When we think of summer, most people immediately picture blue seas and white sands. But did you know that mountain travel is also one of the most beloved trends every summer?
In the midst of scorching heat, urban dust, and hectic schedules, the mountains offer a place to disconnect and recharge. With fresh air, majestic landscapes, and a sense of peace that not every destination can offer, mountain travel is becoming a popular choice among young travelers and families for their summer vacations.
If you’ve already read our article on the Top Beach Destinations for Summer 2025 and are torn between “heading to the forest or the beach,” the list below will help you discover highland destinations that are just as captivating.
Why Choose Mountain Travel in the Summer?
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Cool, pleasant climate year-round
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Peaceful space, less crowded than beach destinations
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Untouched scenery, ideal for relaxation or nature exploration
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Unique experiences like trekking, camping, and staying in ethnic villages
Below are the most ideal mountain travel destinations for summer 2025 that you definitely shouldn’t miss!
The Most Breathtaking Mountain Getaways for Summer 2025
Da Lat – Slow Living Among a Plateau of Flowers
Da Lat is not just a destination — it’s a feeling. This misty city has long been a favorite escape for those looking to flee the heat and hustle of urban life. While the rest of the country swelters in summer heat, Da Lat remains as gentle as a thin blanket draped over the highlands — cool, light, and soothing.
The magic of Da Lat is that it never gets old. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, you’ll always find something new. A morning stroll around Xuan Huong Lake in the early fog; an afternoon reading by a wooden window while rain taps on the roof; a chilly night wrapped in a light sweater, sipping hot soy milk at the night market — that’s not just travel, that’s life itself.
Da Lat in the summer is also special for its blooming gardens. Hydrangeas, lavender, sunflowers, wild daisies… every road out of town feels like the entrance to a fairytale. Hillside cafés, hidden farms, early morning markets where locals trade freshly picked produce — everything here gently soothes the soul.
For those who love nature, quietness, and a healing atmosphere, Da Lat is a destination that never disappoints. And in the summer of 2025, if you’ve never experienced wearing a jacket in July, Da Lat might just be the first place you should consider.
Sa Pa – A Harmony Between Nature and Culture
Sa Pa isn’t a place to rush through. It’s like a slow melody — you need time and patience to truly feel each layer of sound, each breath of the Northwest mountains.
Summer in Sa Pa is a season of freshness — when the forest awakens in deep shades of green. The terraced rice fields glisten with young rice, like vast carpets stretching into the horizon. In the early morning, clouds drift lazily past your homestay window. By noon, soft sunlight grazes the roofs of H’mong homes. By dusk, the sound of traditional flutes and drums echo through the village, like whispers from a distant past.
Traveling to Sa Pa isn’t just about admiring landscapes — it’s about understanding people. It’s when you pause beside a local woman weaving fabric and listen to the story behind a traditional scarf. It’s sharing a simple meal in Ta Van village and sipping homemade corn wine in a rustic wooden stilt house.
And if you love a challenge, Fansipan — the Roof of Indochina — awaits your conquest. You can trek to the summit for a sense of triumph, or take the cable car to gaze down at the awe-inspiring forests below. Either way, standing in a sea of clouds is an experience you’ll never forget.
Sa Pa is not for the hurried. Here, you’ll learn to slow down, go deeper. Every step is a photograph. Every morning is a reminder that nature is still here — vast, generous, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Moc Chau – A Refreshing Highland for Days You Want to Escape the City
There are days when you don’t want to go far, don’t want to rush, and don’t need an elaborate trip. You just need a place that’s quiet enough, green enough, with just enough sky to breathe deeply — and Moc Chau is exactly that place.
This plateau holds a wild yet vibrant beauty. In the early morning, mist still clings to the endless tea hills stretching to the horizon. Birds chirp to welcome the day, the scent of fresh grass rises, and the crisp chill of the air gently brushes your skin — everything here feels like a long exhale after months of fatigue.
Moc Chau isn’t noisy. Winding roads through villages lead you to places that seem to forget time: the soft murmur of Dai Yem Waterfall in the forest, the romantic pine forest of Ban Ang, peaceful dairy farms, and fields of wildflowers blooming along country paths.
Especially for those exhausted by the relentless pace of city life, a quiet afternoon in a homestay here — reading a book, sipping hot tea, listening to the breeze through wooden rafters — is enough to make your heart slow down.
Moc Chau doesn’t give you an instant “wow.” But like an old friend, the longer you stay, the more you appreciate it. It’s the kind of beauty found in stillness, in raw nature, in a life that doesn’t need much — just enough to feel truly at peace.
Pu Luong – “Bali” in the Heart of Thanh Hoa Province
If you’re looking for a place few people know about — but beautiful enough to make your heart slow down — Pu Luong is a true gift for the soul.
