If you still remember the poem “Tay Tien” by poet Quang Dung, you will surely imagine a towering and treacherous Pha Luong:
“A thousand meters up, a thousand meters down,
Whose house is that, Pha Luong, in the distant rain?”
Pha Luong peak, with an altitude of over 2000 meters above sea level, is a familiar tourist destination for many young people, especially those who love backpacking and adventure, who have once set foot here. Visiting this place, tourists will be able to overlook the entire landscape from above, with houses with wooden walls and thatched roofs, branches, and grass hidden in the mist. So, if you have the chance to visit Moc Chau, how can you ignore the desire to conquer the Pha Luong Peak, right?
Pha Luong is a popular tourist spot among many young people (Photo: Phuong Minh Chien)
Where is Pha Luong?
Known as the gateway to heaven of Moc Chau, Pha Luong peak is located on the Vietnam-Laos border. Words can hardly describe the emotions when climbing up here. Pha Luong peak, nearly 2,000 meters above sea level, is about 40km from Moc Chau, in Tan Xuan, Chieng Xuan commune. The Pha Luong mountain, also known as Bo Lung, is adjacent to the Vietnam-Laos border on the east side and belongs to Moc Chau district, Son La province.
Climbing Pha Luong is not too difficult or high (Photo: Mann Nhii)
In reality, climbing Pha Luong is not as difficult or as high as other mountains in the North, but reaching the border patrol point is the real challenge. The red dirt paths, steep inclines, and narrow areas stretch precariously from one peak to another.
The best time to conquer Pha Luong peak
You can visit Pha Luong at any time of the year (Photo: Mann Nhii)
To explore Pha Luong peak, you should plan a weekend trip. It’s best to go in early spring around February-March, which is also the season for peach, plum, and apricot blossoms, allowing you to enjoy the festivities and capture beautiful flower photos in Moc Chau.
Directions to the summit of Pha Luong
Stunning cloud hunting view from the summit of Pha Luong, mesmerizing beauty (Photo: Mann Nhii)
From Hanoi to Moc Chau, you need to travel a long distance of about 200 km, taking approximately 5 hours to reach Moc Chau town. After arriving in Moc Chau town, you need to continue on a motorbike to reach the foot of Pha Luong mountain.
Since the summit of Pha Luong is not as high as other peaks in the Northwest region, the trek is not too difficult or arduous. However, the journey from Moc Chau town to the border post – the gathering point for permits and the start of the climb is the real challenge you need to overcome.
Many of the trails are slippery, requiring you to be very careful (Photo: Mann Nhii)
From Moc Chau town to the foot of Pha Luong peak is about 20 km, the road is quite well-paved with asphalt and concrete. You move in the direction towards the Long Sap border gate between Vietnam and Laos. Passing these stretches, you will enjoy the sight of tea hills or the image of wild pine trees along the road. You stop at Muong Sang commune with asphalt roads leading to the village of the Black Hmong at the foot of the mountain.
After moving through the asphalt road and trail to the summit of Pha Luong, you reach the narrow path of the trail along with some steep sections, sometimes with potholes, moving about 6 km to reach the border post of Pha Luong, and then leave your motorcycle here.
The Pha Luong border post is the place where all tourists must complete all procedures before being allowed to continue the journey to conquer the summit of Pha Luong (Photo: Mann Nhii)
The journey to conquer the summit of Pha Luong is about 10 km and takes about 4 – 5 hours to reach the summit. You should also contact a guide to help make your journey safer. They have experience in leading groups and are knowledgeable about the terrain at Pha Luong, which will surely reduce the risks significantly during your trip.
Unforgettable experiences on the way to the summit of Pha Luong
The paths leading to Pha Luong start to be engulfed in red soil (Photo: Mann Nhii)
As you ascend the mountain, you will encounter more exotic plants, species that only live at high altitudes which you normally wouldn’t have the chance to come across. To reach the summit, you will traverse tiny, winding trails, climb over large boulders, and stoop through bamboo forests where the trees intertwine like a giant net. Here, there are also areas of tall maple trees, and if you visit during the fall, you will walk on a carpet of yellow leaves as if you were in a Korean drama scene.
On the trail amidst ancient trees, you can only hold on to roots as thick as a person’s body and pull yourself up. This journey will leave your clothes covered in dirt and sand, and even result in torn sleeves and pant legs from getting snagged on tree branches.
Bring your trash down the mountain to preserve the beauty of Pha Luong peak (Photo: Mann Nhii)
Atop Pha Luong mountain, there’s a legendary rock ledge that everyone hopes to check in on at least once. This ledge juts out like a hand ready to catch the drifting white clouds. Taking a picture on this dreamy rock with your beloved friends will surely be a lifetime photo, a unique experience not easily found on any other trip.
What do you need to prepare to conquer Pha Luong peak?
If you’re set on conquering Pha Luong peak, you need to prepare mentally and ensure you are in good physical health, regularly practicing exercises to build your stamina.
To maintain good health for your mountain climbing journey (Photo: Mann Nhii)
Additionally, prepare clothing, medications, a small knife, lighter, food, hiking shoes, raincoat, plastic bags for shoes… and personal identification documents for procedures at Pha Luong border post.
What to eat when conquering Pha Luong peak?
Since there are no eateries from Moc Chau to Pha Luong peak, you should bring ready-to-eat food, especially water, to avoid getting exhausted along the way.
2-day 1-night itinerary to Pha Luong from Hanoi
Day 1: Hanoi to Moc Chau, then to Pha Luong
- 6am: Depart from the center of Hanoi to Moc Chau via QL6
- 9am: Arrive at Da Trang Pass for check-in and rest.
- 11:30am: Stop for a check-in at the S-shaped road of Moc Chau.
- 12pm: Arrive in Moc Chau town for lunch and rest.
- 1pm: Depart to Pha Luong Border Post.
- 7pm: Rest for the night at a local’s house or have dinner with the soldiers at the border post.
Day 2: Pha Luong back to Hanoi
- 5am: Wake up, have breakfast, and prepare to start the climb to conquer Pha Luong peak.
- 9am: Reach the peak for check-in on the legendary rock, enjoy the scenery and take commemorative photos. Then rest and start descending to Pha Luong border post.
- 1pm: Have lunch and move back to Hanoi (If the weather is favorable, you can ride a motorcycle back to Moc Chau, if the weather is bad, then stay overnight at the border post). If you have more time, you may stay in Moc Chau to visit other tourist spots. On the way from Moc Chau to Hanoi, you can rest at Mai Chau Flagpole to view the Mai Chau valley.
See more: Son La Travel Essentials: What You Need to Know Before You Go
See more: Ultimate Guide to Moc Chau: Tips for First-Time Visitors
See more: Top Tips for a Successful Motorbike Trip to Ta Xua
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