4-1 함종산(Ham Rong Mt.)

참호텔 로비에 장식품

함종산을 가기위해 따로 떨어져 숙박한 참호텔을 나서니 아직도 안개다

오토바이를 타고 밤부호텔로 이동

베트남인들의 오토바이 타는 실력은 놀랍다

사파 동남쪽에 위치한 함종산은 베트남 다른 지역에서 볼 수 없는 다양한 난초를 볼 수 있다.

1880m의 함종산은 용의 전설이 긷든 곳이다.

특히 산자락의 지형에 맞춰 인공으로 만들어진 함 롱 화원은

194종 600여 가지의 란 화원, 유럽화원, 벚꽃 숲 등이 조성되어 있다.

함종산 정상으로 올라 갈수록 중국 운남 석림이 떠오를 정도로

크고 작은 바위들이 솟아 있는 것을 볼 수 있다.

Holy Rosary church

Why Stone Church is special ?

The Stone Church is known as stone church or the Holy Rosary church which is located in the heart of Sapa town built by the French from the early 20th century. Before starting to build this structure, the French architect selected carefully about the terrain. The shape and architecture of the church was built by cross. This architecture presented in the roof, bell tower… which created the elegant church.

The whole church was built by stone (walls, floors, bell towers …) that are linked by a mixture of sand, lime and molasses. With total area over 6000m2, Sapa church has enough rooms for the arrangement of the area. The church of Sapa is always a place where holds many traditional cultural activities of ethnic minorities. In the front of the church is tennis area which has unique cultural activities of local people on Saturday. With flute, trumpet leaves, “xòe” dance… created sparkling, magical atmosphere in Sapa. Additionally, because the structure was designed early, the church of Sapa experienced many events of history. Since its establishment, the church always has priests in order to offer parishioners.

Source: http://www.toursinvietnam.com

What to explore at Stone Church?

The church includes the areas such as the church area, Parish House, angel church, Sacred Gardens, House of the priest, etc. With the area of more than 6.000 m2, the church area consists of 7 compartments of more than 500 m2, the bell-tower of 20 m high. Especially, there is a bell with the height 1.5 m and the weight of 500 kg in the bell-tower. In spite of being casted in 1932, until now it has been undamaged even the words carved on the surface of the bell and the wooden bracket.

Nowadays, Sapa Stone Church is not only a religious destination of most of parishioners here as well as domestic and foreign tourists, but also a main site for holding many cultural traditional activities of the ethnic people here. In every Saturday evening, people usually organize a popular unique cultural activity often called “the love market”. In the quiet atmosphere of the evening in the highland, the sounds of the traditional instruments of the ethnic people such as flute, trumpet, lip lute, pan flute mix with the featured dances of the ethnic girls and guys. Especially, at Christmas, most parishioners also gather here to celebrate, pray, sing and dance. In addition, they also celebrate many interesting games and activities featuring the culture of the ethnic minority people.

교회앞이 사파의 중심지다

Only 3km away from the town centre, this is the first place that every tourist want to go,

either by bike or on foot, when coming to Sapa. To enter the area, a 75.000VND ticket is required.

함종산

퍼온 사진

Touch the Heaven Gate

In order to take a closer look at the dragon head,

you may want to head up to the heaven gate at the height of 1,700m,

where the whole Sapa town is embraced by cloud in front of your eyes.

This is a perfect place to take photos of the heaven-like scenery.