As the first rains of the season begin to alleviate the stifling heat of summer, the parched hills of Ta Nang revive vigorously. The yellow, dry, and barren landscape has been replaced. A lush, vibrant green now covers the hills along what is considered one of the most beautiful trekking routes in Vietnam.
Unable to miss this opportunity, my friends and I arranged our schedules, putting aside the worries and busyness of life to truly immerse ourselves in nature. Ta Nang is a trekking route approximately 20 km long, traversing two provinces, Da Lat and Ninh Thuan. To get there, you can fly, take a bus, or rent a private car to Da Lat, then travel to the Ta Hine intersection (Duc Trong, Lam Dong), hire a motorbike taxi or travel on your own to the edge of the forest and begin the trek.
Ta Nang welcomed me with a beautiful, cool, sunny morning. Last night's rain had left a few muddy spots on the road, but we were in high spirits and very happy, so these minor obstacles were no problem. I passed small houses nestled peacefully beside meadows and pine forests to reach the first hill, beginning my trek into Ta Nang.
Free, lush, and exhilarating.
Those were my feelings while traveling on this road for two days. Ta Nang is just hills, one after another, endlessly. After climbing one hill, I had to rest to regain my strength before continuing. But the feeling of being surrounded by pristine nature energized me, and my steps became more enthusiastic. I was truly overwhelmed by the vibrant green of the foliage that covered everything as far as the eye could see. The green of the grass, the blue of the sky, and the golden of the sun made Ta Nang look like a beautiful painting.
The Ta Nang trail had no guesthouses, only a flat hill that previous trekkers had named Hill 101, where we could set up tents and a cooking area. Just then, a sudden downpour began. We pitched our tents, covered them with tarpaulins, and started a fire with wet firewood. Smoke billowed up amidst the rain and wind. The rain stopped quickly, but the air grew colder. We had to put on warm clothes and huddled around the fire to grill meat, corn, and cook rice, laughing and chatting happily.
Magical sunrise
I woke up at 5:30 a.m. to watch the sunrise. It had been a long time since I'd woken up so early in a place so free from noise and pollution. When the first rays of sunlight shone down, Ta Nang surprised me again with its misty scenery and countless clouds drifting lazily around the hills and treetops.
Everyone wanted to shout out loud because of this magical scenery. Setting up a chair on the hillside, brewing a hot cup of coffee, I savored every moment here. Even the instant noodles with a sausage made me feel like it was the best breakfast, with the most beautiful view on the trip.
After lingering for a while, it was finally time to set off back to Ta Hine. As I walked, I tried to take in all the beauty of Ta Nang and snapped photos incessantly, afraid of missing a beautiful angle or a special moment.
I'll always remember waking up at 3 a.m. with the wind howling, and my group and I having to reinforce our tents. But when we stepped outside, a dazzling starry sky appeared, a magical sight that overwhelmed me. How long had it been since I'd seen the stars, now that the city lights had drowned them out?
I will also fondly remember those two days traversing countless lush green hills, climbing four slopes, crossing four streams, navigating numerous muddy pits, and getting our clothes stained and dirty. Yet everyone was still smiling, still rambling on about how, "We don't want to stay at home in our warm beds; we just want to endure this hardship." As one of the group said, "What's in the forest? There's a certain charm in the forest!" Only those who have experienced Ta Nang can truly appreciate that charm of the wilderness.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Things to note when visiting Ta Nang:
- The Ta Nang trail isn't difficult to navigate, but it's very easy to get lost, so you must be extremely careful and fully prepared before setting off. The best way is to book a tour with a reputable travel company, as they will take care of everything from tents, food, water, and guides. If you're going independently with a group, it's essential to have someone who has been there before, is familiar with the route, has experience leading groups, is knowledgeable about the terrain, and can handle situations well.
- You need to equip yourself with the most basic survival skills such as setting up a tent, finding food, making a fire, and providing first aid with medical supplies…
- You need to be familiar with the route and schedule, and have a GPS, offline maps, and tracklog ready.
- Never separate from the group; always stay close to your teammates.
The best time
During the rainy season, from June to September, the grass begins to grow lush and green, so if you visit at this time, you will see a vast expanse of green on the hills. During the dry season, from October to December, the grass is scorched, and the hills turn a golden yellow.
+ Schedule
The Ta Nang trek only takes two days, so you can plan a weekend trip. On Friday evening, take a sleeper bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat. At the Ta Hine junction, ask the driver to stop so you can get off. Then, hire a motorbike taxi to take you to the forest entrance, where the trek begins. After leaving the forest on Sunday afternoon, return to the Ta Hine junction and take a bus back to Ho Chi Minh City. If you are traveling in a large group, you can rent a private vehicle for convenience.
+ Things to prepare
- A good pair of athletic shoes that are comfortable, have good grip, and are waterproof for rainy seasons. Shoe covers should also be prepared.
- Durable backpack, with backpack cover.
- Rain suit
- Drinking water: Each person should bring at least 4 liters of water for the entire trip.
- Clothing: Prepare plenty of warm clothes, pajamas, trekking gear, and pack them in zip-lock bags to prevent them from getting wet in the rain.
- Food: Prepare enough food for the number of days you plan to be there. It's a good idea to bring items like instant noodles, dried food, sausages, candy, and various types of snacks… (dried food is easy to carry and provides good energy).
- Medications: You should bring some preventative medications such as those for colds, flu, diarrhea, insect repellent, etc.
- Tents: Choose a three-layer tent that is insect-proof and rainproof.
- Other items: identification documents, lighter, knife, camera, flashlight, phone with offline maps/GPS, power bank/charger…
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