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Sapa: Vietnam's North Face

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November 23rd 2012
It was something of an inauspicious start to our time in Vietnam. The border itself was an easy stroll across the Red River between checkpoints. However we were not even through Vietnamese customs before we were nearly chased back into China by touts. Vietnam is renowned for its touts. They don't call it Vietscam for nothing. Here, the ordinary rules do not apply. You're no longer a fas ... read more

Asia » Vietnam » Northwest » Lao Cai » Sapa

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The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Independence was declared after World War II, but the French continued to rule until 1954 when they were defeated by Communist forc... ... read more