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Ranked among the top 10 highest peaks in Vietnam, Nhìu Cồ San is still relatively new to the Vietnamese trekking community.
Nhìu Cồ San – Mountain of Ginseng Roots!
To kick off a new year with great excitement and energy, I set a goal to conquer a mountain each year. And this year, Nhìu Cồ San is the mountain our group chose to conquer.
Ranked among the top 10 highest peaks in Vietnam, Nhìu Cồ San is still relatively new to the Vietnamese trekking community. The vegetation of Nhìu Cồ San remains pristine, leaving people mesmerized by the winding trails through dense, deserted forests, the misty landscapes embracing thick layers of damp soil, or a distant mountain shrouded in early morning clouds…
Day 1: Countless Exciting Experiences in the Forest and on the Mountain
Conquering a mountain requires more than just solitary efforts; you need an experienced guide to lead the way. Fortunately, our group was fortunate to meet a seasoned and professional leader who arranged all the transportation, meals, accommodations, and more. Thus, we only needed to prepare our personal gear, sling our backpacks, and embark.
Departing from Hanoi on Friday night, around 5 a.m. the following day, we arrived in Sapa. Here, we stored our clean clothes and unnecessary items so that after descending from the mountain and soaking in medicinal leaf baths, we could stroll around the town unburdened. At 7 a.m., we traveled an additional 60km by car and 8km by motorbike to the trekking point in Nhiu Co San village, officially commencing our exciting journey.
During the initial period, fueled by excitement, by around noon, we reached the Con Ong Waterfall. This served as a prominent highlight of our expedition. The waterfall was tall, and its rushing waters created a majestic scene amidst the mountains and forests, unlike anything we had ever seen. Here, the entire group paused for lunch and rested to gather strength before continuing the journey to the camping site, which we reached by 4 p.m.
No matter how tired you are, make sure to muster the strength to admire the sunset because a sunset at an altitude of 2000m is vastly different from those seen elsewhere. Especially after the sun sets, don't rush back, as that's when the sky displays its most beautiful shades of pink.
Evening time was the most anticipated period throughout the journey: because we would reunite with the sky adorned with countless stars. This trip was truly fortunate because although the weather forecast predicted rain on the day our group set out, the evening sky was quite clear and filled with sparkling stars. Carrying firewood up a small hillside near the camp, we rested, lit a fire, and admired the night sky—you might even spot a shooting star like we did!
Day 2: Conquering the mountain with plenty of ginseng roots – Nhiu Co San
Waking up at 5 a.m. to prepare for the continuation of the journey, you will feel the biting cold, extreme chilliness here. However, there is a special gift for early risers—the majestic sight of the sunrise above the sea of clouds.
The ascent to the summit on the second day is quite slippery and muddy, the higher you go, the colder and damper the air becomes, so everyone needs to be more careful. There are many rocky cliffs that require climbing or swinging from trees, making our group have more memorable experiences along the way. And after 3 hours of sweating, finally, the milestone of Nhiu Co San appeared before us. The feeling is indescribable: there is joy, there is exhaustion, but especially a sense of fulfillment!
Because the mountaintop is quite foggy and cold, our group did not stay long. Right after taking a series of commemorative photos, everyone quickly returned to the resting area and had lunch before descending the mountain—ending our annual spring trekking trip. And for you readers, trekking to Nhiu Co San is an experience worth trying once in a lifetime.
By Hoang Thi Nhu Quynh
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Reference: Travel Handbook Mytour
MytourApril 14, 2020
