Sapa named among Asia's 10 new winter wonderlands

Sapa town in northern Vietnam's Lao Cai province has been named among Asia's 10 new winter wonderlands beyond Nepal by Canadian travel site The Travel.

Nepal is Asia’s top destination when it comes to winter adventures because it’s home to Mount Everest, the Earth's highest mountain above sea level.

"Vietnam’s winter wonderland is a place of awe," The Travel wrote, placing Sapa at the fifth position in its list.

"When searching photos online of this destination, it’s common to see mountains and valleys covered in greenery, hence the surprise of some that snow visits the area.

"During winter, the town turns green to white, attracting those who want a chill hike up Mount Fansipan or Ham Rong Mountain," it added.

Fansipan is the highest mountain in the Indochinese Peninsula, comprising Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, hence its nickname "the Roof of Indochina".

Sapa, a mountainous resort town in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, is one of northern Vietnam's top tourist attractions.

The climate of Sapa is cool all year round with unique indigenous imprints, including the culture of the two ethnic minorities in Sapa namely the Mong and the Dao, combined with the European architectural space.

The other nine destinations in order are: Wadi Rum (Jordan), Hajar Mountains (Oman And United Arab Emirates), Golan Heights (Israel), Papua (Indonesia), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), Taichung (Taiwan), Yongpyong Resort (South Korea) and Sapporo (Japan).

In 2019, Sapa ranked sixth in the top 10 most attractive destinations in Southeast Asia by Rough Guides.

The UK travel publisher commented: “Việt Nam die-hards will know this former hill station is where to come for a whiff of heart-shifting Southeast Asian scenery. Established by the French in the 1920s as a summer escape from the north’s blasting heat, its popularity has ballooned in recent years, but the adventures remain time-worn."

“Hike to tiered rice terraces in the plunging Mường Hoa valley, overnight in mist-wrapped hills, or ascend Fan Si Pan Mount, the highest peak in Indochina and an unbeatable experience in the smoky light of dawn,” it added.