Conquering the 2,700 m mountain peak at the border of Vietnam and Laos

Puxailaileng Peak, more than 2,700 m above sea level, is the highest peak of the Northern Truong Son range - the natural boundary between Vietnam and Laos.

Located on the Puxai range, Puxailaileng peak is located in the border commune of Na Ngoi, Ky Son district, Nghe An. Ms. Bui Huong, 27 years old, from Nghe An, trekked to Puxailaileng peak during the Lunar New Year. Her group arrived in Na Ngoi on January 27 and stayed overnight at the house of the tour guide, Mr. Vi Van Son in that commune. In the picture, we see the scene in Na Ngoi commune.

From the Na Ngoi Commune People's Committee, the group traveled about 800 m to the Na Ngoi Border Guard Station and registered to climb the mountain. The procedure only required presenting a citizen identification card so that the border guard officer could record personal information. Next, they traveled by motorbike about 18 km, passing the Buoc Mu Border Guard Station (under the Na Ngoi Border Guard Station), following the border patrol route to the foot of the mountain.

The border patrol route is about 15 kilometers long, although paved with concrete, but still has steep terrain and many landslides. With soil, rocks and tree branches washed away by the rain and floods, the road became bumpy, and they had to carefully follow the landslides. After traveling more than 10 kilometers, the road was seriously eroded, and they had to continue walking for about 5 kilometers to reach the foot of the mountain.

The distance from the foot of the mountain to the top is about 800 m, and the average time to climb is about an hour. The path mainly goes through the forest with a rich vegetation, including primeval sa mu forest, ancient po mu trees, moss and ferns. Ms. Huong was impressed by some colorful flowers along the way, making the trekking trip more interesting and less tiring. "I regret going a bit early. If you go around March or April, there will be rhododendrons blooming brightly, creating a more beautiful scene," she shared.

Along the way, there were beautiful spots for the group to admire and take photos. When passing through the forest, the tree branches were intertwined with moss, reaching high, and the sunlight through the canopy created rays of light shining on the ground. When looking far away, you could see the mountains, surrounded by white clouds, Ms. Huong shared.

Landmark 422, which separates the Vietnam-Laos border, is located about 200 meters from the top. It takes about 1.5 hours to travel from the foot of the mountain to the landmark, including rest time.

The road from the milestone to the top of Puxailaileng is very steep and densely forested. When reaching the top, before the eyes is an endless sea of white clouds covering the tops of the mountains.

Mr. Son said that the Mong people in Na Ngoi commune often call this place "high land, low sky". Because it is located near the Vietnam - Laos border, when standing on the top, visitors can admire the mountains and forests of both countries. With experience climbing many peaks in the southern region, Ms. Huong thinks that Puxailaileng is suitable for both beginners or those with little time, because they can climb up and down in one day. This is also a new choice for trekking lovers, because this mountain peak is still wild and not widely known, and you can also experience cloud hunting like on the peaks in the North.

According to Mr. Son, the ideal time to trek to the top of Puxailaileng is during the dry season, from November to April of the following year. During the rainy season, it often rains a lot, and there is a risk of landslides and rockfalls on the mountain, making trekking dangerous.

To ensure health and trekking time during the day, visitors should arrive at Na Ngoi the day before and start climbing the next morning (around 7-8am). If you go later, this area does not allow overnight camping and visitors must return at night on a long journey of about 10km, with many landslides, which is very dangerous.

Visitors should prepare enough food, water and medical equipment before starting trekking. They should wear sportswear and shoes or boots for flexible movement. The total walking distance to the top of the mountain is nearly 6 km. On average, it takes 1 to 2 hours to climb to the top and more than 1 hour to descend the mountain, depending on each person's physical strength.

Puxailaileng Peak is being exploited by local authorities in the form of adventure tourism with trekking experiences and exploring primeval forests.