Sapa named among world's 50 most beautiful small towns

The town of Sapa in northern Vietnam's Lao Cai province has been named among the world's 50 most beautiful small towns by U.S. travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler.

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

"Far from Vietnam’s popular beach resorts, massive metropolises, and teeming World Heritage Sites, Sapa is a (relatively) quiet mountain town near the Chinese border," it wrote.

"It’s known for mountain vistas, shockingly green rice terraces, and the proximity to waterfalls and hiking trails," it added.

The best town on the list was Albarracín (Spain).

According to the travel magazine: "This isolated mountain town along the Guadalaviar River is a major contender for the title of the prettiest small town in Spain, with pink- and orange-hued buildings that blend in seamlessly with the rocky surroundings."

In March, Sapa was named one of the 10 most scenic towns in Vietnam by Canadian travel site The Travel.

"Sapa (also spelled Sa Pa) is one of the only spots in Southeast Asia where it snows, but whatever the season, this town welcomes visitors. It is also known for its terraced rice fields, a picture-worthy scenery that equals that of Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines," the travel site described.

"Located in a valley, Sapa is enveloped by hills and mountains, and it looks magical when misty or foggy. When tourists reach any of the peaks, they’ll have commanding views of the valley, elated to see a piece of heaven on earth," it added.

The climate in 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 European architectural space.

Last November, Sapa was named among Asia's 10 new winter wonderlands beyond Nepal by The Travel. In 2019, Sapa ranked sixth in the top 10 most attractive destinations in Southeast Asia by Rough Guides.