🗺️ Ta Xua Travel Guide 2025 from A to Z: Transportation, Accommodation, Sightseeing, Local Cuisine

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Ta Xua is one of Vietnam’s highest mountain peaks, belonging to Bac Yen District (Son La), bordering Tram Tau District (Yen Bai). Located at an altitude of over 2,800 meters above sea level, Ta Xua enjoys a cool climate year-round and is famous as a beautiful cloud hunting spot from October to April.

The terrain of Ta Xua consists of narrow, steep roads with deep valleys on both sides. Besides traveling by motorcycle or car, you can trek to the summit of Ta Xua, with routes of varying lengths from both Yen Bai and Son La sides.

🚗 Transportation

Transportation Options

You can use various means of transportation to reach Ta Xua:

• 🏍️ Motorcycles/Private cars: Flexible and cost-effective, suitable for small groups
• 🚌 Buses/Tour buses: Convenient for larger groups
• 🚐 Limousine buses: Premium service, approximately 700,000 VND/person (round trip)

Directions

From Hanoi (240km):

1. 🚗 Head towards Son Tay - Follow National Road 32
2. 🌉 Trung Ha Bridge - Continue on National Road 32
3. 📍 Thu Coc intersection - Turn right onto National Road 37
4. 🏞️ Phu Yen, Bac Yen - Continue on National Road 37
5. 🎯 Central Ta Xua - Concrete road has been improved

Important Notes:

• 🛣️ Main road: Paved with concrete, 16-seater cars can reach the summit
• ⛽ Gas stations: Last one at Muong Lan, fill up before going to Ta Xua
• 📱 Phone signal: Decreases at higher altitudes, download offline maps beforehand
• 🌦️ Weather: Roads become slippery when wet, best to travel early morning or late afternoon

Transportation at Ta Xua

• 🚴 Motorcycle rental: Approximately 100,000-150,000 VND/day, convenient for sightseeing
• 🚖 Local motorbike taxis: Safer for inexperienced drivers due to steep, narrow roads with many curves

🏨 Accommodation

Accommodation Types

🏠 Homestays (200,000 - 500,000 VND/night)

• 🏡 Experience: Live with local ethnic communities, learn about Mong and Dao cultures
• 💰 Pricing: Affordable, suitable for small groups and couples
• 🎯 Notable homestays:
  • Xa homestay - Beautiful view, friendly hosts
  • Nam To homestay - Newly built, modern amenities
  • Mua Tru homestay - Has BBQ facilities
  • Bao Chau homestay - Close to main check-in spots
  • Long Anh 1 homestay - Offers pick-up/drop-off service

🏩 Guesthouses (300,000 - 1,000,000 VND/night)

• 🛏️ Amenities: Private rooms, indoor bathrooms, hot/cold water
• 🍽️ Services: Some offer breakfast service
• 🎯 Notable guesthouses:
  • Phu Hoa - Affordable prices, clean rooms
  • Tra May Ta Xua - Great view, parking available
  • Thu Bien - Recently renovated, good facilities
  • Hai Hang - Friendly owners, helpful advice
  • Nguyen San - Central location, easy to find

🏕️ Lu Tre Homestay (Special - 500,000 - 800,000 VND/night)

• 🌟 Location: Highest accommodation, 7km from central area
• 🏞️ View: Panoramic view of Ta Xua, especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset
• 🏘️ Features:
  • Some high-clearance cars and motorcycles can reach the entrance
  • Other vehicles must park at the gate and climb 300m or use motorcycle taxi services (50,000 VND/trip)
  • Offers bungalows (1-2 stories), detached houses, and stilt houses
  • Weak wifi, stable grid electricity and water supply

🏕️ Camping

Ta Xua is an ideal place for camping. If you choose the right location, you’ll have the opportunity to admire romantic sunrise or sunset views from the mountain peak.

Sunset at Ta Xua viewed from a homestay. Photo: Nguyen Thanh Luan

Camping at Ta Xua. Photo: Hoang Cong

🎯 Things to Do

🌤️ Dinosaur’s Backbone

The “dinosaur’s backbone” is an area many people call one of the most beautiful cloud-viewing spots in northern Vietnam. Located about 15 km from the center of Ta Xua and about 5 km from the center of Hang Dong commune, Bac Yen district, this area leans against the Ta Xua mountain range with a deep valley hundreds of meters below in front.

The 1.5 km trail at the Ta Xua dinosaur’s backbone section is highly rated by adventure seekers. On many days, thick clouds persist from early morning until 10 AM. When the sky is less cloudy, from the dinosaur’s backbone, you can immerse yourself in the space of forests, terraced fields, and Mong houses on the mountainside.

Dinosaur’s backbone at Ta Xua. Photo: Le Huynh

See more: Camping at dinosaur’s backbone

🐬 Dolphin Rock

The dolphin rock is formed by two large rock slabs shaped like dolphins swimming in a sea of clouds. The rock is surrounded by moss patches, creating a wild beauty that harmonizes with the natural landscape.

