As scheduled, from the end of November to the end of December is the golden time for adventure enthusiasts and those who love experiences to start conquering the high mountain peaks.
This is the time when many provinces enter the early winter, so the weather is cool and pleasant, the space of the earth and sky seems to blend into one because of the clouds covering the path. Therefore, mountain climbing activities are often combined with cloud hunting so that visitors can enjoy the most wonderful natural beauty.
Mountain climbing during the pandemic: enjoy nature more fully!
“Work pressure and the pandemic have kept me from leaving the city for many months now. When I finish a suffocating workday within four walls, I realize that what I need right now is a trip, a day or just a small moment to breathe in nature - and I have scheduled a trekking trip to Ta Xua peak” - Mr. Hai Le Cao, a freelance photographer, shared.
According to Mr. Hai, Ta Xua is one of the safe choices for mountain climbers at this time, because this is a relatively safe locality in terms of epidemic prevention and still accepts tourists from other provinces at this time. Besides, the 2,865 m high mountain peak is also a beautiful "cloud hunting" paradise in the Northwest, which can promise to bring visitors many new experiences.
Photo: FB Hai Le Cao
Photo: FB Hai Le Cao
One of the biggest differences in trekking activities during the pandemic is that tourists need a green/yellow card, a rapid test certificate or a PCR test to be safe from Covid-19. “Before the pandemic, you only needed to prepare your belongings and a good spirit to be able to go right away, but now you need a lot of documents to ensure safety for yourself and everyone else,” said Hai Le Cao.
In addition, the route from the starting point to the trekking point also goes through many checkpoints. For example, from Hai Phong to Ta Xua, you have to declare at 3 checkpoints: The first checkpoint is under the province, visitors need to declare all important information; the second checkpoint is under the district, continue to declare information and check body temperature; the last checkpoint is under the commune, before climbing the mountain, you just need to declare information one last time.
A trekking group on Phia Po mountain (photo: Tran Hong Ngoc)
The trekking route has not changed compared to before the pandemic. However, the biggest difference is the nature, the majestic scenery of mountains, forests, clouds and sky. Because of the pandemic, the number of trekking tourists has decreased a lot compared to before, so the roads are clear, there is no more jostling and queuing to take photos.
Mountaineers during this time can calmly enjoy nature to the fullest. The fresh air is like a spiritual medicine after a long period of social distancing.
“I am a person who loves freedom by nature, so when I am able to climb the mountain, I feel likerelease tigers back into the forest. The trekking route is quite deserted and the nature and weather constantly change through each section of the road. This is my favorite place when trekking during the epidemic season and is definitely the most reasonable choice, instead of going to crowded tourist attractions, with a high risk of spreading the disease" - Mr. Hai happily shared.
From the top of Phia Po mountain - the "roof" of Lang Son, with an altitude of about 1,541 m (photo: Tran Hong Ngoc)
The efforts of trekking tour operators to "live with the epidemic"
After 4 times of "shutting down - opening up" corresponding to 4 strong outbreaks of the epidemic, tourism business in general and trekking and adventure tourism service business in particular have been almost paralyzed. Difficulties have crept into every corner of each individual working in tourism.
As soon as social distancing ended in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from late September to early October, a number of tourism services were quickly reactivated on the market. Among them, trekking-related services are said to have the most positive growth.
Because it is the right time for cloud hunting season, many tourists want to experience physical activities combined with breathing fresh air of nature after a long time of "camping at home". Trekking becomes one of the top priority choices.
Each trekking group can accommodate 10-15 people, but must ensure social distancing during the trip. (Photo: Tran Trung Kien)
Trekking tourists do not come into contact with large groups of people, especially with jungle trekking tours, during the entire trip tourists only come into contact with people in the group. (Photo: Tran Trung Kien)
According to Mr. Tran Trung Kien, representative of an adventure tour service business in Hanoi, since welcoming guests back in early October, the unit has been maintaining about 2-3 trekking tours/week. This number is down about 2 tours/week compared to the pre-pandemic period, but is still a favorable start at this time.
Some trekking locations that are "booked" by many tourists are: Conquering Ta Xua peak (natural boundary between Yen Bai and Son La); Ta Chi Nhu peak (Yen Bai); trekking Cuc Phuong forest (Ninh Binh); trekking Cat Ba forest (Hai Phong)...
Accordingly, each trekking tour will keep the same number of participants as before, about 10-15 people/tour. However, due to the need to ensure social distancing during the trip, instead of the whole group traveling in one car, the group will now have to split into two cars from the starting point to the trekking point.
Mr. Kien said that this is also one of the biggest difficulties when organizing tours during the epidemic season, because the cost of transporting passengers increases and the profit is smaller than before.
The cost of a mountain climbing trip ranges from 2,000,000 - 3,000,000 depending on the location. (Photo: Tran Trung Kien)
“Currently, there are quite a lot of visitors who want to participate in trekking and can be divided into two groups: Group one has been fully vaccinated and can go on the trip at any time; Group two really wants to participate but has not been fully vaccinated or wants to experience it with the whole family of many generations including the elderly and children. Basically, many trekking spots cannot meet this because most of them require health and a love of adventure from the participants,” said Mr. Kien.
During the pandemic, the need for multi-generational families to travel together is quite common and often only to places nearby where they live. Many travel agencies have flexibly organized additional trekking tours, right in the city.
For example, in Hanoi, recently there has been a coffee service combined with camping at the Red River rock beach with costs ranging from 500,000 - 700,000 VND/person. Or, Mr. Kien's unit is also organizing a trial trekking tour in Ba Vi, initially bringing in many positive responses from tourists.
Adventure tourism and cloud-hunting mountain climbing can be considered part of the closed circle of “Home - Green - Home”. (Photo: Tran Trung Kien)
Adventure tourism and cloud-hunting mountain climbing can be considered part of the closed circle of "Home - Green - Home". This is a program built on the plan issued on September 7, 2021 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in conjunction with the Vietnam Tourism Association to launch the theme "Connecting green tourism in Vietnam".
Green tourism,That is to ensure the gradual opening of tourism and put the safety of people and workers in the tourism industry first. All stages of service, reception, transportation, and sightseeing will be guaranteed to be safe, distanced, and close to nature and local culture.
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