Taking the three young children to Mau Son to see the ice.

Upon hearing the news of frost appearing on the summit of Mau Son mountain, Lan Huong and her husband immediately set off with their three children, aged 6 and 4.

"We didn't plan ahead. Hearing that there were icebergs there, plus the children were on school holidays, the whole family decided to go right away," said Dao Lan Huong, 33, from Hanoi . She believes that the more her children travel and experience, the more their souls and dreams will be nurtured as they step outside the safe circle of their parents.

Lan Huong's family on the summit of Mau Son mountain on January 24th. Photo: Provided by the family. — Lan Huong's family on the summit of Mau Son mountain on January 24th. Photo: *Provided by the family.*

Ms. Huong and her husband, along with their two children, six-year-old twins and a four-year-old, departed from Hanoi on the afternoon of January 23rd by private car and spent the night in Lang Son city. Initially, Ms. Huong planned for the children to sleep on the summit of Mau Son mountain at -3 degrees Celsius, but finding the facilities inadequate, they decided to go up to the summit on the morning of January 24th instead.

The journey from Hanoi to Lang Son city is 180 km long, with many highways, so the whole family traveled quickly, in about 3 and a half hours. After that, they traveled 15 km to the foot of the pass leading to Mau Son, and then continued over the pass for another 15 km to reach the summit. "This section of the road is under construction, but it's very easy to travel on; just follow Google Maps and you'll get there," Ms. Huong said.

This was the first time she and her children had witnessed such a magnificent sight. Everything around them was covered in ice. The pine trees, blanketed in frost, took on many fascinating shapes.

"The kids loved it, they even compared it to Elsa's ice palace," Ms. Huong said. She dressed her children warmly so they could freely explore new things, climbing to the highest and coldest huts. She was told by locals that Mau Son experiences frost every year, but it's been a long time since the ice was "so much and so thick" as this time.

Ms. Huong described this as a "worthwhile and wonderful" experience for the whole family. She believes that sometimes children should be allowed to "step out of their comfort zone" to see the colorful world and improve their physical fitness. She also mentioned that this was a preliminary test for her family's future plan to travel abroad to experience snow.

To prepare for the trips, Ms. Huong said that her children regularly run 5-7 km and swim regularly.

When hunting for snow and ice on Mau Son peak, she advises staying in Lang Son city for more convenient accommodation. There are guesthouses on the mountaintop, but they are quite dilapidated, and food services are limited; there is no heating or air conditioning. It's best to leave early in the morning to arrive between 6:30 and 7:00 AM to avoid crowds. The best time to descend is around 10-11 AM, as traffic police will be directing traffic then. Families with children should avoid having breakfast at the foot of the mountain, as the temperature and altitude differences can easily cause nausea.

The temperature at Mau Son peak can drop to -3 degrees Celsius, so it's essential to stay warm. Children need warm shoes, 2-3 pairs of socks, and 2-3 pairs of warm pants (thermal pants or thick fleece pants). Clothing should be worn in a specific order: thermal shirts (wool, fleece, or a warm vest) underneath, a super lightweight down jacket, a super thick down jacket on top, a wool hat that covers the ears, a face mask, warm gloves, and heat patches on the back. Adults should also dress similarly to children. Note that the path is slippery, so wear shoes with non-slip soles.

"My feet often get cold, so I stick heat patches on both soles of my feet," Ms. Huong added.

This frost is expected to last for 5 days, and the day Ms. Huong's family arrived was the perfect day. From today onwards, the ice will gradually melt as the temperature rises.

Tam Anh

Source link