The first phase of construction of Rong May (Cloud Dragon) tourism site including a glass bridge and an elevator was completed on November 16 in Lai Chau province.
The construction is a part of Thac Trang (White Falls) tourism project, about 20 kilometers from the well-known tourist town Sa Pa of neighboring Lao Cai province.
Rong May Bridge promises to bring visitors an interesting experience surrounded by the majestic natural scenery typical of the northwestern mountains and forests.
The visitors climb to the sky-walk by elevator. The glass overhang spans five meters wide, 60 meters long from the cliff and is suspended about 300 meters above the ground, offering a panoramic views of O Quy Ho pass and Hoang Lien Son mountain range, so that visitors can go sightseeing, snap photos and experience exotic feelings.
It is made of transparent glass with three layers and can withstand the weight of 3,000 people at the same time.
With beautiful scenery and mild climate all year round, the tourism site also connects the center of Sa Pa tourism area with Tac Tinh waterfalls, Putaleng peak, Tien Son cave, Pu Sam Cap cave and community-based tourist areas of Thai, Mong, Dao, Lao, Lu ethnic minority groups.
Instead of taking more than four hours of walking on a forest trail to the reach the peak, as before, visitors can now choose to travel by an outdoors glass-cage elevator called the Road to Heaven.
Visitors need to buy a ticket at the foot of the mountain and take an elevator up to the bridge from the mountain edge. This is the first place in Vietnam with a transparent glass elevator.
The construction is attached firmly to a cliff of Hoang Lien Son mountain range, which is 2,000 meters above the sea level.
Elevators and glass bridges take visitors to a variety of thrills such as zip lines, parachuting, climbing, exploring old forests, visiting waterfalls, and so on.
Sungate Group, which built the bridge at its Rong May Tourist Complex, said the glass could withstand the weight of 3,000 people at a time, but it is taking no chances and only allowing a maximum of 500.
Admission to the elevator and bridge costs VND400,000 ($17) for adults and VND200,000 ($9) for children, and the company expects 50,000 visitors a year.
According to the Rong May Glass Bridge Resort, the investor, the bridge was built at O Quy Ho as it is one of the four great mountain peaks in Vietnam and nearby Sa Pa, which is already popular among both domestic and foreign tourists, so the bridge is expected to be an additional highlight to the area and promote Lai Chau province’s tourism development.
Chairman of the Tam Duong district People’s Committee Tu Huu Ha agreed that the site will contribute to local socio-economic development and job creation to local workers.
The site, built at a total cost of 1 trillion VND (43.4 million USD) in January 2018, will operate for up to 50 years with facilities such as hotels, an elevator system and a glass-floored suspension bridge up to European standards, a range of bungalows, a swimming pool and an entertainment area.
The first stage costs 300 billion VND, serving 5,000 – 50,000 visitors each year with sightseeing, resort, adventure travel services.
Earlier this year, the first glass-bottomed suspension bridge in Vietnam was opened at the Dai Yem Waterfalls tourist site at a height of 22 meters above ground in mountainous Moc Chau district in northern Son La province, costing VND30 billion ($1.29 million).
It has no elevator and visitors have to take a flight of stairs to the bridge. Since its inauguration in April this year there have been reports that visitors get no thrill because of its low height.
Measuring 80 meters long and two meters wide, the transparent bridge is capable of handling 50-70 people at one time. With 5D technology, it also boasts a photoelectric sensor system and 30 special effects, such as flowers blooming, fish swimming, and heart shapes, etc.
The Hoang Lien Son mountain range, where the Rong May glass skywalk is located, was voted by travel editors and explorers of National Geographic as one of the world’s most exciting destinations and the most exciting in Southeast Asia.
The Fansipan cable car can be a great way to enjoy its beauty. It takes visitors on an unforgettable trip over Muong Hoa valley and rolling mountains with their primeval forest to Mt Fansipan, the top of Indochina.
Sa Pa, Vietnam’s popular mountain destination, is known for its natural beauty and indigenous highland cultures.
