As an activity under the tourism stimulus program of Lao Cao Province, the 2024 Sapa Culture and Tourism Festival in Hanoi will be closed on April 7 at the Bat Giac (Octagonal) House in Ly Thai To Flower Garden, Hoan Kiem Lake Pedestrian Street.

These women from the H'Mong ethnic minority in Sapa Town embroider their traditional brocade fabric. Photo: Duong Toan

The program features folk art performances by ethnic minorities, traditional brocade embroidery demonstrations, folk games, and some stalls selling souvenirs and typical regional food from the mountainous province of Lao Cai, among others.

According to the organizers, the "Sapa Love Market" is the highlight of the festival, with a campfire ceremony at night where ethnic people talk, sing, and play various games according to their ethnic traditions. The special market opened to the public at 8 p.m. on April 5 and April 6.

About 300km from Hanoi, Sapa is a small town in the mountainous Northwestern province of Lao Cai. A charming town with over 120 years of history, it is famous for its rice terraces, mountainous landscapes, waterfalls, and ethnic culture.

Some tourist attractions suitable for hiking and trekking are Muong Hoa Valley, Love Waterfalls, Silver Waterfalls, Sapa Lake, and Cat Cat Village.

The stunning view of Sapa Town from Lady Hill Sapa Resort.

The small mountain town is also ranked number one among winter destinations in Vietnam for a "fabulous escape that won't burn your pocket", according to National Geographic. It has also recently been named one of the world's most beautiful small towns by Time Out magazine.

Sapa is the only Vietnamese town among the 16 selected by Time Out, alongside world-famous towns such as Grindelwald (Switzerland), Alberobello (Italy), and Esperanza (Australia).

The magazine has chosen these cities for their postcard-perfect beauty, which inspires travelers' admiration and a desire to visit and experience things often unseen in large cities.

In early May 2023, the US travel magazine CNN Traveler selected Sapa as one of the 50 most beautiful cities in the world.

In June 2023, the India Times described Sapa's terraced fields as "spectacularly scenic and iconic" for tourism in the northwestern highlands.

The art performance 'Sapa in the Mist' will be performed at the 2024 Sapa Cultural and Tourism Festival in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of the event organizers.