Embark on the Adventure of Conquering the 'Dinosaur Backbones'

The northern part of Vietnam always holds numerous mysteries challenging those passionate about exploration. If you've ever heard of Tà Xùa and Bình Liêu, you're likely familiar with the mythical dinosaur backbones, both stunningly beautiful and perilous.

Embark on the Adventure of Conquering the 'Dinosaur Backbones'

Northwest: Tà Xùa, Sơn La

Tà Xùa, situated in the highland commune (part of Bắc Yên district), borders two districts: Trạm Tấu (Yên Bái) and Bắc Yên (Sơn La). From Hanoi, take National Highway 32 towards Nhổn to Sơn Tây town, cross Trung Hà Bridge, and proceed to Thanh Sơn, Thu Cúc. At the Thu Cúc junction, head towards Phù Yên to reach Bắc Yên. From Bắc Yên, it's about 15km to Tà Xùa. For a different return route, you can go straight from Tà Xùa to Trạm Tấu without returning to Bắc Yên. While this road is steep, the descent makes it more manageable.

Tà Xùa, a poverty-stricken commune nestled in the high mountains, was only recently discovered by adventurous travelers, drawing attention since the end of last year. Consequently, services for dining, accommodation, and rest in this area are still basic with limited options. The ideal time to chase clouds in Tà Xùa is during winter and spring. During these seasons, the chances of successful cloud chasing are high. Notably, the clouds are beautiful, persistent, and create magical, impressive moments. The weather should be light drizzle, low temperatures at night, and high temperatures during the day. Daytime sunshine enhances the beauty of the clouds.

Northeast: Bình Liêu, Quảng Ninh

Bình Liêu is over 100km northeast of Halong City, situated in a mountainous district near the border. Often likened to a miniature Sapa, visiting this small district allows you to immerse yourself in the cultures of ethnic minorities like Dao, Tày, Sán Chỉ, marvel at the vast mountainous landscapes, inhale the scent of cinnamon, and listen to the gentle sounds of the thousand streams.

With a diverse topographical structure in the high mountains of Đông Triều – Móng Cái, Bình Liêu enjoys the natural advantage of many beautiful landscapes. Bình Liêu is picturesque almost any time of the year, so all you need to do is plan and go. Each season brings a different beauty to Bình Liêu.

From Bình Liêu town, head towards Hoành Mô on QL18C for about 3-4 km, turn right into Ngàn Chuồng village, then turn towards milestone 68, approximately 14 km to milestones 1302 and 1305. From milestone 1302, continue 9 km further to reach two famous locations on this journey: the dinosaur backbone and milestone 1305. Along the way, you'll marvel at the border road and the unique features of the terrain.

The road to milestone 1305 doesn't have steps, so you'll have to trek through the dinosaur backbone. The quickest trekking time is just over 2 hours in good weather. This is the border between Vietnam and China, and you might encounter border guards on patrol.

By Như Ý (compiled)

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Reference: Minprice Travel Guide