I took this photo while on a bus from Lao Cai train station to Sa Pa Resort. Most of this 22-mile stretch of National Highway 4D is Chu Lin pass, zigzagging up to an elevation of 1600m.
Sa Pa ? or Chapa as originally named ? is a hill station lies in a nice valley, nicknamed The Roof of Vietnam. It is 390 km from Hanoi and near the border with China. It is the most famous hill station in North Vietnam with many old hotels built by the French. It is very foggy in Sa Pa early in the morning, especially between November and February and during this time it is cold (down to zero degree Celsius). Every 20 years or so people in Sa Pa can see snowfall (about 15 cm thick, the last one happened in January 2000). This is the land of H'mong and Dzao people, the largest and most typical groups in the region. Most of them are poor and the old women are well known for their way of selling souvenirs. The best event in Sa Pa is weekend Love Market on Saturday night (after 21.00 pm).The Black H'mong lives highest in the mountains, and are renowned for their musicality, songs and word-play. The women wear tunic-style dresses of hemp fabric, dyeing with natural indigo to a deep purple-black. They wear strips of indigo cloth as leggings, and stunning silver bangles around their necks and arms.
I believe Portugal is a beautiful place, too. I wonder if you can photograph some places in this country and email to me, if possible. I want to learn by seeing about Portugal, its beauty, and its culture that reflects in architecture. (If you say YES, I will send you my email address)
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