Not only is it an ideal place to "hunt for the sea of clouds", it is also famous for its majestic mountain and forest scenery, peaceful air and low travel costs, suitable for short vacations but still brings memorable experiences.
Peaceful morning in Ta Xua
In the early winter days, I had the opportunity to go to Ta Xua, bringing with me a little excitement to find clouds, find the typical cold of the plateau and even peaceful moments after days of being busy with work and study.
From Hanoi, I traveled more than 200km to Ta Xua by sleeper bus. After about 4 hours, we were moved to a smaller car, convenient for climbing mountains. After another 30 minutes of travel, they officially set foot in Ta Xua.
Ta Xua welcomed me with a very typical cold air of the highlands, golden sunshine and a dark green sky like being completely covered in dust. The roads along the winding mountainside still have the moist smell of night fog, embracing the green mountains that are gradually losing their burnt grass. Occasionally, a few small, pretty wooden houses appear as a complete decoration of the peaceful picture. That was the time when I knew I was lucky to have touched the most beautiful season of the year in Ta Xua.
The first stop on the journey is Thao Coffee - a small restaurant perched on the mountainside. Here, visitors can enjoy breakfast and admire the "million-dollar view" of the majestic mountains and forests in front of them. A bowl of hot noodles is brought out, the steam is mixed with the early sunlight to make the space bright and warm. Strong winds continuously blow through, pushing thin clouds away quickly towards the horizon, leaving the entire green valley exposed.
At that moment, I felt like all the fatigue, sadness, the bustling, bustling, and hasty of daily life had been completely left behind, leaving behind only relief, a sense of peace that was hard to name. The mountain scenery is so beautiful in front of you, the wind blows strongly but the hearts of people are so gentle that they are strangely moved.
The restaurant has many dogs, dogs from mountainous areas characterized by thick, soft and warm fur. They run around the yard, sometimes lying in the sun, sometimes stopping by the foot of customers as if to get a squid. According to the restaurant staff, the dogs here are both smart and alert. They almost never hoar, eat little and often just lie all day to... sleep.
After leaving the restaurant, I continued to move to Ta Xua grassland. The entrance fee here is about 35,000 VND, excluding drinks. Coming here, visitors can sit in the indoor area, sipping hot coffee or tea while admiring the scenery. However, most people choose to go out to take photos and immerse themselves in the vast grassland.
Standing in the middle of the steppe, I saw the mountain ranges connected like giant folds, feeling like just a light raise to touch the vast, high sky. There is also a horse and ethnic costume rental service to serve the photography needs of tourists. The sound of laughter, the exciting noise, the horse calling, the colorful colors of national costumes... all create a vivid picture for the quiet mountains and forests.
The Co Don tree, a famous tourist destination in Ta Xua, is not far from the grassland area. In the midst of thousands of hills and mountains, a tree trunk stood helplessly, as if gathering the stillness of Ta Xua into its figure. The trees stand close to the edge of the mountain, behind them is a winding river between the two sides of the valley.
According to the introduction of a famous taxi driver, I stopped by Cao Co Don for lunch. The restaurant is rustic, simple but cozy. We order a tray of rice with all the simple dishes such as salted eggplant, roasted chicken, braised pork, mustard soup... priced at 150,000 VND/person, including a drink.
The owner of the restaurant is a local in Ta Xua, enthusiastically arranging for us a table with a beautiful view, looking up and seeing the charming river and mountains right there. You must visit Ta Xua once, sit down and enjoy the beautiful scenery, enjoy the peaceful and wild atmosphere to understand why Ta Xua is a famous "healing" destination popular with young people.
Southampton wedding
After lunch break to recover energy, I found a way to go to a coffee shop in Khe Cai in the hope of being able to watch the sunset in the highlands. After overcoming the steep slopes that reached my heart, I had a dreamlike beautiful scene before my eyes.
The cafe is designed on the top of the mountain with small, pretty wooden houses with Nordic-style slopes, spread like warm wooden boxes. The bright red sunlight slowly fell behind the mountain ranges, the light changed from light yellow to dark orange, dyed the entire sky and then turned off. Clouds and mist are waiting to fly at the eye, like thin silk strips winding around the mountainside. The space was quiet, with only the wind blowing, the temperature dropped suddenly, and it was cold when there was no more sunlight. I sat quietly, sipping a cup of hot coffee, watching the sunset gradually fade behind the mountain peaks, my heart was strangely relieved. All the clouds, mountains, mist... seemed to blend together, creating a strange moment of peace.
Returning to town when it was dark, the cold air in the highlands blew on my face, causing me to unconsciously lift my collar. The small roads covered with lights, the sparse Mong houses built on the mountainside, the roar of chickens from everywhere... all create a very familiar but very strange feeling. A Ta Xua is so peaceful that just standing for a few seconds can clearly hear your own breathing.
Ta Xua is not a remote or elaborate destination, but it is its rusticity, simplicity and authenticity that make it an ideal choice for those who want to temporarily leave their familiar routine. Just one night in this small mountain area, people seem to have a little more gentleness to return to the rhythm of daily life.
Leaving Ta Xua, I brought the typical cold, a little scent of the mountains and forests, and felt like I had just been "recharged with energy". And perhaps, like many people who have come here, I know I will come back, to find the clouds, the clear mornings and peaceful sunsets on this mountain top once again.
