- Northen Vietnam -

One of Vietnam's most interesting places is the northern region. It is the home of many tribes that migrated from China some 500 years ago. When China's emperor tried to unify all of China under one regime, they resisted and fled south to the mountains, of what is now northern Vietnam. This is why these people are different in both looks and culture from the rest of the Vietnamese people.
After a night train to Lau Cai, a small border town which is the gateway between China and Vietnam, we took a mini-bus to Sapa which is the center town of the nearby tribes of north-west Vietnam. The next day we went on a two day trek down the nearby valley to see the H'mong and Red Zao tribes. Here are a few photos of the sights and the people we encountered.

The Valley we trekked:

Rice fields on every peice of land that allows it:

The Trekkers after a long hike:

Our guide Za, which is from the H'mong tribe:

H'mong tribe woman:Red Zao women:

Local children saying "Want something?" \ "Maybe this?" \ "Buy from me?" \ "Buy two?" in perfect disharmony:
H'mong woman teaching her child how to sell souvenirs: A stupid looking animal:
Carla - the swiss girl we've been trekking with:
The simple life (between the kids is a baby bird they have been playing with):