Mau Son Mountain
A cold massif on the Chinese border where snow falls some winters, with French villas rotting on the ridge.
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Mau Son is a massif of several peaks rising to about 1,540 metres near the Chinese border in Lang Son, and it is one of the coldest inhabited places in Vietnam - frost is normal in December and January and snow falls in some years, which is national news when it happens and brings a rush of visitors from Hanoi. The French built a hill station on the ridge in the colonial period and the villas remain, most of them roofless and overgrown. Dao communities live on the slopes and make a rice spirit and a herbal bath preparation that are the mountain's other products. Peach and plum grow on the terraces.
What you actually see
- Frost most winters and occasional snow - rare in Vietnam.
- Ruined French villas - on the ridge from the hill station.
- Dao villages on the slopes - with rice spirit and herbal baths.
- Peach and plum terraces - the mountain's fruit.
When to go
October to April; December and January for the cold. A full day.
Honest expectations
The road up is steep, narrow and icy in the cold snaps that people drive up for. Snow days bring heavy traffic and the road can be blocked. Facilities on the ridge are limited. Fog is frequent.
Nearby
Lang Son is west; the Chinese border crossing at Huu Nghi is north-west.
What to pack for Mau Son Mountain
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
