After an overnight journey by bus from Hanoi, we arrived in Sa Pa, a mountain town in northern Vietnam. The journey had been far from comfortable, but we were ready to explore our new surroundings. A little rain and mist would accompany us during our stay, adding to the atmosphere of this fascinating mountain region.

The five-hour journey was far from comfortable. The sleeper bus had very little room to move, and getting a proper night’s rest seemed almost impossible. Our travelling companion did his best to catch some sleep, although the cramped berth hardly looked inviting! We weren’t the only unhappy passengers, either. I chatted with the fellow who had been visiting Hanoi and Ha Long Bay before heading home across the border into China. Even he described the journey as a pretty miserable experience!

The uncomfortable journey eventually ended in Sa Pa. By this time, it was raining, but we were met by our delightful young tour guide, Ms May Thuy, who walked us to our hotel, the Chapa Dew. After checking in, we enjoyed lunch at the hotel, where a colourful plate of Vietnamese food made a welcome sight after our long journey. The hotel was modern, light and airy, with friendly reception staff and a large room with modern décor. Unfortunately, the mist and rain had other ideas for our afternoon sightseeing!

We walked around the old town square looking for a few photographic opportunities. The Church of the Holy Rosary was surrounded by tourists, but unfortunately it was locked and we couldn’t get inside. We explored the adjoining square, taking in the views across the valley towards the surrounding mountains, which were shrouded in mist and heavy clouds. For a little while the weather seemed to be improving, but before long the rain returned. It was time to find somewhere dry to sit and wait for it to pass!

After a short while, the sky clouded over again and the rain returned. We quickly made our way to a coffee-and-beer shop, where reggae music was playing. It was around four o’clock, so we tried a local beer, which was cold and refreshing! Sitting inside, we watched the rain grow heavier until the streets were awash with water. The reggae music continued, although some of the tracks seemed rather out of place in rural northern Vietnam! After finishing our beers, we splashed our way back to the hotel.

After splashing our way back to the hotel, we had a little time to freshen up before dinner. Our table was booked for 7.30 at the Indigo Restaurant, which we could see from our room. There were only a few other guests, so we chose a table beside the window overlooking the mist-shrouded mountains and the persistent rain. The set dinner was excellent, although, as with many of our meals in Vietnam, the portions were generous!

After dinner, the rain eased a little, so we made our way to a bar across the road from our hotel, where we could enjoy a beer and watch the world go by. It had been a long day, and after the rigours of our bus journey, our first taste of Sa Pa had been an interesting, if rather wet, introduction to the town. The rain had continued for more than twelve hours, but our hotel room was comfortable and a good night’s sleep was very welcome. Tomorrow would bring another chance to explore this fascinating mountain region, hopefully with rather better weather!