Ta Xua, located at an altitude of more than 2,800 m above sea level, is one of the highest mountain peaks in Vietnam, in Bac Yen district (Son La), bordering Tram Tau district (Yen Bai). Ta Xua is 240 km from Hanoi, has a cool climate all year round, and is famous as a beautiful cloud hunting spot from October to April.
Ta Xua’s terrain is narrow, steep roads, with deep abysses on both sides. In addition to traveling by motorbike or car, you can trek to Ta Xua peak, with routes of different lengths from both Yen Bai or Son La.
Move
You can use many means of transportation to get to Ta Xua such as motorbikes, personal cars, passenger cars, and tourist cars. From Hanoi, go towards Son Tay, Trung Ha bridge, go to Thu Cuc intersection along Highway 32, turn right to Phu Yen, Bac Yen along Highway 37. The main road to Ta Xua center has been paved with concrete so it is easy to travel. much more than before. 16-seat cars can go to the top.
Limousines of companies such as Khanh Thinh, Quang Nghia, Nguyen Hang to Ta Xua cost 700,000 VND per person (round trip). The buses usually depart from Hanoi at 10pm and arrive in Ta Xua after 5 hours, with stops along the way.
At Ta Xua, you can rent a motorbike to visit places for convenience. But if the steering wheel is not steady, rent a motorbike taxi from a local because the road is quite steep, narrow and has many turns.
Accommodation
Ta Xua is an area that has recently developed tourism, with no large hotels or comfortable accommodation areas. In the area there are about 20 homestays and motels, prices range from 200,000 VND to 1 million VND per night.
Accommodation areas are mainly concentrated in the central or neighboring areas, with community-style houses (stilt houses) and some private rooms. Some homestay addresses you can refer to: Xa homestay, Nam To homestay, Mua Tru homestay, Bao Chau homestay, Long Anh 1 homestay. Guesthouses include Phu Hoa, Tra May Ta Xua, Thu Bien, Hai Hang, Nguyen San.
Homestay Lu Tre is located at the highest position among the accommodation establishments in Ta Xua, about 7 km from the center area. Some high-clearance cars and motorbikes can reach the door. Other vehicles park under the gate, guests have to climb about 300 m or use the motorbike shuttle service. There are bungalows (one or two floors), detached houses, and stilt houses.
Ta Xua is an ideal place for camping. If you choose the right location, you will have the opportunity to watch the sunrise or romantic sunset from the top of the mountain.
Where to play
Dinosaur spine
The area that many people call “dinosaur spine” is about 15 km from Ta Xua center, about 5 km from Hang Dong commune center, Bac Yen district. “Dinosaur spine” leans against Ta Xua mountain range, in front is a valley hundreds of meters deep.
The Ta Xua dinosaur spine section has 1.5 km of trails considered by backpackers to be one of the most beautiful places to watch clouds in the North. Many days, the clouds were thick from early morning until 10:00 a.m. and still hadn’t cleared. When the sky is less cloudy, from the dinosaur’s back, you can immerse yourself in the space of forests, terraced fields and Mong people’s houses on the mountainside.
Dolphin’s beak
Dolphin Point is made up of two large rocks shaped like dolphins swimming in the sea of clouds. The rock is covered with moss, creating a wild beauty, harmoniously combined with the natural landscape.
From Bac Yen town, going up to Ta Xua commune, you will see a three-way intersection with a sign: one direction is “the back of the cloud paradise” 8 km, the other direction is Ta Xua tea hill. Turn right towards the tea hill to go up to Dolphin cape and lonely tree. Those who stay at Lu Tre homestay will reach Dolphin cape more conveniently than going towards the hydroelectric dam.
Turtle’s beak
The rock outcrop shaped like a turtle’s head is located at an altitude of 2,100 m, on the way to Ta Xua peak. From the lonely tree to the turtle’s head rock is about 1 km, you will have to cross the path of high slopes with sharp rocks.
