Hunting clouds on the top of To Bo

One day on the top of To Bo, visitors can experience the weather of four seasons and admire the vast sea of white clouds in the early morning.

To Bo Peak, in Long Luong Commune, Van Ho District, Son La, belongs to the Moc Chau National Tourist Area, about 35 km from the center of Moc Chau town and about 170 km from Hanoi. Located at an altitude of nearly 1,200 m above sea level, To Bo Peak is cool all year round and owns a green, wild landscape with large and sweeping views. This place becomes a suitable place for cloud hunting, camping and sightseeing.

Moc Chau National Tourist Area was honored as "Asia's Leading Nature Tourism Destination 2022" and "Vietnam's Leading Nature Tourism Destination 2022" at the World Travel Awards 2022 - Region: Asia & Oceania (World Travel Awards 2022 - Asia and Oceania Region) of the World Travel Group, according to the website of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Son La province.

Also read: Vietnam - An attractive destination for international tourists » Breaking News, Latest World News Updates - VietReader Viet Nam

On June 29, Vu Quang Kien (28 years old), a Moc Chau native, made a camping trip to hunt clouds at To Bo Peak. Kien travels by motorbike from the center of Moc Chau town in the direction of the Moc Chau - Hanoi highway for about 30 km, then turns into Long Luong commune to climb To Bo Peak.

The distance is only about 5 km, but due to the dirt road, many stones and quite steep, it took the group more than an hour to arrive. "The way up went through the peach and plum forests in the fruit picking season. But because the road was difficult and tiring, the group did not stop. Next time, I have to try some peaches and plums here," Kien said.

The top of To Bo is almost empty, and there are no tourist service establishments. There is only a small wooden shack without a roof, which can be used as a virtual check-in place, but visitors must pay attention to ensure safety. The buffaloes, cows and horses of the local people freely move and graze, making the scene more peaceful and close.

Kien has been to To Bo Peak a few times, but all in the afternoon and back on the same day. Listening to local people sharing that the sunrise in To Bo is very beautiful and the mountain peak is higher than the clouds, he carefully studied the weather forecast to choose the time. Kien and his friends prepare overnight camping gear to experience sunset and sunrise in the clouds at To Bo.

No tourist service, ticket collection, or specific regulations exist so visitors can camp for free. However, he hopes visitors, when coming here, experience it, bring back the garbage and preserve the green landscape of To Bo.

When night falls, the wind begins to blow strongly; under the dim moonlight, you can still see the layers of clouds floating below. In the distance is a shimmering scene of lights from the town and a sky full of moon and stars. The cool breeze and fresh air, thanks to the surrounding trees, made Kien want to sit in one place, close his eyes and enjoy.

At the top of To Bo, visitors can experience almost four seasons in just one day. The morning is warm like spring, noon is the hot sun of a summer day, the afternoon is cool like autumn, and it gets colder at night until dawn.

The evening weather here is very suitable for barbecue parties. The flickering fire from the kitchen helps keep the body from getting cold at night. If you hold a barbecue on these days in the delta, you will sweat, Kien shared.

At about 0:00, the wind started to get stronger, and it rained heavily, causing the temperature to drop to about 18 degrees Celsius. Surprised by the sudden cold, Kien's group had to wear more sunscreen and sit huddled in the tent.

If it rained heavily the night before, the next day, there will be a sea of thick and beautiful clouds when the sun rises. Based on the experience of many successful hunts for clouds, Kien predicted that the group would see the sea of clouds on the top of To Bo for the first time that day.

At around 2 am, the rain stopped, and they left the tent to drink coffee, cook breakfast noodles and wait for the clouds to rise. Thin clouds begin to swirl around the foot of the mountain in the morning, then extrude layer by layer and gradually become dense.

In the summer, around 5 o'clock, the first sun streaks of the day began to appear. As the locals say, To Bo Peak is higher than the clouds. The sun came out, and the sea of white clouds floating below-made everyone laugh and cheer.

Dawn took place in only about 30 minutes, so the group took advantage of the scenery while using cameras and phones to record this scene. "But no tool can capture all the wild, majestic and poetic beauty at that time," Kien said. This priceless moment made up for the fatigue and storms of the previous day of the group.

Dinh Van Phuc, a group member, said he had had many unsuccessful rattan hunting trips. "To Bo Peak is the first place where I hunted rattan. Perhaps because the peak is higher than other points, the success rate of cloud hunting is also higher."

Compared with the cloud hunting sites in the center of Moc Chau town, the clouds in Bo are thicker, longer and more beautiful because the To Bo peak is higher.

But because the road is not easy and the weather is harsh, visitors who want to hunt clouds on To Bo Peak should go with the locals and carefully prepare tents, clothes, food, and water for the safest trip. Kien also advises tourists to choose cars with strong engines and gears to climb to the top safely and not go on rainy days because dirt roads, and slippery slopes, are very dangerous. "If you have experienced the 'legendary' slope on the way to Hang Tau (Moc Chau), To Bo is a series of higher and more difficult slopes," Kien said.