The four star Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa, the only luxury hotel in North-Western Vietnam, opened in March 1998. Built as a traditional mountain chalet with accented wooden décor and a welcoming stone hearth fireplace, the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa overhangs the village, blending perfectly with the natural surroundings.

With its luxury dining and sleeping carriages, the Victoria Express Train is the ideal means of transportation to travel from Hanoi to Lao Cai (Sapa).

The location and luxury services of the hotel have been carefully planned to allow guests to experience something different and unique, in close harmony with nature and with the local hill tribe people.

Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa is located in Sapa, 380 km (236 miles) Northwest of Hanoi, among the Hoang Lien Mountains, in Lao Cai Province, near the Chinese border. 1650 metres (5413 feet) above sea level, famous for its pristine environment, its unparalleled scenery and its cool climate, Sapa is home to more than 30 colourful hill tribes and close to Vietnam’s highest peak, the 3143 metres (10311 feet) Mount Fansipan.

ROOMS

The Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa features 77 stylishly designed rooms, each with private terrace, wood flooring and a warm touch of local decoration. Guests will feel at ease in the “mountain chalet” atmosphere. All guest rooms offer views over Sapa village, the resort’s lush gardens or Mount Fansipan.

All rooms at Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa are equipped with colour satellite television with international news & movies, direct dial telephone, in-room safety deposit box, mini-bar, tea & coffee making facilities, hairdryer, umbrellas and slippers. In addition, all rooms feature individually controlled ceiling fan and private bathroom with bathtub. Interconnected rooms are available. Baby cots can be arranged upon request, baby cots are provided free of charge, and are upon availability.

DINING

The Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa offers the finest dining available in Sapa. Our Chef’s fine cuisine blends unique ingredients from the Sapa region to create exciting international dishes with a French and Vietnamese flair.

Ta Van Restaurant

The Ta Van Restaurant has a large central fireplace and spectacular mountain views from the terrace. The restaurant offers a variety of European and Asian cuisines with Cheese Fondue as a specialty. In the summer months you may dine on the terrace, with a view over Mount Fansipan.

Seating capacity: 110 indoors, 30 outdoors (from March to October)

Opening hours: 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM

Minority Dance Performance

H’mong and Thai Minority people perform Traditional Dances every Saturday night at Ta Van Restaurant from 8.00 PM until 9.00 PM. They will charm and entertain you through several traditional dances.

Ta Fin Bar

Enjoy a glass of hot red wine by the fireplace after a day of sightseeing in the Sapa region.

Seating capacity: 30 indoors

Opening hours: 6:30 AM onwards

The Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa offers a fine wine list including Victoria Hotels & Resorts exclusive Private Wine Collection: the exquisite Bordeaux Millesime 2003 and Chardonnay Millesime 2004, sparkling wines and great European, Australian, New Zealand, Chilean and South African wines.

ROOM SERVICE

Local and international dishes are also available for in-room dining from 06:30 AM until 10:00 PM.

SPA & BEAUTY

After an exciting day of sightseeing, we invite you to refresh your soul and body with a revitalizing Spa experience, at our Spa center, the Victoria Spa Sapa.

Swedish Massage (60 minutes): The ultimate relaxing massage using soothing hand movements to work deep into the muscle and soft tissues. Relieving you from stress and tension…

Aromatherapy Massage (60 minutes): A gentle calming massage enhanced with aromatic essential oils to balance your mind restoring the sense of well being.

Sapa Hot Stone Massage (90 minutes): Mountain stones which are heated then massage to the body to melt stress and tension. This massage deeply soothes and relaxes creating a sense of balance and calm.

Traditional Thai Massage (60 minutes): An ancient technique employing stretching and pressure point work to balance the flow of Qi through energy channels known as sen lines. The effect is uniquely relaxing as well as energizing.

Victoria Massage (90 minutes): Discover the traditional Thai Massage and Reflexology treatment, which incorporate back and stress relieving head massage that warms, invigorates and relax muscle tissue.

Improves circulation and rejuvenates the body including: Foot Massage (20 min.), Thai Massage (40 min.), Oil Massage (20 min.), Head Massage (10 min.), Wooden bath (30 minutes) and Fansipan Scrub (120 minutes).

Reflexology : Foot Reflexology (60 minutes) and Hand & Foot Reflexology (60 minutes)

Reflexology is a traditional oriental massage to facilitate relaxation and a sense of well being. It is a natural way of balancing the entire body, stimulating circulation and alleviating muscle tension by using acupressure.

Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

RECREATION

The Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa offers the best recreation choices in Sapa.

Mountain trekking is the most exciting and interesting activity to explore the mountain villages.