No flashy advertisements, no luxury resorts — Pu Luong remains humble and simple, just like the people who live there: sincere, gentle, and warmly welcoming. The road into Pù Luông is bumpy, but absolutely worth it. You’ll pass by lush green rice fields, through rustic Thai ethnic villages, and misty mountain slopes that look like scenes from a painting.
In Pu Luong, you wake up surrounded by nature. Open your door, and you’ll see clouds dancing over the terraced fields. The weather is cool all year round, and at night it gets chilly — just enough for a light jacket and a cup of hot tea.
There aren’t many flashy check-in spots here, but every step you take feels like a picture-perfect frame. You can trek through the forest, wade across cool waterfalls, or simply sit on the porch of a stilt house, listening to the wind rustling through the fields and watching buffalo graze lazily in the rice paddies.
Pu Luong is a place to return to yourself. A place where you don’t need to do much, yet you find a deep connection — with nature, and with life’s most simple, essential joys.
Ha Giang – The Deeper You Go, the Smaller You Feel Before Its Majestic Beauty
Ha Giang is not a place you visit just to check it off a list. It’s a place that will make you wonder why you didn’t come sooner. Every slope, every curve, every mountain here carries a story, a challenge, and a breathtaking beauty that will stop you in your tracks — not to take a photo, but just to quietly gaze in awe.
If Sa Pa is poetic, then Ha Giang is majestic. If Moc Chau is gentle, then Ha Giang is raw — but deeply authentic. The feeling of gripping the handlebars (or riding pillion) along mountain passes like Ma Pi Leng, looking down at the emerald Nho Que River far below, is something no photo could ever fully capture.
Summers in Ha Giang are not hot. The wind is strong and refreshing, the sky is clear, and the sun is soft. You might visit the ancient streets of Dong Van, enjoy sour noodles at a local market, or chat with bright-eyed children in highland villages whose innocence and joy are unforgettable. Every village you pass through makes you pause — not just to take pictures, but to listen, and to feel.
Don’t come to Ha Giang if you’re just looking for a relaxing vacation. But come — if you’re looking for a challenge, for a sense of wholeness, for the feeling of being humbled by nature, and the chance to grow in every moment of the journey.
Ta Xua – A Cloud-Hunting Paradise in the Skies of Northwest Vietnam
If you’ve ever dreamed of walking through a sea of clouds, feeling the mist drift past your face, then Ta Xua (Son La) is the place where that dream comes true. At over 2,800 meters above sea level, where the boundary between sky and earth becomes paper-thin, Tà Xùa isn’t just a place to see clouds — it’s a place to live in them.
Mornings in Ta Xua look like endless white carpets of cloud floating gently along steep mountain ridges. You can stand in the middle of this natural wonder, take a deep breath, and let go of every worry. That feeling — so calm and still — will make you want to stay in that moment just a little longer.
Beyond cloud-hunting, Ta Xua also offers other natural wonders: the legendary dinosaur spine ridge, ancient wild apple trees, and rustic H’mong villages scattered along the mountain paths. The road to Ta Xua may be rugged, but that’s exactly what makes the journey unforgettable. Because sometimes, it’s not the destination — but the road itself — that becomes the best part of the trip.
Bach Moc Luong Tu (Ky Quan San) – Where You Touch the Sea of Clouds
As one of the highest peaks in Vietnam (3,046 meters), Bach Moc Luong Tu — also known as Ky Quan San — lies between Lai Chau and Lao Cai. It’s an ideal destination for trekking lovers, adventure seekers, and those who dream of standing above the clouds.
Unlike destinations with easy access, Bạch Mộc demands physical strength, mental resilience, and a heart brave enough to step beyond its comfort zone. But in return, every step through bamboo forests, every night camping deep in the jungle, and especially the moment you witness the sunrise emerging from a sea of clouds at the summit — these are memories that will stay with you for a lifetime.
People don’t come to Bạch Mộc just to conquer its height — they come to confront themselves. The days you spend climbing are days of simplicity — steady breaths, slow thoughts, and deep awareness. And when you finally descend, you’ll feel different: stronger, more grateful, and somehow… freer.
Conclusion
If the sea brings vibrancy and refreshment, then the mountains offer stillness and balance. Mountain travel in summer 2025 is not just a trend — it’s a choice for those who want to return to nature, to slow down, and to live more mindfully.
And like every great journey, a fulfilling trip begins with the smallest details: a well-thought-out plan, light and practical packing, and reliable transportation.
Unlike beach destinations, mountain getaways are often located in areas with steep terrain, winding roads, and limited public transport options. That’s why choosing a car rental service is key to ensuring a more comfortable and flexible experience.
Let SBS Transport accompany you on every winding road, so whether you’re heading into the forest or toward the sea, every trip becomes a memory worth keeping.