From Bac Yen town going up to Ta Xua commune, you’ll encounter a junction with direction signs: one direction is “cloud paradise backbone” 8 km away, another direction is Ta Xua tea hill. Turn right towards the tea hill to reach the dolphin rock and the lonely tree. Those staying at Lu Tre Homestay can reach the dolphin rock more conveniently when heading towards the hydroelectric dam.

🐢 Turtle Head Rock

The turtle-shaped rock is located at an altitude of 2,100 meters, on the way up to the summit of Ta Xua. From the lonely tree to the turtle head rock is about 1 km, and you’ll have to traverse a path with steep slopes and sharp rocks. This is a challenge for adventure seekers who love extreme exploration.

🐫 Camel Rock

From the center of Ta Xua commune, go in the direction of the commune People’s Committee for about 7 km, and you’ll reach the camel rock. This is a new check-in spot in Ta Xua. The camel rock is opposite the dinosaur’s backbone and is most beautiful in the morning, so arrange your itinerary for convenient travel.

🌳 The Lonely Tree

The lonely wild apple tree at Ta Xua. Photo: Chu Hang

The lonely wild apple tree is located on a small hill at the summit of Gio at the intersection of Xim Vang - Hang Dong, more than 1 km from the center of Ta Xua. Standing at the tree’s location, you can see the Suoi Sap River. On beautiful weather days, the river water is clear and blue.

The lonely wild apple tree is considered by adventure seekers as the “living soul” in the wild land of Ta Xua, symbolizing perseverance and resilience in harsh nature. This is one of the places adventure seekers rate as “the most beautiful sunset spot in Ta Xua.” If lucky, you can see the sunset over the sea of clouds.

🌲 Pristine Forest

The pristine forest of Ta Xua is located on the southeastern slope of the Hoang Lien Son range, stretching from an altitude of 2,600 meters to the summit. The forest has a wild, mysterious beauty with altitude changing continuously along the Phu Sa Phin range.

🍵 Ancient Tea Hills

Ancient shan tuyết tea of Ta Xua is one of Vietnam’s most famous tea types. The tea hills are located at altitudes over 1,500 meters above sea level, covered in clouds and snow year-round, creating humid and cold conditions.

🌾 Ta Xua Grassland

Ta Xua Grassland. Photo: Hoang Cong

Ta Xua Grassland is located on the same route to the dolphin rock and lonely tree, about 10 km from the commune center. The road is wide and less winding. Near the dolphin rock, you’ll see signs directing to Ta Xua Grassland. This is a location with vast natural scenery, not only a place to admire natural beauty but also an ideal spot for recreational activities, sports, and camping.

☕ Cloud-Watching Coffee Shops

After each harvest season, the mắc nhung fruits planted on the hills begin to ripen. People harvest and wash them clean, then prepare them into various dishes, with mắc nhung porridge being the most famous.

🍲 Other dishes

Besides mắc nhung porridge, visitors can enjoy:

• 🐔 Black chicken hotpot - Local specialty
• 🐟 Salmon, sturgeon - Fresh and delicious
• 🥩 Grilled buffalo meat - Mountain flavor
• 🍲 Nậm pịa - Traditional dish
• 🍚 Sticky rice - Northwest specialty
• 🥗 Sour meat salad - Appetizer
• 🍚 Five-color sticky rice - Traditional dish

Specialty Restaurants

Recommended specialty restaurants:

• Ta Xua Restaurant (Lim Mong village) - Local specialties
• Ethnic Restaurant (Lim Mong village) - Thang co, Thang den
• Ban Lim Restaurant - Gù sticky rice cake, Au Tau porridge
• Sticky Rice Shop (near cloud hunting spot) - Bac Me Bamboo Rice
• Muong Lay Restaurant - Northwest regional specialties

📷 Ta Xua Photo Album

Below is a collection of beautiful images of Ta Xua for your reference:

🌅 Sunset and Sunrise

🏕️ Camping and Experiences

🦕 Dinosaur Forest

🌿 Natural Landscapes

🌫️ Ta Xua Cloud Hunting

🏞️ Ta Xua Panorama

⚠️ Travel Tips

Weather conditions

• 🌤️ Cloud hunting: Clouds aren’t always present, check weather forecasts
• 📅 Ideal time: Choose days with low nighttime temperatures and high daytime temperatures, with sunshine
• 🌅 Photo angles: Determine sunrise direction at your cloud-hunting spot for the best shots

Safety and transportation

• 🚫 Limitations: Avoid traveling to Ta Xua at night
• 👥 Group size: Don’t travel in large groups
• 💰 Pricing: Always ask and negotiate prices when using motorbike taxis

Costs and booking

• 💵 Costs: Approximately 1.5 - 2 million VND/person for 2 days 1 night
• 📅 Booking: Book rooms early during holidays and Tet as this place often runs out of rooms
• 🚶 Capacity: Ta Xua can only serve 700-800 tourists at a time

📝 Conclusion

Prepare thoroughly and plan carefully for a complete trip to this “cloud hunting paradise.”

📍 Important note: Bring warm clothes, raincoats, and appropriate sports shoes as highland weather changes quickly and the terrain is quite treacherous.

Author: Tam Anh