Sapa Culture Week promises surprises

A week-long cultural festival will be held in Sapa, one of Vietnam’s top holiday and relaxation destinations, from April 30 to May 4, in an effort to increase the northern mountainous area’s tourism potential. Called “Walking in a Cloud in Sapa”, the festival is designed to lead visitors from surprise to surprise with a series of activities highlighting the rich and distinctive aspects of Sapa’s diverse ethnic cultures.

Visitors can join local ethnic minority people to discover how they dye, weave and decorate their garments, or make their sandals.

They will have the chance to take part in forest tours to pick medicinal herbs and learn how to use the plants as well as preparing the traditional meals eaten by the various ethnic minority groups and explore the customs of the Dao ethnic minority people.

The festivals organisers also plan to make the famous lovers market as authentic as possible.

Throughout its history, Sapa’s love market on a Saturday night was a destination and opportunity for young, single Hmong, Dao, Tay and Ray ethnic minority people in the surrounding areas to go and find their true love.

Those already married also seldom missed the event, as it offered them an opportunity to revisit old flames and relive the experience of young love.

Other events including a photography exhibition and fairs of Northwestern cuisines and orchids will also be held as part of the festival, said the organisers.