Northwest region always attracts visitors by its majestic mountains and challenging roads. Besides, it possesses the wonderful nature and poetic landscape drawn by the villages squeezed in the mountains. Therefore, we chose to explore the unique beauty of the villages of Northwest region in our Sapa tours and we found out a lot of amazing, interesting things through this memorable trip.
Well, are you curious about our discovering journey in Sapa? If yes, let’s follow me to the article below!
The beauty of Moc Chau
At the beginning of our journey, we stopped and stayed overnight in Moc Chau. The next day, the arduous journey begins. Crossing the road about 20km from Son La city to Hat Lot town, we turn to Ta Hoc, down the way to Muong Chum, Muong Bu and come to Muong La.
The road from Muong Bu to Muong La province is much easier to go. On the roadside, there is an area where maize and rice are grown into the mountains.
The section from Nam Chien to Ngoc Chien is the most difficult, with many rocks and steeps. One side is the cliffs, the other is a hydroelectric reservoir. This area is quite attractive, there are only few houses scattered on both sides of the road. Thanks to the magnificent scenery, we forgot about all the difficult road ahead.
The attractive scenery of Ngoc Chien
Through the bumpy roads, vast terraced fields and clear streams, we arrived at Ngoc Chien at noon. Being a commune located deep inside Muong La, Son La district, Ngoc Chien commune is at an average height of over 1800m above sea level with cool weather all year round, just like another Da Lat of Vietnam.
This place, besides the hot mineral water, which is famous for every tourists, also attracts everyone by the local specialties such as apple wine, thang co, barbecue, grilled fish, wild cabbage,… And above all, the beauty of the wild but majestic landscape makes people have to ignore all the worry. In the midst of cool weather, the stilted houses hidden in the yellow fields, in the green bushes and behind the layer of smoke and fog of a high region.
Taking a hot mineral bath
Houses in Ngoc Chien are often wooden stilted houses, which are typically made of precious wood species that even the rich people can’t buy.
Many hot mineral baths here are also built with this type of wood. According to the local people, there is a special poo in which they emit a characteristic aroma that is effective in repelling mosquitoes and also very good for health.
After a tiring journey, we chose a homestay to take a hot mineral bath and take a rest. Hot mineral water here seems hotter than other places, about thirty minutes soaking, and I had to give up. A night stay and take a hot mineral bath here just took us less than 70,000 VND per person. If only hot bath without overnight, you only need to pay 10,000 VND.
The breath-taking scenery of Mu Cang Chai
The next morning, we left there to continue the journey to Mu Cang Chai. The road is quite calm and has a lot of beautiful scenery that makes everyone fascinated.
The next stage is to Khau Pha Pass which is also very challenging. Located in Cao Phuc commune, Mu Cang Chai district, Yen Bai province, this place is famous for its steep but very attractive to people who love the conquering journey.
From the pass, we can somehow see the rooftops of the houses in Thai village. From far away, the Lim Lung Mong appears on the side of the mountain with the apricot trees, old big peach trees. This beautiful painting was adorned with terraced rice fields mixed with the color of rice in yellow or green.
Lim Lung Mong with unique beauty
Despite the difficulty of the conquering journey, the challenging roads and the rustic villages in the middle of the majestic nature always make the Northwest region attractive visitors and make them surprised even it’s not the first time seeing.
Come here to understand the feeling of going in the middle of the golden fields, in the middle of the thousands of beautiful fragrant flowers and to understand the feeling of the local people who are living in the middle of the sky.