Recreation and leisure activities include:

• Russian jeep (3 seats), mini bus (15 seats) are available with drivers to discover the Sapa region
• Another means to get around the area is by mountain bike which are available for guests who want to explore different pursuits by themselves
• Indoor swimming pool 14.2 x 9.8 metres (46 x 32 feet) overlooking Sapa village
• Spa
• Sauna
• Massage
• Billiards
• Pétanque
• Tennis court

FACILITIES

To provide a comfortable stay at Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa, services available include:

VICTORIA EXPRESS TRAIN

Reaching Sapa has never been more appealing: travel in style on board the luxurious Victoria Express Train. The Victoria Express Train features one dining carriage and two sleeping carriages to make your travelling experience a most comfortable one.

With its elegant carriages, the Victoria Express Train recalls a more romantic era. Passing through the exotic landscapes of North Vietnam, between the charming cities of Hanoi and Lao Cai (train station at a distance of 34 km (21 miles) from Sapa), it offers every visitor a wonderful travelling experience.

Indulge yourself in our dining carriage, “Le Tonkin”, where you can savour the delights of traditional Vietnamese and Western cuisine. Our talented Chef Nguyen Tien Duc will be waiting for you with a selection of the best wines, adding a further exquisite touch to a memorable experience.

The train departs six times a week, linking Hanoi to Lao Cai. The Victoria Express Train is a 8.5 hour trip from Hanoi to Lao Cai, accommodating up to 52 passengers with comfortable seating, a dining carriage and two luxurious sleeping carriages.

Each sleeping carriage has 6 superior cabins (4 berths) and 1 deluxe cabins (2 berths), all are air-conditioned, wood panelled, with individual reading lights, baggage storage, toilets and oversized windows.

The Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa offers unique packages which allow you to stay in our resort as well as experience the local surroundings. Packages to choose from include: Discovery Packages, Holiday Specials, Hot Deals and Theme Packages.

]]> http://vietnam-travel.org/vietnam-guides-2/hotels-resorts/victoria-resort-spa/feed/ 0 http://vietnam-travel.org/diem-den/sapa-da-l%e1%ba%a1t-c%e1%bb%a7a-mi%e1%bb%81n-b%e1%ba%afc/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sapa-da-l%25e1%25ba%25a1t-c%25e1%25bb%25a7a-mi%25e1%25bb%2581n-b%25e1%25ba%25afc http://vietnam-travel.org/diem-den/sapa-da-l%e1%ba%a1t-c%e1%bb%a7a-mi%e1%bb%81n-b%e1%ba%afc/#comments Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:39:10 +0000 thuytrang http://www.vietnam-travel.org/?p=4782 Nằm ở độ cao 1600m so với mực nước biển, Sapa yên bình nhưng kém phần rực rỡ sắc màu thấp thoáng ẩn hiện trong mây. Được thiên nhiên ưu đãi cùng với những nét văn hóa đậm đà bản sắc của bà con dân tộc, Sapa luôn là điểm hẹn lý tưởng cho du khách xua đi bao muộn phiền, ồn ã và thoát khỏi những ngày thời tiết oi ả.

Địa lý

Thị trấn Sapa nằm trên dãy Hoàng Liên Sơn hay còn được du khách quốc tế biết đến với tên gọi Tonkinese Alps. Đi về phía Tây Nam của dãy núi hùng vĩ này là đỉnh Fanxipan cao 3143m so với mực nước biển, vốn được mệnh danh là mái nhà Đông Dương bởi lẽ đỉnh núi này không chỉ cao nhất ở Việt Nam mà không ngọn núi nào ở Đông Dương có thể vượt qua được. Ở giữa thị trấn Sapa và đỉnh Fanxipan là thung lũng Mường Hoa, nơi mọi du khách đều không khỏi trầm trồ trước vẻ đẹp tuyệt trần của những thửa ruộng bậc thang đặc trưng của vùng núi phía Bắc.

Con người

Thị trấn Sapa là nơi hội tụ của đa dạng nền văn hóa và các cộng đồng dân tộc. Trong số 36,000 dân cư sống rải rác, người Kinh chiếm 15% dân số. Phần lớn cư dân Sapa là người dân tộc thiểu số, trong đó dân tộc H’Mông chiếm 52%, dân tộc Dao chiếm 25%, tiếp đến là dân tộc Tày với 5% và dân tộc Giáy với 2% dân số. Ngoài ra, người ta cũng thấy một lượng rất nhỏ người dân tộc Xa Phó sinh sống ở Sapa. Cho đến này, người Xa Phó vẫn còn giữ nguyên cung cách sống, sinh hoạt và trang phục truyền thống.

