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How Did The French Come To Sapa
Disestablish Convention of Thuy Vy District was signed by Governor of Tonkin in ninth march 1944 and Sapa District was established including Huong Vinh, Muong Hoa, Sapa Communes and Xuan Vien street. Sapa high station became the center of Sapa District…
Lo Suoi Tung highland(Lồ Suối Tủng) and Sa Pa village (Sa Pả – ancient name of Sapa) were found in 1903 by a exploration team of Indochina Geography Department.
Sa Pả was changed the name to Sapa by the expedition(So, Sapa was named by the french). This event was a milestone for the development of Sapa Tourism Area.
The beauty of Sapa landscapes, fresh air… were the reasons that make the french desire to change the village to a tourism area.
In 1905, Sapa village was visited one again by a french survey delegation, the survey team also visited Fansipan moutain and one landmark was set on the top by them.
Four years later in 2nd june 1909, Sapa sanatorium establish proposal was sent to Governor of Tonkin by Chief Envoy of Lao Kay province(Lao Kay -ancient name of Lao Cai).
(Sanatorium of french military in Sapa)
After the proposal was signed, one small road was built to connect Lao Cai city and Sapa town (1909-1912) and after expanding(1924), it was possible to go to Sapa by bus and in 1930, the road and inner streets of sapa town were asphalted.
In 1912, Tao Su hotel(large hotel of Transport Commission) was built. After that, so many offices, plantations, post office, Hydroelectric Power Station… were built too.
In order to reseach climate, Sapa high meteorological station was built to study wind, rain, temperature data of the region(1915). And in 1958, Sapa high station of Geophysics was built with help from Poland gorvement.
In 1916, the tourist extension affiliation of Sapa was formed.
In 1925, Sapa church was built and in the same year, Hydroelectric Power Station of Catcat was built by Vomousse company and Sapa ancient rock field in Ta Van and Hau Thao villages was discovered by mr Victo Gulubep(researcher of Oriental Studies).
In 1927, there were 51 visitors came to Sapa, and the number up to 158 in 1928.
Hydroelectric Power Station of Catcat went into operation in Sapa high station in 1930, So, building speed of Sapa was faster. The outcome was 3000 visitors came to Sapa in two year 1938-1939.
(Tourists having dinner inside Mangin villa)
Disestablish Convention of Thuy Vy District was signed by Governor of Tonkin in ninth march 1944 and Sapa District was established including Huong Vinh, Muong Hoa, Sapa Communes and Xuan Vien street. Sapa high station became the center of Sapa District.
Viet Nam – France war took place in Sapa from march 1945 to march 1951, so, all tourist activities were enforced suspension.
The French army restreated from Sapa in april 1951, and after that, so many villas, offices, plantations, post office, Hydroelectric Power Station… were destroyed by french airforce.
Viet Nam and France lifted their ties to strategic partnership in 2013. Within the framework of Viet Nam – France decentralized co-operation program, in 18th 11 2002, Lao Cai province and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, Both sides signed the memorandum of co-operation about: Tourism, education, agriculture and forestry and city planning.
(32 French classes of DELF A1, A2, B1 and B2 level was opened for 520 pupils(80% is tribal people of Sapa) from 2013 to now.)
(Love Canyoning and Wild Canyoning adventure sport tours were buit in tourism field with help of French professionals.)
From the great results of Lao Cai province and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region co-operation in these years, We are very confident in the future of the relations.
Trong Duy
About the Author Sapa Tourism Office
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