Rhododendron forest in full bloom on Pu Ta Leng peak

LAI CHAU - Colorful rhododendrons are blooming brilliantly on the summit of Pu Ta Leng, creating a "fairytale" scene that attracts trekkers.

Pu Ta Leng peak, part of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, is located in Tam Duong district, about 20 km from Lai Chau city. At 3,049 m, Pu Ta Leng is the third highest mountain discovered in Vietnam, after Fansipan (3,143 m, Lao Cai) and...   Pu Si Lung (3,083 m, Lai Chau ),   According to the Lai Chau Provincial Electronic Information Portal.

The route to the summit of Pu Ta Leng, starting from Si Thau Chai village, is where you'll find the most rhododendron blossoms. This route is more challenging than the one from Ho Thau or Ta Leng villages, but it's more beautiful.

Besides its characteristic dense forests with many ancient trees, and the lower forest layer filled with bamboo and cardamom, this place also attracts mountain climbing enthusiasts when, in March and April each year, the rhododendrons of various colors in the upper forest layer burst into bloom. Photographer Tran Thuong (also known as Meo Gia), 42, from Hanoi, is passionate about travel and exploration. He conquered Pu Ta Leng peak in mid-March when the rhododendrons were in full bloom. He said climbing to the summit wasn't easy due to the steep terrain and the 30 km round trip, but the reward was well worth it, as he "witnessed a scene as beautiful as a fairy tale." Reaching an altitude of approximately 2,900 meters, visitors feel as if they have entered a fairyland. Mountaineers call this place the "Rhododendron Capital of Northwest Vietnam" or the "Pu Ta Leng Fairytale Garden" because it boasts many tall, large trees with wide canopies and beautiful flowers. Pu Ta Leng Peak boasts approximately 30 different species of flowers, with a variety of colors including red, pink, yellow, and white blooming together. There are rhododendron trees hundreds of years old, with large, gnarled trunks, and some growing on the cliff face.

Rhododendron flowers can be found in many forests of Northwest Vietnam, such as Yen Bai and Lao Cai, but Pu Ta Leng is one of the peaks with the most flowers. In some areas, visitors can admire the flowers in full bloom and walk under the forest canopy with rhododendron petals falling.

Rhododendron flowers have thick, straight petals and long stamens. The plant is a shrub or tree with thick leaves, both simple and compound.

To see the rhododendrons at their most beautiful, visitors can choose two-day, one-night hiking trails, or ideally, three-day, two-night trails, allowing them to conquer the peak, admire the flowers, and still have time to rest and recover. Visitors should find a local guide or purchase a package tour to ensure safety.

This year, the rhododendrons started blooming in early March and are currently at their most vibrant, fading around the beginning of April. In some years, the flowers bloom as early as the end of February. If you conquer Pu Ta Leng peak around November, you will be able to admire the red maple forest.

Tam Anh Photo: Old Cat

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