TRAVELLIVE MAGAZINE Travellive 12-2015 | Page 121

FURTHER INFORMATION: TRANSPORTATION ü From Hanoi, you can take a Hung Thanh, Hai Van or Sao Viet coach to Sapa. Then, travel by passenger bus or motorbike to Y Ty. LUGGAGE ü Bring enough warm outfits including water resistant clothes and windbreakers. Moreover, dedicated walking shoes, non-slip gloves, hiking sticks, tents and sleeping bags are must-have items. WEATHER ü In winter, the daytime temperatures in the region of Sapa, Y Ty usually range from 14-21 degrees C. In the evening and night, temperature will gradually fall to 8-16 degrees C. Particularly, when strong cold air causes rain, frost and snow, the average temperatures may drop down from -2 to 6 degrees. NOTE: ü Clouds and fog cover Sapa, Y Ty all year so the moisture here is quite high. You should pay more attention to keep your cameras safe in order to take good photos. STONES WITH VERY STRANGE SHAPES. THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY. mysterious scenes in the following early morning when clouds would settle with dew and the cold air would blend with clouds to create a stream. We continued trekking eagerly, excited to reach the peak. At the time, we didn’t know that although we could see the peak in very near distance, we’d have to struggle with winds and rough paths of shrubs for more than 1,5 hours. At last, we stood in the flat area at the peak of Lao Than. From this position, it’s easy to enjoy the panoramic views of mountains: Bach Moc Luong Tu Mount with its mysterious green colors in the far distance, majestic Nhiu Co San and the vertical abyss toward Den Sang. My GPS measured the height at 2826m - an impressive figure. Sunset came, the sun seemed to regret leaving the blue sky and didn’t want to nestle behind the mountain. Winds were still blowing strongly. The sharp shape of Lao Than sometimes disappeared in the hovering mist. We sang the national song, spread the national flag with pride in our country, and listened to the sounds echoed in these emotional moments. Lao Than is truly an impressive journey with many memorable experiences. Goodbye to the two friendly guides, goodbye to the rough trails, goodbye to my companions with tons of memories. I will always remember Lao Than with its incredible forests, mountain winds and clouds because of my passion for exploring new lands. TRAVELLIVE 121