Celebrating Tet in Sa Pa, forever lingering in the place where heaven and earth meet

Khoảnh khắc tuyệt vời khi đến đỉnh Fansipan - Ảnh tác giả cung cấp — Wonderful moment when reaching the top of Fansipan - Photo provided by the author

Spring is like a gentle fairy, cautiously touching its magic wand to all creatures immersed in the long sleep of winter. Then: "Suddenly hundreds of streams/Rise up and babble joyfully/Suddenly thousands of birds/Rise up and sing loudly". A sudden and powerful awakening to join in the vibrant dance of heaven and earth, to join in the atmosphere of the national Tet holiday.

In order not to miss the place known as "heaven meets earth", where the beauty is "quiet" and crystal clear, we chose Sa Pa for spring travel with Vietnamese friends and friends from Taiwan.

Our three-day journey started from the top of Fansipan - the roof of Indochina with an altitude of 3,143m above sea level. Feeling the space of the whole Indochina sky with family and friends was a wonderful moment.

Đón Tết ở Sa Pa, vương vấn mãi nơi đất trời gặp gỡ- Ảnh 2. — Thanh Van Dac Lo "Heaven's Gate", designed with Ly Dynasty architecture - Photo provided by the author

After finishing the flower roads and passing through the villages at the foot of the mountain, we took the cable car across Muong Hoa valley, more than 6km long, to see the majestic cliffs, enjoy the air and nature of the Northwest mountains and forests.

Reaching the top of Fansipan, the temperature dropped to 7 degrees Celsius, the wind was strong all around, the mist blew layer by layer into our faces, cold but extremely refreshing. The sound of the temple bell nearby rang out, slowly dissolving our subconscious into the clouds and sky.

Chinh phục nóc nhà Đông Dương - Ảnh tác giả cung cấp — Conquering the roof of Indochina - Photo provided by the author

Standing on the summit, the red of the Vietnamese national flag fluttering in the wind, each of us felt a certain emotion hidden deep in our minds. At this moment, Fansipan will forever be the highest peak of Indochina. But Fansipan is no longer a legend, no longer a dream, but a reality, a truth. We stood on the highest peak of Vietnam with pride and emotion for our homeland.

Our second destination was Rong May glass bridge with an altitude of 2,200m. The Sa Pa glass bridge project includes the main parts of the path inside the mountain, the glass elevator system and the glass bridge built according to international standards, the first in Vietnam.

The first thing that awaited us was the magical scenery of the mountains, winding mountain passes, white waterfalls and the legendary Hoang Lien Son range. At such an impressive height, the feeling of "wind blowing, clouds playing" when standing on the bridge protruding 60m from the cliff, right below is a comprehensive view of the "abyss of a thousand miles".

The journey on the Rong May glass bridge is not for the faint-hearted or those with a fear of heights! If that's not enough for you, there are many thrilling games here such as mountain biking, slides, ziplines at heights of thousands of meters...

Du khách thử cảm giác mạnh tại cầu kính Rồng Mây - Ảnh: THÚY HÀ — Tourists try thrills at Rong May glass bridge - Photo: THUY HA

After conquering the peak and experiencing the thrill, we walked nearly 1,000 steps to Cat Cat village to see the stunning waterfall at the meeting place of 3 rivers. The road to the village is mountains, green trees, creating an extremely beautiful and prominent horizon frame.

The stone-paved road in the central area, the outstanding natural scenery and dozens of attractive miniatures. A white waterfall, a bridge along the stream, a swing, rustic wooden houses...

Everyone tried on traditional costumes of the Mong people, transformed into the boys and girls of the village, and joined in the song "Spring has come to the mountains and forests/ Let's raise our glasses to celebrate/ Pray for a year of peace/ Warmth and prosperity for the village…". That joyful song still resonates in me until now.

The interesting point of the trip was the cuisine here. We ate black chicken in the garden in Ta Phin town; sturgeon hotpot of Sa Pa; grilled armpit pig, smoked buffalo meat, bamboo rice, typical cold-weather vegetables - quintessential dishes of the mountains and forests; corn wine - famous wine of Sa Pa, sticky rice dishes with a strong Northwest flavor... all were wonderful flavors.

Thanks to the enthusiastic driver's introduction, we did not forget to check-in at "million view" locations such as Sun Plaza, coffee shop at Best View for cloud hunting, ancient church...

Cùng ngắm cảnh đẹp và thưởng thức món ngon bên bạn bè - Ảnh tác giả cung cấp — Enjoy beautiful scenery and delicious food with friends - Photo provided by the author

Although the journey was short, it was enough to overwhelm us with the beauty of the mountains. The people here also made us admire them for their enthusiasm, friendliness, and honesty. Only after going there did we feel sorry for the local people in Sa Pa, as there are dangerous landslides, rocky roads, and steep slopes that people have to travel to town every day to earn a living.

After this trip, we silently thank all those who have been turning the legend into reality, so that we can know and introduce to friends around the world a rich, beautiful and forever lasting Vietnam. Sa Pa is truly a place that you and I should come and experience once in our lives.

The contest "My Tet Moment" has ended.

Taking place from January 25 to February 24, the My Tet Moments contest is an opportunity for readers to introduce the most beautiful moments and unforgettable experiences during Tet with relatives and friends.

The organizing committee has received nearly 600 articles from readers in the past month. More than 50 articles have been selected and are being published on Tuoi Tre Online . We sincerely thank readers for submitting entries and following the contest taking place during the Giap Thin Tet holiday this year.