Nhiu Co San: The Buffalo Horn Peak of Northwest Vietnam
Let nature’s headwinds make us grow stronger. Let the majestic Nhiu Co San trekking route, also known as Buffalo Horn Peak, refresh your spirit after the dust and noise of city life. Standing on that towering summit and taking in the vast mountain-and-river landscape is a deeply captivating experience.
Introduction to Nhiu Co San
Located in Sang Ma Sao, Bat Xat District, Lao Cai Province, about 60km from Sapa town, Nhiu Co San is one of the mountains in the Hoang Lien Son range, with a summit of 2,965m. It is also the ninth-highest mountain in Vietnam. Known for its wild beauty and rich vegetation, Nhiu Co San has become an appealing destination in the Northwest.
Why It Is Called Buffalo Horn Peak
Nhiu Co San is also known as Buffalo Horn Peak, a name from the H’Mong language. It comes from the mountain’s shape. From a distance, you can see two protruding peaks curving like a pair of giant buffalo horns, standing proudly between earth and sky. In the Ha Nhi language, meanwhile, Nhiu Co San means three large mountains.
The Trek to Buffalo Horn Peak: Nhiu Co San’s Multicolored Garden
Conquering Nhiu Co San has become a goal for many travelers not only because of the proud, challenging silhouette of Buffalo Horn Peak, but also because of the mysterious, colorful forest waiting along the trekking route.
At 2,965m, the landscape, flora, and fauna here change by elevation, creating fascinating diversity for the Nhiu Co San tour. The lower terrain is mostly grassland, low shrubs, and rocky cliffs. Higher up, lush primeval forests appear, filled with tall moss-covered ancient trees. Thousands of straight bamboo trunks follow small streams. You can easily come across fragrant cardamom forests, conifer forests, and mixed forests. Adding poetry to the mountain are countless wildflowers in bloom, including rose myrtle, plum blossoms, and the queen of flowers, the rhododendron.
If the summit is a giant buffalo horn, then the mountain ridge is the buffalo’s back. Each season, that buffalo puts on a new coat that enchants travelers. Around January and February, spring arrives with tender new green shoots. Rhododendrons brighten the hillsides in March and April. Then comes the season when maples turn the forest red. At the end of the year, the mountain becomes a shimmering crystal forest.
The Trek to Buffalo Horn Peak: Proud Ong Chua Waterfall
One special stop on this trekking route is Ong Chua Waterfall. The flow is not too strong; thin streams of water fall from above. Water moves across layers of old mossy green rock, hazy like bees beating their wings in the forest. On the way to Ong Chua Waterfall, you will encounter steep slopes and wooden bridges. Large tree canopies provide shade and shelter unfamiliar plants and animals.
Stop anywhere in the forest and you may find yourself spellbound by the mysterious beauty of this land. You can feel its peace and the quiet emotion stirred by plants, birds, and wildlife. These feelings grow naturally in the mind, settle into the heart, and leave behind beautiful memories.
The Trek to Buffalo Horn Peak: A Floating Sea of Clouds
A trek to the high mountains of Northwest Vietnam would not be complete without the signature view of a dreamlike white sea of clouds. Here, you can see the cloud sea from sections of trail after passing through small bamboo groves and ancient rhododendron roots. Halfway up the pass, white clouds hang in the sky and cover the lower mountains, creating a breathtaking scene.
The trail near the summit is a perfect place to watch sunrise, especially sunrise over a white cloud carpet. Red light slowly appears from the clouds, while sunlight filters through the leaves and warms the chilly highland air.
Suggested Nhiu Co San Trekking Itinerary
To conquer this “Bull Demon King” of the Northwest, you can choose a 2-day, 1-night itinerary. The total trekking distance is about 13km, starting from Sapa. To Ong’s trekking route takes you into a forest of many colors. You can also chase sunrise above the clouds, check in at highlights along the way, enjoy famous sturgeon hotpot, and experience a Red Dao herbal bath.
With the right timing, an appealing destination, an interesting itinerary, and a professional support team, what are you waiting for? Trek Nhiu Co San with To Ong.
