5:35 a.m., the sun gradually appears over Nha Trang bay. Nguyen said the best time to view the clouds is between 4 and 6 a.m.

Over the past few days, 33-year-old Nguyen Kaio has been packing camping gear like tents, tables, and chairs to ascend Hon En mountain, over 400 m high in the former Vinh Phuong commune (now Bac Nha Trang ward), to "chase clouds."

According to him, thick clouds usually appear in late autumn. To witness the beautiful clouds spilling over the mountains and enveloping residential areas requires continuous weather monitoring and "a bit of luck."

"There has been heavy rain this past week. I was lucky enough to experience the beautiful cloud formations twice," Nguyen said.

The sun rises higher at 5:40 a.m. "The sky turns orange-yellow, and the light filters through the clouds, but this moment is fleeting, lasting about 10 minutes," Nguyen said.

Thick, layered clouds cover a residential area in Bac Nha Trang ward at 5:45 a.m.

Nha Trang city center viewed from the mountain, interspersed with layers of clouds "continuously flowing" over the mountains.

By 6 a.m., some clouds dissipate, leaving a layer of mist surrounding San mountain (200 m high, 3 km from Nha Trang center). From the viewing point, people can see all of Hon Tre island in Nha Trang bay.

The cloud-chasing area overlooks the Co Tien mountain range in Bac Nha Trang ward.

Phan Hoang Son, from Ha Tinh, expressed surprise at the thick clouds covering the coastal city. "The scenery is more beautiful than I expected," he said.

Ho Dac Loc lake, in Bac Nha Trang ward, shrouded in clouds.

The lake, about 10 km from Nha Trang center, has a capacity of nearly 1.2 million cubic meters of water. Besides its function in irrigation and flood control to protect the downstream area, the lake also attracts visitors with its scenic beauty.

Nguyen Kaio sets up his phone to record a time-lapse of the clouds "flowing" over the mountain peaks. He says the clouds display different "colors" and distributions each day.

"I often choose to go cloud gazing after a day of heavy rain. The probability of seeing thick clouds is higher then," he said.

The cloud formations at night.

According to Nguyen, the route to the cloud-chasing spot in Nha Trang is a paved concrete road, making it easily accessible. However, the slope is steep, so visitors should use manual transmission motorbikes for safety, and avoid scooters. Those driving cars should use vehicles with high ground clearance and powerful engines.

If camping and eating overnight, visitors should bring their own trash bags to maintain cleanliness.

Bui Toan