Located in the middle of the pristine La Ngau forest, about 150 km from Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Tien appears like a quiet note in the noisy symphony of modern life. There, there is no phone signal, no sound of vehicles, only the sound of babbling streams, the sound of forest birds and the mist that hangs like a thin curtain between the sky and the earth. That is the place that Lu Duy Tuong (27 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) chose to go trekking, to temporarily leave the rhythm of urban life and find the pristine breath of nature.
A clear stream meanders through the deep forest on the way to Fairy Lake
Located in La Ngau commune, Tanh Linh district, Binh Thuan province, Ho Tien is a destination that is still deserted by tourists. Located in the middle of a primeval forest, this lake used to be a "secret passed on by word of mouth" in the Southern trekking community, especially attracting those who love to explore and enjoy the feeling of challenging themselves in the middle of wild nature. The journey to Ho Tien usually starts from the area near Da Mi hydroelectric plant, through the forest about 10km, crossing streams, climbing slopes, to reach the calm lake surface reflecting the sky.
Step into the pristine world of mountains and forests
Choosing Ho Tien for his weekend trip, Tuong said he was attracted by the “cool and quiet natural space” – indispensable criteria when choosing a trekking route. And the name “Ho Tien” also evokes many magical images in him: “I imagine a lake in the middle of the forest with a white waterfall, mist covering the lake surface, hazy like a fairyland”.
In fact, Tuong came during the dry season so the waterfall was not strong, the mist was only thin on the lake surface and the tree canopy. But the beauty of nature still made him stop for a long time to feel: "I sat next to the rock, watching the water flow through the rocks and then down to the lower steps, a few small fish were swimming upstream. It felt so peaceful."
Camping in the middle of the wild mountains and forests - an unforgettable experience at Ho Tien
The trip was not only a sightseeing trip but also a struggle with oneself – both physically and mentally. With a heavy backpack, Tuong and his group of friends crossed 10km of forest road, then encountered a steep slope as if to test their resilience. “Every step was heavy, my heart was pounding, I was panting but could only tell myself to try to overcome it, to be able to immerse myself in the cool stream”, he recalled. “We joked with each other, we would not stay at home with the air conditioner on and lie in a warm blanket on the weekend, but instead went to torture ourselves!”
The stream is clear and cool
In the midst of a difficult journey, companions become a valuable support. They talk, tell each other about the roads they have traveled, share experiences and plan the next trip together. “Walking in the forest, without phone signal, only each other. That is when you see the strength and value of teammates,” Tuong said.
Impressive scenery on the trekking route
One of the unforgettable memories was the afternoon he was stung by a bee on the knee while he was busy taking pictures of a dry tree trunk. “It only hurt a little, but when I woke up in the morning it was swollen and hard, but I still had to walk home. That pain left an unforgettable mark,” he laughed.
And then, when the morning sun sets on the lake, the mist gently wafts in the cool air, the wind whispers, the birdsong echoes in the distance – that is the moment Tuong touches the feeling of “fairyland” as the name of the lake suggests. “No noise, no human voices, I feel like I am separated from the everyday world. All worries disappear in this mountain forest,” he said.
For Tuong, the most important thing to reach Ho Tien is not material possessions, but "physical and mental strength - only those two things can help us take the last step to the destination".
