Stretching an astonishing 3.9 miles through the clouds of northwest Vietnam, this engineering marvel isn’t just the world’s longest three-rope cable car, it also climbs higher than any other on the planet.
The lift begins in the sleepy mountain town of Sapa, already perched over 1,600m above sea level, and whisks passengers up to the summit of Mount Fansipan, known as the “Roof of Indochina”, at 3,143 metres. That’s a vertical climb of more than 1,400 metres, all in just 15 breathtaking minutes.
Opened in 2016, the Guinness World Record-holding cable car was built to make the summit accessible to more people, who once had to endure a two-day trek to reach the top.
Now, the journey is smooth, fast, and absolutely packed with jaw-dropping views of cascading rice terraces, misty pine forests and distant Lao Cai mountain peaks.
Despite the modern construction, the summit still holds spiritual significance.
At the top, visitors will find ancient-style Buddhist temples and a 31-metre bronze statue of Amitabha Buddha, the highest of its kind in Vietnam.
The cable car system was developed by Austrian-Swiss company Doppelmayr Garaventa and cost an eye-watering $200 million (£160 million).
It can carry up to 2,000 passengers per hour in its spacious, glass-walled cabins, though for many, it’s not the ride but the surreal sensation of floating above the clouds that leaves the biggest impression.
Travel writer Hanh Nguyen, who visited in May, said: “It felt like flying. You’re above mountain peaks, above the birds, and then suddenly you’re standing on the highest point in all of Vietnam.”
The best time to ride the Fansipan Cable Car is early morning, when the clouds sit low in the valleys and the sun begins to rise over the Hoàng Liên Son mountain range.
While it may not be the cheapest ride, with tickets costing around £25 per person, it’s a small price to pay for a front-row seat to one of the world’s most spectacular natural panoramas.
And with Vietnam growing in popularity as a travel destination, this lofty ride is fast becoming a must-do for thrill-seekers and sightseers alike.
