Hi Lori-
Thanks for the reply and the details. I may try and contact your guy for Sapa. Mai Chau sounds appealing in its remoteness, but trekking for three days straight? Hmmm...I am a bit of a princess too and I have "been there, done that". Not sure if I need a repeat.

I guess I have a lot of planning and thinking to do on this part of our trip. The good news is that I think I've convinced D that it is different enough of an experience to go, regardless of which part we do.

And yes, <i>I know</i> &quot;northern thailand is THAI and northern Vietnam is VIETNAMESE&quot;. ;-) So does D, I think he was disappointed when I said we would not have time to make it to HCMC on this trip and thought it would be too similar of a &quot;hilltribe&quot; experience.

Well he might be right, then we're both in trouble. I worry the HT ladies' persistent behavior will get him (or you) in a knot. Have a cocktail before the trek and don't pass up the ladies selling rice wine up in the altitude...

What's the attraction to HCMC? I keep wanting to jump on a bus and go hang out there a few days but everyone says nothin' to it. Bunch of traffic. True?

~L