Ta Chi Nhu is the seventh highest mountain in Vietnam, standing at 2979m, located in the Xa Ho area, Tram Tau district, Yen Bai province, often described as an “ocean above the clouds” for its famous sea of clouds mid-sky. For those who love trekking, Tram Tau offers two attractive trails to Ta Chi Nhu and Ta Xua. So, why hesitate? Gather your close friends and conquer one of the most beautiful cloud paradises in Yen Bai with guidance from RuudNguyen.com.
Where is Ta Chi Nhu?
Ta Chi Nhu is located in Tram Tau district, Yen Bai (Photo: Tran Viet Hoang)
Situated in Tram Tau district, Yen Bai province, Ta Chi Nhu is known in Thai as Phu Song Sung and in Hmong as Chung Chua Nha. The mountain’s elevation ranges from 2,979 to 2,985 meters above sea level. The trek to conquer Ta Chi Nhu is considered extremely challenging, ranking it among the hardest trekking spots in Vietnam, even though it is the sixth highest mountain in the country. The climate on the mountain is harsh, with strong winds making the journey to the summit quite arduous and fraught with danger.
When is the best time to climb Ta Chi Nhu?
The ideal time to climb Ta Chi Nhu is from October to March, the perfect period for mountain climbing and cloud hunting. However, due to the high altitude, the weather is quite diverse; in the lower areas, the climate is hot and dry in summer, while higher up, humidity increases, and fog can turn into rain, posing obstacles for climbers. Therefore, before attempting Ta Chi Nhu, you should take the weather into consideration.
Climbing Ta Chi Nhu during the dry season offers the best chance for cloud hunting (Photo: Tran Viet Hoang)
The weather on Ta Chi Nhu, with its continuous steep rocky slopes and dense shrubbery without proper footholds, becomes very slippery and dangerous if you get caught in the rain. You should also be ready with a rain cover for your backpack, a full raincoat, and gloves with grip to help you in the unpredictable mountain rain. Additionally, if you want to see the rhododendrons bloom, plan your visit to Ta Chi Nhu around the middle of spring (usually in the first two months of the year).
A small note on the timing for visiting Ta Chi Nhu is that from May to August, it enters the rainy season, making movement and climbing significantly more difficult. The advice from experienced climbers is that you should not go during the rainy season.
Guide to Climbing Ta Chi Nhu
The road from Nghia Lo to Tram Tau is narrow and some sections are in poor condition (Photo: Tran Viet Hoang)
Essentially, the path to Ta Chi Nhu consists almost entirely of a single trail, without too many forks that could lead to getting lost. If someone in your group has climbed before, you can go on your own without needing support from local people. However, if it’s your first time, you should hire a guide for assistance and safety.
Personal Transportation
From Hanoi, you can use personal transportation (car or motorcycle) to get to Tram Tau. Start on Thang Long Highway or route 32, following QL 32 towards Nghia Lo.
From Nghia Lo town, it’s about 30km more to Tram Tau, this road is quite narrow and has many curves and slopes. When you reach the first bridge just before entering Tram Tau town, turn right onto this road. Follow the signs to the Mo Chi area, which will be the starting point for the climb. Previously, it was possible to park at the mine, but now the mine does not open or offer parking services, so you must park outside at a local’s house, about 2km from the gate.
The road from Tram Tau to Mo Chi is very poor; if driving a car, it must have high clearance. If riding a motorcycle, you will experience the smooth handling of the porters, which will also be an interesting experience to start your day’s journey.
Public Transportation
Hanoi – Nghia Lo – Tram Tau
You can also choose to take a bus. Go to My Dinh bus station and choose bus services going to Nghia Lo or Lai Chau (which pass through Nghia Lo). Bus companies from Hanoi to Yen Bai often include Thanh Lan, Viet Phuong, Hai Phuong,… The travel time by bus is about 4-5 hours.
From Tram Tau to Mo Chi
From Tram Tau to Mo Chi is quite far (around 15km). If you arrive at Tram Tau by public transport, you can hire a motorcycle taxi to the foot of the mine before continuing to climb. My suggestion is to ask your guide to book the ride in advance for better planning. You should start early, at the latest by 10 AM, to reach the destination before it gets dark.
From Mo Chi to the 2400m rest hut
The lead mine, starting point for climbing Ta Chi Nhu (Photo: Tran Viet Hoang)
Previously, the lead mine often allowed passage through their gate along with parking services for climbing groups. However, since 2019, they have stopped allowing access through the gate, and climbers are now led by porters along a trail next to the lead mine. The starting point for the climb is about over 1km in elevation.
Following the footsteps left by those before you, you begin the journey to conquer the peak of Ta Chi Nhu through steep slopes, many of which lack footholds, requiring you to adopt a crawling position to continue. As you ascend higher, closer to the peak, the wind becomes stronger, gusting intermittently, increasing the difficulty level of the trek.
