Jorge Macedo Photography

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I really love this place. It gave me the opportunity to know better the Hmong people. They are really nice, helpful and friendly. My guide, was a girl from the Hmong Black people, her name’s Si, very kind with always a big smile and trying to explain everything about her culture and traditions, sometimes some other Hmong people would join us walking as far as 30kms even I was not going to buy anything more from them.

I still remember Joe, another girl that would come around with her friends, she was trying to improve her English as she would like to become a guide for the better earning and living.

There was this lady that I asked her for directions as I was in need to exchange some money, as the money exchange shops were closed, she took me to a restaurant on the outskirts of Sapa where I exchanged my Us dollars at a very good rate and after all that trouble she would not accept a mere 5 dollar bill. She was truly glad for being helpful.

After three days trekking,  it took me quite a while to convince Si, my guide to accept a tip. After the constant rip off elsewhere, I was so glad to be in Sapa. A place that I  highly recommend to go.

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My guide Si, on the right with her cousin and some other ladies from her village during a 30km hike.

Joe, the shortest one on the left and her friends.