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Sapa in the northern province of Lao Cai has a variety of places of interest: ancient stone-fields, a silvery waterfall, Fansipan Mountain, villages of Mong and Dao ethnic minorities, and Ham Rong Mountain.
Spending a short time climbing up to Ham Rong Mountain using elevated steps is something different for tourists. From the mountain, you can enjoy the superb views of the whole Sapa valley, usually with cloud around, and there is the hilly Sapa Town with villas, gardens and terraced paddy fields. Opposite is the Hoang Lien Son Range and Fansipan Mountain which, at more than 3,000m, takes the title of Southeast Asia's highest peak.
There's a legend that explains the names of the mountains in the area. Legend has it that all animals lived together in a chaotic environment. One day, Jade Emperor gave an order that every species of animal had to find for themselves an area to live or suffer the consequences. Having heard the order, they scrambled for a place to reside. Three brothers of dragons who were living in a large lake hurriedly ran to the east but could not find any place; they then ran to the west. The two elder brothers ran fast and came to a suitable place first; however, the youngest ran slowly and strayed into the crowds of lions and tigers. To protect itself from attack, the dragon opened its mouth. It was then that the time allowed ran out and Jade Emperor turned the three dragons into stone. That left the two older dragons, which were waiting for their brother, facing Lao Cai, and the youngest one, with head raised and mouth opened, facing the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range. So the mountain is named Ham Rong (Jaw of Dragon).
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