Lịch sử

Khu vực này trước đây là nơi cư ngụ của cộng đồng các dân tộc H’Mông, Tày, Dao, Giáy. Thắng cảnh tươi đẹp này lần đầu tiên được khám phá bởi người Pháp vào những năm 1880. Đến năm 1891, cùng với toàn bộ tỉnh Lào Cai, Sapa chính thức trở thành thuộc địa của Pháp và đóng vai trò như một căn cứ quân sự chính của vùng núi Tây Bắc.

Nhận thấy sự ưu đãi của thiên nhiên dành cho thị trấn này với không khí thoáng đãng, quanh năm khí hậu mát mẻ, trái ngược hẳn với hầu hết các nơi trên cả nước, thực dân Pháp quyết định biến thị trấn Sapa thành khu điều trị và nghỉ dưỡng. Hàng loạt các nhà truyền giáo, quân đội và các doanh nhân giàu có kéo lên thị trấn này xây dựng các khu điều dưỡng, biệt thự và nhà thờ, biến một góc Sapa trở thành ngôi làng mang đậm phong cách châu Âu.

Ngày nay, một lần nữa thị trấn Sapa lại mở cửa đón chào du khách đến với những bí mật và ngạc nhiên thú vị của mảnh đất thiên đường.

Geography

The village lies on the Hoang Lien Son Alps, known in English as the Tonkinese Alps. To the South West of Sa Pa, on this beautiful alp, is the 3143m high Fanxipan Mountain, known as the roof of Indochina – the tallest mountain not only in Vietnam but in all of Indochina. Between Fanxipan Mountain and Sa Pa town is Muong Hoa valley, which is terraced into wet staircase rice paddies.

Demographics

The village of Sa Pa is rich in culture and ethnicity. Out of its 36,000 scattered population, the Kinh group (who are the ethnic majority in Vietnam) only make up 15%. Most inhabitants of Sa Pa are ethnic minorities: Hmong 52%, Dao 25%, Tay 5%, Giay 2% and a small number of Xa Pho, who up to this day still preserve very much of their traditional life style, culture and clothing.

History

The area was originally inhabited by the ethnic groups H’Mong, Dao, Tay and Giay. The spectacular site was first discovered by the French around the 1880s. In 1891, along with the whole of Lao Cai province, Sa Pa was officially incorporated into colonial Vietnam and acted as a major defense point in the North West.

Fascinated by the town’s lust nature, clear air and cool climate (which strongly contrasts with the humidity and heat of the rest of the country), the French colonizers quickly turned Sapa into a retreat center. A flux of missionaries, militaries and wealthy business men came here building sanitariums, villas and churches; turning parts of the town into pleasant European villages.

Nowadays, Sapa is once again open for tourists, waiting to share its secrets and surprises with everyone.

I have always imagined going to the Palm Islands in Dubai and just reclining on one of its electrically refrigerated beaches while sipping margaritas, but that sounds unrealistic based on my intern pay cheque, or lack thereof. So I was more than happy to find out that here, in my own country, there is actually a place, which is naturally air-conditioned. Cool air, cool new place and cheap on the pocket; I’m as good as there.

This supposedly magical (and naturally refrigerated) place is in the vicinity of Sa Pa. Ban Khoang Village, is situated in the north-western province of Lao Cai. Some of my friends and I decided that we were going to take a long and adventurous weekend there. We got on the train at around midnight and arrived in Sa Pa the next morning.

Sa Pa mornings are the epitome of freshness. The air feels lighter and sweeter, even the sunlight is different up here. “It is as clear as honey,” Khuu Tri Trung, one of my friends said. “I’ve never seen sky so blue.” We are thrilled when we got to Sa Pa, but even more excited to rent motorbikes to ride up to Ban Khoang. We were instructed by a local motorist to take Road 155 and travel north for 30km. The road, only constructed by the Lao Cai People’s Committee three years ago, was already full of bumps and dips. I felt nervous as we drove that 30km, as to one side stood sheer rock faces, while the other was a never-ending abyss, with the temperature dropping the further we went. After an hour of screaming wind in our helmets, we suddenly heard the powerful roar of a waterfall. “Finally!” we all said to ourselves. Here it was, Lanh (Cold) Waterfall, aka the mysterious “natural air-conditioner”. Water from Lanh Waterfall originates from very high up the 1,500m high Hoang Lien Mountain. Water from the fall remains icy even during the hottest days of summer. We neared the waterfall, close enough to feel the vapour and splashes; it felt like sticking our head in a freezer, cold, clean and totally blissful.

Road 155 runs right beside the waterfall, just a few metres away. The road despite its recent build is already in very bad shape since cold water from the fall pours on it all day. We have no idea why they built the road there, but we really enjoyed the view.

