Known as the Roof of Indochina because of its very high altitude of 3,143 meters, Fansipan is the tallest mountain in Indochina and a fast-growing tourist destination, especially among professional mountain climbers.
Fansipan can be found in the Northern Province of Lao Cai, approximately nine kilometres from Sapa Town. It is part of the Hoang Lien Son Range and known to have a very challenging, even dangerous route. Hikers planning to climb the mountain are required to be able and ready not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well.
But despite the difficulty of the course, even amateur climbers are determined to conquer the mountain. The Tram Ton Pass, also known as Heaven’s Gate, is the recommended route for first-timers. It is located at the gate of Hoang Lien National Park and is 16 kilometers long at an altitude of 1,800 meters. It takes about two days and one night to cover the pass with narrow, steep and root-clogged trails. At night, it gets very cold at negative ten degrees Celsius. Moreover, the whole trail is infested with wild insects and even snakes.
Image by http://vietnam-discovery.org/en/news/Vietnam-Discovery/Making-our-way-up-Mount-Fansipan-98/
But upon reaching the summit, all the difficulty and exhaustion melts away seeing the breathtaking view of dense forests, green fields, blue sky and white clouds in all their grandiose and purity.
Climbing Fansipan is not only conquering the powerful mountain, but one’s own fears and doubts, too and coming out victorious, stronger.