When the clock is just over 5 am, Mau Son peak is still immersed in thin fog and the characteristic dry cold of the northern border high mountains.
The wind blows gently through small concrete roads, weaving between old buildings on the mountaintop, bringing a chilly feeling that makes many people have to pull their collar up high.
But also in that harsh moment, Mau Son prepares to give visitors the most beautiful gift of the day, dawn.
From about 5:30 am, when the sky at the foot of the mountain began to change color, the first light flashed behind the overlapping mountain ranges.
The sun has not yet appeared clearly, but the fog has gradually thinned, revealing low cloud layers floating in the valley. Above, sunlight penetrates through thin clouds, dyeing the roofs, roads and television towers yellow.
According to reporters' records, in mid-January, Mau Son still appears in beautiful cloudy mornings.
After cold, dry nights, if sunny early in the morning, clouds are often "pressed" down on the mountain slopes, forming white sea of clouds.
In just over an hour, the scenery changed continuously, enough to retain those who love cloud hunting, photography and experiencing nature.
Present at Mau Son peak very early, Mr. Vi Van Huan (a tourist from Van Quan commune) said that he and a group of friends had to move very early from the foot of the mountain to catch the sunrise in time.
When waiting, it's really cold, the wind blows and makes my hands feel cold. But when the sun rises, clouds appear at the foot of the mountain, all fatigue almost disappears. That moment is worth waking up early," Mr. Huan shared.
Sharing the same feeling, Ms. Le Thu Huong (Hai Phong tourist) said that the sunrise in Mau Son has a very unique beauty.
No noise, no crowds. Only wind, sunshine and mountains. Clouds can melt quickly, but it is that anticipation that makes the experience special," Ms. Huong said.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Hoang Quoc Huy - Head of Mau Son Hydrometeorological Station said that on the morning of January 14, the lowest temperature recorded in the Mau Son peak area was about 10 degrees Celsius.
During the day, the lowest temperature is forecast to drop to about 6 degrees Celsius, cold and dry.
With low temperatures at night, early morning combined with temperature differences between the mountain peak and the foot of the mountain, clouds easily form in the low layer. If there is early morning sunshine, the possibility of sea of clouds appearing is quite high," Mr. Huy said.
According to Mr. Huy, many people often expect frost to appear when going to Mau Son in winter.
However, for ice to form, in addition to low temperatures, it also needs cold and humid conditions, high air humidity, thick fog and temperatures down to near or below 0 degrees Celsius for a sufficiently long time.
The current days are mainly cold and dry, so there are not enough conditions for ice to appear, but it is quite favorable for hunting clouds and welcoming sunrise.
The experience of those who regularly go to Mau Son shows that the ideal time to welcome sunrise and hunt for clouds is from 5:30 am to about 7 am.
After this time, when the sun rises high or strong winds, the clouds will dissipate quickly. Visitors are advised to closely monitor weather forecasts, prepare warm clothes, slipper-proof shoes and move carefully in foggy and low temperature conditions.
