Located at an altitude of 2,965m above sea level, Nhiu Co San has become a destination that attracts many backpackers and climbers to conquer its wild beauty and rich flora.
Last October, Ha My (30 years old, in Hanoi) and her husband decided to make a journey to conquer Nhiu Co San peak. This is one of the most beautiful trekking arcs in Vietnam that is loved and discovered by many climbers.
Nhiu Co San (2,965m) is located in Sang Ma Sao commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province, about 60km from Sa Pa and is the 9th highest mountain in Vietnam, in the Hoang Lien Son range.
The reason for its name is that this mountain is shaped like two buffalo horns (in the H’Mong ethnic group, Nhiu Co San means buffalo horn).
If you want to trek at the top of this mountain, visitors often move to Sa Pa, continue to Den Sang commune and then come to Nhiu Co San village.
The last road from Den Sang to Nhiu Co San is less than 10km, but there are many rocks and steep slopes, so visitors can hire locals to drive for safety or drive a motorbike by themselves if the handlebars are hard and experienced. .
My and my wife moved from Hanoi by bus at 9am and arrived in Sapa at 3pm. The next morning, the couple was picked up by a porter (native porter) and moved to Nhiu Co San village.
From here, My and her husband started climbing for the first time in their lives, conquering the 9th highest mountain in Vietnam.
According to experienced climbers, the road to conquer Nhiu Co San often goes through Ong Chua waterfall to the goat grazing road or vice versa.
On the way to Ong Chua waterfall, there will be many large trees to shade and waterfall streams, visitors can easily find a place to rest.
The road to the goat grazing area is not too steep, but mostly shrubs, low grass, no waterfalls, so if you come here on a hot day, you will lose your strength.
Each season, Nhiu Co San brings its own beauty thanks to its rich vegetation. Coming here, visitors can feel the obvious change in terrain when moving from the foot of the mountain to the top.
At the bottom are mainly shrubs, grasslands and cliffs, but higher up are green cardamom forests, primary forests, large trees and finally conifers and mixed forests.
In November, December, visitors to Nhiu Co San peak can see brilliant red and yellow maple trees.
By January, it is colder, so it often appears icy, sometimes with white snow on the top. At the end of the climbing season, around March and April, the top of this mountain is filled with red, purple, and yellow colors of azaleas.
The road to conquering Nhiu Co San peak is not too long but requires climbers to have endurance and perseverance. The most popular itinerary usually lasts two days and one night.
My and my wife started the journey to conquer Nhiu Co San peak at 11am and at 4pm, they went to the shack to rest.
At 4:30 a.m. the next morning, both of them got up early to continue their journey. Although they did not have time to catch the sunrise at the top, the young couple can admire this beautiful scene from a lower position.
“Fortunately, the point where we catch the dawn is lower, closer to the clouds, so the scenery appears even more beautiful. The porter also said that Nhiu Co San is more difficult to hunt for clouds than other places, so I am more impressed. I’m excited because I have the opportunity to admire this moment,” Ms. My said.
If you start at the foot of the mountain at noon, tourists who go and rest will arrive at the camp at dusk, about 17h-18h. The shack has a modest area, just enough room for 60-70 people with water being led from a stream about 300m away.
Guests will rest overnight at the shack and continue the journey to the top of Nhiu Co San early the next morning. This distance takes about 2 hours to climb.
After checking-in on Nhiu Co San peak, visitors will move back to the shack for lunch, down the mountain and then take the car back to Sa Pa, ending two days of climbing.
My admits that she has camped and traveled to many places, but this is the first time 9X has climbed the mountain. However, female tourists commented that Nhiu Co San trekking is very beautiful, through primeval forests, streams, waterfalls, flowers and picturesque red leaves.
She also noted, for those who first conquer Nhiu Co San peak, they should hire a porter to go with them to avoid losing their way and not lose strength during the climbing process.
In addition, visitors need to be fully equipped with long pants, long-sleeved shirt (or thin waterproof jacket), T-shirt, thick jacket (used to keep warm when sleeping overnight in the shack), hiking shoes, .. . and other necessary personal items such as glasses, hats, flashlights, insect repellent, medicine,…