Photographer HaiLe Cao told VietNamNet about his difficult trip to Ta Xua (Yen Bai province) in November. Ta Xua, a 2,865-metre-high mountainous range, is one of the highest ranges in Vietnam:
“I had gone trekking for almost three days on a 15-kilometer road. The constant change of physical features was exciting. The view also varied depending on the weather so glamorous scenery was expected on the path. There are three notable features on this road: an immense sea of clouds, mysterious forest, and gorgeous Dinosaur’s Spine.
I went to Ta Xua with a friend. Because we travelled during the Covid-19 pandemic, we had to make sure that we obey the Covid-19 restrictions. I even got a PCR test before the trip. On November 18, in the morning, I got on a Limousine to travel from Hai Phong to Hanoi. At My Dinh bus station, I caught a 7-seater car to Nghia Lo, Yen Bai.
It took us five hours to arrive in Nghia Lo, Yen Bai. We continued to get on a bus to Tram Tau. Although the bus was old, it still made me feel comfortable and people on the bus were extremely friendly. To me, this was an exciting experience. Local guides picked us up at Tram Tau by motorbike to go to our homestay to rest.”
Three-day-two-night trip on “road of dreams”
“I divided my trip into five stages.
Stage 1: Around 3.5 kilometers, from the base of the mountain to Lan Cay Tao
The slopes were quite long. If travelers do not have experience or a good physical strength, they will have difficulties while follow the path. It took me 30 minutes to get used to the physical features. There were many trees along both sides of the path, so the atmosphere was cool. In my opinion, this road does not have a special scenery. As it was an earthen road, people who do not want to climb can hire professional porters to carry them and their belongings at a cost of 600000 VND. I, on the other hand, thought that this was unnecessary as, according to some reviews, sitting behind the motorbike was scary and made visitors feel dizzy.
Stage 2: Around one kilometer, from Lan Cay Tao to Turtle Head Peak
Lan Cay Tao is a rest area on the path. The physical features began to change after we passed Lan Cay Tao with steep slopes. The trip was exhausting but after that, you can enjoy the poetic scenery on Turtle Head Peak, which is a beloved destination for visitors. However, safety must be prioritized while you are on the peak.
Stage 3: About 2.5 kilometers, from Turtle Head Peak to camping site No. 1
The scenery was stunning when I went higher. My friend and I took our time around this place to enjoy the relaxed ambience. As we wanted to camp in the middle of the forest, we continued our trip.
Stage 4: From camping site No. 1 to camping site No. 2
Dinosaur’s Spine is the most special feature in this stage. It was way more impressive than the one in Bac Yen, Son La. The physical features in this place are steep slopes and rough ground, along with windy conditions, which makes the trip challenging. But I loved this. Due to an unexpected mistake, we had to stay overnight at camping site No. 2.
Stage 5: From Lan 2 to Ta Xua Peak
At 8am, we started our journey. We went through a mysterious forest filled with moss, a unique characteristic of Ta Xua. After we went through the forest, we reached the peak of the mountain. But this place did not amaze me as I expected. We went back to camping site No. 1 to rest and then ended our trip.”
To have a unique pose, HaiLe Cao had practiced for years.
Stunning view on 2.5-kilometer road from Turtle Head Peak.
Splendid sunset at the No.2 camping site.
Marvelous view in moss forest.
We grilled chickens at the No.1 camping site.
We got up early to observe the sunset the next morning.
A forest appeared to be from a fairy tale.
The road possesses several stunning views.
HaiLe Cao
