(VTC News) – O Quy Ho Pass and the terraced rice fields in Sa Pa have become two scenic spots recognized by the Vietnam Record Organization.
The Vietnam Record Organization (VietKings) has established records for two scenic spots in Sa Pa town ( Lao Cai province): O Quy Ho Pass – the longest pass in Vietnam, and the terraced rice field with the most steps – 121 steps, located in Vu Lung Sung village, Trung Chai commune, Sa Pa town.
O Quy Ho Pass – the longest pass in Vietnam.
O Quy Ho Pass is a popular destination attracting many tourists when visiting Sa Pa. As one of the four great mountain passes of Northwest Vietnam, O Quy Ho Pass is sure to be a top check-in spot with its pristine and poetic mountain scenery.
O Quy Ho Pass is a popular destination that attracts many tourists when visiting Sa Pa.
The pass is known by many names such as O Quy Ho Pass, Hoang Lien Son Pass, or Cloud Pass. It is located right next to National Highway 4D, which runs through the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, bordering the two provinces of Lao Cai and Lai Chau .
Located at an altitude of 200m above sea level, with treacherous winding curves and a length of 50km, its summit is covered in white clouds year-round. This pass makes other famous passes like Ma Pi Leng (20km), Pha Din (32km), or Khau Pha (40km) seem small in comparison. Perhaps that's why O Quy Ho Pass is known as the "uncrowned king" of the "four great mountain passes" of Northwest Vietnam.
Previously, you had to travel by motorbike along National Highway 4D to reach the pass, but now there's a safer and more convenient way: taking the cable car. You can purchase cable car tickets at the station (buy tickets to visit Fansipan peak). You'll travel from Fansipan peak near Silver Waterfall, then to Tram Ton, and then about 4-5 km along National Highway 4D to reach the summit of O Quy Ho Pass.
Conquering O Quy Ho Pass is easy by cable car.
O Quy Ho Pass has its own unique beauty in each season, and the best time to visit depends on what you want to experience there.
In summer: The weather is quite cool and pleasant, with a slight chill and little fog, making it suitable for travel. However, you should only travel the pass section on the Lao Cai side because the section on the Lai Chau side is very hot and sunny at this time.
In winter: The weather in Lai Chau is more pleasant, with some sunshine at midday, while Lao Cai is completely covered in fog, and even experiences freezing snow and ice. If you plan to go on a motorbike trip to O Quy Ho Pass during this time, remember to bring all the necessary items such as warm clothes and gloves. Additionally, the ideal time to go on a motorbike trip to O Quy Ho Pass is at sunset, when the sun paints the entire Northwest region red. And book an overnight stay at a hotel to be able to ride the pass and watch the sunrise in the morning – this moment will not disappoint you.
Admire the gentle sunset casting a golden-orange hue across the mountains and forests of Northwest Vietnam.
O Quy Ho Pass was the longest mountain pass in Vietnam as of 2020. On one side of the pass is a bottomless abyss, while the other side consists of sheer, jagged cliffs. Warning signs are posted along both sides of the road. Often, travelers choose a route so that by the time they return from O Quy Ho Pass, it is already late afternoon.
On full moon nights, the moonlight slants down the towering cliffs, casting shadows towards the bends, creating a majestic and awe-inspiring scene reminiscent of a traditional ink painting—a truly mystical touch. If you stand close to a bend beside the sheer cliff, you can hear the eerie, silent breath of the mountains and forests.
The roads leading to the summit of the pass are treacherous.
Right at the foot of the O Quy Ho Pass, towards Sa Pa, lies Silver Waterfall – one of the 10 most beautiful waterfalls in Lao Cai. The waterfall cascades down day and night, creating a white, frothy spray. This majestic waterfall has amazed countless tourists, both domestic and international.
Besides that, Love Waterfall is also a famous landmark that attracts many couples to Sa Pa. Not as large as Silver Waterfall, Love Waterfall possesses a soft, gentle beauty.
The terraced rice field has the most steps.
Those visiting Sa Pa for the first time are sure to be amazed by the sight of the terraced rice fields stretching endlessly to the horizon. This spectacular natural landscape, especially in autumn, with its undulating fields clinging to the mountain slopes amidst the Northwestern sky, has been recognized by Travel and Leisure magazine (USA) as one of the 7 most beautiful and magnificent terraced rice fields in Asia and the world .
Anyone visiting Sa Pa for the first time is sure to be amazed by the sight of the terraced rice fields.
Sa Pa is located in a subtropical monsoon microclimate and requires waiting for the rainy season, which lasts until May-June each year, before rice planting can begin. This is also when the spectacular terraced rice fields of Sa Pa appear.
If you simply want to admire the terraced rice fields of Sa Pa, you can visit at any time of year. However, according to experienced travelers, if you're going to invest the time and effort, you should visit during the most beautiful rice harvest season. Specifically, backpackers consider the rice harvest season in September to be the most beautiful.
Additionally, you can also visit the terraced rice fields of Sa Pa around May-June. This is the rainy season, the weather is pleasantly cool, and the scenery is still incredibly beautiful. If you're lucky, besides admiring the ripening rice, you might even be able to chase the clouds.
If you simply want to admire the shape of the terraced rice fields in Sa Pa, you can visit at any time of the year.
Overall, May and September are the most popular months. Additionally, November, December, and January might be a bit more difficult to travel in, but if you're passionate about seeing snow-covered rice fields, you can still experience it.
Photographers often come to capture images of the terraced rice fields of Sa Pa from many different angles: during the rainy season, when the rice hasn't yet bloomed, during the rice harvest season, etc.
Vtcnews.vn
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/kham-pha-2-danh-thang-cua-sa-pa-duoc-cong-nhan-ky-luc-viet-nam-ar901466.html
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