Sa Pa in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai has become increasingly attractive to visitors in recent years, making it important for those who love the pristine beauty of the town to find a place where they can breathe in the fresh air, dive into the green jungle, gaze over the vast paddy fields and experience ethnic culture.

Topas Ecolodge in Ban Lich village has been named in the new list of Unique Lodges of the World (Photo: Nationalgeographic.com)

National Geographic has the answer: Topas Ecolodge in Ban Lich village.

Naming the lodge in its new list of Unique Lodges of the World, the US publisher says guests can “wake in the morning to the mist rising with the sun, and spend your days exploring the surrounding forests and ethnic villages, and you’ll start to feel the pull of the hill tribes’ centuries-old lifestyle, native to these mountains and virtually untouched by the modern world.”

“The stilted common buildings at the heart of the lodge were sourced from a nearby community of ethnic Tay people; and private guest bungalows swirl along the ridgeline, ensuring a spectacular view no matter which one you check in to.”

Opened in 2005 on a mountaintop near Sa Pa town, Topas Ecolodge offers its guests a rare experience of culture since there are five different ethnic groups in the region with distinctive languages and lifestyles.

The resort is the first in Vietnam and the fifth in Asia to make the National Geographic list.-VNA