Ta Xua: Discovering Dinh Gio, a unique cloud hunting spot through a mountain pass

A unique view from Windy Peak

About 3 km from the center of Ta Xua commune, Son La province, a new cloud hunting spot in the Dinh Gio area is attracting the attention of the tourism community. This place is famous as one of the most beautiful sunset viewing spots in the area, now it offers a different experience.

The highlight of this location is a natural ravine, creating a gap that opens up a direct view down the valley. From here, visitors can admire the sea of floating clouds "framed" between two cliffs, creating an impressive depth for the photos. It should be noted that this area is located at an average altitude of about 1,600 m above sea level, not 2,800 m as some information spread.

Cloud hunting corner on Gio peak. Photo: Diep Huu Dat

Mr. Diep Huu Dat, a local tour guide, said this is an ideal destination for those looking for new photo angles and love to explore nature. However, he also emphasized: "This area is a natural cliff, there are no safety railings, so visitors need to be very careful when moving to the edge of the cliff to take photos."

Tips for the perfect cloud hunting trip

Ideal timing

The best season for cloud hunting in Ta Xua lasts from October to April of the following year. According to the experience of local people, the sea of clouds often appears densely when the humidity is high and there is a large temperature difference between day and night, especially after rainy days. The golden time to admire the scenery is from 5:30 to 7:30 am at dawn and around 4:00 to 5:00 pm at sunset.

Journey to Ta Xua

To reach Dinh Gio, visitors need to travel more than 200 km from Hanoi , taking about 5-6 hours to drive. The terrain to Ta Xua commune and Dinh Gio area is quite rugged with many steep slopes and hairpin bends. Visitors should consider hiring a local motorbike taxi or using a motorbike with a manual transmission and must have a steady hand to ensure safety.

Services and accommodation at Dinh Gio

Along the Dinh Gio route, a service ecosystem has developed to meet the needs of tourists.

Coffee shop and food

Many cafes with panoramic views of the valley of clouds have appeared, becoming ideal stops. Some prominent names include An's House, Cloud Forest, Mi Oi Coffee Shop, Hien Cafe or Panorama Coffee. Drink prices here range from 40,000 to 60,000 VND. Regarding cuisine, local-style eateries such as Thao Coffee or A Chen are also worth trying.

Check-in corner at Mi Oi restaurant. Photo: Diep Huu Dat

Choosing a place to stay

Ta Xua offers a variety of accommodation options. Homestays in the form of communal rooms (houses on stilts) cost around 200,000 - 300,000 VND/person. If you want a more upscale experience, private bungalows with direct cloud-hunting views such as at Miami Mountain Retreat, Ta Xua Clouds or Lu Tre cost from 800,000 VND to over 1 million VND/night.

Nearby attractions

In addition to Dinh Gio, visitors can combine exploring other famous places of Ta Xua such as Dinosaur's spine in Hang Dong commune, the lonely apple tree or the turtle head rock. With favorable weather conditions and a sharp drop in temperature at night in November, this is the ideal time for weekend cloud hunting trips.