Poetic sea of clouds on Tang Quai pass, Dien Bien
For those who love the majestic beauty of the Northwest mountains and forests, Tang Quai Pass is a destination not to be missed.
Floating sea of clouds on Tang Quai Pass.
This pass is not only known for its winding, dangerous curves but also for the poetic beauty of the sea of clouds that fills every early morning, especially in early winter. Tang Quai Pass has become one of the ideal check-in spots for Dien Bien youth every early morning.
Tang Quai Pass is 11 km long, located on National Highway 279 connecting Dien Bien Phu city with Muong Ang district (Dien Bien province). This is also the main route connecting Dien Bien province with Son La and the lowland provinces. Starting from October to December every year, in the early morning, from the top of Tang Quai Pass looking towards Muong Ang district, the entire Ang Nua valley is covered by a layer of white clouds, creating a scene that is both poetic and magical like a fairyland.

The whole Ang Nua valley (Muong Ang district) is submerged in a sea of clouds.
To fully admire the beauty of the sea of clouds on Tang Quai Pass, locals and tourists often have to be here very early. When the sun has not yet risen, the fog settles in the Ang Nua valley, creating a sea of floating, white clouds, revealing only the looming, shy mountain peaks. When the sun gradually rises, the sunlight spreads, making the sea of clouds more yellow, with the blue sky above. The sunlight penetrates through the clouds, creating streaks of light, making the scene even more romantic. The clouds swirl, floating like white silk strips, adding mystery to the space of the Northwest mountains and forests in winter. Also because of this poetic and romantic beauty, many young people do not hesitate to wake up early, travel a long way to this pass to admire and take photos to check-in with the sea of clouds.

Dawn on Tang Quai Pass.
Ms. Quang Thu Ha and her group of friends from Dien Bien Phu city arrived at the top of Tang Quai Pass very early to "hunt" for clouds. Ms. Ha said that she had to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to prepare for the journey to Tang Quai Pass. Although the distance of nearly 40 km is not short, traveling by motorbike in the early morning is very cold, but she did not feel tired. "When I reached the top of the pass, I felt like I was touching another world. Seeing with my own eyes the sea of floating, white clouds winding around the mountains, watching the sun gradually rise was a wonderful feeling. I feel that waking up early today was really worth it and successful" - Ms. Ha shared.

A rest stop was built on Tang Quai Pass for tourists to "hunt" clouds.
According to Ms. Tran Thi Thuy, although she was born and raised in Dien Bien, she did not know that there was such a beautiful sea of clouds here. It was the first time she saw with her own eyes the hazy sea of clouds, the gentle dawn light, all creating a peaceful and romantic space. She felt very lucky with the magical moment of nature and did not miss the opportunity to capture these moments with her friends and the people.
For the convenience of travelers who want to rest, sightsee or tourists who want to come here to “hunt” clouds, Ms. Tran Thi Thu Hai (a resident of Muong Ang district) has built a rest stop and coffee shop right on the top of Tang Quai pass. This place is not only a place to rest, enjoy breakfast and coffee but also an ideal place to admire the entire beautiful sea of clouds every morning. Sipping a cup of coffee while watching the sunrise is also an unforgettable experience for visitors.

A cafe with an extremely chill view for visitors to check-in with the sea of clouds.
According to Ms. Hai, starting from October, when the weather gradually changes from Autumn to Winter, many young people come here to "hunt" clouds. Especially in November, every day there are 300 - 500 people, especially on weekends there are 2,000 - 3,000 people coming here to "hunt" clouds. The most ideal time to fully admire the sea of clouds is from 6 - 8 o'clock. However, many young people have even been at the shop from 4 - 5 o'clock to wait for the sunrise and not miss a moment.

To fully enjoy the sea of clouds, visitors must be present at Tang Quai Pass very early.
Tang Quai Pass with its wild beauty and poetic sea of clouds is gradually becoming an attractive destination in the journey to explore the Northwest region. This is not only a destination for those who love photography and adventure travel, but also a place to return to nature, to find tranquility after the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Source:Vietnam News Agency