Lao Cai to Sapa - Vietnam's far north 2

The drive out of Lao Cai towards Muong Hum has plenty of reminders that the border is nearby.

The amount of work going on in the fields in mid July was incredible - much of it by hand.

Working the fields.

Throughout Vietnam, women seem to be charged with doing much of the hard labour in the rice paddies.

Classic ethnic minority house.

This threshing machine is a welcome and relatively new innovation in these parts.

The machine owner on the left looks on.

My Topas Travel driver Mr Tuan was extremely safe, helpful and a great travel companion.

Falls outside Sapa.

Mr Tan - my guide from Topas Travel was also very good. He had a great interest in minority cultures as well a faculty in several of the languages.