 |
| At noon on October 3, 2004, the whole group reached the peak of Pansipan at 3,143m high in overwhelming joy. |
"Recruiting" people to conquer Fansipan
One summer morning in 2004, the entire Thai Nguyen Newspaper office suddenly became more bustling with the information announced by Editor-in-Chief Phan Huu Minh: The editorial office was "recruiting" people to conquer Fansipan peak and only 5 people would be selected, and they had to pass a physical test.
 |
| The group took a souvenir photo before departing from Tram Ton Pass in Hoang Lien National Park. |
At that time, the newspaper's editorial office had about 50 staff, reporters and workers, more than half of whom were men, enthusiastically entering the "race" to conquer the "roof" of Indochina. After the physical test, the journalists: Vu Lieu, Deputy Editor-in-Chief; Ta Hong Ha, Deputy Head of the Editorial Secretary Department; Pham Ngoc Chuan, reporter, along with Luu Sy Liem, a worker at the newspaper's printing house and me - a technical staff, were selected as 5 people to participate in the journey. It is impossible to describe our joy when we were chosen for this meaningful journey. Each of us looked forward to each day setting foot on the highest mountain peak in the majestic Hoang Lien Son range.
 |
| Officers, reporters, editors, and technicians of Thai Nguyen Newspaper and Bac Giang Newspaper before setting off to climb Fansipan peak. |
On the day of departure, although we had prepared well both physically and mentally to overcome difficulties, Editor-in-Chief Phan Huu Minh did not forget to remind the group to be extremely careful, to consider safety as the top priority, and if our health was not guaranteed, it was not necessary for all 5 of us to try to reach the top. However, we all wanted to conquer this peak.
Experience overnight in the forest
We set off on the morning of October 2, 2004 from Tram Ton Pass at an altitude of 1,900m, about 5km from the center of Sa Pa, belonging to the Hoang Lien Son National Park Management Board. This is one of the three routes to conquer Fansipan with a length of more than 20km, which was recently put into operation and is considered the easiest route. Also in the group were a number of officials and reporters from the following news agencies: Bac Giang, Yen Bai and Lao Cai. A travel company guided the way and provided accommodation for the group of 4 people. At that time, according to the guides for the group, there were very few Vietnamese tourists conquering Fansipan. Most of them were Western tourists who loved adventure travel.
 |
| The group moved in Hoang Lien forest. |
Throughout the journey on Tram Ton Pass, we had the opportunity to admire the majestic beauty of the Northwest nature. The chirping of birds, the murmuring sound of streams, slopes following slopes, rocks following rocks, winding streams… However, right from the beginning, there were no small challenges. From one slope to another, from one boulder to another, there were sections where we could only hold on to fragile tree branches to get through.
 |
| The group stopped for lunch with snacks. |
The group stopped for lunch in a burnt forest with charred tree stumps. After lunch, it was the second leg of the journey to an altitude of 2,500m. The path became more and more dangerous, with slopes following slopes. The flat path suddenly became steep cliffs like an angry horse. There were sections where the path was densely packed with trees and vines, and the feet of the walkers could not touch the ground, swinging very frighteningly when next to them was a deep abyss filled with clouds and mist...
 |
| The group prepared tents to sleep overnight in the forest. |
 |
| The group had dinner in the forest. |
After more than 5 hours of an unimaginably difficult afternoon trip, the group reached the stop at 2,500m high when most of the members were exhausted. Thanks to the careful preparation of the Mong guides, we had a cozy and delicious dinner together. Because it was the first time we experienced a night of sleeping in the deep forest, without electricity, phone signal, hot water, in the cold air of the old forest fog, many members were somewhat worried. However, after more than 10 hours of climbing, the members of the group all chose to sleep early to regain their strength.
Set foot on the "roof" of Indochina
Early the next morning, the group left the resting point at an altitude of 2,500m and headed forward to conquer Fansipan peak when the sky had just dawned. On one side was an abyss, on the other side was a cliff, gloomy and quiet, only the faint sound of the climbers' footsteps echoed. The tropical forests with large, dense canopies covered the sky, the abyss gradually disappeared. Instead, there were vast bamboo forests and ancient rhododendrons. Fansipan peak sometimes became clearer. The destination was getting closer and closer, everyone was excited and nervous. Everyone was clearly aware that this was not just an ordinary conquest.
 |
| A high cliff near the top of Fansipan must be climbed with ropes. |
And the next morning’s journey was also extremely difficult with towering cliffs, steep slopes that made it hard to climb, and steps that “touched the chin when lifting the knee”… On the cliffs where there were no large tropical trees, deep abysses were revealed, increasing the pressure on each climber many times over. However, it was this difficulty that allowed the group to admire a giant sea of clouds right below their feet.
 |
| Members of Thai Nguyen Newspaper Delegation mark at Fansipan peak. |
After many difficulties, by noon, the whole group reached the peak of Fansipan at 3,143m high in an overwhelming joy. Not only was it the joy of overcoming oneself through an extremely difficult journey, but above all, it was the pride of holding the red flag with a yellow star and setting foot on a legendary peak of our beloved Vietnam.
 |
| Joy burst on top of Fansipan. |
We stood on the clouds, felt the majesty and freedom of nature, breathed the fresh air blowing from the South. We were also proud of ourselves and our companions for sharing difficulties and helping each other on the long, difficult journey. Proud of a trip thanks to which we dared to step beyond our own limits, understood team spirit, learned valuable journalism lessons more valuable than any knowledge in books and learned to appreciate the precious values in life.
Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202506/nhung-nha-bao-chinh-phuc-noc-nhadong-duong-ngay-ay-a9f069a/
Comment (0)