to get. This is such good news for the local economy. Sapa is one of the poorer regions in Vietnam, and they need tourist dollars badly. The feedback we receive from our customers is telling us that we are getting it right."

ATA offer many different tours to the area, from short two day breaks through to much longer stays including home stays or top class accommodation. Details are on their website.

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