The experience here is to lower your center of gravity to save energy while climbing. The closer you get to the mountain’s summit, the more you should lower your stance, which helps avoid the risk of being blown over by strong winds.
If you climb too late, you will have to use a light to see the path clearly (Photo: Tran Viet Hoang)
On the journey to conquer Ta Chi Nhu, in the last 3 – 4 kilometers, the path becomes more challenging as the trail runs alongside a stream with large boulders on one side and steep mountain cliffs on the other. There will be sections where you need to wade through the stream. Remember to move slowly and carefully to avoid slipping!
The characteristic flower here is the Chi Pau flower (Photo: Tran Viet Hoang)
The signature flower of Ta Chi Nhu – the Chi Pau flower. Its name remains unknown to this day, even to knowledgeable Hmong people like A Chu. Perhaps that’s why the Hmong named this mysterious flower chi pau (which means unknown or not understood in Hmong). The Chi Pau blooms in October, so mid-October is the best time to admire the Chi Pau flowers.
Although the trek to Ta Chi Nhu is not too long, it still offers a challenging experience of trekking. Reaching the stunningly beautiful summit, you can enjoy the breathtaking views of Yen Bai from above. There is a hut at the summit where you can rest. This hut is near a natural water source, and if you want to camp overnight on Ta Chi Nhu’s summit, you can use this water for bathing and cooking.
How about food and lodging?
Lodging
Previously, without a rest hut, most groups had to bring tents and sleeping bags for overnight stays. However, since 2018, a small hut with blankets and mats has been built here for overnight stays. If you prefer not to sleep in the hut or if it’s too crowded in the winter, you can still pitch a tent. Just be aware that the wind can be strong, so find a spacious but sheltered spot.
Food
At the 2400m rest area, there is a place for cooking, of course with firewood. You should prepare your food in advance, ask porters to help carry it, and distribute the load among the group. Remember to bring enough drinking water, accounting for three main meals.
Porter Guidance
Porters guiding the climb to Ta Chi Nhu are usually locals living around Tram Tau. Typically, porters will help carry food for two days on the mountain, but try not to bring too much heavy stuff.
Tips for Climbing Ta Chi Nhu
If you climb on clear days, reaching the summit will look like this (Photo: Tran Viet Hoang)
Members are required to be in good health, resilient, and have prior mountain climbing experience or have trained beforehand, such as climbing Ham Lon (Soc Son, Hanoi), Yen Tu (Quang Ninh), Tay Thien (Vinh Phuc), or have spent at least two weeks running or walking, climbing stairs to train.
Unlike some other peaks in the Hoang Lien Son range like Fansipan (Lao Cai), Pu Ta Leng (Lai Chau), reaching the summit of Ta Chi Nhu involves traversing many steep slopes. If your group is small, it’s advisable to hire a local guide for reliable companionship.
If it starts getting dark before you reach the resting point, it’s best to stop, find a sheltered spot from the wind, spacious enough to pitch a tent for temporary rest, and not continue as mountain climbing in the dark is very dangerous. If the wind at your camping site is too strong, you need to have a plan to securely anchor the tent.
Carry your favorite snacks but keep them lightweight. Importantly, the food should provide quick energy. Breakfast should be quick and simple, like instant noodles, sausage, sandwiches; for lunch, carry high-protein food to eat on the go; and if camping at night, cook a warm, full meal.
Ta Chi Nhu Climbing Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi – Nghia Lo – Tram Tau – 2400m Hut
Depart from Hanoi early in the morning, the journey to Nghia Lo town takes about nearly 5 hours. You can take a midday rest in Nghia Lo. If you want to explore Nghia Lo, you could travel the night before.
Depending on the number of members and the group’s strength, it can take 6-8 hours to reach the hut. After dinner, try to rest early to save energy for the next day’s climb.
Day 2: 2400m Hut – Ta Chi Nhu Summit – Tram Tau
Wake up early to prepare breakfast; if you start around 5 AM, you should reach the summit by 8 AM. Spend an hour on the summit taking photos, then return to the 2400m hut to rest and pack up. After lunch, begin the descent. This day’s journey will be much longer than the first day, so conserve your energy.
Rest in Tram Tau at night, you can visit Tram Tau’s hot springs for a bath. This area is often crowded on weekends, so plan and book in advance if needed.
Day 3: Tram Tau – Village – Hanoi
From Tram Tau, if you’re on a motorcycle, you can challenge yourself by conquering the Tram Tau – Ta Xua route (be careful as it can be slippery), or enjoy the scenery at Khau Pha Pass. If you have a 4WD, you might visit Cu Vai village.
See more: From Yen Bai to the Peaks of Ta Xua: A Trekking Adventure Guide
See more: Yen Bai Through the Seasons: Best Times to Visit and What to See
See more: Mu Cang Chai Travel Essentials: Planning Your Perfect Trip
Discussion about this post