Come to the Northwest to experience hunting clouds on the “back of dinosaurs”
Dubbed the cloud paradise of the Northwest, Ta Xua is a place that young people whisper to each other and
Reader Nguyen Duc Hung shared photos and experiences of climbing a 3 km long dinosaur spine in Ta Xua.
is one of the three paradises of clouds in the Northwest, next to the peaks of Lao Than and Bach Moc Luong Tu in Lao Cai. The best time to hunt clouds lasts from October to March next year. The floating sea of clouds is very easy to encounter due to the mountainous terrain and special wind direction here. Visitors can go to the top of Ta Xua in the direction of Tram Tau (Yen Bai) and Bac Yen (Son La), in which the way up from Bac Yen is shorter and easier to go but does not go through the 3 km long dinosaur spine.
On the way to Ta Xua peak, you will pass through a turtle-shaped cliff protruding into the valley below, forming an impressive check-in point. From this cliff, one can look out over the surrounding mountains and the vast forest spread out below.
The 3 km long dinosaur spine is the biggest challenge of Ta Xua climbing. The narrow road with steep rocky terrain, on both sides is a deep abyss, one of the most dangerous climbs but also the most attractive for adventurers.
In 2019, to ensure the safety of visitors, the local government provided materials and the locals worked to erect iron stakes and wire ropes on some of the most difficult climbs. In the remaining sections, riders still have to crawl, crawl and cling with both hands to cross the small, slippery and precarious trail over the mountain peaks. Those who are afraid of heights are advised not to conquer this climb. Standing on the back of a windy dinosaur, you can look around and see thousands of mountains and old forests under the clouds.
moss forest The primeval forest with many ancient rhododendron trees near the top of Ta Xua is covered with moss from the ground up to the long branches that no other forest in Vietnam has. Being near the top of the mountain is often foggy, making the scenery in the moss forest even more mysterious and magical like only in fairy tales.
Yellow and red rhododendrons in Ta Xua are as beautiful as those at Putaleng Peak or Pusilung Peak of Lai Chau. The flowers bloom most in February-March, spread with brilliant colors and immense mountains. The first months of the year are also favorable climbing seasons, attracting many tourists to admire the flower season.
The best time to conquer Ta Xua is from October to March next year. If you are afraid of heights, you should not conquer this bow.
Rent a car or take a sleeper bus from Hanoi and stay overnight in Nghia Lo town (Yen Bai province). The next morning to Tam Duong town, 30 km from Nghia Lo, then continue 7 km to the Ban Cong commune where the climbing starts.
The travel time is two days and one night for people with experience and good fitness and three days and two nights for ordinary people. It is recommended to depart early from Ban Cong commune so that you can spend the first night in shack 2 (near Ta Xua peak) and the next night in shack 1, with a three-day and two-night itinerary.
Photo: Duc Hung, Dung Khuat
