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Global Glimpse |
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Global Glimpse: Vietnam #2 |
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Some Flower Hmongs travel as long as three hours each way to the market on foot, often carrying heavy loads. ©Copyright Nick Rivette. |
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June 22, 2008 Traveling overnight by train from Hanoi to the northwestern reaches of Vietnam brings us to Sapa. This quaint town is nestled deep in the Tonkinese Mountains in close proximity to both the Chinese and Laotian borders. The city serves as a staging point for exploring the lush landscape and interacting with the hills tribes that remain a dominant minority in Vietnam’s society. The economy is primarily based on tourism and trade among the peoples living in the region. The mountains provide a cool respite from the heat of Hanoi. Sapa is located at 5,000 feet altitude and is a charming city with lakes, streams and beautiful waterfalls located in nearby villages. The small villages located in the mountains throughout the region provide a glimpse into the diverse and unique cultures of the Hmong, Dao, and Tay tribes. Each wears a distinct combination of clothes, colors and headdresses. Most tribes-people participate in local farming through a complex terrace technique allowing for framing on Sapa’s steep slopes. Local villagers and their labor oxen still painstakingly carve these steppes out of the sides of the region’s hills and mountains. Rice patties and cornfields utilize the majority of the arable mountain land. Members of the tribes also produce a variety of handicrafts to sell in the local markets and to tourists. Weekly markets provide an opportunity to see horse, oxen, pig and vegetable stalls and stands. Needless to say that the open air nature is helpful since there is no refrigeration and all the parts of the animals are on display for cooking and eating on the spot should you so desire. And of course, nothing goes to waste. The best example of globalization in this region is tourism. However, based on the remote nature of the location and limited transportation options, there are few western tourists. Sapa is a more popular vacation spot for the Vietnamese themselves. The mountains, distinct tribes and complex agricultural system provide the traveler with a unique cultural and visual experience in Sapa.
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