Sapa ranked amongst top ten walking spots

May 08, 2011 | 21:19

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Lonely Planet travel magazine has ranked Sapa town in the northern mountain province of Lao Cai amongst the world’s top ten spots for walking and hiking.

A view of Sapa

The other best walking spots in the world are the Grand Canyon (USA), Aoraki or Mount Coock (New Zealand), Lake District (UK), Torres del Paine (Chile), Lauterbrunnen (Switzerland), Brecon Beacons (Wales), Kakadu National Park (Australia), Taman Negara National Park (Malaysia), and Dartmoor National Park (UK).

Lonely Planet magazine described Sapa as “The Queen of Mountains”. They talk about “Sapa as it sits regally overlooking a beautiful valley, lofty mountains towering over the town on all sides. Welcome to the destination in northwest Vietnam, gateway to another world of mysterious minority cultures and luscious landscapes.

The spectacular scenery that surrounds Sapa includes cascading rice terraces that spill down the mountains like a patchwork quilt. The mountains are often shrouded in mist that rolls back and forth along the peaks, offering tantalizing glimpses of what lies in wait on a clear day. The valleys and villages around Sapa are home to a host of hill-tribe people who wander in to town to buy, sell and trade”.

In related news, Ha Long Bay and Hoi An ancient town have been ranked at 16th and 20th places for the top 25 best destinations in Asia by Travelers’ Choice on the world's largest travel site, Trip Advisor. Hong Kong is at first position.

Ha Long Bay and Hoi An are now recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

VNAT

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