The Many Colors of Nhiu Co San Peak
At 2,965 m, Nhiu Co San is the ninth-highest mountain in Vietnam. It is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems in the Northwest. On the trekking route from the mountain foot to the summit, you will pass through many different emotions and keep marveling at the natural scenery. Join Tổ Ong to admire the beauty of Nhiu Co San on an exciting 2-day, 1-night trekking trip.
A rolling sea of clouds on Nhiu Co San peak
1. Features of the Nhiu Co San trekking route
This mountain is located in Sang Ma Sao Commune, Bat Xat District, Lao Cai Province. It is also known as Buffalo Horn Mountain because of its two pointed peaks and the dipped slope between them. Overall, it is not an overly difficult mountain, with 12 km of trekking.
The trail is mainly forest, rock faces, and a few fairly steep sections. However, the weather is quite cold and windy. The higher you climb, the lower the temperature drops and the stronger the wind becomes. You should prepare warm clothing to conquer this peak with its rich and varied scenery.
2. The Nhiu Co San “chameleon” guarding the Northwest forest:
Waves of terraced rice fields
The journey to Nhiu Co San peak begins along a road lined with terraced fields. These layered rice terraces are a hallmark of the highlands. They have provided food for local people for many years. During harvest season (October to November), the rice fields turn a smooth golden color, making the scenery brighter than ever. During the watering season, the fields become water-filled plots. Their surfaces reflect the sky like thousands of mirrors from Mother Nature.
Vast rice fields at the foot of Nhiu Co San
The majestic Ong Chua Waterfall at Nhiu Co San:
This waterfall has a beauty of its own. It drops from a vertical rock wall dozens of meters high. Water pours down from upstream with a powerful roar, sending mist into the air. The entire surface of Ong Chua Waterfall is covered with moisture-loving plants and wild orchids. At the foot of the waterfall, giant boulders help form several crystal-clear pools. The path to the waterfall has become easier thanks to wooden and cement stairs built by Nhiu Co San villagers.
The majestic Tổ Ong Waterfall
A unique cardamom forest:
On the lower mountain slopes, local people grow a great deal of cardamom. It fills the lower forest layer, mixed among taller trees. Cardamom leaves are as large as a human hand, up to 60 cm long, and bright green. Its flowers and fruits grow close to the base. The fruits are reddish brown and contain many small seeds. This spice is used in dishes for its sweet, spicy, aromatic flavor.
Cardamom is also a valuable medicinal plant. Its components are considered useful for treating malaria, cold-related stomach pain, digestive disorders, and more. Cardamom is the plant that has supported many generations of people in this highland area.
Primary forest with diverse vegetation:
Evergreen forest covers most of Nhiu Co San Mountain. Because of low temperatures, high humidity, and complex terrain, the forest here retains a wild appearance as if from hundreds of years ago. Tree trunks twist and bend but still rise high. Their canopies do not spread as widely as trees in lower areas. Moisture-loving moss and lichen cover the trunks, giving the forest a mysterious feel. Not only the treetops but even the stones on the ground carry the green of plants.
In winter, water vapor condenses into sheets of ice across the mountain forest. The transparent ice makes the colors of flowers and plants blooming in winter stand out even more. The green forest turns into a fragile, sparkling glass forest, like something from a fairy tale.
Green forest rising toward the sunlight
Maple forest colors in late autumn and early winter:
The final months of the year are when the maple forest on Nhiu Co San changes color. The mountain landscape becomes more romantic in shades of yellow and red. Maples do not grow in neat rows, but mix with other evergreen trees. This temperate tree species can grow dozens of meters tall. Maple leaves fluttering in the wind make the trekking trail even more poetic.
Rhododendron forest filled with spring fragrance:
From 1,500 m upward, the mountain becomes a paradise for rhododendrons. Rhododendrons are not very tall and have wide canopies to adapt to cold winds. Their root systems are strong and grip deep into the earth. Perhaps no tree is better suited to the harsh living conditions of Nhiu Co San than the rhododendron. When winter comes, they quietly draw inward to endure the cold.
Inside, sap is still flowing and tiny flower buds are sleeping. When conditions are right, they burst into elegant blossoms. March and April are the best times to see rhododendrons. There are dozens of different rhododendron species in shades of purple, red, yellow, white, pink, and more.
Open grassland with freely grazing goats:
On the descent from Nhiu Co San, there is a wide grassland where local people graze goats. The space feels open, with mostly shrubs, low grass, and large rocks. The grazing area sits high up, is not too steep, and looks across to layers of rolling mountains. Goats wandering and grazing create a peaceful feeling. The scene is as beautiful as stepping into a faraway western landscape.
A peaceful goat grazing grassland
The ancient Pavi stone road from the French colonial period:
The ancient Pavi stone road is a place you should not miss. It is an 80 km road connecting Lao Cai and Lai Chau, built during the French colonial period in 1972. At that time, Pavi was an interprovincial road used to transport cardamom and minerals. Today, only 14 km of the original road remains, with large stones and pebbles. Many sections are covered with green moss and pass beneath old forest canopies, creating a poetic, captivating scene.
The ancient Pavi stone road beneath the forest canopy
This diversity helps Nhiu Co San stay beautiful in every season. In autumn, the mountain is filled with the gold of ripe rice and maple leaves. In winter, the scenery becomes unique with ice and snow. When spring arrives, the mountain forest changes into the fresh colors of countless flowers. Everyone who comes here is captivated by this wonderful mountain. Trek Nhiu Co San with Tổ Ong to fully discover that beauty.
