Chu Va and Can Chua Thia Sang are two peaks located in a majestic mountain range in Son Binh Commune, Tam Duong District, northern mountainous province of Lai Chau.
On travel sites, the sharply pointed Chu Va reaches towards the sky intertwined with a soft white cloud band across the mountain's body.
Imagining the scene of overcoming that silk-like band to reach the summit, we eagerly set off northward towards Tam Duong—a familiar landmark and the starting point for many mountain trekking trails in northern Vietnam.
We arrived in Tam Duong on Friday night when Lai Chau Province hosted the Putaleng Paragliding Festival. Not only were we dazzled by the colourful paragliders against the Northwest sky, but our group also had the opportunity to immerse ourselves in performances imbued with the cultural identity of local Lu, Dao, and Mong ethnic groups. It was an inspiring start to our upcoming journey.
Early the next morning, we quickly got up to recharge and began our ascent of Chu Va 12 from the Nam Thi hydropower dam.
Chu Va Mount, at an altitude of 2,751m, may not be among Vietnam's highest mountains but is noted for its pristine nature and difficulty level, challenging climbers with numerous steep sections and vertical cliffs.
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Conquering Chu Va 12 Mount is not for those afraid of heights, as climbers must focus on their feet to choose safe and accurate footholds. |
Since this route has only recently been opened for exploration and due to its difficulty, there are limited climbers on Chu Va.
Despite having scaled higher peaks, Chu Va 12 nearly exhausted us with its climbing and gripping challenges. There were moments when mental strain arose from navigating perilous "dinosaur spine" sections.
This experience is not for those afraid of heights, as climbers must focus on their feet to choose safe and accurate footholds.
During this season, dry forests and shallow streams caused our steps towards the summit to seem slower.
There were times when we had to lay down on rocky outcrops under the dry autumn sun, waiting for our bodies to regain energy before continuing.
At noon, we stopped in the forest to light a fire and enjoy a meal prepared by our porters. The cold end-of-year winds intensified the harsh atmosphere.
In the late afternoon, we reached a shelter - a cold space that seemed to freeze everything around us, with dampness. However, Chu Va 12 Peak was still an hour's climb away. With hopes of witnessing a stunning sunset, our group continued upward.
However, due to cloudy weather that day, the sunset did not unfold as imagined. Nevertheless, this did not discourage anyone in our group as each person had surpassed their limits and touched a metal pyramid marked “Chu Va 2,751m” amidst howling winds.
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Enjoying dinner in the forest |
As night fell in bone-chilling coldness, our group shared cups of herbal wine alongside a steaming hot pot, temporarily forgetting our aches from daytime challenges. Sleep came after restless moments due to dampness, lack of water for daily use, and cold.
Around 5 AM the next day, while darkness still enveloped the mountains and forests, our group woke up and headed towards Can Chua Thia Sang Peak. The journey began with continuous descents from an altitude of 2,751m down to 2,400m, leading us onto a precarious dinosaur spine between heaven and earth.
The trail from Chu Va 12 Peak to Can Chua Thia Sang Peak is a stretch of road that not only challenges physical strength because of the continuous repetition of rope swings but also requires courage and perseverance.
After traversing many paths that made us tremble again while recalling them- where one misstep could lead to danger - the distant view of O Quy Ho Pass excited our group.
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A cloud sea on the Can Chua Thia Sang Mountain Peak |
On clear days, visitors can observe Chu Va Peak from the O Quy Ho Pass, resembling a gigantic sharp tower soaring straight into the blue sky.
The most enticing sound at that moment was the echoing horns from vehicles at the foot of the mountain. However, it took us three more hours to reach our finishing point, concluding a memorable journey to conquer two mountain peaks within two days.
No success comes easily, so don’t stop if you are passionate about exploring and conquering heights. Enjoy life your own way; the trek to Chu Va 12 and Can Chua Thia Sang mountain peaks will definitely not disappoint you!
