Appointment in Sa Pa and Hue in early winter

Hunting clouds, following the sun

First appointment with Silk Path

Famous for its majestic mountains and endless terraced fields, Sa Pa was my first destination in my 5-day, 4-night trip. With the biggest goal of hunting clouds and watching the sunrise and sunset in Sa Pa, I could not have imagined that the misty town could bring so many unexpected moments.

We stopped at Silk Path Grand Sapa Resort & Spa, a resort likened to a “French castle” among the clouds, before starting to explore, through the introduction of an acquaintance. Silk Path Grand Sapa is located on a private hill about 1 km from the town center, covered by the elegant, graceful white of classic European architecture mixed with the endless green of layers and layers of trees in the large Courtyard garden. Under the morning mist, this place is truly impressive and magnificently beautiful.

The resort's interior is even more dazzling with its refined Indochinese architecture, antique wooden furniture and native decorative details. Following the stone path leading to the buildings, the accommodation system here is very diverse and comfortable, classified according to the typical colors of the Northwest nature.

My companion and I stayed in the Junior Suite, a stunning indigo-blue room with a wonderful private balcony overlooking the town and the distant mountains. Every morning, I tried to wake up early to enjoy coffee in the room and enjoy the feeling of touching the clouds, feeling the cool breeze and the sweet sunlight gently touching my senses. Dawn in Sa Pa is a magical time. When the sun begins to rise behind the distant mountains, the surrounding landscape begins to reveal its wonderful beauty.

Unforgettable moments

From Silk Path, we moved to O Quy Ho Pass. The sky changed from hazy white to captivating blue. Near noon, we quickly went to the Fansipan peak climbing route to conquer a new height and chase the purple sunset. After a long time, taking the cable car and climbing over the stone steps, the legendary Fansipan peak appeared before my eyes - "The Roof of Indochina" at an altitude of 3,147 m above sea level, the towering Fansipan flagpole symbolizing the successful conquest, along with the panoramic view of the green Hoang Lien Son range, deep valleys, and hidden streams crossing.

Touching the depths of body - mind - spirit

In the afternoon, the whole group returned to the hotel with an invitation to enjoy tea from the friendly General Manager and experience a unique energy regeneration meditation class at the outdoor courtyard of Then Yard. At an altitude of 1,500 m above sea level, the highest point of Sa Pa center, where the sunlight shines, converging the vitality of heaven and earth, I closed my eyes, listened to my own breathing and let my body - mind - spirit be balanced. When I opened my eyes, the scene of the sky dyed in purple sunset made me extremely moved and love life more. After the meditation session, we bathed in Dao leaves, soaked in Po Mu wooden tubs filled with aromatic herbs, feeling our bodies and spirits relaxed and nourished.

Ending the journey in Sa Pa, our group raised our glasses together, enjoyed a hot chicken hotpot with green rice flavor, recalled the memories of cloud hunting, following the sun and got ready for the next anticipated trip to Hue.

Living in golden memories

Second "date" in the Ancient Capital

Taking the early morning train to Hue, we quickly moved to our accommodation by private car from the hotel. The driver was very friendly and open, introducing us to many delicious restaurants that the locals often visit.

Silk Path Grand Hue Hotel & Spa was our group's stop in the ancient capital, and also the place that left me with the deepest emotions! The hotel is located in the city center, very convenient for traveling. When the lobby door opened, I felt like I was lost in a contemporary art gallery, with a large space, harmonious windows welcoming natural light, elaborate wall panels and an impressive collection of paintings with the theme of the Royal Court by lacquer master Bui Huu Hung skillfully displayed, next to antiques such as ceramic vases, porcelain, and folk statues.

I stayed in the Junior Suite, with the main blue tone symbolizing the sky, with luxurious wooden furniture and windows overlooking the peaceful An Cuu River. The overall architecture and rooms here are very harmonious, bearing the mark of elegant Indochina, the beauty of the luxurious Royal Court and the decoration of sophisticated eclecticism.

At noon, we had lunch at Nam Phuong restaurant, inspired by the last queen of the Nguyen dynasty. The restaurant space is both cozy and highly aesthetic with traditional metallic partitions, paintings, and collected photos on the theme of Hue, its people, and historical milestones. The quick meal had mussel rice, vegetables, braised fish sauce, and lagoon-style fish soup, simple, delicious, and soulful, imbued with the essence of Hue and filled with the affection of Hue people.

Discover Hue culture and heritage

In the afternoon, we rode a cyclo through ancient streets, under the chilly weather of the last days of the year, and stopped at the Imperial Citadel - one of the great cultural heritages of Hue and Vietnam.

Strolling through the large courtyard, we passed the majestic Ngo Mon Gate, the Imperial City - where the king held court, the Forbidden City - where the king and the royal family lived, admiring the majestic, regal tranquility of this place and the ancient artifacts that were preserved and displayed preciously. Passing through the vermillion corridor reflecting the fading afternoon sunlight and the breezy outdoor garden, I learned a lot about Vietnamese history and culture, especially under the prosperous Nguyen Dynasty.

We returned to the hotel in time for the final afternoon tea. Sitting in the trendy Lobby Lounge, listening to the melodious music, enjoying Asian-European tea and cakes with fragrant butterfly pea tea, all our fatigue seemed to be soothed.

We took the opportunity to capture beautiful photos at the eye-catching check-in corners with soaring gold and red tones. At the end of the first day, I chose the 3-in-1 relaxation treatment at Chi Spa. This is the largest health care center in Hue, with modern and advanced facilities and a team of highly skilled specialists, which made all my senses awaken once again.

Back in time

The next stop of the day was De An Hien - one of the most beautiful ancient garden houses in Hue. Located at 58 Nguyen Phuc Nguyen, just 10 minutes away from the hotel, An Hien Garden House attracted me with its quiet, nostalgic beauty and beautiful, standard architectural and feng shui details. The three-room, two-wing house is made of wood and red tiles, with a lush green garden and a fish pond right in front of the house, creating a peaceful, poetic space.

After a long while, we sat down to enjoy Royal Tea, biting into pieces of sesame candy that reminded us of our childhood memories, paying close attention to the story and the gentle, tender tone of the Hue guide, about the history of the house from the 19th century until now. The scene of the flower garden and the fruit trees rustling in the cool breeze strangely blended with the story, making me feel as if I were living in those years, a part of that time and that memory.

Saying goodbye to the tour guide, we stopped by the first ancient temple in Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda, which lies quietly on the Perfume River, to express our respect and pray for peace and harmony for the upcoming trips. In the remaining afternoon, we took the opportunity to visit Thuy Xuan incense village - where the five-color fragrant flowers cluster together, shining brightly in every corner of the photo. Then we went to the system of Minh Mang tomb, Khai Dinh tomb, and Tu Duc tomb not far away.

We returned to the hotel when it was already dark. Coincidentally, that day was the full moon day, so the garden near the swimming pool was strung with magical, shimmering lanterns. We quickly got ready, put on our five-panel costumes, and joined other small groups for a tea party, followed by a royal-style dinner. The artists sang soft, soulful songs, as if telling stories about Hue and giving us sincere affection. Finally, I understood why so many people, when coming to Hue, are so reluctant to leave.

Our journey ended the next day. When I got off the train to the station, I was still filled with emotions and could not bear to leave the ancient capital. Our days in Sa Pa and Hue were short but meaningful, full and those experiences are hard to describe in words! Goodbye Sa Pa, hello Hue and see you again!

Phuong Mai is a reporter for Travellive Magazine in Hanoi.

Phuong Mai