In a northwestern province of Vietnam lies beautiful mountains surrounded by fog, which appeal to many tourists as an impressive and mesmerizing place to explore.

Known as Dinosaur Backbone, the mountains are nestled in Bac Yen District, Son La Province, which is home to Ta Xua National Park.

The scenery is known to many local and foreign wayfarers for its beauty and mystery with clouds and fog floating around the top of the hills as if they were covering them.

It takes a few hours to travel the distance of 100 kilometers from Son La City, the nearest municipality, to the mountains.

There are two footpaths leading up to Dinosaur Backbone, both of which are narrow and can only be driven on by experienced drivers as they are quite dangerous.

Hence, most visitors take a walk on the pathways running along the Dinosaur Backbone hills, climb the mountains, or just stop to take photos of the beautiful scenery.

“The scenery, people and even driving on the zigzag road to reach this place [Dinosaur Backbone] are an interesting experience,” Phung Thi Thanh Huyen, a university student who traveled here with a group of friends from Hanoi, said.

Standing on the hills, visitors are not only exposed to a mesmerizing sight of mountains surrounded by clouds and fog, they are also a witness to terrace paddy fields, known to local as “stair paddy fields” for their resemblance to an actual staircase.

This is a unique and traditional form of practicing agriculture of Mong people, one of the ethnic minorities of Vietnam, which is also another attraction for visitors.

According to one of the locals Mua Nhe Di, Dinosaur Backbone started attracting tourists around 10 years ago and the number of visitors has increased over the years.

In response to this new influx of tourists, the Mong people started opening local diners where many tourists pass by.

“During the winter or raining season, the top of Dinosaur Bone will slowly disappear among a sea of clouds, especially in the early morning,” Di said.

“Usually on the weekend this is an ideal place for backpackers and youngsters to go camping, gather, and get to know other visitors,” he added.

Here are some of the photos of Dinosaur Backbone mountains.

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