Detailed Postings for Sun World Fansipan Legend
I will be very surprised if a first time visitor to Sapa would forgo checking out Sun World Fansipan Legend, which was essentially the key attraction in the region!
Tickets can be purchased from the counter at the iconic Sapa station or online via Klook.com or even via Sun World Fansipan Legend. Choice was yours to decide the best option; depending on weather for the day, value for money etc.
Safety guide for your reference.
Take a pee at the station before joining the long queue to embark the first mode of transportation to the Rooftop of Indochina; some people have asked if it is better to visit in the morning or afternoon. Of course, morning gives you more flexibility in timing but it's definitely more crowded.
Packed in the Muong Hoa Funicular! You can actually avoid taking this funicular if you stay near the Hoang Lien cable car station. However, in good, cloudless weather, this funicular is supposed to give you a breathtaking view of the valley. p.s. didn't happen for us.
Hoang Lien cable car station was more than just the station as evidenced by the numerous photo spots we encountered as we navigate towards the cable car from the funicular.
Photograph of Muong Hoa Funicular train track in better weather. Best time to visit was said to be during the summer, but coming from Singapore, where summer is a constant, it's the least motivating factor for us.
The usual passage would have been too wide, and overly boring! So why not brighten the passage with art frames, filled with photographs of Fansipan, in various seasons!
Joining yet another queue to take the cable car at Hoang Lien station.
Honestly, queuing is a torment for an impatient person.
The clouds dispersed and gave us a short respite of beautifully blue sky, impressive mountains and a momentary glimpse of the valley right below us! Sadly, the clouds started congregating again as the cable car moved towards a higher elevation.
This complex had food options (including snacks like ice cream, popcorn, and eateries) and retail shop selling kitschy souvenirs that looked kind off of a low quality.
Foggy weather.
Clear directions leading us to the summit.
Unexciting exit to the summit; we thought it would be like an opulent entrance that opened up to the summit. Not that we can see anything given the low visibility that day.
Teo family doesn't give up!
Upwards we climb!
But, the climb up was much longer than expected, and the destination was out of sight (another 600 steps up); the decision (which we had made way before), was to pay money for another funicular ride! Money versus convenience; at our age (especially my 70 year-old dad), latter wins.
So, let's spend an additional 150,000 dong for a one-way ride to take the funicular train to the summit of Fansipan! One-way only because we figured coming down would be easier; and we also wanted to check out the rest of the sights!
A few meters to the Rooftop of Indochina!
An achievement no doubt; with the help of modern transportation.
Reaching the 3,143-Meter Rooftop of Indochina! Taking photographs of the customary pointy marker showing the height of the mountain! There's more than one; and hardly any waiting time!
The 25-meter-tall fansipan flagpole, which was undergoing some renovation. On top of Vietnam's tallest mountain, this would artificially push up the height of fansipan to 3,168 meters!
After a short rest at Cafe Du Soleil, where I enjoyed a hot cup of delicious chocolate; it's pee time before we make our climb down! Thank god I didn't have the urgent to big business as it would have freeze my butt off!
Temperature - 3 degrees celcius!
The Spiritual Attractions - a complex, filled with mammoth religious statues, Buddha relics, monasteries and structures based on Vietnamese architecture from the 15th and 16th century! Built in 800 days (two years plus), this stretched from the base of funicular train to the rooftop of Indochina.
Last few photographs before we took the cable car!
Arriving at Hoang Lien cable car station and checking out the Sapa Rose Valley. Do make sure to allocate some time here as most visitors would give it a miss! I believe most would think that Sun World Fansipan Legend was only the Rooftop of Indochina!
Random photos!
This would be how rumours started back in the good old days when technology is non-existent, and the craftwork wasn't as elaborate! From far, amidst the low visibility, it felt as if gigantic animals were amongst us, with an aura of eeriness!
A closer look!
The pointy cuboid marker was so iconic; you can find them dotted around Sun World Fansipan Legend even though it was more to reflect the height of fansipan summit. A bit too over in my opinion.
May Village - showcasing the houses of the ethnic minorities in the area, including traditional activities! This is all part of your ticket to Sun World Fansipan Legend; so why waste it!?
Thought there would be nothing else after May Village but again, plenty of photo opportunities for my family! There were so many succulents, and some were placed in baskets for visitors!
My life would have been much easier without the fog. It's a matter of luck for sure as my friends are now in Sapa, and both were blessed with great weather!
Another pointy marker.
Really overplayed.
Photographs with the little monk statues and the impressive bonsai trees! This kind of reminded me of Guang Ming Shan Temple in Singapore but the cool climate made it much more comfortable!
My brother-in-law doesn't strike as cheeky in the mind of many, but he can be fun if he wants to! Maybe because the kids were not with us, and adults like us can behave like kids without much reservation.
Another monastery - the Bao An Zen Monastery! As it was almost 3pm by that time, and we had yet to have lunch; I decided not to venture further since I am the ONLY one who was slightly interested.
Taking the Muong Hoa Funicular back to Sapa Town!
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Address
89B Nguyễn Chí Thanh, Phường Fansipan,
Sa Pa, Lào Cai 00842, Vietnam
Website
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