Hiking to the top of Mount Fansipan

As I’m writing this almost a year later, it’s hard to recall what happened.

I only remember two things from this trip. My mom was pissed with the tour guide, and my tour guide caught a “bamboo rat” on the way down.

1. She told him that she couldn’t consume milk, and anything dairy related, but the tour guide mis-interpreted it as everyone on the trip couldn’t eat meat. So, instead of the usual ingredients, he brought a lot more vegetables. The table was overrun with a staggering spread of greens.
2. we found the tour guide rumaging through the forest on the way down. he was absolutely destroying the bamboo forestation, together with his uncle, trying to catch the rat. he says it’s dinner for his family.

In the early hours of 26th March was when my family and I set to fly to Vietnam, landing at HAN (Hanoi Intl Airport). My family and I planned to reach the summit on the third day of the trip.

Fansipan (Phan Xi Păng) is a mountain in Vietnam, 3,147m tall. Located in southwest of Sa Pa, in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range and was given the nickname “the Roof of Indochina” from being the highest mountain on the Indochinese peninsula.

It’s generally rated as moderate to challenging (3/5 difficulty) but requires good fitness, endurance and preparation for steep, slippery terrain.

The mountain is located directly across Yunnan, China. On a good day, you might be able to see the bordering territories of China and Laos from the peak. It’s considered part of the easternmost extent of the Himalayas.

We decided to descend the same way we’d ascend.