Fansipan, Sapa (Y2019 Winter Trek)
Location: Fansipan, Muong Hoa Valley, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam
Elevation: 3143m
Date: 9-16 December 2019
Duration: 8D7N
Difficulty level: Intermediate
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Flight to Hanoi and Sleeper Train to Lao Cai
Day 2: Trek up the mountains to rest at an altitude of 2800m
Day 3: Summit push in the morning to catch the sunrise and rest afterwards
Day 4: Trekking through rice paddies and Muong Hoa Valley to a Homestay
Day 5: Trekking to a waterfall and R&R in Sapa with a Sleeper Train back to Hanoi
Day 6 and 7: R&R
Day 8: Flight back to SG
Fansipan
Muong Hoa Valley
Introduction
After a really long first semester, a FUN(sipan) trip to Vietnam would be a great way to take a break!! Located in the north of Vietnam, close to Hanoi and the Chinese border, Fansipan is the tallest mountain in Indochina, and is also the most accessible, with a cable car to the summit. However, you didn’t come here just to see us talk about riding a cable car up a mountain did you? So we took the path less travelled, and trekked up the mountain (both literally and figuratively) like true Xtremists ;)
Pre-trip
In order to prepare ourselves for the trek, we had a local hike to Bukit Timah a few days before our departure. Little did we know, it would not be enough to prepare us for what was to come later
Day 1
We arrived at the airport in the early afternoon, only to be told that the flight had been delayed by half an hour. However, this meant we had plenty of time to eat lunch, relax and even play some Street Fighter (who knew Terminal 4 had an arcade machine) before boarding the plane to Hanoi!! We landed in Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi after a 3 hour flight, and were greeted by our kind vendor and fellow participant Rosie, who had arrived a day earlier. She was also the only one in the group who could speak Vietnamese, and that proved really beneficial for us during the trip!
After settling payments for the vendor, we had our first (of many) bowls of Vietnamese noodles for dinner (YAY!!) and spent the night on a lovely sleeper train to Lao Cai Station, which was 30km away from Fansipan (along with a few games of Werewolf hehe).
Day 2
We arrived early in the morning (a little too early for Kai Hsuen who almost left his Macbook in the train) at Lao Cai station which is only 2km away from the chinese border. After a 30min ride to our hotel in Sapa, we had a hearty breakfast and took a short break. A 20 min van ride later, we reached the Tram Ton Pass, the starting point of our trek. We were graciously greeted by a golden land mine (cow dung ew). And with that, we began our perilous journey up Fansipan. We crossed a bridge, and proceeded up the steepest slope most of us had ever seen in our lives. (HELP XD)
By the time we had reached our first rest point half an hour later, we have all transformed spider-men and women, traversing the terrain on all fours, with some of us opting to using trekking poles and sticks. The pre-lunch trek was a mix of bashing through jungle paths and trails, meeting buffalos and wild boars, complete with amateur parkour over bridges and logs.
Group Pic at our first rest point
Lunch for the day at 2200m was Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguette). We sat in a small hut meant for trekkers, accompanied by a cat who was all too ready to clean up our leftovers ;) After lunch, we continued with seemingly endless ridgeline walking, navigating through rocks, steps and even metal ladders. After 5 straight hours of huffing and puffing uphill and downhill, we asked ourselves if we were SMUX trekking, or if we had become a SMUX TrekkingxClimbxBouldering Team. However the amazing view spurred us on, reminding us of our purpose there. The summit loomed, and we were not going to give up then.
We reached our rest point for the night just as the sun was setting. We were all exhausted beyond measure (for some of us, it was the most exhausted we had ever been :/ ). As the temperature fell to ~0°C, simple pleasures such as a hot dinner warmed our sore bodies and hearts as we turned in for the night. The plan was to reach the summit before sunrise, and that meant we had to wake up at 3am the next morning (HELP).
Freezing dinner at 2800m
Day 3
As planned, we woke up at the ungodly hour of 3am to have our breakfast (not that we managed to get much sleep to begin with given how we were all freezing despite being given sleeping bags) Temperatures were at -5 °C as we began our trek at 4am. Being so high up and away from civilisation, we were able to enjoy a sky full of stars (someone even saw a shooting star!). While many of us were hoping for snowfall, we were blessed with ice and dust along the steps, rocks and ladders on the way up. :’)
As the sun slowly rose on the horizon, we reached the cable car station. We had done it. Only to realise that we were still 30 minutes away from the summit. 30 more minutes of stairs and stairs alone. Imagine the horror on our faces when we were told the news.
