Listing Topas Ecolodge as "21 places to stay if you care about the planet", National Geographic wrote about it: "Sa Pa can feel a world away from the Vietnam you imagined—and centuries removed from most destinations on Earth—and it’s where you’ll find the bungalows of Topas Ecolodge, crowning an emerald peak amid some of the region’s most remote hill tribe communities."
Panorama view of Topas Ecolodge - Photo from Topas Ecolodge
There is a secluded pocket of northern Vietnam where mountains ripple with a thousand shades of green, rice paddies cascade down the hillsides, and rural villages weave a cultural mosaic that’s vibrant and timeless.
Sa Pa can feel a world away from the Vietnam you imagined—and centuries removed from most destinations on Earth—and it’s where you’ll find the bungalows of Topas Ecolodge, crowning an emerald peak amid some of the region’s most remote hill tribe communities.
The stilted common buildings at the heart of the lodge were sourced from a nearby community of ethnic Tay people; and private guest bungalows swirl along the ridgeline, ensuring a spectacular view no matter which one you check in to.
Wake in the morning to the mist rising with the sun, and spend your days exploring the surrounding forests and ethnic villages—you’ll start to feel the pull of the hill tribes’ centuries-old lifestyle, native to these mountains and virtually untouched by the modern world.
Topas Ecolodge terrace - Photo from National Geographic Magazine
HIGHLIGHTS
Trek through rice paddies and deep into the forests of Hoang Lien National Park to visit a Red Dao village—one of the more remote hill tribe communities in Sa Pa.
On a guided mountain bike ride, learn about the distinct languages, customs, and traditions of five ethnic minority groups that still live much as they have for centuries.
Ride the longest cable car in the world to the summit of Mount Fansipan—Indochina’s highest peak—and see all the way to China on a clear day.
Peruse the stalls of Bac Ha, Sa Pa’s largest Sunday market, then enjoy lunch in a village home.
Relax in the lodge’s heated hilltop infinity pool, and take in incredible 360-degree views of mountain peaks ringed with rice terraces.
Read more on National Geographic
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