Thac Giang Ta Chai - Giang Ta Chai Falls
The area around the northern Vietnamese tourist town of Sa Pa is littered with waterfalls. Numerous drops, both big and small, high volume and low, named and unnamed, can be found in every corner of the area, as the favorable geology and plentiful rainfall have worked together for millions of years to carve the eastern toe of the Himalya Mountains into a wonderland of tight gorges and large drops. One of these is known as Thac Giang Ta Chai, or Giang Ta Chai Falls, named after the nearby village, and is one of the easier to reach in the Sa Pa area, as it is just a short 10 minute walk from the main road, about 30 minutes east of Sa Pa itself.
You can see this beast from the road, appearing quite large even from across the valley. We didn't know we were headed over to it until our guide (Thu, the same from Bac Ha) had the van stopped and us herded onto the trail. Turned out to be a nice surprise.
You can see this beast from the road, appearing quite large even from across the valley. We didn't know we were headed over to it until our guide (Thu, the same from Bac Ha) had the van stopped and us herded onto the trail. Turned out to be a nice surprise.
The walk down was fun, girls and women wearing the traditional style of clothing (they don't wear that anymore in their daily lives, it's all for show) which are quite colorful and fancy. However, they've got a nice game going: they'd prefer if you paid them some money in return for taking their picture, and they are all over the place and just happen to casually be in all your photos, so its hard to not pay and take pictures at the same time. Good gig they've got.
At the bottom of the hill there is a suspension bridge across the Ta Van River. This was pretty terrifying. Not because of the height, no, there are crossings on cable cars that are WAY higher than that in Asia. The reason was it was only two or three meters above a raging, thundering jungle river that was packing at least 3,000 to 4,000 cfs. The bridge wasn't the most solid affair, and feeling the power of the river and watching it under your feet and feeling the splash coming up off of it.....well, let's just say I think Logan and I felt a bit different about it because as boaters we understand the power of the river. It was quite humbling! |
The waterfall itself was expectedly amazing. Although the creek wasn't that large in it's own right, the fact that it was flooding, and just the sheer size of the beast made it all the more impressive. It's hard to guess but I would say in the neighborhood of 30 meters? That's about 100' for you Americans. It was big. It was one that soaked you with it's mist if you stood below it too long.
After checking out the falls, it was back across the Ta Van River, this time to a house near it's banks. Turns out, the owner was a good friend of Thu's, and often hosted homestays through the company Thu worked for. He was a friendly, quiet man and a pleasant and friendly wife. Since Thu had enjoyed our Crested Butte tobacco, he recommended we enjoy some with the owner, his friend. So, out came the Bamboo Bong, and it was time for another VinaSesh. Our host loved it, and took a good one down like a champ, and within fifteen minutes was up wandering his house, looking for something to eat. Classic.
Unfortunately after this it was time head back to town, so it was back the vans and up the hill. |
All photos copyright Kit Davidson unless otherwise noted.