A three-star motel that aims to experience five stars, Topas Ecolodge has come a long way since its inception as a rustic base for Sapa expeditions, where small groups of hikers will need to pre-order for a warm meal guaranteed at dinner time.
Today, the lodge offers a smooth, complete experience for everyone from adventure seekers to Instagram users - a feat that is no small feat when performed on a remote mountaintop in Northern Vietnam. Regardless of the weather, the best part of any vacation at Topas is spending plenty of time out the door, soaking up the views of Sapa's cascading rice terraces and soaring mountains, and eating on fresh mountain produce at every meal.
Sapa is famous for its breathtaking views, and Topas shows its excellent location to make the most of its advantages with eye-catching views from all angles. It is enough to pull up a seat and watch the sunset to understand something of the charm of Sapa that keeps so many visitors. Two amazing infinity pools – one with year-round heating and the other with a bubbling pool – overlook the grounds and are overwhelmed by the surrounding peaks. These are true infinity pools: In the right light, the water simply melts into the blue horizon.
Topas' greatest achievement is pioneering a sustainable tourism model that benefits Lao Cai's ethnic minorities (95% of staff are recruited from nearby ethnic minority villages.) The servers in the restaurant are a joy to interact with, and the whole team is serious and welcoming.
The bungalows at Topas Ecolodge are all made from hand-cut limestone sourced from nearby quarries. These long-lasting structures give a sense of solidity to each space. Don't expect five-star luxury: the suites are sparsely decorated, but they're equipped for comfort with top-of-the-line beds and pillows, deep stone bathtubs, and coffee makers. The latest villas offer a touch of better things with heated floors and private pools. Each room has a balcony that opens up to views of the mountains or valley, so you're never far from nature.
Meals are a highlight at Topas Ecolodge. The breakfast buffet is a variety of hot dishes, freshly baked Danish pastries and breads, and tropical fruits. Tourists are attracted to the egg station, where free eggs from the motel's chicken coop are coaxed into frying pans; but the star of the show is the pho corner. Served steamed hot with crispy roast on the side, a mouthful of flavored soft rice noodles with herbs, lemon, and chili is the perfect antidote on a winter morning.
Lunch and dinner are served a la carte from the menu at 80% local fare and 20% international fare. While all the dishes are made with delicious, freshly selected products, be sure to try the rainbow salmon (Sapa salmon) – a delicate pink meat fish that is wonderful in soups and hot pots.
In addition to relaxing around the two photogenic pools, guests can also relax with a drink at the Inn Bar, or book an herbal bath and massage at the spa. Topas runs great guided tours to lesser-known corners of the National Park, and visitors can take on-site cooking classes, visit local markets, or take part in weaving and embroidery workshops. For those who want to explore ethnic culture more deeply, Topas runs deeply customized tours to ethnic minority villages.
Topas Ecolodge follows a plastic-free policy and invests in the latest eco-friendly technology to heat the pool and floors. The kitchen grows its own vegetable and herb garden on the premises, and buys most of its produce from nearby farmers. The pools are treated with salt water to avoid harmful chemicals, and gray water from toilets and bathrooms is recycled and used to irrigate the garden. Even the restaurant's empty wine bottles are crushed and recycled by mixing into cement and bricks for construction.
Mig Synthesis
Photo: Topas Ecologe