After 30 minutes that felt like an eternity, we stepped foot onto the summit of Fansipan. Most of us were aching in places we never knew were possible, but we all knew it was worth it. Months of planning and training had led up to the spectacular view, 3143m above sea level. We were at the top of Indochina.
As we were presented a medal and a certificate for successfully climbing up the mountain, we admired the sea of clouds below. Now the next question begged: How were we going to drag our exhausted selves down?
A different U
Org Comm (plus Yu Kee) shot :)
After 30 minutes of updating instagram and taking selfies, we hobbled down to the cable car station (more steps URGH). We were not ready for another 8 hours of trekking. A 700,000VND(SGD$41) hole burnt in our pockets later, we were admiring the view of the Sa Pa mountain range as we descended the mountain by cable car, and headed back to our hotel. Hours of beauty sleep later, we headed out for a massage and a scrumptious dinner at a hotpot place (it cost only $5.10 per pax how even?), and ended the day with a birthday celebration for all our December babies!
December Babies hehe
Day 4
Our 2nd trek saw us traverse through the rice fields and valleys of Sapa. We were eternally grateful that it was much easier compared to the challenge that was Fansipan, with our main problem being having to deal with the minefields of cow dung and animals while on the trail. The chickens, ducks, horses and cows were a much needed reprieve after all the rocks and dust on Fansipan, as we trekked past mini-waterfalls and bamboo forests.
After having a simple lunch, the guide gave us a choice of either cutting through the rice paddy fields or take the main road to reach our homestay. we were. Being the Xtremists we are (heh), we all decided to use the rice terrace as it seemed like an interesting route less travelled. Oh boy were we proven dead wrong. XP
Seconds before disaster feat. Randy
The rice terraces had footpaths the width of our feet, with muddy waters on both sides. No amount of prior training could have prevented us from falling deep into rice fields as our boots got soaked in mud (just ask Randy). Our guide Sam told us that there is a French Marathon that runs through the fields of Sa Pa. Till today, we are still wondering how they are able to navigate the terrain. After 2 hours of non-stop balancing beams, mud and screaming, we finally reached our Homestay. We had prepared for the worst: no electricity, no running water, and another freezing night. However, to our pleasant surprise, the Homestay was much better than expected. A hot shower and warm meal later, we tucked into our warm mattresses for the night.
Day 5
CUCKAKOOOOOO!! Everyone was awoken at 645am, courtesy of an entire orchestra of ducks, dogs and chickens. Temperatures were at 8 °C, and we were all freezing. Luckily, the homeowner saved us with hot water together with coffee and tea (thanks Keith!!). After having pancakes for breakfast, we headed off for our final trek of the trip.
Making our way to the famous waterfall at Giang Ta Chai for lunch and pics, we had many amazing photos and views of the valley and villages.
After lunch, we took a bus back to the hotel to wash up and had a quick dinner before heading back to Lao Cai station. We were also able to visit a cafe (the first of many) to finally try some egg-coffee and bubble tea before boarding the sleeper train back to Hanoi.
Day 6 and 7
The next 2 days were spent having R&R in Hanoi. We split into different groups exploring Hanoi, and some of the notable places we visited were:
-Hanoi Social Club (cafe)
-St. Joseph’s Cathedral
-The Note Coffee
-Water Puppet Show
-Lotteria
-Cafe Duy Tri
-4P Pizza
-Ho Chih Minh Mausoleum
-Night Market
-Tran Quoc Pagoda
-Hanoi Train Street
-Ngon Garden
Day 8
Alas, all good things must come to an end. We bid farewell to Vietnam and more importantly, to Rosie, who was heading back to the USA to complete her studies. Really thankful for her breaking the language barrier for us during the trip!
Conclusion
While this expedition may be over, the memories made and friendships forged won’t fade away so easily. To Lars and Rosie, thanks for taking part even though you were exchange students and I hope that you will always remember us and this trip!! For the rest, jiayous for the rest of your time in SMU!! :) And to whoever is reading this, I hope this inspires you to go out and make your own trips, treks and memories :)
