The spectacular scenery atop Pha Luong Peak.

Although professional hiking and trekking tours and tourist routes have yet to be formally established, guided mountain-climbing and exploration services began emerging spontaneously about five years ago. As many visitors sought to conquer Pha Luong Peak but were unfamiliar with the terrain and routes, Giang A Cha and his friend from Pha Luong hamlet, Chieng Son commune have self-studied and became local guides. They now assist trekking groups, help them with luggage transport, provide lunch and meet other visitor needs.

With extensive experience in mountain climbing and forest trekking, along with a dedicated approach, Cha has gradually built a strong reputation and is increasingly trusted by tourist groups seeking to explore Pha Luong Peak. On average, he leads two to three groups per week and even four to five during the peak dry season, each consisting of five to 20 people. His guiding fee is around 500,000 VND (19 USD) per trip, excluding additional support charges.

The rocky outcrop atop Pha Luong Peak.

Ngoc Chien commune, often described as a “paradise” for trekking tourism, has long been popular destination for both domestic and international visitors. It is known for five major peaks: Ta Chi Nhu, Ta Rong, Ta Tao, Ta De Do and Hau Na Ta, rising from over 2,300 metres to more than 2,700 metres above sea level.

Journeys to conquer these summits offer routes marked by the raw, majestic beauty of the Ngoc Chien highlands. Residents in Nam Nghep and several other highland hamlets have also quickly adapted to the growth of tourism, providing motorbike taxi services and guiding trekking groups on mountain expeditions and experiential tours.

A foreign tourist along the son tra (hawthorn) flower route in Ngoc Chien.

However, at present, the mountain peaks in Ngoc Chien have not yet been licensed for tourism development, meaning hiking and trekking have not been officially included in service offerings by tourism enterprises and cooperatives. Most trekking groups exploring these peaks remain spontaneous, posing potential risks.

Nguyen Cao Cuong, a lecturer at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and a dedicated advocate for tourism development in Ngoc Chien, who is currently supporting local residents in promoting tourism, said that Ngoc Chien holds strong potential for year-round tourism, particularly in hiking and trekking. Therefore, Son La province needs to conduct research and establish appropriate mechanisms to incorporate these peaks into officially recognised tourist routes and destinations, enabling businesses to develop and operate services.

Relevant authorities and local administrations should also support and guide tourism enterprises and  cooperatives in completing the necessary documentation and procedures in line with regulations to operate these tourism routes and sites. This is an essential condition to ensure that Ngoc Chien’s tourism potential is no longer merely latent but is gradually harnessed and translated into value.

Tourists conquer mountain peaks in Ngoc Chien.

Son La is also home to numerous high peaks with diverse forest ecosystems, making them attractive trekking destinations for adventure travel enthusiasts. Notable among them are Sa Mu and Phu Sa Phin (Xim Vang commune), Pom Luong (Muong Bu commune) and Khau Pum (Muong Chien commune). In particular, the peaks rising above 2,700 metres in the Ta Xua special-use forest area stand out with their mystical moss-covered vegetation and pristine, mysterious beauty, creating a unique appeal for visitors.

In recent years, efforts to tap the potential and value of natural landscapes associated with mountain peaks have gained wider recognition. Numerous cultural and sporting events, particularly trail running and mountain climbing competitions, have been organised by localities, such as the Khau Pum Peak conquest climb, the Pom Luong Peak conquest run, and races like “Returning to the To Day Flower Season” 2026 and “Golden Season amid the Clouds of It hamlet.”

Most recently, the “Son Tra SkyRace” 2026 hosted by Ngoc Chien commune attracted nearly 300 athletes from across the country and from countries including France and Australia, competing to conquer peaks such as Ta Rong, Ta Tao, Hau Na Ta and Ta De Do.

These mountain races have become major attractions, especially for adventure sports enthusiasts and trekking lovers. They also offer a meaningful journey to experience local culture intertwined with the region’s distinctive natural landscapes.

Athletes compete in the “Son Tra SkyRace” 2026, conquering mountain peaks in Ngoc Chien commune. Photo: Minh Ngoc

Despite its considerable potential, trekking and hiking tourism in Son La remains in its early stages of development. Under the Son La tourism development plan for the 2025–2030 period, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proposed revising and supplementing legal regulations related to agricultural tourism, farmstay models, trekking and hiking.

The plan also emphasises research and development of distinctive, diverse and synchronous tourism products with high added value to meet the demands and preferences of both domestic and international visitors.

In particular, the province aims to promote new tourism products such as trekking and hiking, agro-ecotourism, entertainment and resort tourism, and sports tourism.

Visitors trek to conquer Pha Luong Peak. Photo: Giang A Cha

Once implemented in the coming period, these orientations and solutions are expected to help Son La further diversify its distinctive, unique and attractive tourism products, while maximising the value of local resources.

In particular, they will develop trekking and hiking tourism in a sustainable direction, closely linked with forest ecosystem conservation and environmental protection. At the same time, they will contribute to creating more appealing tourism products and services, generating jobs and income for people in highlands - home to mountain peaks often described as “treasure troves” of highly attractive adventure tourism.