Located in Lao Cai province in Northwest Vietnam, 9 km southwest of Sa Pa Township in the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range, Fansipan is the highest mountain in Vietnam as well as in the Indochina Peninsula. Hence, it is branded as "the Roof of Indochina" with 3143m summit. Its name which is pronounced roughly by local people as "Hua Xi Pan" means "the tottery giant rock". The mountain was not formed until the Neozoic period (circ. 100 million years ago).

Fansipan which has varied topography is the home of about 2,024 floral varieties and 327 faunal species. An ascent to the summit can be made by the Fansipan Tourism Agencies or by mountain-climbers themselves with the local guides. It usually takes 3 days for a round trip, but this can be reduced to only 2 days for seasoned hikers. The peak is accessible all year round but the best time for the trek to the mountain is from mid-October to mid-November, and again in March when wildflowers are in bloom.

To successfully conquer the highest peak, mountaineers need to be in good shape and properly equipped with such things as sleeping bags, waterproof tents, food, stove, raincoat, compass and other miscellaneous survival gear. Fansipan Mountain has long been the destination for those who is fond of exploring.