Lai Chau province has 7 out of 15 highest mountains in Vietnam. In particular, Nam Kang Ho Tao peak, with an altitude of 2,881 m, is located in Thao A village, Ho Mit commune, Tan Uyen district, the boundary between Lai Chau and Lao Cai. This is the top mountain peak in Vietnam, according to the web portal of Lai Chau province.
Since the end of 2019, when the commune 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, Mr. Lo Van Binh, Vice Chairman of Ho Mit Commune People's Committee, shared.
During the climbing season, some households in Thao A village will work as local porters to lead guests to conquer Nam Kang Ho Tao peak. The local government orients the development of tourism in the form of community by bringing people to learn about tourism experience in villages in the province to practice in Thao A and Nam Kang Ho Tao communes.
Most climbers cannot climb to the top of Nam Kang Ho Tao in one day but have to rest overnight to recuperate, because this route is much more difficult to walk than the routes to conquer other peaks in Lai Chau such as Putaleng, Ta Lien Son.
The trekking distance is arduous, but Nam Kang Ho Tao has its own beauty with maple leaf forests, bamboo forests, many streams, waterfalls, rich high and low flora. In addition, there is also a characteristic feature of this road is the thousand-year-old po mu trees, azalea forests and cardamom forests that are taller than a person's head.
The natural landscape is beautiful, but Nam Kang Ho Tao has many streams and waterfalls, and these are areas with many potential dangers. Most of the areas near water sources will have hard stones of all sizes from large to small and slippery due to clinging to weeds and moss, so it is very easy to have accidents if you move carelessly. In the rainy season, water upstream pours in, causing the spring water to flow faster.
For mountaintop trekking tours, especially those that are difficult to travel such as Nam Kang Ho Tao, it is most important that visitors should go with an experienced guide. There are no shacks on the way, so it is recommended to bring blankets, tents and camping items. Hire a porter to help transport your luggage. The road to Nam Kang Ho Tao has sections that require ropes or homemade wooden ladders to climb.
The right time to conquer the peak of Nam Kang Ho Tao is from September to April. The current time is the beginning of the most beautiful climbing season in Nam Kang Ho Tao, the weather is dry, the weather is favorable, the plants in the forest are green, and a few maple trees change their leaves. March and April also have the rhododendron season. In April, when the rainy season begins, climbing tours will be paused to minimize risks for tourists in the process of conquering and exploring nature.
Photo: Trong Anh
According to VnE