Camel’s beak
From the center of Ta Xua commune, follow the direction of the Commune People’s Committee about 7 km, you will reach the camel rock. This is a new check-in point in Ta Xua. The camel’s beak is opposite the dinosaur’s spine and is most beautiful in the morning, so please arrange your schedule to make traveling most convenient.
Lonely tree
The lonely cat apple tree is located on a small hill at Gio peak at the intersection of Xim Vang – Hang Dong, more than 1 km from the center of Ta Xua. Standing from the tree’s position, you can see the Suoi Sap River. On nice weather days, the river water is clear and blue. The lonely cat apple tree is considered by backpackers to be a “living soul” in the pristine land of Ta Xua, a symbol of perseverance and resilience in the midst of harsh nature.
This is one of the places that backpackers consider to be “the most beautiful place to watch the sunset in Ta Xua”. If you are lucky, you can also see the sunset on the sea of clouds. The golden time to watch this scene is around 5:30 pm.
Primary forest
Ta Xua primeval forest is located on the southeastern slope of Hoang Lien Son range, stretching from an altitude of 2,600 m to the top. The forest has a wild, mysterious beauty, with altitudes continuously changing along the Phu Sa Phin range. There are many rare species of flora and fauna, especially the moss forest, which is considered the “kingdom of moss”. Small paths in the forest combined with sunlight will take you to a land like in a fairy tale.
Ancient tea hill
Ta Xua ancient Shan Tuyet tea is one of the most famous teas in Vietnam. Ta Xua Shan Tuyet tea hill is covered with clouds and snow all year round at an altitude of more than 1,500 m above sea level, so it is humid and cold. Ancient tea trees over a hundred years old are rarely exposed to sunlight, have high medicinal properties and special flavor. Ta Xua tea wings have a layer of fur as white as snow. When brewed, the tea is clear and viscous yellow. The initial taste of the tea is smooth and astringent, with a sweet and fragrant aftertaste.
Ta Xua steppe
Ta Xua grassland is located on the same route to Dolphin Point and Lonely Tree, about 10 km from the commune center. The road is wide and has few winding curves. Near Dolphin Point, you will see a sign to Ta Xua grassland. This is a place with a vast natural landscape, not only a place to admire the beauty of nature but also an ideal place for recreational activities, sports and camping.
Cloud-watching cafes
Mi Oi, Hien Coffee, Thao Coffee, H’mong Coffee, Ban Coffee are prominent coffee shops in Ta Xua with beautiful views, easy to hunt clouds, and ideal places to take virtual photos. When there are no clouds, these are still beautiful places to sip hot tea, admire the majestic natural landscape, watch the sunset gradually fall, or simply sit and relax. Drink prices range from 30,000 to 60,000 VND.
Eat what
Mac Nhung porridge is a specialty for tourists coming to Son La. After each harvest, the mac nhung fruits grown on the fields begin to ripen. People pick them, wash them, and then process them into many dishes, the most famous of which is mac nhung porridge. The dish has a bitter taste mixed with sweetness and spiciness, suitable for the cold weather in the Ta Xua highlands.
In addition to velvet porridge, visitors can order a hot pot of black chicken, salmon, sturgeon or popular dishes in the northern mountainous region such as dried buffalo meat, nam pia, bamboo rice, sour meat salad, and five-color sticky rice.
Note
You can’t always hunt clouds because of the weather. Look at the forecast and it’s best to choose a day when the temperature is low at night and high during the day, with sunshine during the day. Determine the direction of sunrise in the cloud hunting area to get the best angles.
You should not travel to Ta Xua in the evening, and should not go in too large a group. Ask and bargain when traveling by motorbike taxi.
The cost per person for two days and one night is about 1.5 to 2 million VND. During the Tet holiday, you should book early because this place is often fully booked. Ta Xua can only serve 700-800 tourists at a time.