Ta Chi Nhu - in the purple flower season
Ta Chi Nhu is the 7th highest mountain in Vietnam, belonging to the Hoang Lien Son range. This mountain stretches through Hanh Phuc commune (Lao Cai province) and Ngoc Chien commune (Son La province). For a long time, Ta Chi Nhu has been famous as one of the most beautiful cloud hunting spots in the Northwest, and is also the "Paradise of Chi Pau flowers" - a fragile, simple but attractive purple flower.
Hoa Chi PAu in the local language means "Don't forget me". The small, thin-winged flowers grow into bushes on the mountain slopes, blooming most in September - October every year. This is also the ideal time for trekking groups to conquer Ta Chi Nhu, when the purple color stretches across the mountain slopes in harmony with the sea of white clouds, creating a magical picture of nature.
Mr. Luong Van Xien - Director of Ngoc Chien Community Tourism Cooperative said: "In the past 3 years, when many backpacking groups shared images of Chi Pau flowers online, the number of visitors to Ngoc Chien to climb Ta Chi Nhu has increased sharply. Every late autumn, dozens of groups of tourists from inside and outside the province flock here to see the flowers and experience the local culture. Thanks to that, people's lives also have more income from cooking services, renting accommodation, and touring."
Two routes of conquest - different experiences
There are currently two popular routes to conquer Ta Chi Nhu peak. From Son La, visitors will follow Ngoc Chien commune - Nam Nghiep village. This route is longer but easier to travel, suitable for beginners to experience trekking. On the journey, visitors will pass through Thai and Mong villages located along the mountainside, can stay at the camp of the people and enjoy specialties such as cooked buffalo meat and five-color sticky rice.
Meanwhile, the route from Lao Cai, in the direction of Hanh Phuc commune, is shorter but steep, many sections are straight, testing the physical strength of climbers. However, in return, this is the route that many trekker choose because they can see the whole sea of floating clouds and the golden terraced fields of Mu Cang Chai in the harvest season.
Mr. Giang A Cu, a port (guide) in Mu Cang Chai commune, Lao Cai, shared: "Each Chi Pau flower season, we lead an average of 2-3 groups per week, each group of 10 to 20 people. Most tourists come to take photos of the sea of clouds and flowers, some even hire us to set up a tent overnight to welcome the sunrise on the top of the mountain. The work is hard but the income is more stable, helping us promote the beauty of our homeland.
The purple color of wild flowers attracts visitors
A special highlight when going to Ta Chi Nhu this season is the scenery of the sea of clouds surrounded by purple flower petals. From an altitude of more than 2,400m, Chi Pau flowers cover the mountainside purple, interspersed with yellow painted grass in late autumn. When the sun rises, each cloud wave rises like a wave, rolling over the valley, revealing immense purple areas like carpets.
Many tourists compare Ta Chi Nhu in the Chi pau flower season to a flower field on the clouds - where the wild beauty of the mountains and forests combines with the poetry of the flowers and grass. That is also the reason why in recent years, trekking Ta Chi Nhu has become a top choice for young people, especially groups that love taking photos and exploring nature.
Ms. Nguyen Thu Ha, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: I have been to Fansipan, Pha Luong, Lao Than, Ta Tao, but Ta Chi Nhu left a very special impression. Not only the sea of beautiful clouds, but the purple color of Chi Pau flowers makes the scene look like in a painting. I was also told a sad love story by the locals associated with the name of the flower, making the trip even more meaningful.
Flower season - the flourishing community tourism season
Not only bringing a unique trekking experience, the Chi Pau flower season on the top of Ta Chi Nhu also opens up opportunities for community tourism development for local people. In Nam Nghiep village, Ngoc Chien (Son La), many households have renovated their houses into homestays, providing resort services for tourists. People also participate in selling typical products such as wild honey, herbal wine, brocade, making motorbike taxis, tour guides, etc.
Mr. Luong Van Xien added: Previously, people mainly grew rice and raised buffalo and cow. Since the increase in tourists, we have had additional jobs such as cooking, guiding, and building shelters. The young people in the village also have more stable jobs, not having to go far to work for hire".
Local authorities of villages and communes on the Lao Cai and Son La sides are also coordinating to build eco-tourism routes, combining mountain climbing, viewing Chi Pau flowers with local cultural experiences. Some flower festivals have been held annually, attracting visitors from inside and outside the province, opening a sustainable direction for Northwest tourism.
message from wild sunflowers
In the story of the Thai and H'Mong people, Chi pau flowers are not only beautiful but also contain the feelings of a couple. The name "Don't forget me" is like a message to the skin, and when it blends with the sky and sky, that small flower becomes a symbol of vitality and aspiration in the high mountains.
Ta Chi Nhu in the Chi pau flower season is therefore not only attractive in terms of scenery but also suggests visitors to contemplate. After tiring steps, watching the sea of clouds and purple flowers, everyone feels relieved, more in love with nature and the people of the highlands.
These days, on the top of Ta Chi Nhu, the purple color of Chi Pau is more brilliant than ever. Each group of visitors to the mountain carries their own impression, but all share the same "unforgettable" feeling - true to the message that flowers have conveyed for thousands of years.
