Hoang Lien National Park is situated at a height of 1,000m to 3,143m above sea level in the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range in Sapa and Van Ban districts, Lao Cai Province, and a partly belongs to Than Uyen District, Lai Chau Province.
Fansipan, the highest mountain in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range at 3,143 metres, is also the highest peak in Indochina. It is located nine kilometers southwest of Sapa Town, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam.
With a total inner area of 29,845ha and a buffer area of 38,724ha, forests in Hoang Lien National Park are mainly primitive with a diversified system of fauna and flora. There are about 66 species of animals, of which 16 species in Viet Nam’s Red Book; 347 species of birds, 41 species of amphibians and 61 species of reptiles, including rare thorn frogs found recently.
Flora system is also diversified with more than 2,000 species, of which, 66 species are included in Viet Nam’s Red Book such as: green cypress, Nothotsuga, Podocarpaceae, red pine…
The flora in Hoang Lien is divided into different grades and layers. In the foot of the mountain range, there are cotton trees, jack trees with relatively high density, forming landscapes such as Coc Leu (Coc Gao), Coc San (Coc Mit). From here up to the height of 700m are tropical belts with thick primitive forest sides, and interlace creepers. At the height from 700m upwards, there situated bare seeds trees layer such as fokienia hodginsii, including big trees with a height of 50 to 60m, having existed for hundreds of years. From the height of 2,800m, there are brushes of short bamboo with the height of 25-30cm, covering land surface. These trees, with bodies being bare and some leaves scattered, are also called phat tran bamboo. There are also some trees of species such as sedge, rose, and goldthread families growing among such trees.
With such diversified forest ecology, Hoang Lien National Park was ranked level A by Global Environmental Fund (the highest level regarding biodiversity value of Viet Nam). The park has been recognized as ASEAN Heritage Park since 2006.
Hoang Lien national park Vietnam is also a place to reserve and keep many traditional cultural identities of several Vietnamese ethnic communities in the inner and buffer areas of the national park such as the Mong, Tay, Dao, Giay ethnic groups.
Hoang Lien National Park Map
How to Reach Hoang Lien National Park?
Getting to Hoang Lien National Park from Hanoi.
The best way to reach Hoang Lien National Park is to take a train from Hanoi rail station and reach Lao Cai, and thereafter hire a private car or take one of the several buses that waits outside this rail station and reach Sapa. It takes around 45 minutes to reach Sapa town from Lao Cai.
From Sapa town, one can reach the Cat Cat village and even venture deep inside Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range using Sapa as the base for the travel.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Hoang Lien National Park?
From March to May is the perfect time for trekking, mountain climbing and outdoor activities because of the pleasant and comfortable weather. Furthermore, from September to December is also recommended time for a visit to Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range because it is cool and dry. Traveling to Hoang Lien national park at this time, you can not only experience all activities such as sightseeing and trekking but also enjoy the golden rice fields in Sapa.
June and July can also be good months to come and discover the park if the cool weather is the only reason you head to Sapa to avoid the hot weather. This is the peak season of domestic travel. We recommend you not coming at weekend since most of hotels are full.
What to Explore in Hoang Lien National Park?
Sapa
Sapa town, located in Hoang Lien National Park is one of the most popular destination. It is the base of all almost every Hoang Lien national park tours. With cool temperate and beautiful natural landscape Sapa has become a must-see place in the northern Vietnam.
Fansipan Mountain
Fansipan Mountain is the highest mountain in the Indochinese Peninsula (comprising Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia), hence its nickname “the Roof of Indochina”. The height of the mountain was 3,143 metres (10,312 ft) in 1909, but now the height of the mountain is 3,147.3 metres (10,326 ft). It is located 9 km southwest of Sapa in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range.
O Quy Ho Pass
O Quy Ho pass is situated in the borderline separating Lao Cai and Lai Chau provinces. This is a wonder of nature with high mountains and white clouds. That’s why this place is called the “Heaven Gate”. O Quy Ho pass is also associated with the legend of a beautiful but unfortunate love of the 7th fairy and the eldest son of the mountain god.
There are also many other attractions in the area including Silver Waterfall, Cat Cat village, Rose valley, Muong Hoa valley, Sapa Stone Church, Ta Phin, Ta Van villages.
Hoang Lien National Park Trekking
Hoang Lien Mountain Range has been listed among the world’s most exciting destinations, according to the acclaimed US-based National Geographic Magazine. It suggested visitors go hiking routes in and around Hoang Lien Son National Park and the adjacent Muong Hoa Valley, then resting up at homestays among the Hmong, Red Dao, Tay, Giay, and other ethnic minority groups.
For a more challenging option, you can climb up to Fansipan. It is best to book a climbing tour so that a local guide will lead you to the top of the mountain.
To explore the national park and conquer the roof of Indochina, you have 2 choices, either climb or use the cable cars. If you want to climb, there are 3 ways to Fansipan: Tram Ton Route, Sin Chai Route and Cat Cat Route. Whereas, Tram Ton Route is the most easy-going road, so many people choose it. Normally, travelers will take 2 days 1 night to go the top of mountain. Cat Cat Route take 3 days 2 nights. Sin Chai Route take 4 days 3 night, which is also considered the most dangerous and difficult way.
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Hoang Lien National Park Tours
Read more: Lao Cai Tours
Hoang Lien National Park Rules
To protect the environment of national park, here is some important information:
- All scientific research, study and collected specimens must be permitted by the Director of the park.
- Follow the correct routes, stay in the correct locations of your visit registration.
- Do not litter, pollute the ecological environment. Please take your rubbish out of the woods and throw it into the dustbin.
- Do not bring plastic bags or plastic bottles into the woods
- Do not gatherer or collect specimens in the forest
- Do not hunt birds and animals. Do not pick flowers or take broken branches.
- Do not light a fire in the woods. Do not bring combustibles, fire substances, weapons, explosives, harmful to the forest.
- No not make noise on the trail made the animals frightened.
- Do not write on the trees or cliff.