Tourists on the way to conquer Lao Than mountain peak, Y Ty commune

Unique mountain climbing tourism product

Phin Ho village is located on Trinh Tuong - Y Ty route, about 10 km from the center of Y Ty commune. On weekends, groups of cars and motorbikes from Lao Cai city and other provinces take tourists here to explore the Lao Than mountain peak of 2,860 m above sea level. Not only tourists but also many local porters are also present at Phin Ho 3-way intersection - the starting point for climbing Lao Than mountain - assisting guests in transporting their belongings and food to the mountain.

Sung A Ho, a shack owner serving tourists climbing Lao Than mountain, said: "My shack can serve 80 guests staying each night and serve the visitors diner.

On the top of Lao Than, there are 3 shacks serving tourists to climb the mountain. During the climbing season from November of last year to April of next year, the shacks have served guests every week, some owners do not dare to accept more guests for fear of being overloaded and not serving guests well.

Not only Lao Than mountain peak attracts tourists, in Bat Xat district, there are also a number of other mountain peaks that are also attractive destinations. That is Pu Ta Leng mountain (3,049 m high) in the territory of Trung Leng Ho commune; Ky Quan San mountain (3,046 m high), Nhiu Co San mountain (2,965 m high) under Sang Ma Sao commune. These mountain peaks are in the top 10 highest mountains in Vietnam, with majestic scenery, primeval old forests, crystal stream rivers, ancient azalea trees blooming brilliantly every March and April.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Huyen, a tourist from Da Lat shared on the Facebook group "Mountain climbing enthusiasts": After conquering the Ky Quan San mountain peak (3 days 2 nights), I decide to continue conquering Lao Than mountain peak - "roof of Y Ty". The trip is difficult, but in return, the two peaks have many stops to take photos. From the mountain peaks, you can watch the sea of ​​clouds floating, watch the sunrise or sunset on the beautiful mountain. I am very happy because after the trip there are many interesting experiences and beautiful photos…”.

According to statistics of the Department of Culture and Information of Bat Xat district, in 2021, the district will welcome 37,000 tourists, including about 8,000 mountain climbing visitors. In particular, Lao Than peak has welcomed about 5,000 visitors, an increase of about 4,000 visitors compared to 2020. In the first 3 months of 2022, Bat Xat district is expected to welcome 24,000 tourists, of which about 1,500 visitors have climbed the mountain.

Conquering the high mountain peaks in Bat Xat brings many interesting experiences for visitors.

Local people have more income

When tourism to conquer the mountain peaks in Bat Xat highland develops, it not only helps the tourists to discover and experience the majestic natural beauty, but the local people also can have benefit. On the mountain peaks, the shacks have gradually been built to serve the tourists to stay overnight and their needs of eat and drink.

Mr. Sung A Tru, a shack owner on Ky Quan San mountain, said: Each visitor staying at the shack on Lao Than mountain will pay 100,000 VND for sleeping, not including food and drink. Depending on the number of guests, excluding expenses, the monthly income of the shack owner can be 5-7 million dong, sometimes ten millions dong. The tourists coming to Y Ty and climbing the mountains also contribute to helping the local people consume many local agricultural products. The porters who carry goods and guide the tourists to the mountain have extra income of working overtime on weekends.

As for Lau A Qua, Nhiu Co San village, Sang Ma Sao commune, who specializes in guiding the tourists and working as a porter, said: Each porter who carries goods for the tourists to the mountain gets 300-400 thousand dong/day. I both guide and carry goods for the tourists to the mountain, in a month if it is crowded and the work is regular, I will have an income of about 6 million VND, and the average is about 3-4 million VND. In the condition of the complicated Covid-19 pandemic, many people cannot work far away, serving tourists to climb mountains helps the local people have more income to cover their lives.

It is known that in recent years, in Sang Ma Sao commune, in addition to Sung A Tru, Giang A Qua, there are also a number of other young people who have also organized to welcome the tourists to climb in Ky Quan San, Nhiu Co San mountains, such as Thao A Tua, Sung A Chu, Thao A Do, Giang A Ha... In Phin Ho village, Y Ty commune, there are also some young people participating in leading tourists to climb Lao Than mountain and dozens of native porters. Mountain climbing tour guide is a new profession, bringing significant income for young people here.

Changing the highland picture

Back to the story in Phin Ho village, Y Ty commune, thanks to the development of tourism and other conditions, this land has changed completely, turning a dreary and deserted land into a place with a more vibrant life. Along the Trinh Tuong - Y Ty route passing through Phin Ho village, it has changed markablely with many newly built houses. The households have renovated their houses, garden hills, planted more peaches, pears, plums, making the picture here brilliant every spring.

For Ky Quan San village and Nhiu Co San village (Sang Ma Sao commune) there are also obvious changes. Nhiu Co San village had no house built a few years ago, no homestay, now there are 3 homestays to welcome tourists. Mr. Giang A Tenh, Secretary of the Party Committee of Nhiu Co San Village, also a pioneer in opening the first homestay in the village, said: In recent years, many groups of tourists have come to the village to climb Nhiu Co San, Cu Nhu San, and other mountains, visit Ong Chua waterfall, discover the ancient Pavie stone road, go to Lai Chau province. Therefore, I take the lead and mobilize people to do tourism. Some households have built shacks together on Nhiu Co San mountain and guided guests to climb the mountain, life gradually gets better. Most of the households working in tourist services have now escaped from poverty.

From the reality of the past few years, it can be affirmed that the impact of tourism, including mountain climbing tourism, has been contributing to changing the picture of Bat Xat highland, especially in communes such as Y Ty, Sang Ma Sao. Currently, in 2 communes, there are nearly 20 homestays, at the same time, there are about 10-15 people specializing in organizing mountain climbing groups and 150 porters, including more than 50 people who regularly guide tourists to climb the mountain. The development of tourism entails many other services such as trading, buying and selling goods, developing cultivation and breeding to serve the needs of the tourists. Thereby, contributing to helping indigenous people raise awareness, gradually shift from farming to developing tourism and services, raising awareness about protecting natural resources, ecological environment, preserving cultural identity...