As we stood and stared at the waterfall for half an hour, we saw a bunch of local pupils about to cross the part of the damaged road by the waterfall. They were very nice and waved to us. “Hello!” they called to us, to our surprise in perfect American-tinged English. After they had disappeared behind the curve of the road, we decided to continue on to discover more about Ban Khoang.

As soon as we turned the corner, we saw a fish farm, with owner Phan Son, tending to his ponds. “We take advantage of the cold water to keep various kinds of temperate fish species,” Son said, “Mostly we raise salmon, they have adjusted surprisingly well here”. We looked into the pond and saw schools of salmon swimming in their especially designed ponds.

We were delighted to find that the salmon raised in Ban Khoang was extremely cheap, at just VND 80,000/kg (US$4). Compared to VND 300,000/kg ($15) in Ha Noi, it was a steal. We were about to leave when it suddenly began raining, and the already cool climate of Ban Khoang immediately turned wintry. Son invited us to stay in his canvas farm hut while he prepared the salmon we had just bought.

An hour later, Son reappeared from the kitchen with a big tray with a large pot on it. We were famished at the moment and the cold had penetrated our light summer attire. Opening the pot we were engulfed by a heavenly plume of savoury steam from the poached salmon, an exquisite dish we can normally only find in high class restaurants.

While here in Ban Khoang, we got to enjoy it for practically nothing. We all dug in. The poached salmon with steaming hot rice was perfect. Ten minutes later, when we were about to gnaw into the pot where the salmon had once been, Son returned, this time, bringing a coal-fired stove and a plate of tin foiled salmon. We roasted the treats on the coals until it smelt done, unwrapped it and gorged.

There was really not much to do in Ban Khoang but we didn’t want to leave right away, the fresh air and the cool held us back. In the afternoon, after asking Son about a way to get closer to Lanh Waterfall, we got on our bikes. 30 minutes later, after very careful driving along forest trails, we arrived at the foot of the waterfall. The scenery, sound and the air was amazing. Later in the afternoon, we returned to Sa Pa.

If you are tired of the heat and noise of the city, a visit to Ban Khoang will allow you to enjoy the pristine natural surroundings, making a jaunt to Viet Nam’s far north well worthwhile. – VNS.

                        Fanxipang peak

Lai Cai province is divided into low-lying and high-lying areas. The imposing mountains are mainly in the northern districts of Sa Pa, Bat Xat, Muong Khuong, Bac ha and Si Ma Cai and the lower mountains in the southern and south-western districts of Bao Yen, Nam Thang, and Van Ban.

Ngu Hanh Son Mountain in Ta Giang Phinh village, Sa Pa district is 3,090m high. It is the second highest mountain in Vietnam and the most beautiful one in the north-western region.

Hoang Lien Son range includes famous mountains such as Pu Luong (2,985m), Lung Cung (2,918m) and Sa Phinh (2,871 m).

To the east, Tay Con Linh range runs from Ha Giang to Bac Ha-Si Ca Mai with high peaks like Ta Cu Ty (1,856m), Quan Than San (1,800m) and Lau Thi Ngai (1,638m).

Cao Son mountain in Muong Khuong and Con Voi mountain in Bao Yen along the Hong and Chay rivers are home to Tay, Nung, Dao and Mong ethnic minority groups.

Almost every locality has its own mountainous symbol with legendary stories such as Ham Rong in Muong Khuong town, Ba Me Con in Bac Ha town, Phu Gia Lan in Khanh Yen town, Nhiu Co San in Y Ty and Nhac Son in Lao Cai City.

Lao Cai mountains and forests look most beautiful and romantic at sunrise and sunset.

Ngu Chi Son- the most beautiful mountain in the north-western region

 Pu Luong mountain

 Con Voi mountain range

 Ham Rong mountain in Muong Khuong town

 Ba Me Con mountain in Bac Ha town

 Phu Gia Lan in Khanh Yen town

 Co Tien mountain in Muong Khuong

 Source: VOV

Called “Walking in a Cloud in Sapa”, the festival is designed to lead visitors from surprise to surprise with a series of activities highlighting the rich and distinctive aspects of Sapa’s diverse ethnic cultures.

Visitors can join local ethnic minority people to discover how they dye, weave and decorate their garments, or make their sandals.

They will have the chance to take part in forest tours to pick medicinal herbs and learn how to use the plants as well as preparing the traditional meals eaten by the various ethnic minority groups and explore the customs of the Dao ethnic minority people.

The festivals organizers also plan to make the famous lovers market as authentic as possible.

Other events including a photography exhibition and fairs of Northwestern cuisines and orchids will also be held as part of the festival, said the organizers.