The windy Pha Din

Leaving behind the stifling heat and noise of the city, a journey up the slope to the legendary Pha Din Pass will reveal the peaceful, cool, and captivating beauty of this region. From a once remote highland area, Pha Din is transforming day by day, becoming an attractive destination drawing many tourists from near and far.

Pha Din Top Tourist Area

Pha Din, meaning "where earth and sky meet" in Thai, is considered the natural boundary between Son La and Dien Bien provinces. For a long time, Pha Din has been known as one of the "four great mountain passes" of the Northwest region (alongside O Quy Ho, Ma Pi Leng, and Khau Pha). During the historic Dien Bien Phu campaign in 1954, Pha Din Pass marked the footsteps of thousands of civilian laborers who worked day and night to clear roads and transport food, weapons, and ammunition to support the front lines. Due to its historical significance, in 2020, Pha Din Pass was recognized as a National Historical Site by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Situated at an altitude of over 1,000 meters above sea level, Pha Din is a majestic landscape of vast mountains and forests with winding roads shrouded in clouds.

For a long time, Pha Din Pass has been an attractive destination for adventurous travelers on their journey through the Northwest region. In particular, the Martyrs' Memorial Temple at the Pha Din Pass Historical and Cultural Area in Muong E commune, which began construction in late 2023, completed phase I, and was inaugurated on April 26, 2024, has become a popular tourist attraction. Located on an area of ​​over 15,000 m², the Martyrs' Memorial Temple is designed to be majestic and harmonious with nature. The architectural complex, including the main temple, temple gate, flagpole, ceremonial courtyard, and memorial area, is arranged logically, creating a tranquil space amidst the mountains and forests.

Perched atop the windswept Pha Din Pass, the Martyrs' Memorial Temple is a space for commemorating, honoring, and expressing gratitude for the immense contributions and heroic sacrifices of generations of ancestors in the resistance against French colonialism, protecting the vital route through Pha Din Pass to Tuan Giao, Dien Bien during the Dien Bien Phu campaign in 1954. The temple has become a significant site for educating about revolutionary traditions and patriotism, and an attractive and friendly tourist destination for visitors from within and outside the province.

Martyrs' memorial at the Pha Din Pass historical and cultural site. Photo: PV

Mr. Nguyen Duc Thang, Secretary of the Party Committee of Muong E commune, informed: On major holidays, thousands of people come here to offer incense and participate in meaningful activities such as prayers for the deceased and candle-lighting ceremonies... Therefore, promoting the spiritual and cultural value of the Martyrs' Memorial Temple in the Pha Din Pass historical and cultural area is not only a responsibility to honor the past, but also a strategic direction to effectively exploit cultural and historical values ​​and promote local tourism.

Leveraging the natural advantages and the local government's tourism development policies, in recent years, many cooperatives, businesses, and individuals have joined hands to invest in and build eco-tourism areas and experiential agricultural models associated with the preservation of the landscape and local culture on the legendary Pha Din Pass. A prominent example is the Pha Din Top tourist area of ​​the Pha Din Tourism Cooperative in Binh Thuan commune. Mr. Bui Ngoc Thang, Director of the Pha Din Tourism Cooperative, shared: "Pha Din not only possesses historical value but also has unique geographical features, so we decided to invest in tourism development. The construction process faced many difficulties because of the steep, hilly terrain; all construction materials had to be transported manually. Choosing the right flowers also required ensuring both aesthetic appeal and suitability to the local climate and soil conditions."

Pha Đin Top, spanning over 30 hectares, includes ecological forests, flower gardens, and fruit orchards. Along with many eye-catching scenic spots catering to the trends and tastes of young people, such as the Love Bridge, hand sculptures, and crescent moon shapes, it creates a memorable impression for visitors to explore and take photos. A unique aspect of this model is the combination of tourism and agricultural production. Visitors can not only admire the scenery but also personally care for and harvest specialty fruits like plums, peaches, and hawthorn, and enjoy them right in the orchard. Since officially opening in August 2018, Pha Đin Top has welcomed hundreds of visitors daily. Currently, Pha Đin Top offers accommodation, restaurants, and other services to meet the diverse needs of tourists. In 2020, Pha Đin Top was recognized as a 4-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) product at the provincial level.

Tourists check in at Pha Din Top.

Sharing her experience capturing beautiful images at Pha Din Top with her family, Ms. Nguyen Trang Nhung, a tourist from Hanoi, said: "This is my first time visiting Pha Din Top Pass, and I'm truly impressed by the scenery. The majestic mountains and forests, the fresh and cool climate, the friendly and hospitable people, and the many products of the mountains and forests – I will definitely return here with my friends."

The legendary Pha Din Pass is undergoing a transformation. Party committees and authorities at all levels are leveraging its historical, natural, and agricultural advantages to turn it into an attractive stopover for tourists exploring Northwest Vietnam.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/van-hoa-xa-hoi/noi-pha-din-long-gio-CNwHiVpDR.html