Buzz
Clouds are the signature of Sa Pa, Lao Cai, mesmerizing visitors on sunny days.
Embark on a Cloud Expedition at Mount Dragon Jaw in Sa Pa
Sa Pa town is located approximately 33km from the center of Lao Cai city. Clouds usually appear on beautiful sunny days, clear skies, and warm spring days. Sometimes they only appear for a few hours then dissipate under the sunlight. Therefore, clouds are considered the 'specialty' of Sa Pa.
During warm, fog-free days, clouds condense in the valleys before flooding towards Sa Pa town, villages, and mountain forests, forming magnificent cloud bands.
For many professional photographers, Sa Pa's cloud formations are an intriguing subject for artistic photography. The most picturesque spots to witness these clouds in the Sa Pa mountainous forests are at Mount Dragon Jaw, the road to Hang Da village of the Hmong people in Hau Thao commune, located about 3-4km south of the town center, or atop O Quy Ho Pass, which borders Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces.
In a recent photo expedition, photographer Nong Thanh Toan (from Hue) and colleagues arrived in Sa Pa at the opportune moment, amidst the golden late autumn sun, as the town transitioned from misty autumn days to chilly winter ones.
Mr. Toan opted for the Cloud Yard area on Mount Dragon Jaw, approximately 1,800m high, to capture Sa Pa's cloud patterns during various times of the day - morning, afternoon, and even evening.
On that beautiful day, the sea of clouds mingled with the golden sunlight and danced gracefully with the gentle breeze, resembling smooth white silk ribbons wandering across the hillside.
The white hues of the drifting clouds contrasted with the verdant colors of the towering mountain peaks, creating a mesmerizing scene in Sa Pa akin to European landscapes.
As evening approached, the clouds weaving through Sa Pa town took on a more surreal and mystical beauty.
'During the transitional period in Sa Pa, a hint of golden sunlight remains, creating a picturesque scene with pure white clouds gracefully floating amidst the sky. Sa Pa is beautiful at any time of the year, but perhaps most enchanting when the town is adorned with drifting clouds,' shared Mr. Toan with us.
Mount Dragon Jaw reaches its highest point at 1,850m, making it one of the most beautiful and romantic sightseeing spots in Sa Pa tourist area. To reach here, visitors head to the central square near Stone Church. Behind the Stone Church is the path leading to the Mount Dragon Jaw tourist area.
From the Cloud Yard, visitors can overlook the entire Sa Pa town shrouded in clouds, with glimpses of Muong Hoa valley, Cat Cat village, and the magnificent terraced fields near Ta Van village.
Besides the Cloud Yard area, Mount Dragon Jaw offers many other beautiful spots for visitors to explore and photograph, such as the Orchid Garden, Peach Blossom Garden, and Heaven's Gate. At Heaven's Gate, visitors can clearly see the distinctive dragon head shape of the mountain, as the name Mount Dragon Jaw suggests.
According to HUYNH PHUONG/ Youth
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
TravelAdvisor.comJanuary 7, 2019
