VietNamNet Bridge – Trekking a muddy road, treading carefully past precipitous cliffs and sleeping in the middle of the tranquil jungle are among the best memories from our trip to Tram Tau District in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai.

Some of the trees have been covered by moss for hundreds of years.

Tram Tau is well known among daring travellers for its vast aged forest, spectacular mountain peaks, deep gorges and limestone crags. 

Our group of five had a memorable three days visiting serene hot springs, three peaks of the Ta Xua mountain range and Song Lung Khung Long cliff.

We drove 240 km from Hanoi to a town in Tram Tau, 1,000 metres above sea level. 

To prepare for our trek, we decided to spend some time in the hot spring. From the town, we drove the snake-like road that curls past terraced rice fields. After two kilometres, we arrived at a serene hot spring surrounded by forest.

The water is 35-40 degrees Celsius during the winter and a bit cooler in summer.

Day one

The next morning, we rose early to enjoy the fresh air and prepare for our trek to Ta Xua Village in Ban Cong Commune.

Located five km from the town, the village is in the shadow of the Ta Xua mountains. The ethnic Mong people in the village have long relied on their rice fields, water buffaloes and cows to make a living. But as more tourists come to the area, locals have branched out into new professions.  

“The village now has about 30 Mong men between 18 and 35 years old working as porters and guides,” said 22-year-old porter Giang A Chua.

We hired Chua and one other local man to carry our things for VND2.4 million (US$102) for three days. 

After four hours of exhausting trekking, we reached Mom Rua cliff, 2,100 metres above sea level. The vast landscape opened before us, with dazzling sunshine and clouds overhead.

We rested, ate lunch and continued our journey, following in the footsteps of our two young guides. We reached our campsite just as the sun set over the mountain. We stopped at a wooden structure made by local people as an overnight shelter.

After dropping off our things, a few of us made a long trip to a clear stream to collect water for cooking. Chua taught us to fish and catch forest frogs using simple tools.

We slept at 2,400 metres above sea level. When night fell, rain and strong winds moved into the area and the temperature dropped.

Day two

Although the rain cleared by the morning, we feared the road would be slippery and hard to pass. But all our worries disappeared as we headed into an area known as Song Lung Khung Long (Dinosaur Spine).

It draws this unique name from the series of forested peaks that look just like the spine of a dinosaur. Our path was rugged and bumpy, taking us past steep cliffs and gorges.

This place is not for the faint of heart. Standing at the top of the steep cliffs was a psychological challenge matched only by the physical challenge of climbing the Ta Xua Mountains.

We soon reached the second camp, 2,600 metres above sea level, at noon. We were in the middle of the jungle, surrounded by bird calls and rustling leaves, slicing some vegetables and cooking instant noodles for lunch. Our meal was light at the suggestion of our porters, who said we should the save heavy dishes to replenish our strength at the end of the day.

At 2,700 - 2,800 metres, this area is called Moss Forest. It looked like the moss had been clinging to the tree trunks for hundreds of years. The air here was cool, and our steps were cushioned by the natural carpet.

We found a mossy tree trunk that bent in the shape of a hammock. Lying on it gave us a sublime sense of softness.

After Moss Forest, we made our way to Peak Three, the highest point in the Ta Xua Mountains. A sign reads “2,865 metres,” indicating the 14th highest peak in Vietnam.

Our group wandered for a while, enjoying the serenity of the scene before returning to camp for the night.

Day three

After two days of strenuous trekking, we spent most of the third day just enjoying the spectacular scenery.

The walking was easier – it took just one short hour for us to conquer Peak One and Peak Two. We got back to Dinosaur Spine and took a new route back, passing Mom Rua to enjoy a new landscape.

Since we started early and spent most of the day descending, we went from 2,600 metres all the way down to 1,000 metres by 3:00 in the afternoon. After getting back to Ta Xua Village, we rested and changed for the trip back to Hanoi. 

The area has become a destination for travelers seeking beautiful scenery and a sense of adventure. — Photos laodong.vn Some locals have stopped farming in favour of working as trekking guides. A hot spring in the middle of the jungle in Tram Tau District. A trip to Tram Tau is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

By Van Hai & Nguyen Duy 

Source: VNS