October marks the autumn landing in Sapa, a great “oc-cloud-sion” to hunt for these lingering mists. For us, they not only seem like a white veil separating the upper with the lower, but also keep the heat from below and the chilling air from the mountains apart. They act like an unbreakable wall, severing the hot summer days and the dark winter nights.
Wake up early in the morning, step outside the balcony and look at the surroundings. Everything seems to have fallen into a slumber, hiding behind all these wandering fogs. All the doors must be kept tightly closed to avoid the moisture outside. The clouds are so dense that one won’t see a thing even if it’s just a meter away.
As the sun begins to rise, warm lights shine and scatter the white fogs away, exposing a spectacular view: rice terraces, beyond eyes can see, glittering and simmering in golden sun lights.
Cloud hunting season begins in October. Nobody can forget the feelings or the views the first time one sees a raging white sea below. Faraway, mountain tops rise above the clouds, like islands in the middle of the ocean. People would hunt clouds at the first dawn of lights, while the sea of clouds looks magnificent at sunset. The last light of the day changes the clouds into some reddish tint, like a sea of flames.
To begin the searching, one should start at a high vantage point, such as, but not limited to Hang Da (Stone Cave) village at Hau Thao commune, at the top of O Quy Ho pass, the summit of Ham Rong or at the legend Fansipang… Each has different, unique point of view but spectacular nonetheless.
Prior to the journey, let’s make sure to check the weathercast as the appearance of clouds heavily depends on weather. So don’t feel discouraged if the first time didn’t work out. Weather can be such a bummer. But we can always try again.
Lotusmiles members should plan a journey and spend miles to get award tickets online, or use Cash & Miles for buying tickets at Vietnam Airlines website right after flights are back. Economy tickets from Hue/ Vinh/ Da Nang to Hanoi start at 7,000 miles for one-way trip. On the other hand, the one-way flight from Da Lat/ Nha Trang/ Ho Chi Minh City/ Phu Quoc island to Hanoi costs about 11,000 miles.
Between Hanoi and Sapa lies a stretch of about 300 km (190 miles), or roughly five hours by drive.
