Rhododendron flowers bloom profusely on the summit of Fansipan.

Fansipan peak is currently in its peak rhododendron blooming season, making it a popular check-in spot for tourists visiting Sa Pa during the April 30th holiday.

Rhododendrons, the flower dubbed "the queen of the Northwest mountains," are blooming all over Lao Cai . One of the best places to see the flowers, with abundant beauty and at the closest distance, is the rhododendron viewing path (pictured) located at Kim Son Bao Thang Temple, part of the spiritual and cultural architectural complex on the summit of Fansipan, inaugurated in May 2023.

Fansipan, with an altitude of 3,143 meters, is part of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range and is the highest mountain in the three countries of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Local people call Fansipan "Hua Xi Pan" or "the giant, precarious rock slab".

In the Hoang Lien Son mountain range and in Sa Pa, there are about 40 rare rhododendron species, blooming in batches depending on the flower color and mountain altitude, from February to June.

Rhododendrons are a symbol of vitality and majestic beauty amidst the vast forests. Although they bloom almost year-round, the peak blooming season is in April, at the beginning of summer. The vibrant yellow and pink colors of the flowers stand out against the green of the Northwest mountains. Thousands of tourists flock to the flower-viewing path near the summit.   Fansipan is a great place to check in these days.

The path, approximately 60 meters long, is built to curve along the natural contours of the trees, ensuring the preservation of the area containing rare rhododendron trees. Surrounding the path are also some of the most beautiful ancient rhododendron trees in Sa Pa, making it a popular spot for tourists to take photos with the rhododendron blossoms up close.

According to locals, the rhododendron flowers will bloom gradually until the end of May, making this flower-viewing road one of the destinations that attracts tourists who like to take photos for social media during the April 30th holiday.

In the photo, a female tourist is posing with yellow rhododendron flowers on April 18th.

A vibrant carpet of pink rhododendrons stands out against the mountainside.

Besides admiring the flowers and taking photos, visitors can also enjoy panoramic views of the majestic Hoang Lien Son mountain range or the spiritual tourism complex on the summit of Fansipan from this road.

Visiting Sa Pa at the end of April, tourists can also admire a paradise of flowers of all kinds, with rose gardens (pictured), vibrant cherry blossoms, or thousands of white gladiolus flowers.

Fansipan is about 9 km from Sa Pa. From Hanoi , tourists can travel by car or bus to Lao Cai (over 330 km) first, then another 40 km to Sa Pa. Tourists can choose to hike from the Hoang Lien National Park side or take the cable car from the cable car station to the summit.

In late April, Sa Pa also hosts the 2024 Rose Festival with the theme "A Million Roses of Love," featuring performances of Northwest Vietnamese art, a flower float parade, reenactments of wedding ceremonies of ethnic minorities such as the Mong, Dao, Tay, Giay, and Xa Pho, and an exhibition of traditional ethnic wedding dresses.

The Sa Pa National Tourist Area attracts both international and domestic tourists with its majestic mountains, villages, pristine landscapes, and rich culture and unique cuisine. Besides famous tourist destinations like Fansipan Peak, Silver Waterfall, Cloud Bridge, Ban Ho, Ta Van, and Ta Phin, Sa Pa also creates new attractions with its four-season festivals; Cat Cat Village – considered the most beautiful village in Northwest Vietnam; or the Su Pan community tourism area.

Phuong Anh

Photo: Bao Long

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