Guide services in Sa Pa, a heaven-on-earth mountain resort 350 kilometers north of Hanoi, are experiencing a boom, with more and more foreign travelers attracted to this extraordinarily picturesque site.

Local residents who have a satisfactory command of foreign languages, especially English can make a decent living by guiding visitors through the magnificent scenery of the mountainous region.

In addition to a monthly basic salary of 2 million Vietnamese Dong (roughly US$126) paid by travel agencies, the guides can receive generous tips from customers who are pleased with the services offered, said a guide.

Local tour guides have been greatly appreciated by foreign visitors due to their extensive knowledge of the area, noted a travel agent.

Foreign tourists show a marked preference for local tour guides in that they would like to get first-hand experience with ethnic people, said Chao San May, a seasoned 15-year-old ethnic guide. We can take foreign tourists on a guided tour of numerous workshops where they can observe the traditional arts and handicrafts of ethnic people such as fabric-making or embroidery, she added.

However, working as a tour guide in Sa Pa is not an easy job at all in that very often the guides are expected to take travelers through forested regions to places off the beaten track, conceded Ms. May. Most foreigners want to explore the unique culture of ethnic minorities, she said.

Taking tourists on guided tours of Sa Pa demands great strength and endurance, highlighted Giang Thi Co, a tour guide of the Mong ethnic group. A tour guide is expected to walk at least 20 kilometers a day, and at times he or she has to carry the heavy luggage of some foreign travelers who become exhausted after long walks, she added.

The ethnic guides wholehearted commitment to their work and especially their willingness to help have won them the admiration as well as affection from foreign travelers.

Ms. Co who has just returned from a three-day walking tour to remote villages Lao Chai, Ta Van, Hau Thao, Thanh Kim and Ban Ho told the Thanh Nien newspaper about her arduous but exciting trip.

A foreigner was so worn out that she could hardly walk, Co said. I used herbal medicine found in the forest to apply on her swollen calves, and she was able to continue her journey, she added.

Despite hard work, all of the ethnic guides show great interest in their work, saying that serving as tour guides not only helps promote the cultural singularity of Sa Pa and its inhabitants but also gives them a chance to have greater contact with the outside world.

Nestled about 1,600 meters above sea level, Sa Pa is endowed with cool and moderate climate year round. On any given day, tourists can experience all four seasons of the year.

Sapa, founded as a scenic resort by the French in 1903, is best known for its primeval landscape, which is raw and unspoiled and faintly threatening.

Also, Sapa is known for its Ham Rong eco-tourist site, the Hoang Lien Son national park and the awe-inspiring 3,143-meter peak of Mount Fan Si Pan – the highest in Indochina.

Home to several ethnic groups like the H’mong, Zao, Kinh, Tay, Giay, Hoa, and Xa Pho, Sapa has a number of quaint rustic ethnic-style accommodations for guests to choose from, including nh sn – bungalows built on stilts.

Hospitable and helpful ethnic tour guides will definitely make your stay a pleasant and unforgettable experience.

Reported by Luu Quang Pho Translated by Tran Phong.