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About Lai Chau

Located in the mountainous area of northwest Vietnam, Lai Chau is a scenic attraction that fascinates anyone who has the opportunity to come here. It is also a great challenge for those who have a great desire to conquer nature. This land is both alluring and fanciful, keeping its charming beauty in pristine condition.

Coming to Lai Chau is coming to arduous mounts such as Bach Moc Luong Tu, Pu Si Lung, Pu Ta Leng and Ta Lien Son, which have long been the destination for authentic backpackers. You'll find yourself floating in the midst of white clouds. You can contemplate the dreamy scenery of Muong Than rice fields during the harvest season. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to learn about the unique culture of 20 ethnic minorities living together in the peaceful villages .


Weather

Lai Chau has a subtropical climate, so it is colder here all year round than other regions. You can go to Lai Chau almost any time of the year, just avoid the rainy season of typhoons and landslides between June and August.

From December to March is the season of peach blossom, mountain ebony, plum flower, and many interesting festivals. April and May are the season of pouring water, so it is great to admire waterfalls and lakes. September and October are the days when you can take pictures of Muong Than rice fields turning sparkly yellow.


Transport

About 400 kilometers from Hanoi, you should travel to Lai Chau by shuttle bus departing from My Dinh or Giap Bat bus station to ensure your health. For those who prefer to explore on their own motorcycles, they must be a mastered driver and in minimum physical conditions.


Top things to do in Lai Chau

1. Ride motorbike along the legendary O Quy Ho Pass

2. Conquer the stunning mountains covered in clouds

3. Discover Muong Te Nature Reserve

4. Explore Pu Sam Cap Cave Complex

5. Free your mind in the midst of Muong Than rice fields

6. Experience the life in Si Thau Chai Village

7. Visit water wheels in Na Khuong and tea hills in Bo Village

8. Go to San Thang Kermis, Sin Ho Kermis

9. Enjoy Pa Pinh Top - speciality in Lai Chau

WHAT TO KNOW

Time zone

GMT +07:00

Currency

Vietnamese Dong

Explore Lai Chau

Latest Stories from Lai Chau

Riggy climbing in the Northwest in the best season

Lai Chau province has 7 out of the 15 highest mountains in Vietnam. In particular, Nam Kang Ho Tao peak, with an altitude of 2,881 m, belongs to Thao A village, Ho Mit commune, Tan Uyen district, the boundary between Lai Chau and Lao Cai. This is one of the most difficult peaks to conquer in Vietnam, according to the website of Lai Chau province. Since the end of 2019, when the communal road system was upgraded, Nam Kang Ho Tao is a place where many backpackers come to explore. With diverse, majestic and rugged natural landscapes, Nam Kang Ho Tao is being exploited for tourism through climbing tours, said Mr. Lo Van Binh, Vice Chairman of Ho Mit Commune People's Committee. In the climbing season, some households in Hao A village will make local porters to lead guests to conquer Nam Kang Ho Tao peak. Local authorities orient tourism development in the form of community by sending people to learn tourism experience in villages in the province to practice in Hao A and Nam Kang Ho Tao communes. Most climbers cannot reach Nam Kang Ho Tao peak in one day but have to spend the night to convalesce, because this route is much more difficult than other peaks in Lai Chau such as Putaleng, Ta Lien Son. The trekking distance is arduous, but Nam Kang Ho Tao has its own beauties with maple leaf forests, bamboo forests, many streams, waterfalls, rich high and low flora. In addition, a feature of this route is the thousand-year-old poplar trees, azalea forests and cardamom forests that are taller than per capita. The natural landscape is beautiful, but Nam Kang Ho Tao has many streams and waterfalls, and these are potentially dangerous areas. Areas near water sources will mostly have hard rocks of all sizes from large to small and slippery due to clinging to algae and moss, so it is easy to have an accident if moved carelessly. In the rainy season, the water upstream pours in, causing the spring water to flow more tightly. For mountaintop trekking tours, especially difficult ones like Nam Kang Ho Tao, the most important thing is that visitors should go with an experienced guide. There are no shacks on the way, it is recommended to bring blankets, tents and camping supplies. Hire a porter to help transport your luggage. The way up Nam Kang Ho Tao has sections that require rope or homemade wooden ladders to climb.  The right time to conquer Nam Kang Ho Tao peak is from May 9 to May 4. The current time is the beginning of the most beautiful climbing season in Nam Kang Ho Tao, it is dry, the weather is favorable, the plants in the forest are lush, sporadic with some maple trees changing the color of leaves. May 3 and 4 also have azalea season. By May 4, when the rainy season begins, climbing tours will be suspended to minimize risks for tourists in the process of conquering and exploring nature. According to VnE

Nature & Adventure 24/02/2023

Riggy climbing in the Northwest in the best season

Nam Kang Ho Tao Peak, one of the top difficulty trekking routes in the Northwest, is in its most beautiful season of the year.

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Putaleng, the third highest peak in Vietnam located in the Hoang Lien Son Range, is a destination for trekking people every March. The road to the top of Putaleng through the primeval forest with countless beautiful signs of life, of dreams.
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If I could choose 1 word to describe my journey to conquer Nam Kang Ho Tao, I would choose the word "dream", although this phrase is not enough to describe the beauty of the jungle here. With my fitness and average climbing experience, I probably wouldn't have been able to set foot on this top of the Northwest's hardest-ranked mountain.
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