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Ngan Nguyen (Ngan Mario Maurer, Hai Duong), is a freelancer currently living and working in Hanoi. Ta Chi Nhu is the fourth mountain she has conquered this year. Previously, she climbed Nam Kang Ho Tao, Bach Moc Luong Tu, and Putaleng. Her trip to Ta Chi Nhu lasted 2 days and 1 night.
Ta Chi Nhu, located in Xa Ho commune, Tram Tau district, is known as the "roof of Yen Bai" and "a cloud paradise on earth," with a height of 2,979 meters. It is also the 7th highest mountain peak in Vietnam and was first conquered by tourists in 2013.
Ngan Nguyen recently completed a two-day trip to conquer Ta Chi Nhu peak in Yen Bai province last September.
Ta Chi Nhu consists mainly of steep hills and winding paths, with some sections even being sheer cliffs. The climate here is often very cold and windy, making the journey to the summit even more difficult and dangerous. However, thanks to its stunning and incredibly romantic scenery, Ta Chi Nhu is always a popular choice for trekking and mountain climbing.
Ngan Nguyen spent the first night at the hut (it was more than 10 kilometers from the foot of the mountain to the hut) and the next day she traveled from the hut to the summit, starting at 5 am. It took her about 2 hours to climb from the hut to the top, as she stopped along the way to admire the scenery and take photos.
“In my opinion, Ta Chi Nhu is not a very difficult climbing route. The most special thing about this route is that the climbing path is entirely steep, all the way from the foot of the mountain to the summit. There are very few flat paths. The terrain from the foot of the mountain to the campsite isn't very diverse, but the scenery from the campsite to the summit is much more beautiful. September and October are the season for the purple chi pau flowers, so you'll get lost in this forest of purple flowers on the way to the summit,” Ngan Nguyen said.
Mid-September to early October is the best time to see the Chinese evergreen flowers.
Besides being an ideal spot for cloud watching, Ta Chi Nhu also attracts many mountain climbing enthusiasts because of the beauty of the wild purple flowers that spread across the hillsides – the "chi pau" flowers. They got their name because when asked about these wild purple flowers, the locals would say "chi pau" (in the Hmong language meaning "don't know," "don't understand"). No one knows where these flowers originate from or what their name is. Every year, from September to October, the hills and mountains of Ta Chi Nhu burst into vibrant purple bloom with these wildflowers.
During Ngân Nguyễn's trip to conquer the highest peak in Yên Bái, the first day was quite challenging due to heavy and prolonged rain. The second day was luckier as the sun came out and the weather was beautiful, allowing her to chase the clouds and capture many stunning moments. However, upon reaching the summit, strong winds and heavy fog made photography quite difficult.
For those without mountain climbing experience, this trip is not recommended for independent travel. Tourists can join a group or go on a guided tour.
"After a few months of taking a break from mountain climbing, I'm finally getting back to it, so my leg muscles are more sore than usual. However, I love mountain climbing and am incredibly excited for this trip, so I don't consider this a challenge," said Ngan Nguyen.
The terrain of Ta Chi Nhu is not too complicated, mainly just steep, requiring high endurance and perseverance, so I still advise everyone to diligently exercise daily to ensure they are in the best health when climbing.
Ngan Nguyen also offered some tips for trekking to the summit of Ta Chi Nhu. When climbing a mountain, your legs are the most important part. If your legs hurt, climbing will be extremely difficult and strenuous, so you need to be well-equipped for your legs.
Ta Chi Nhu is known as the "roof of Yen Bai" and "a paradise of clouds on earth".
She further shared: “On recent trips, I switched from wearing specialized shoes to boots. Boots feel much more confident and secure, and are also very suitable for the unpredictable sunny and rainy weather in the mountains. They are also easy to wash and clean. So I encourage you to wear boots and choose a size two sizes larger than your foot size, and wear two pairs of socks for extra comfort. That's why I usually bring many pairs of socks to change into. You also don't need to bring too many clothes, avoiding a heavy backpack and making it easier to move around.”
"Keep going while your legs are still strong and your pockets are full. You'll receive far more amazing things than you can imagine," shared Ngan Nguyen.
For those who conquer Ta Chi Nhu, the constant movement through the forest with limited food and drink can easily deplete their health. Therefore, tourists should prepare their health well before the trip and engage in physical exercise. In addition, tourists should join a group tour with a guide; and equip themselves with skills to handle unexpected situations such as encountering snakes, sunstroke, or hypoglycemia.
Although the climb to the summit of Ta Chi Nhu is not easy, visitors will find the effort completely worthwhile when they admire the dreamy, European-like scenery of the fields of chi pau flowers on the highest peak in Yen Bai.
