Ham Rong mountain

Ham Rong mountain is one of the most attractive tourist sites in the center of Sapa, 33km from Lao Cai City. And home to stunning orchid gardens and rock gardens. It is an attractive tourist area in the center of Sapa Townlet.

Legend has it that in the distance past, all animals lived together in a chaotic environment. One day, Jade Emperor gave an order that every species of animal had to find for them an area to live. Having heard the order, they scrambled for a place to reside. The three brothers of dragon who were living in a large lake hurriedly ran to the east but could not find any place; they then ran tothe west. The two older brothers ran fast and came to the destination first. The youngest brother ran slowly and strayed into the crowds of lions, tigers and big cats. Fearing that these animals would attack it, the dragon opened its mouth to defense itself. At that time, the order of Jade Emperor was no longer available, so the three dragons petrified. The two older dragons, which were waiting for their brother, face Lao Cai City, and the youngest one raising its head and opening mouth faces the Hoang Lien Mountain Range. So the mountain is named Ham Rong (Jaw of Dragon).

Ham Rong Mountain is one of the most popular attractions in Sapa. Owing to be at the heart of the town, behind Sa Pa stone cathedral, anyone traveling to Sapa spend at least half a day on Ham Rong sightseeing tour. The mountain is a part of Hoang Lien Son range. It is one of few mountains in Vietnam whose visionable symbol is easy to understand and beautiful. From the distance, the mountain looks like a flying dragon in white floating clouds.

It will not be overpraise when this place is compared to a mini-Sapa because it offers tourists overview of natural beauty, culture and people of mountainous area. The stunning beauty of flowers on the mountain will give you an impressive welcome irrespective of whether you have come here the first time or many times.

The path to Ham Rong Mountain grows a wide range of strange flower species from temperate zone. There are about 6.000 baskets with hundreds of orchard types. Some of them are rare orchard types. Therefore, whenever you come to Ham Rong, it will greet you with a colorful party of blooming flowers.

The garden whose name “Europe” is situated at the center of Ham Rong Mountain. This place owns plenty of beautiful specifict flower species of cold climate imported from abroad. Apart from orchard, hydrangea is the second-most flower in Ham Rong. It grows in cliffs, beside small gardens, or planted in a large distinct garden.

If you have ever been to Dalat and get allured by hydrangea flowers, you will see flowers in Ham Rong feature distintive beauty and deserves to be rival of flowers in Dalat. Hydrangea flowers are not too showy, only light pink, blue or white but because they grow into clusters right on the soil and bloom for long days, wherever the hydrangea flowers appear, that place is full of vitality dissolving the coldness and arideness of upland region.

Coming to Ham Rong in spring, tourists will have chance to enjoy fairy beauty of old peach garden. At this place, the peach trees beautify the fresh atmosphere with pink blossoms. Somewhere, tourists can find pure white color of plum blossoms. Tourists come here not only for admiring flowers but also getting bird’s eye-view of Sapa town. At different alitudes, Sa Pa features a specific beauty.

However, San May (Cloud Court) is regarded as the most ideal location to view Sapa city. At the height of 1.800 m above sea level, tourists can feel the harmony between sky and earth.