Many visitors reported departing between 2h and 3h on 16/11 to avoid traffic and witness the sunrise, yet they still encountered crowded conditions.

Ngoc Huyen, a visitor from Hanoi, stated she arrived at a cloud hunting spot near the National Park after 3h, only to find "a bumper-to-bumper line of vehicles, and all prime cloud hunting locations already claimed". Her group waited until after 5h but "saw no clouds, only people".

Overcrowding also affected areas designated for viewing wild sunflowers. The main 11 km road within the National Park, where the flowers were in full bloom, remained congested with people and vehicles.

"There were few flowers to see, but many people. Visitors engaged in reckless photography and pushing, which flattened many flower bushes; some even broke flowers despite explicit 'no picking' signs nearby", stated Ngoc Thien, another visitor. He added that his journey from the city center took over two hours, followed by more than one hour in line to purchase an entrance ticket.

Images depicting severe congestion at Ba Vi, showing long lines of gridlocked vehicles at the entrance, were widely shared across social media platforms.

The road to Ba Vi National Park was jammed with people and vehicles on the morning of 16/11. Photo: Duong Thi Minh Nguyet

A representative from Ba Vi National Park confirmed that 16/11 marked the peak day of the wild sunflower season so far. The representative noted that despite morning congestion at the ticket area, "after entering the gate, visitors could freely take photos along the main road".

National Park staff collaborated with traffic police from Ba Vi, Suoi Hai, and Yen Bai communes to manage traffic flow, assist visitors, and address violations. Weather and traffic updates were continuously disseminated via the park's website, fanpage, Zalo, and loudspeakers.

Ba Vi National Park anticipates this year's wild sunflower season will continue until approximately 23/11. The park suggests ideal viewing times are early morning (6h-8h) or late afternoon (16h-18h). Visitors are encouraged to plan their trips on weekdays to avoid congestion.

Dawn, between 3h and 4h, often presents ideal conditions for stunning cloud formations, subject to weather. Experienced cloud hunters note that these cloud seas frequently emerge after periods of rain. Prime locations for cloud hunting in Ba Vi include Ngoc Hoa, Tan Vien, and Vua peaks.

Visitors jostle for space while waiting for cloud hunting in the early morning at Ba Vi National Park. Source: NVCC

Established in 1991, Ba Vi National Park spans nearly 11,000 ha and is located 50 km from central Hanoi. Entrance fees are 60,000 VND for adults, 20,000 VND for students, and 10,000 VND for pupils.

Visitors traveling from Hanoi can take Thang Long Avenue or National Highway 32, then proceed along Provincial Road 414 to the 8 km + 800 m mark, where they should turn left following signs to the park.

Mai Phuong