There’s more to Sapa beyond the tourist tracks 

If you love trekking or want to embrace a more authentic experience of Vietnam you have to head to Sapa and North Vietnam. 

My guest today Phil Hoolihan gives us a very in-depth take on what the Sapa region offers from the well worn tourist tracks to the more authentic immersive type experiences you can get if you are prepared to dig a bit deeper.

Phil Hoolihan is an academic who came to the region over 20 years ago on a science project studying biodiversity. Having settled into the region his knowledge of the area, local minority groups, cultural norms and tourism is extensive. You will find more about Sapa and the local community from Phil in this episode than you will from anywhere else, as he lives and breathes the culture every day through the Ethos Community Project.

As an Englishman far away from home yet truly immersed in the lifestyle and district best known as Sapa, Phil explains in colourful detail a range of experiences, from trekking through hill tribe villages, ethnic minority homestays, and everything in between. You will come away from this episode educated, informed, intrigued and shaking your head in somewhat disbelief that in this day and age the cultural divide is so wide and poverty at this level still exists.

If you want to get a real sense of the history and background to Sapa, press download now.

If you would like to know more about the organisation Phil is involved with called Ethos Spirit.

Please check out the website here - http://www.ethosspirit.com/

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