Bill Gates, the seventh richest man in the world, recently visited Da Nang for a vacation from March 4 to 7.
On the afternoon of March 6, he went to Ban Co Peak for a “cloud hunting” experience.
Cloud hunting involves visiting mountaintops right before sunrise or sunset, when thick clouds of fog cover the valley below.
The untouched beauty of Ban Co Peak
Located more than 700 meters above sea level and only about 30 kilometers from downtown, Ban Co Peak offers tourists an unobstructed view of Da Nang from above.
On clear days, visitors can enjoy views of the sunset or city lights.
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| The stone sculpture of a fairy eternally deep in thought over a losing game of chess lies on top of Ban Co Peak on Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre |
However, Ban Co Peak’s distinctive charm is the impenetrable blanket of fog that descends on the mountaintop a few times a year.
The fog begins to thicken at around 400 meters above sea level, hiding the thick green forest below and limiting visibility to about ten meters.
Navigating the peninsula
For vehicles driving up the mountain for cloud hunting, it is advisable to take it slow and drive closer to the center of the road.
Dang Nam, a resident of Son Tra District in Da Nang, said that it takes only ten minutes of driving up the mountain before entering the clouds.
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| Two tourists pose and take pictures at a famous check-in spot on top of Ban Co Peak on Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre |
He also mentioned that the peninsula often seems to have its own climate, different from that of the city.
“On sunny days, the road leading to Ban Co Peak is well-shaded by trees,” said Nam.
“Sometimes, when the sun is blazing down on the city streets, the atmosphere up here remains cloudy with temperatures resembling those of Da Lat City.
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| A mountain road leading to Ban Co Peak is filled with fog on Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre |
“On foggy days, it creates this hazy, magical feeling, which is not commonly seen on coastal trips.”
Currently, there is only one road leading up to Ban Co Peak. This road is well-maintained and accessible to both cars and bikes after registering at a guard post.
There used to be multiple roads, but recent heavy rains and landslides in central Vietnam have rendered them unusable.
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| Two tourists take pictures at one of many roadside stops on their way up to Ban Co Peak on Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre |
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| Cloud hunters enjoy food and drinks at an outdoor café on top of Ban Co Peak on Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre |
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| Paragliders fly among the fog and hills of Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Hong Huy / Tuoi Tre |
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| An ethereal-looking banyan tree is covered in thick fog on Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre |
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| Cloud hunters in various modes of transport travel up to Ban Co Peak on Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre |
