A two-day, one-night journey through the forest to conquer the 9th highest mountain in Vietnam
Nhiu Co San (Son Trau Mountain) is the 9th highest mountain in Vietnam, with majestic and poetic beauty, a
LAO CAI – Nhiu Co San (2,965 m) is the 9th highest mountain in Vietnam in the Hoang Lien Son range, attracting tourists with its wild beauty and rich vegetation.
Nhiu Co San in the H’Mong language means “buffalo horn”. The mountain is located in Sang Ma Sao commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province, about 60 km from Sapa . Currently, tourists who want to trek this mountain often take a bus to Sa Pa, continue to Den Sang commune (on the way through the People’s Committee of Bat Xat district to declare their move), continue to pick up motorbike taxis from locals. Nhiu Co San village . The last road from Den Sang to Nhiu Co San is less than 10 km, but it is full of rocks and steep slopes that can only be traveled by a hard-driving motorbike.
The trekking route from the village to the mountain will start at the road on either side of which is terraced fields in the dry season, leaving only stubble and rudimentary stone fences.
The journey to conquer Nhiu Co San usually goes through Ong Chua waterfall to the goat grazing road or vice versa. If you choose to go to Ong Chua waterfall, you will have many large trees to shade and many streams and waterfalls that are easy to find a place to rest. Meanwhile, the goat grazing road is not too steep and mostly shrubs, low grass, no streams and waterfalls, so it will take more strength to go on a hot day.
The road through the waterfall has many wooden bridges, beautiful scenery but continuous high slope, going on rainy days is easy to slip, but on a sunny day, tourists can stop taking more pictures.
The slopes have narrow paths, many sections lie on the edge of the cliff, on the side of the precarious rocky mountain. That’s why backpackers think Nhiu Co San is not a mountain for beginners, even though the road is not too long.
One of the features that attract visitors to the Nhiu Co San trekking route is the rich vegetation. The terrain changes markedly when going from the foot of the mountain to the top, the bottom is mainly shrubs, grasslands, cliffs, higher is the green cardamom forest, primeval forest, large wood, followed by other types of forest. conifers, mixed forests.
Both on the way to Ong Chua waterfall and through the goat grazing yard when returning, there are maple trees scattered, mixed with the green color of the forest, the colors of red and yellow leaves are brilliant. Visitors only see red and yellow maple leaves in November and December. In January, it will be colder, with frost, sometimes with snow on the top, and March-April (end of the climbing season) Nhiu Co San. “treat” visitors with red, purple, and yellow colors of azaleas.
The upper left corner is the shack and the overnight campsite of the climbing groups. On the first day, if you start at the foot of the mountain at noon, tourists who go while resting will arrive at the camp at about 5pm – 6pm in time for dark. The shack is only enough for about 60-70 people, it is not next to the stream, but there is a water line from the stream 300 meters away. Currently, at the weekend, the demand for climbing guests increases, the shacks do not have enough space, many groups have to set up tents around to rest.
Overnight at the shack, early next morning around 5am – 6am have breakfast to continue to the top Nhiu Co San. This journey takes about 2 hours. Move before dawn, so pay attention to bring a flashlight. The rest of the furniture can be stored in the shack. The temperature at night and early in the morning in Nhiu Co San this December ranges from 2 – 10 degrees Celsius, mountain climbing guests need to wear very warm clothes.
On the way to the top, we see the sunrise. More beautiful days than the end of this year also create conditions for the appearance of a floating sea of clouds. Taking souvenir photos on Nhiu Co San peak with the stainless steel top, zooming in further around, visitors can see the top of Bach Moc Luong Tu, Lao Than…
After checking-in, visitors return to the shack for lunch, descend the mountain and take the car back to Sa Pa to finish two days of climbing.
Nhiu Co San peak can be conquered in 2 days and 1 night at a cost of 1.5 – 2.5 million VND/person depending on tour or self-sufficiency. Nhiu Co San “buffalo horn” peak now welcomes a lot of visitors on weekends. If possible, visitors should choose a weekday or book services early to ensure a place to eat and sleep and pay attention to the exercise before going. Follow (vnexpress)