SAPA'S LOCAL TOUR GUIDES

Sapa's tour guides are fantastic! There is an incredible ethnic mix of young, talented, enthusiastic guides including Black Hmong, Red Dao, Kinh, and Giay. The Black Hmong are known to have a great sense of humour and excellent English skills and the Red Dao have incredibly warm personalities. Many of the Kinh (Vietnamese) guides have University degrees in tour guiding, while ethnic minority guides have a lifetime of knowledge from their villages and the surrounding mountains. Both the Kinh and ethnic minorities have their advantages and the perspectives from them are both quite valuable. Take full advantage of whomever leads you with lots of insightful questions or activity requests.

Finally, don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. The culture of the area does not usually ask you to come help with things like the cooking or the daily chores of feeding the animals and working in the field. You will have to be the one to wake up a little earlier and take the initiative. It will be well worth it!