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From october to december, Mang Den experiences cool weather with intermittent warm sunshine, ideal for tourists to explore the landscape and hunt for clouds in the early morning. Our Lady Hill is a favored spot among photographers for this activity.
The image captures the moment of early morning mist blending with clouds on Our Lady Hill, photographed on 5/10 by Tran Phuong, a photographer based in TP HCM.
"Hunting for mist in Mang Den is not as challenging as in Da Lat; you just need to wake up early," stated the photographer, who has hunted sunrises across Vietnam.
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Mang Den, located in Quang Ngai province, sits at an altitude of approximately 1,200 m and is likened to a "second Da Lat" due to its year-round cool climate. Our Lady Hill is situated on Tran Nhan Tong street, about 2 km from Mang Den's center, and is accessible by motorbike. The best time to view clouds and mist is between 5h and 6h.
From the hilltop, visitors can see Ngoc Le peak, standing at 1,720 m, dimly visible through the mist, along with other hills surrounded by pine forests.
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The moment of welcoming the new day on Our Lady Hill on 5/10 saw dawn breaking, the mist gradually dissipating, and sunlight piercing through the clouds, revealing lush green pine rows on the hill.
According to locals, for about a week, Mang Den has experienced dry weather, leading to a dense sea of clouds. At Our Lady Hill, visitors can still observe the sea of clouds until nearly noon.
Around 6h, as the sun rose higher, the sea of clouds became clearly visible under the golden morning light. This moment lasted about 10 minutes.
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Mist and clouds blanket national highway 24 at the foot of Our Lady of Mang Den Hill.
National Highway 24, approximately 225 km long, is a vital route connecting Quang Ngai with the northern Central Highlands, passing through the Mang Den tourist area, which the province aims to develop into a national tourist area.
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A street corner in Mang Den as the mist gradually dissipates.
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According to Phuong, besides Our Lady Hill, visitors can hunt for clouds at khu 37 ho, Tien Nhan Hill, Ngoc Le peak, and Violak Pass. Visitors can also choose cafes or accommodations near the valleys for convenient early morning travel.
The photographer advises visitors not to travel alone, especially to areas with complex roads such as Ngoc Le peak or khu 37 ho. Before the trip, visitors should ask locals about road conditions and weather to ensure safety.
Tuan Anh
Photos: Tran Phuong
