Around 10,000 visitors are expected to arrive at Sa Pa on the National Day holiday.

A delightful former French hill station situated in the mountainous region of Vietnam's northwest, Sa Pa is famed for its amazing landscape and the hamlets of colorful ethnic minorities that thrive in the area. Now a popular travel destination, tourists come to see the hill tribe markets, Fansipan mountain, villages and waterfall under the foothill of  Hoang Lien mountain, ancient rock field, primitive forest and jungle, among the many other attractions.

But the increasing number of visits to Sa Pa is attributed to its homestay services that allow foreigners to experience and explore the authentic local culture of ethnic minorities. Traditional wooden houses which are equipped with mattresses, blankets, pillows and a clean toilet can be used for a homestay. For visitors who wish to have an insight to rural life, it can be a wonderful experience than staying in typical commercial accommodation.

Nearly 100 households in Sa Pa township were running homestay services which can serve a total of 1,000 guests. Communes in Bat Xat and Bac Ha districts located 20km and 70km from Sa Pa have recently developed homestay services and can serve up to 100 guests at a time. About 40 per cent of visitors had registered tours to Sa Pa's villages, a 20 per cent increases compared to the same period in 2010. About 100,000 visitors came to the area during the first six months of the year, which is as high as the total number of visitors throughout 2008. Communes with homestay services include Ban Ho, Cat Cat, Ta Van and Ta Phin, among others.

Homestay services have largely helped families increase their incomes while imparting a meaningful and unforgettable experience to tourists. Tribes here continue to live a very basic existence is partly economic and partly cultural. Working in a rice field, stilt houses with a garden, and some cattle a will be typical sceneries to be expected on a homestay. Living with the locals themselves will offer fascinating glimpses of lifestyles seemingly stolen from history.

For many, they believe the time to visit Sa Pa is in the summer months of August to December, when skies are more likely to be clear. Hosts can show guests the spectacular scenery that surrounds Sa Pa including cascading rice terraces that spill down the mountains like a patchwork quilt and may other panoramic views. The natural beauty, surrounding attractions and delightful homestay experience makes Sa Pa an unmistakable destination.