Ham Rong Mountain

Núi Hàm Rồng

A small hilltop park behind Sa Pa town, with stone forests, an orchid garden, and the Cloud Terrace viewpoint. The summit offers views over the whole town and the Fansipan range.

Ham Rong Mountain rises right on the east side of Sa Pa town, at an elevation of about 1,800 metres. Its shape resembles a dragon with its mouth open, which gives it its name. Legend says it is a dragon turned to stone. It was opened as an eco-tourism area in 1996. Climb the stone steps from the entrance beside Sa Pa Stone Church. The park is divided into several sections. Midway up is a garden with thousands of orchids, peach and plum trees, and European flowers. Peach and plum blossoms are at their best in February and March. Higher up is the “stone forest,” where natural limestone pillars are separated by narrow passages called the “Heaven's Gate” and by winding, maze-like paths. The summit viewpoint, Sân Mây (Cloud Terrace), sits at about 1,800 metres and offers a 360-degree view of Sa Pa's rooftops, the stone church, Sa Pa Lake, and the Fansipan range across the valley. It is especially beautiful when mist rises from the valley. The park also has a small ethnic song-and-dance stage with scheduled performances and several rest pavilions. Admission is about VND 70,000. It is open 07:00–18:00. The round trip to the summit takes about 1.5–2 hours. The path is mostly stone steps with a moderate gradient. This is the closest viewpoint to town that requires no transport, so it suits a late afternoon or early morning visit on your first day in Sa Pa. It is also a good backup on rainy days. Notes: The stone steps are slippery, so wear shoes with good grip. On thick-fog days you will see no view from the summit. Vendors circulate in the park, and prices at the summit stalls are high, so bring your own water. Some facilities in the park have been under repair and renovation in recent years, so check locally for the open areas.

Ham Rong Mountain

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