Vietnam: Sapa Rice Terraces
Sapa Valley Mountains and River Flow
Just like the Ifugao Region in our country, Sapa, Vietnam also boasts of scenic mountain views and rice terraces. Though it’s a wide spread practice among our Asian neighbors, this rice irrigation system that turns mountain slopes into scenic stairways to the sky have unique beauty in each country.
Sapa Valley Terraces
Sapa’s Rice Terraces is not a UNESCO listed site like our clusters in Banaue, Batad and Bangaan. But I must admit, it somehow looked more preserved than ours, especially in contrast to Banaue. Our Rice Terraces, more so are scattered in key parts of the Ifugao mountain range while Sapa has a very expansive and wide coverage in an open valley cut by a majestic river.
Sapa Valley Mountain Range
The mountain ranges which is close to the border of China in the North West of Vietnam is known as the “Tonkinese Alps“. Most of the time the mountains are enshrouded by mists. One of the popular activities here is trekking. If you have more time, endurance and if the season is right, you could hire a guide to climb Mt. Fansipan, the highest mountain in Vietnam at the elevation of 3143m above sea level. From Sapa Village it’s only 9km and the climb would take 3 days back and forth.
Sapa Mountains and Rice Terraces
Aside from mountain climbing, a visit to the hill side tribe villages in the valley is another worthy activity. For those taking their time, a map (usually costs around 25,000 VND) and a walking stick would suffice to go around the villages. For us though, we only a limited time of stay, so we hired a couple of motor bikes to take us around the villages.
The Sapa Terraces
At Sapa Village there are already a number of motos for hire to take you to these villages. You just have to make clear on the price and on what your itinerary is. On the next post We’ll look into a couple of villages we were able to explore in Sapa Valley.
Tags: Northern Vietnam, Sapa, Vietnam
Posted on
Wednesday, August 27th, 2008 at 6:22 pm 
Subscribe through 
August 27th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
sayang ‘no, wulfriend? if we had more time, sarap sana mag-trek farther away from the commercialized areas of sapa valley. maybe even to fansipan. ganda ng mga kuha
August 27th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I like these slope views; reminds me of the grandiousness of nature…
August 27th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
i have to admit, mas magandang tignan ang rice terraces nila.
August 27th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
wow!! ang ganda… un ilog un nakaka amaze…
sana makapunta ako s Banaue.. bago jan sa Vietnam.
August 28th, 2008 at 12:25 am
tama ferdz. Mas preserved at well maintained itong rice terraces ng sapa. Ganda din ng landscape. Galing din na nakatiming yung pagpunta nyo na fresh green ang mga palay.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Amig-Og! If we had more time sarap nga sana i climb ang Mt. Fansipan.
It’s even more breathtaking in person Major Tom!
It’s a bit sad nga Ron, looking at the state of Banaue Rice Terraces. The Sapa terraces thankfully is out of the way from the main town, only those hill tribes are living there,
Thank Mimi. Banaue still has its charm and hope makapunta ka nga.
Thanks Dom! It’s a good thing very green and harvest season nga nila. In some ways mas preserved nga ang terraces nila dito.
August 28th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Beautiful rice terraces. It’s good to preserve them b/c at least the newer generation can admire its beauty.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I saw the rice terraces in Bali, maliit lang sha at di kasing expansive ng rice terraces natin. Compared sa Sapa Rice Terraces, this is much better. Mukha nga well-preserved ang terraces ng Vietnman. Yung sa atin kase medyo napapabayaan na rin.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:37 am
This is definitely worth a visit. I wish I could see this someday. Galing talaga ng biyaheng Vietnam ninyo.
August 29th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Sana kahit sa Banaue rice teraces man lang makabisita rin ako..
August 29th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
That’s True Kyels! I hope more generations to come would still be able to see these wonders.
Medyo disappointed nga ako sa Banaue Rice terraces natin Rayts, dahil showing sprawl of developments. Buti n alang yung sa batad and Bangaan medyo malayo at nakatago pa.
ThanksPhotochache. There’s more to come.
Den, madali lang pumunta Banaue. Just tell me if you need help and info.
August 29th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
The first time I learned that there were rice terraces outside of the Philippines, I was so shocked. HIndi pala unique sa’tin.. meron din sa Thailand, Myanmar, China, etc.. Interesting how we have things in common with other Asian countries.