Unspoiled beauty of Sin Ho Plateau - the second Sapa

Sin Ho district in Lai Chau province has attracted more tourists in recent years thanks to its unspoiled nature and the diverse cultures of local ethnic minorities.

Photo by Tiên Ông

Sin Ho district is 60 km west of Lai Chau city. Its north borders China’s Yunnan province and its south neighbors Tua Chua district, while Phong Tho and Muong Te district are in east and west of Sin Ho. Visitors from Lai Chau township have to go through forests and caves and cross streams to reach to Sin Ho. The district is also accessible from Dien Bien city. On both routes, visitors all find unspoiled natural beauty and rugged mountain terrain. Sin Ho district is at the highest point of Lai Chau province. In the local language, Sin Ho means “place of many streams”. Nguyen Thanh Trung is a local resident: “Sin Ho plateau is considered the roof of Lai Chau province. The climate here is similar to that of Sa Pa in Lao Cai province. It’s cool all year. The weather is favorable for growing flowers, pears, peaches, and plums. Famous scenic spots in Sin Ho include Heaven Gate, Fairy Mountain, Stone Umbrella Mountain, and many valleys and terraced rice fields. There are also primitive forests.”

Not far from Sin Ho, Pu Dao hamlet of the Mong ethnic minority was named by the British travel agency Gecko Travel the best destination in Southeast Asia. Nguyen Thuy Linh, a tourist from Hanoi said: "The landscapes here are magnificent and peaceful. Sin Ho is unspoiled and its beauty inspires tourists. Here you can enjoy buffalo meat, grilled goat, stream fish, sticky rice and thang co, a local hotpot. Salmon is also a local specialty.”

The district of Sin Ho is home to 15 ethnic minorities with the Mong, Thai and Dao being the largest. The local market, which meets only at the weekend, is not just a trading spot but also a meeting place for all the ethnic minorities where they show off their colorful clothes and make dates to meet friends and lovers. This is a place tourists should not miss if they are interested in exploring the local culture and lifestyle. Hoàng Thi Ngoc, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City said: "The atmosphere of the Sin Ho Market is very exciting. A wide variety of products of the northwestern region are available here. I have visited Bac Ha market in Lao Cai and Dong Van market in Ha Giang, but Sin Ho market is different. It offers more things. I bought some dried buffalo meat for my friends and a traditional dress for my daughter. We have sampled a lot of the local specialties. They are very delicious.”

In Sin Ho, the climate is pleasant all year round but spring seems to be the best season to explore the beautiful, colorful wildflower valleys of Vietnam’s northwestern region.