Sapa - Cat Ba

Two must-dos when in the north of Vietnam. From Hanoi, you can take great tours. Either towards the sea or into the mountains. After these days, I know that I am more drawn to the mountains than to the sea. Maybe that's why I feel so comfortable in Switzerland 😊 Unfortunately, the weather was not good for swimming and sunbathing. It's winter here with about 8 degrees at night in the mountains and 15 degrees during the day. It was already 19 degrees at the sea, but a bit uncomfortable due to the humidity if you don't move around.

Cat Ba: belongs to Ha Long Bay, which is more familiar to most people, and is slightly less touristy. Truly breathtaking nature, and with a kayak, you can navigate to bays that are perfect for meditation! If you are considering going there, I can recommend a good travel provider. This one and another are the only ones allowed to enter a certain bay where you can be alone. People live here with their houses and dogs on the water. Very interesting to see how they live!

Sapa: a quite touristy mountain region with indigenous people who would like to sell you something, and some that you can hardly get rid of. I have mixed feelings about it, but that would go beyond the scope here. The highest mountain in Vietnam (3140m) is located here, and on the top, there is a beautifully built pagoda with a huge Buddha and various viewing platforms. Everything is still very new and modern. However, you are only allowed to hike up with a guide. The rice terraces, the bamboo, and the shape of the mountain peaks made hiking and the view particularly special for me. I would like to come back to the mountains later on my trip. We'll see... Maybe when I'm back in Hanoi for an internship in February...

Best regards to everyone!