Sapa

A group of us ventured into the north western part of Vietnam (near the border with China) to explore the mountainous rice growing region that is home to many different minority groups.

The terraced rice fields that flow endlessly over the mountain sides are breathtakingly beautiful and entirely removed from the bustling city life evident in both Hanoi and Saigon.

Water buffalo are used to cultivate the rice.

We took a flight from Saigon in the south to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. From Hanoi we took a sleeper train heading north overnight to Sapa. After walking around the region, we met a Hmong woman named Ping who took us to her village, cooked us lunch, and guided us through the mountains.

Hmong, who speak a language different from Vietnamese, can be found mostly in northern Vietnam and parts of China.

Children singing on the edge of the rice fields.