It's not just about sports!

When the terraced rice fields turn a brilliant golden color under the autumn sun, it's also the time when Hop Thanh district enters its most vibrant festival season of the year. Amidst the sweet aroma of young rice and the cool mountain breeze, the "Conquering Nam Ria Waterfall - The Road to the Golden Season" mountain climbing competition in 2025 takes place. This competition not only embodies the spirit of conquering the peak but also represents the aspiration for local tourism development.

The "Conquering Nam Ria Waterfall - The Road to the Golden Season" mountain climbing competition in 2025 is one of the attractive activities within the framework of the Hop Thanh Rice Flake Festival in 2025.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Doan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hop Thanh commune, said: The "Conquering Nam Ria Waterfall - The Road to the Golden Season" mountain climbing competition in 2025 not only contributes to spreading the movement "All people practice physical fitness following the example of the great President Ho Chi Minh," but also fulfills a more important mission: promoting the pristine, majestic natural beauty and unique cultural identity of the ethnic people of Hop Thanh commune. It serves as a bridge for Hop Thanh commune to introduce its potential for eco- tourism and cultural tourism to tourists and investors.

Therefore, the competition is not simply about finding a winner, but about promoting the spread of sports to unlock the tourism potential of the locality. Every step taken by the athletes is a vivid image promoting the potential and strengths of Hop Thanh. The event creates a friendly and open environment, encouraging investors and tourists to experience the local culture, thereby laying the foundation for sustainable tourism development and livelihoods for the local people.

The biggest draw of the 2025 "Conquering Nam Ria Waterfall - The Road to the Golden Season" mountain climbing challenge lies in its unique route, stretching over 5 km. This journey combines all the elements of the mountainous terrain: challenging trails, treacherous slopes, dense old-growth forests, highlighted by the majestic Nam Ria waterfall and the golden terraced rice fields during the harvest season. The truest appreciation of this route comes from those who experience it firsthand.

Vu Cao Ky, an athlete from Lao Cai ward, said: "This is my second time participating in the 'Conquering Nam Ria Waterfall - The Road to the Golden Season' mountain climbing competition. Last time I participated, I found the scenery along the route to conquer Nam Ria Waterfall very beautiful, with old forests, waterfalls, hills, and terraced rice fields. Especially, the air here is very clean and cool, suitable for sports activities as well as tourism experiences. This perfect combination of challenge and scenery makes me want to come back and conquer it again."

Besides seasoned athletes, the race is also a place for young runners to challenge their limits. Sung A Phay, an 18-year-old athlete from Lai Chau province, said: "My biggest goal when participating in the 'Conquering Nam Ria Waterfall - The Road to the Golden Season' mountain climbing race in 2025 is to see the majestic scenery of Hop Thanh commune with my own eyes. With such a meaningful competition, I hope Hop Thanh commune will continue to organize it next year so I can register to participate."

Through the genuine experiences of the athletes, it can be seen that the route to conquer Nam Ria Waterfall is no longer a dry, monotonous journey but has become a genuine ecotourism destination, stimulating curiosity and a desire to explore, turning the athletes into "tourism ambassadors," introducing and promoting the hidden beauty of Hop Thanh.

Although it was an experiential sporting event, the athletes prepared very seriously to conquer this diverse and challenging route. A prime example of this serious training spirit and determination to achieve high results was athlete Ngo Van Chinh. The young man from Sa Pa ward applied a rigorous training regimen to win first place in the men's 18-39 age group.

Ngo Van Chinh said: "To prepare for the tournament, every week I run two flat sessions to maintain speed, two sessions on trails to improve terrain endurance, and one session conquering Fansipan peak to train my endurance at high altitudes. Along the route to Nam Ria waterfall, the air is very cool and fresh, with many beautiful landscapes, which is a great motivation for me to try my best with every step."

The 2025 "Conquering Nam Ria Waterfall - The Road to the Golden Season" mountain climbing competition was a great success. At the end of the competition, the Organizing Committee awarded medals to the top-performing athletes and presented commemorative plaques to all participants, recognizing their contributions to the overall success of the event. However, the greatest victory lies not only in the medals, but in the new status of Hop Thanh commune.

The success of the race, linked to the Rice Festival, has initially positioned Hop Thanh not only as a traditional agricultural area but also as a promising sports tourism destination. The steps taken on the "road to the golden harvest" today promise to open up a future of rapid and sustainable development for Hop Thanh commune tomorrow.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/khong-chi-la-the-thao-post885001.html