Enchanted by Vo Nhai

Lush green tea plantations imprinting images onto the clear river, a tranquil path following the hills... That is the journey to Vo Nhai, Thai Nguyen.

This place remains relatively unfamiliar to many but is a must-visit for a weekend getaway.

To reach Vo Nhai from Hanoi, you have two options. First, follow National Highway 3 or the Hanoi - Thai Nguyen expressway for about 80km, then turn onto National Highway 1B and proceed for another 40km.

The second option is to follow National Highway 1 from Hanoi to Lang Son, then at Huu Lung, turn onto Provincial Road 242 straight to Vo Nhai. We chose the second route, more remote and challenging, but a journey filled with excitement.

Up the Rong River, marveling at the Mua Roi waterfall

Having heard about the famous landscapes of Ho Nui Coc, the historical site of ATK, and the Duom Temple in Thai Nguyen, driving along the desolate provincial road 242 amidst the rolling hills with a small river nearby and the lush green tea plantations, the feeling remains quite special and captivating.

Stopping for a break on the road in Dân Tiến commune, we were told by Mr. Long, a local resident: 'The river you see is called the Rong River, with crystal clear water throughout the four seasons. There are many mosses at the bottom of the river, hence the name.'

Along the Rong River, occasionally, we come across a few small bamboo boats casting nets for fishing. The tea hills reflected in the calm, green water become a beautiful painting of autumn.

At the entrance, there are ancient trees growing close to the riverbank, and no one knows how old they are.

On the tea plantations, people from the Tay, Nung, and Kinh ethnic groups start working very early. They pluck tea leaves, cultivate the land, with laughter echoing as if decorating the somewhat deserted landscape.

Finally, we reached Dinh Ca, the town of Vo Nhai, before starting our journey to explore the scenic spots of this land. Just over 30km to the northwest, we arrived in Thần Sa commune, Vo Nhai. From a distance, echoing in the wind and the sound of motorcycles is the rushing sound of flowing water.

Approaching closer, in front of us lies the waterfall named Rain Falling, with cascading streams of water pouring from the heart of the mountain. From a height of over 30m, with the upright mountain cliffs covered in moss and vegetation, the small water droplets fall gracefully.

During this season, the Rain Falling waterfall is quite shallow, so from a distance, it appears as a large strip of water resembling a white scarf amidst the deep green mountains. The sound of falling water, the melodious chirping of birds in the bushes, accompanied by the cool breeze, made us thoroughly enjoy stopping to explore.

After a few hours by the beautiful waterfall, we continued along the clear Thần Sa stream to find the famous archaeological site in this area.

On Ngườm mountain, Trung Sơn hamlet, Thần Sa still preserves many shells, clamshells, ancient animal bones under layers of soil and rocks. It has been proven that this is a dwelling place of ancient Vietnamese people in prehistoric times.

The magnificent Mỏ Gà Cave, Phượng Hoàng mountain

Farewell to the land of Thần Sa, we turned back to Đình Cả to spend a night resting before heading along the 1B road to reach Mỏ Gà mountain, a peak with a sharp summit resembling a rooster's beak.

Starting from the parking area along National Highway 1B, everyone needs to walk approximately 300m, then climb over the rocky steps and moss-covered soil to reach the entrance of Mỏ Gà Cave. The cave is about 10 – 15m wide, 2 – 10m high, and the cave's interior is quite dark, requiring the use of flashlight preparation.

The stream inside the cave has cool and crystal-clear water; in some sections, we waded only up to our ankles. However, there are also deep, wide pools of water where tourists can swim and bathe.

The local authorities do not have specific data on the length of the cave. Tourists usually dare to explore only 300 – 400m before turning back due to the complex and dangerous terrain.

The scenes from the cave entrance to the inside, illuminated by our flashlights, were truly enchanting.

The cave formations are fascinating, with countless bizarre stalactites and stalagmites, appearing even more mystical under the flashes of camera lights and flashlights. The combination of spring water and rock formations creates colorful and sparkling landscapes.

According to our research, despite being named Mỏ Gà (Chicken Beak), this area belongs to the famous Phượng Hoàng mountain range. Near the summit of Phượng Hoàng mountain, there is also the Phượng Hoàng Cave. Climbing up to Phượng Hoàng Cave requires good physical fitness in preparation for the journey.

Our group climbed over 2,000 stone steps in about 1 hour and 30 minutes before reaching the cave entrance. The ascent to the cave is long and includes steep sections, demanding physical stamina. Consequently, some individuals had to give up midway after exploring Mỏ Gà Cave and the Phượng Hoàng Cave.

The cave has two wide openings that allow sunlight to directly shine in. The cave's ceiling is enormous, and standing at the entrance provides a view of the depth approximately 50m below.

From the cave's summit, water droplets flow along the stalactites, forming small pools at the bottom. Following handrails and safety barriers made of crafted stone steps, we began descending slowly below.

Along the journey are mystical stalactites with shapes resembling elephants paying homage, victorious tigers, dancing mythical unicorns, a mother carrying her child, Champa goddesses, and even a linga-shaped stone towering about 10m, equivalent to the embrace of two people—truly unique and captivating.

As per Tuoitre.vn

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Reference: Travel Guide from Mytour