48 hours without signal in Ta Lien Son

Ngo Tam (25 years old, Quang Ninh), a girl passionate about traveling and exploring, especially trekking. She has conquered the following routes: Eight Fairy Maidens, Lao Than, the Binh Lieu Dinosaur Ridge…

"For me, trekking is an adventurous and physically demanding sport that requires good health and the courage to face challenges because going into the forest is relatively dangerous, with no internet or phone signal... Although you lack many things, in return you will have memories that not everyone gets," Ngo Tam shared with Travellive.

Recently, she spent two days and two nights exploring Ta Lien Son – the sixth highest mountain in Vietnam, standing at 2,996 meters.

The challenge: 2 days and 2 nights without electricity and phone signal.

Ta Lien Son (Co Trau), with an altitude of 2,996 meters above sea level, is located in Ta Leng commune, Tam Duong district, Lai Chau province, and is about 10 km from the city center. With a short 2-day, 2-night trip, Ngo Tam felt immersed in the dreamy scenery of vibrant red maple trees, lush ancient trees, moss and ferns covering their trunks, creating a mystical beauty, and verdant vegetation... a fairytale picture unfolds, captivating dreamy souls who love trekking.

With a 24-hour journey without electricity or phone signal, Ngo Tam shared her unforgettable experience.

On the first day, we departed from Hanoi to Sapa, Lao Cai at 4:30 AM. The group then traveled for nearly two hours by car to the meeting point in Ta Leng commune, Tam Duong district, Lai Chau city. Afterward, we continued by motorbike for another 7-8 km to reach the foot of the mountain. This narrow, steep, and slippery clay road, full of potholes, can be considered the first challenge of this trekking route.

At 11 am, the group gathered at the foot of the mountain, equipped with walking sticks, arranged their belongings, and listened to the leader and porter explain the itinerary and schedule in preparation for the journey. The 4 km trail from the foot of the mountain to the campsite was filled with enthusiastic exploration of various beautiful sights in the forest, such as a 1,000-year-old tree, Hoa Waterfall, and ancient trees.

At noon, the group had lunch in the forest on the way to the campsite. Despite the scarcity of supplies in the forest, the pre-prepared lunch included sticky rice cakes with pork sausage and sweet tangerines. After a 45-minute rest, the group continued their journey. Around 6 PM, they arrived at the campsite to rest, eat, and prepare for the next morning's trek to conquer Ta Lien Son peak.

On the second day, the members woke up at 4 a.m., packed their personal belongings, and began moving to ensure they had enough time to trek to the summit and descend the mountain.

“That morning was a memorable one for me. It was raining incessantly, and there were shouts and conversations from many other groups sharing the same passion for climbing Ta Lien peak. Besides those who were afraid of the cold and bad weather and stayed in the hut, I chose to continue moving towards the summit,” Ngo Tam recounted.

At 9:00 AM, Ngo Tam and the rest of the group reached the summit. By then, the rain had stopped, the sun was shining, and there were some clouds. At 10:30 AM, they returned to the campsite to rest, have lunch, and descended the mountain at 4:30 PM. Afterwards, they traveled to Sapa and then back to Hanoi.

“Our group had 12 people, but only 5 decided to leave their warm beds, put on raincoats, and conquer the mountain in the incessant rain. It was dark, the only light was a flashlight, and we just kept going and going, feeling like we had crossed many forests before reaching the summit. With the terrain covered in dense vegetation, everyone used all four limbs to explore. When we finally reached the summit, the sea of ​​clouds rolled in, the sun came out, and the beautiful scenery unfolded, making us forget the cold,” Ngo Tam said.

The journey to conquer the 2,996m altitude also brought Ngo Tam many memorable experiences. Evenings by the campfire enjoying grilled pork marinated in the traditional style of the Mong ethnic group. Or the late-night chill of 6-8 degrees Celsius that kept everyone awake. The 7-8 km road to the foot of the mountain, traveled by motorbike, had many sections that made her hold her breath, afraid to move, only daring to sit and cling tightly to the person driving her...

What should you keep in mind when trekking in Ta Lien Son?

According to Ngo Tam, the ideal time for trekking Ta Lien Son is from September to May of the following year because the weather is relatively pleasant and dry. Each period has its own unique beauty.

Specifically, September to November showcases the beauty of maple trees. From November to January, cold air arrives, creating a magical cloud-watching scene. January to February is the camellia season. And from March to May, azaleas bloom profusely.

"Because I love looking at maple leaves, I chose the end of November. At that time, the weather is mostly cold in the early morning and evening," she said.

Additionally, she suggested that tourists should prepare lightweight clothing for easy movement throughout the day, and bring warm jackets, thermal clothing, and power banks at night because there will be no signal or electricity on the mountain, and everything will be done with flashlights.

The higher you go, the lower the temperature becomes, so you should bring moisturizer to prevent dry skin, drinking water for the entire journey, and a power bank to capture many memorable moments.

As someone who has conquered many trekking routes from South to North, Ngo Tam finds the Ta Lien Son trek to have many unique characteristics compared to other routes.

“Ta Lien Son has a season when the maple leaves are in full bloom. The peace of mind when entering the mystical forest surrounded by many ancient trees, the sound of waterfalls, birdsong, and rich vegetation... even sleeping in the old forest gives me a feeling of extreme relaxation. Perhaps it's because I love nature and the scenery here, especially admiring maple leaves because they symbolize luck, hope, and aspiration. You can see maple leaves on many other trekking routes like in Lung Cung, Ky Quan San... I chose Ta Lien Son because it's relatively difficult to get to, less crowded, and has majestic nature,” Ngo Tam said.

Sharing more about her passion for extreme sports, Ngo Tam said that trekking helps her expand her limits alongside her love of travel and exploration. After each trekking trip, she feels energized by connecting with nature and meeting many new friends.

“Capture the memorable moments of your youth by exploring magnificent nature and, especially, conquering mountains. It's not just the Ta Lien Son trekking route; when you reach the summit of a mountain, the feeling is like conquering yourself.”

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao - Photo: Ngo Tam