Ranked as the 5th highest peak in the country, Khang Su Van offers a challenging climb with stunning natural beauty.
This mountain isn’t just about the height, though. the mountain sits proudly on the border between Vietnam and China, acting as a natural wall. Reaching the summit grants you not only breathtaking views but also the chance to stand at the highest border marker in Vietnam, marker number 79.
The trek itself is known for its untamed wilderness, with verdant cardamom slopes, mysterious bamboo forests, and a chance to truly escape the ordinary. Are you ready to conquer Khang Su Van?
Geography Location
Khang Su Van Peak is also known as Phan Lien San or U Thai San. Located in Dao San commune, Phong Tho district, Lai Chau province, Khang Su Van peak is 3,012 meters high, the 5th highest mountain in Vietnam.
Best time to trek to Khang Su Van
Best time to visit Khang Su Van Peak
As mentioned, there are many interesting places to explore on this mountain. And each different time will have a unique and special landscape. Therefore, based on Phượt’s experience of conquering Khang Su Van, you should come here at the following times:
February-April: This is the spring season, when the ban, plum, and peach blossoms bloom and compete to show their colors on the mountain slopes along the way to the top of Khang Su Van. Thanks to this scenery, the trekking path becomes poetic and gentle. The feeling of tiredness is also somewhat relieved.
April-May: This is the time when the rhododendrons in the forest here are in full bloom. The rhododendron flowers are gentle and delicate with white and yellow colors. Quite different from the other mountainous areas of the Northwest.
September-October: Khang Su Van is in autumn. The sky is blue, the air is fresh, and the sun is warm and gentle. The slightly cold weather of early winter causes the clouds to condense, concentrate, and become thicker. Therefore, if you are passionate about fluffy clouds, climbing Khang Su Van this time is also the right choice.
December-January: This time is called the snow hunting season. The harsh weather here brings beautiful snow showers. You will also have the opportunity to see frozen streams. Or ice and snow covering the petals of flowers, sparkling like glass, very unique. However, the road is quite muddy, slippery and dangerous, so you should consider it carefully.
How to go to Khang Su Van
The cloud-hunting journey in Chung Nhia Vu starts in Hanoi. Several tours take care of your trekking from Hanoi as well. Below, is a detailed guide to help you visualize the journey starting from Hanoi
Hanoi – Lai Chau section
We will move to Lai Chau by BUS (about 5 and a half to 6 hours). The reason for choosing to take a bus is because the first road from Hanoi to Lai Chau is very far, if you travel by motorbike for too long, it will make you tired, so save your energy for trekking and hunting clouds.
Trekking route of Khang Su Van
Day 0: Hanoi – Lai Chau
11:00 PM: Gather at My Dinh bus station, and board the sleeper bus to Lai Chau city, 370 km away. (Departure time may change)
Day 1: Lai Chau
Early in the morning when you arrive in Lai Chau, check in for a short rest and personal hygiene.
6:00 AM: The group has breakfast and prepares personal belongings.
7:00 AM: Travel 70 km to Pa Vay Su commune, Phong Tho district, Lai Chau province, this is the gathering point for the Khang Su Van trekking route.
9:00 AM: Do the temporary residence registration procedures with the Commune Police and report to the Border Guard Station, the porter team will prepare luggage and food for the trip. Start the trekking journey, this section goes along the edge of the forest so it is mainly bushes and small trees, there are many flowers on the way. The group will also see the ancient Quan Suoi tree, perhaps the largest in Vietnam.
Noon: Lunch spot next to a large waterfall, the members have lunch and rest, take pictures.
Continue the journey to the overnight stay point, the group will go through the largest cardamom forest in the North about 2 km, cardamom intermingled with large ancient trees everywhere, from the mountainside to the valley.
After passing the cardamom forest, the real challenge begins, conquering the steep slope up to the campsite for a long rest of about 1km.
Expected at 4:00 PM the group will arrive at the campsite at an altitude of 2500m, the porter team will prepare the sleeping tent and cook dinner. The resting place is located next to a stream, formerly a temporary tent of the Border Guard on duty, which has been degraded a lot.
While the porters are preparing logistics, the group can relax and drink tea to welcome the last rays of sunlight of the day, dyeing the entire forest in front of them yellow.
After dinner, the group will have time to rest.
Day 2: Khang Su Van Peak
5:00 AM: Porters prepare food and the group cleans up. Then have breakfast and prepare to continue the journey.
5:15 AM: Conquer the remaining 2km from the campsite to the top of Khang Su Van, this section is completely uphill and quite steep, many sections have to cling to bamboo trees and roots to overcome the slope. This section has a diverse flora, many large ancient Rhododendron trees, which are very rare in mountain climbing routes.
6:30 AM: Cross the dry stream, the group arrives at Border Marker No. 79. (Marker 79 is located at an altitude of nearly 3,000 m, on the saddle near the top of Khang Su Van, marker 79 is currently the highest border marker in Vietnam, around this area there are many ancient rhododendron trees, in December the trees are budding.)
8:15 AM: From marker 79 to the top is about a 30-minute walk. Reach the top of Khang Su Van, the group takes souvenir photos and the tour guide sends the members certificates and medals from the organizer. Then, the group rests for a short time and returns by the same route.
10:00 AM: Arrive at the campsite, the group packs up luggage and personal belongings. Then, have lunch and rest for a short time, go down the mountain. (The return route goes straight without going through the waterfall)
3:00 PM the group will return to the starting point in Pa Vay Su commune.
Arriving in Pa Vay Su, the car will pick up the group and return to Lai Chau city to check in and rest.
11:00 PM: Take the sleeper bus back to Hanoi.