The origin of the name Phan Xi Păng is unclear. The most accepted theory is that the name evolved from Hủa Xi Pan (the tottering giant rock) - the name that the locals called the mountain based on its shape. Another theory suggested that the name came from Hmong people as the name means Azalea Mountain in their language due to the prevalence of azalea and other species of Rhododendron genus on the mountain.[2]