Being a travel buff who has set foot in many locations across Vietnam, I seriously believe that my country is home to some of the best tourist attractions in the world. The problem is, many of them have yet to gain the global reputation that they rightfully deserve. One of the most prominent examples would be Sapa, a mountainous town located in one of the northernmost provinces of my country.Usually referred to as “The Foggy Town”, Sapa is covered with fog all year round due to its high altitude, which gives it such an ethereal beauty. Despite the commercialization which has been taking place in recent years, fortunately most of thelandscapes within the area still remain untouched by humans. Though I have been here quite a few times, the magnificence of the pristine forests and rivers has never ceased to amaze me.

Natural landscapes aside, cultural beauty is certainly another key selling point for Sapa. The town is mainly occupied by the Hmong people, one of the regions’ largest ethnic groups. Tourists can choose to stay in ecolodges run by the Hmongs themselves and get immersed in their culture – you know, enjoying local dishes and trying local costumes. What I love about these activities is that the price point is usually very affordable, which means you can gain authentic experiences within budget.Overall, Sapa is very high on my listwhen it comes to travel destinations within Vietnam. When someone asked me to “describe a beautiful place you once visited”, I always talked about Sapa. Should the opportunity present itself, foreign visitors should definitely pay this spectacular town a visit.

• Travel buff (n): người mê du lịch
• Prominent (adj): nổi bật
• Northernmost (adj): tận cùng phía bắc
• Altitude (n): cao độ
• Ethereal (adj): kỳ ảo
• Commercialization (n): thương mại hóa
• Magnificence (n): sự tráng lệ
• Cultural beauty (n): vẻ đẹp văn hoá
• Key selling point (n): lợi điểm bán hàng chính
• Pristine (adj): nguyên vẹn, ban sơ
• Ethnic group (n): dân tộc
• Ecolodge (n): khu nghỉ dưỡng sinh thái
• Price point (n): mức giá