The lure of clouds in mountain pass near Da Lat

Lying at an altitude of nearly 1,000 meters above sea level, Loc Thanh mountain pass in Bao Loc Town near Da Lat is a year-round paradise for cloud hunters.

Loc Thanh Pass is around 12 km south of Bao Loc in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

Known as a tea and silk production hub in the Central Highlands, Bao Loc is lesser known than its neighbor Da Lat that is always crowded during holidays.

From Bao Loc, you should drive along Highway 55, turn right at the junction of Loc Thanh B primary school and go on for around 3.5 km to reach the pass.

The road to Loc Thanh Pass is always shrouded in thick fog in the early morning and motorbike drivers face a struggle in the mud along the steep slopes.

Seasoned photographers say the journey is not easy, especially for first-timers who are advised to go with a local guide for safety.

"To hunt for clouds, you should be present at the pass before dawn. At this time of the year it is easy for photographers and tourists to see a sea of white clouds at the top of the pass," Pham Kim Nhan, 27, a local photographer, said.

According to locals, between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. is the ideal time to see clouds at the top of Loc Thanh Pass.

There are some homestays nearby for tourists to stay overnight such as Bao Loc homestay, Tea Garden House and Wooden House Bao Loc at prices ranging from VND500,000 to VND1 million ($20.47-40.94) a night.

Clouds drift through mountains at dawn.

Visitors can also explore hidden gems in Bao Loc Town such as Linh Quy Phap An Pagoda, which gained fame after featuring in V-pop singer Son Tung M-TP’s music video in 2017, Bat Nha Monastery, Damb'ri Waterfall, and Tam Chau tea hill.

Though Bao Loc is less touristy than Da Lat, it has the largest tea growing area in the Central Highlands and the nickname "tea capital."

The neighborhood around Loc Thanh Pass has few residents or tourism and dining services.