Mount Chu Va 12 and Can Chua Thia Sang, a pair of mountains that may not be tall, but everyone has to look up to them.

Before the Chu Va 12 route in Lai Chau was discovered by Mr. Tin, a local resident at the foot of the mountain, I already knew about this area through a photograph taken by a photographer from Chu Va village, showing a sheer mountain that would make anyone hesitate to look up. A towering peak with a sharp, pointed summit, its bare rock face exciting even the most adventurous climbers. When my brother, who had traveled from the South to the North, invited me to climb it, I immediately agreed, even though I hadn't researched the route beforehand.

This trip, which lasted two days and one night, covered two peaks: Chu Va 12 (2751 m) and Can Chua Thia Sang (2403 m), starting at an altitude of approximately 1100 m and covering a total distance of over 16 km—enough to imagine how incredibly steep the route was. After the trip, even those who had climbed many mountain peaks in Northwest Vietnam exclaimed:

"Other treks to conquer high peaks can be considered just hiking, but this one is what you call mountain climbing. My feet and arms hurt so much," exclaimed a 50-year-old woman in the group.

"If the altitude of one of the peaks is among the top 15 highest mountains and the distance is longer, then it will be on one of the most challenging routes," said Nguyen Huy, the team leader who has climbed many mountains, nodding in satisfaction after a fulfilling trip.

Most people only know about the Chu Va 12 peak, which can be visited in a day or with an overnight stay. Later, a route was added via the Can Chua Thia Sang peak, creating a two-peak route with many exciting experiences for adventure seekers. Currently, not many people attempt both peaks at the same time; if they do, it's usually a three-day, two-night trip. This time, Mr. Nguyen Huy found a group of fit and adventurous individuals and planned a two-day, one-night trip to add an extra challenge.

At Chu Va 12, perhaps the most striking feature was the steep slopes that tired our legs. They weren't very long, but stopping halfway up made it difficult to maintain balance; trying to continue felt like our hearts were about to leap out of our chests. We walked along the rocky stream on a foggy day, the drizzle of rain in the wind making the gray-blue rocks look like they were covered in soap; a single wrong step could easily lead to a fall. We walked along the rocky gorge, flanked by towering rocky mountains that resembled a gigantic stone wall reaching up to the sky.

The summit offers a perfect view for both sunset and sunrise. After a night of heavy rain, the group was shrouded in thick fog, making it seem as though we would overcome any difficulty to reach the summit, hoping the mountain would pierce through the mist and lift us above the sea of ​​clouds. But the dense fog was only punctuated by a few warm rays of the setting sun. On a clear, cloudless day, we could gaze across the majestic Hoàng Liên Sơn mountain range and admire the towering Fansipan peak.

The most challenging and experiential part was the trek from Chu Va 12 to Can Chua Thia Sang, along the mountain ridge that kept going up and down. Everyone who comes to the Ta Xua ridge hopes to see the sea of ​​clouds, but here, all we hope for is a clear day to see the winding ridge and the mountain ranges with their sheer cliffs. Standing here and looking over the wall, I think about the path on either side – one wrong step and you're instantly knocked out.

Looking up from Chu Va village, you see a sharp, pointed mountain – that's Can Chua Thia San, with Chu Va 12 behind it. Standing on the summit of Can Chua, 2403m high, I could imagine what the descent would be like. But… it was even more terrifying than I imagined. For half the time descending the mountain, you used your hands more than your feet. The white rope and the slender yet sturdy bamboo stalks were what saved everyone on the descent. Swinging on the rope, gripping the bamboo branches, holding onto the roots protruding from the ground – your feet seemed useless on this path. When the rocks were vertical with no place to put your feet, you had to turn your face to the rocks, your feet almost parallel to the ground as if walking on the rocks.

The 2-day, 1-night trip to conquer Chu Va 12 and Can Chua Thia Sang is truly an adventurous journey, with the newly opened route not yet too wide, a sheer cliff on one side. Those with a thirst for challenge will be eager, their legs stiff from the steep slopes, unsure where to place their feet, and their arms aching from clinging to rocks, bamboo stalks, and tree roots.

To climb Chu Va 12 and Can Chua Thia Sang you can:

• Take the overnight bus from Hanoi to Lai Chau, departing from My Dinh bus station around 9 PM. You'll arrive at Chu Va bridge around 4 AM, at the foot of O Quy Ho pass. The climbing starts there, and your guide will be nearby.
• That day, Leader contacted Mr. Tua (who owns an A Tua motorbike repair shop 500 meters past the Chu Va bridge) and is also one of the people building the shed in Chu Va. You can ask him to buy and prepare food for your meals.
• Since the starting point and the exit point are the same, on the return trip you still need to take the 9 PM bus from Lai Chau to pick you up at Chu Va Bridge.

Phung Quang Huy