Sapa

I'm getting the boys to write about certain cities or adventures. I love hearing what they loved about the experiences!

First up Daxton:

We got from Hanoi to Sapa on a sleeper bus. Leaving at 6 am we got to Sapa around lunchtime. Our host for the homestay was an amazing and wise man that showed us around as soon as we got there, leading us to a spa that was not very far from homestay. There were many treatments to do there but we chose the herbal bath. The herbal bath is a Vietnamese tradition that is meant to help ease joint pain and it was literally as hot as the sun. This is exactly what I needed because for the last week my leg joints had been hurting from running. By the time we had ended the bath my knees and ankles were already feeling so much better.

That night host made us dinner and invited the spa owners and their homestay guests. The other tourists were from Spain and they were very nice and wise and two wise people make many great things when put together and one of them is that they make great conversations to listen to. There were many great things that were said and sadly I don’t remember all of them but here are some of the things that I remember. They started talking about food and how important it is to eat good healthy food. He was also saying eat slow/slow food and you will die slow but if you eat fast/fast food you will die fast. They then started to talk about meditation and how it is such an essential part of their lives and how they meditate for around 1hr a day then all the talking about breathing exercises turned into how there is a secret air in our bones and joints-causes that helps us move but if we don’t have that air it causes pain. Billy (the guy from Spain) was saying that meditation is key with having the secret air because when you meditate you can breath from deep in your belly and focus your air to the joints that are hurting. Your mind is very powerful and can heal something just by thinking about it. Our homestay host, Phaun joined in the conversation and said that worms are very healthy and there is a country where worms a thing that people eat and the people who ate worms didn’t get covid-19. Billy then told another story of how he was sick so he meditated for a full day and he breathed and waited for words to come to him and when they did he knew that that is what his body needed to hear and so he said the words out loud to heal his body. After the meal was done we went to bed in our very warm heated beds but there was a problem with our sleep. Around 3am that night around 100 roosters surrounding us started crowing.

The next day we went trekking through a bamboo forest and the rice fields. It was so beautiful. We got back to our homestay at 4:30 and immediately started to teach some 5-6th grade girls English. They were so giggly and, at times, we could barely get them to listen. That night we had dinner at a fun place and then went back home, packed, and drove through crazy thick fog to another sleeper bus at 10:30 that took us on a 8 hour drive to Ninh Bihn.

Notes from Mom:

We landed in Sapa after a six-hour bus ride—and let’s just say, the ride itself was an unforgettable experience. There was lots of honking, unexpected stops for things like the driver picking up random packages (or possibly trees?), and bathroom breaks where you had to pay to use the toilet. Good thing I had tissues stashed in my fanny pack—major win.

We stayed with Phuong at EC Homestay, which was rated a “Guest Favorite,” and I could absolutely see why. Phuong was an incredible host who made us feel so comfortable we didn’t want to leave. He went above and beyond in every way and quickly became a friend. Honestly, we just wanted to stay home and chat with him all day.

Instead, he took us next door to a spa for a traditional herbal bath—which was very necessary because Sapa was cold! After soaking and warming up, we walked back to the homestay and found Phuong and a couple from Spain cooking dinner outside. We jumped in to help—washing dishes, peeling vegetables—and by 7:00, we were all sitting down to eat together.

We shared dinner with our new Spanish friends, the spa crew, and Phuong. As Daxton described it, the conversation was “a delight”—and he was right. So much of why we travel is for moments like that. The energy around the table was radiant. You could feel it. There was so much laughter, deep conversation, and genuine connection. Everyone was just… happy.

The next day, we headed out on an authentic trekking experience that Phuong arranged for us. Our guide, Mimi, was warm, hilarious, and spoke incredible English. She told us she hadn’t gone to school and had learned everything just by being out in the world—so impressive.

Walking through the rice fields felt surreal. The views were unreal—miles and miles of layered green stretching into the distance. One thing that amazed me was that the “long way” took us straight through people’s rice fields and property—and it was completely normal and welcomed. It felt so different from what we’re used to.

We loved every minute with Mimi and even the long trek back to our homestay.

When we got back we saw Phuong surrounded by children from the village—girls from very humble backgrounds. He had arranged for us to spend time teaching them English. It was such a special surprise.

The girls were hilarious and so giggly. I loved watching my boys step into their confidence as they taught. You could see how empowered they felt—it was their language, and they took it seriously. They would slow words down, emphasize certain sounds, and patiently repeat phrases until the girls got it. It was the sweetest thing to watch.

We played lots of games, laughed constantly, and the girls were all in. Their joy was contagious.

After the lesson, we went on a long trek into town to buy them a treat. Naturally, we assumed they’d pick something sweet—but instead, they chose packets of ramen! We found a nearby restaurant for dinner, then made the long walk home in the dark, tired and happy. What a fun, full day.

During both of our days in Sapa, I also had some pretty long runs to fit in for marathon training. I’ve realized one of my favorite ways to explore the world is on foot—running alongside Brandon, seeing everything up close and personal. You notice so much more that way.

Both days, I split my runs—one with Daxton and one with Brandon. Running in Sapa was incredible. Yes, there were a lot of hills (understatement), but at the top were the most breathtaking views of endless rice fields. Sometimes we’d even find ourselves running alongside water buffalo, which feels like a sentence I never thought I’d write.

I loved getting to know Sapa on my own two feet. It made the experience feel even more personal—like we weren’t just visiting, we were truly moving through it.

Sapa gave us more than just beautiful views—it gave us connection, warmth, and memories we’ll never forget. 💚