Jewish Tourists Mark First Shabbat in Sapa as Chabad Center Opens

While traveling through Laos, Israeli tourists Tzuriel and Tal Denis stopped into the local Chabad House, where Rabbi Moishi Belinov mentioned that a new Chabad center was opening in a tiny mountain town in northern Vietnam. Days later, the couple found themselves in Sapa — arriving just in time to witness the mezuzah being affixed on the brand new Chabad House.

Rabbi Akiva and Gitti Sheinberger had arrived in Sapa days earlier to establish the area’s first ever Jewish presence. A remote town in northern Vietnam, Sapa is renowned for its terraced rice fields, mist-covered mountains, and cooler climate that offers a respite from the tropical heat of the lowlands. The region has long attracted travelers seeking natural beauty, hiking adventures, and cultural experiences with local hill tribes.

Among these travelers is a steady stream of Israeli tourists, especially those exploring the popular “North Thailand loop.” Many backpackers pass through Laos and northern Thailand before venturing into Vietnam, with Sapa often serving as a highlight for its scenic views and peaceful mountain atmosphere. While the town has never had any established Jewish infrastructure, it draws enough Israeli and other international visitors year-round to make a Chabad presence not only viable — but warmly welcomed. “Many shops and restaurants here have signs in Hebrew,” explained Rabbi Sheinberger. Soon, the town will have another Hebrew sign — for a Jewish center.

What unfolded over the first Shabbat in Sapa was nothing short of remarkable.

“I got a text from someone earlier on in the week,” explained Rabbi Sheinberger. “He asked if he and several friends could come and spend Shabbat with us at Chabad.” The next day, another call came in. Soon, the number of guests grew from ten, to thirty — to sixty.

Thinking quickly, Rabbi Sheinberger called Rabbi Levi Laine in Hanoi, nearly a seven-hour drive away. Rabbi Laine offered to send both a Torah and Shabbat food. “I told him we were expecting sixty travelers for Shabbat,” Rabbi Sheinberger recalled. “He said we should prepare for one hundred.”

In the end, over 130 people showed up for the Friday night meal, including visitors from Israel, the United Kingdom, and France. The Shabbat continued with a full schedule of prayers, Torah reading, and meals. After Shabbat ended, the gathering concluded with a group photo — commemorating Sapa’s first Shabbat with Chabad. 

“It was amazing,” recalled Tal Denis. “To see everything come together so quickly; to see so many Jews celebrating Shabbat together — to see the Sheinbergers fulfilling their dream. I was personally inspired.”

Looking ahead, the Sheinbergers are already planning the next steps to make Sapa a permanent hub for Jewish life. They’ll be setting up a kosher kitchen in the coming weeks, which will allow them to host regular Shabbat meals and open a restaurant. Plans are also underway for weekly programs, including Thursday night hafrashat challah gatherings and Torah classes. 

For visitors like the Denises, the first Shabbat in Sapa was more than a meal or a prayer service — it was a glimpse of Jewish life flourishing in the most unexpected places. “It was incredible to see a community come together out of nowhere,” Tzuriel Denis shared. “Even in a remote town like Sapa, Chabad made it feel like home.”