The Pristine and Majestic Beauty of the Dong Van Karst Plateau – Ha Giang
Do you want to immerse yourself in magnificent nature? Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, a UNESCO Global Geopark for the remarkable third time in 2023, offers a captivating blend of experiences.
Immerse yourself in the region’s magnificent natural beauty, delve into the rich traditions of local communities, or simply unwind amidst awe-inspiring landscapes.
Let Lua Viet Tours explore this unique limestone plateau in northern Vietnam and discover your perfect Dong Van adventure!
Introduction to the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark
The Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark (Ha Giang) is 1,100 to 1,600 meters above sea level, spanning four districts: Meo Vac, Dong Van, Yen Minh, and Quan Ba. It is one of the most distinctive limestone regions, containing significant marks of Earth’s crust development, natural phenomena, aesthetically striking landscapes, high biodiversity, and the long-standing cultural traditions of local communities.
Breathtaking Beauty of Dong Van. [Image Source: Internet]
The park covers an area of over 2,000 square kilometers and is home to 17 ethnic minority groups, including the Lo Lo, Hmong, Hoa, Nung,… This diversity contributes to the richness of the local culture. Once a remote and less-known mountainous area, Dong Van has now developed and attracts millions of domestic and international tourists, promising to be a captivating travel destination in the future!
Discovering the Unique Dong Van
Nicknamed the “gray gem” amidst the mountains, Dong Van boasts many unique beauties.
Terrain and Distinctive Landscapes
According to scientists, the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark has undergone all stages of Earth’s crust development, with the oldest layer dating back approximately 540 million years. Archaeologists have discovered numerous fossil specimens here, completing the geological development history of Vietnam and satisfying many geology enthusiasts.
Dong Van showcases a layered history that stretches back an astonishing 540 million years, revealing all stages of Earth’s crust development. [Image Source: Internet]
Additionally, the plateau hosts a highly diverse ecosystem with various plant species and serves as the habitat for over 50 species of wildlife, including mountain goats, squirrels, bulbuls, jungle fowl,… Notably, the snow leopard, an endemic primate species in Vietnam, lives only in these high, rugged mountain areas. All these elements create a lively natural beauty for the plateau.
>>> Discover Dong Van Karst Plateau here!
Explore Majestic Nature
Although it is a karst plateau, Dong Van is not just barren rocks. You’ll see natural masterpieces from limestone mountains, and flower fields, to vast rice terraces.
Ma Pi Leng: This is an incredibly impressive pass at an altitude of 1,200 meters, about 20 kilometers long. It boasts a majestic mountainous landscape with one side being cliffs and the other side being a deep, lush valley, creating a spectacular view. To truly appreciate the beauty of Dong Van, you could walk or ride along this pass!
For a truly unforgettable experience, let’s traverse Dong Van’s beauty by foot or bike along this scenic pass! [Image Source: Internet]
Lung Cu Flagpole: Located at the northernmost point of Vietnam at an altitude of 1,700 meters, visitors can admire the full beauty of nature from the white mist, green mountains, and vast rice fields.
Immerse yourself in the full glory of nature at Lung Cu Flagpole. [Image Source: Internet]
Nho Que River: This beautiful river near Dong Van has a natural emerald green color and flows gently between rocky cliffs. From above, it looks like a shimmering green thread hidden among the majestic mountains. Visitors can choose to take a boat ride along the Nho Que River and enjoy the vast nature.
Choose a boat ride and immerse yourself in the vast natural beauty that unfolds along its path. [Image Source: Internet]
Cultural Heritage
Alongside its majestic nature, visitors should not miss the local traditional cultural beauty. Here are some unique cultural aspects of Dong Van:
Local Lifestyle
The residents here are mostly ethnic minorities, living in stilt houses made of wood or earth-walled houses leaning against mountains and facing the fields. Stone walls up to 1 meter high often surround the houses.
Local residents make their homes in either traditional wooden stilt houses or sturdy earth-walled dwellings. [Image Source: Internet]
In their livelihood, the highlanders of Dong Van have developed various crafts such as weaving, woodworking, blacksmithing, and bamboo and rattan weaving,… Many skilled craftsmen are well-known and highly regarded.
Locals also celebrate many vibrant festivals. They prepare wine, meat and wear new clothes. During the festivals, they organize many interesting folk games such as spinning tops, tug of war, and stilt walking,…
Dong Van Market
Visiting Dong Van Market is an extremely interesting experience where you can immerse yourself in the simple and close life of the locals. Various goods are sold here, all grown and produced by the locals.
Dong Van market is always busy with the rhythm of life. [Image Source: Internet]
In the middle of each month, the market organizes cultural programs for tourists to visit and learn more about the area. Especially, a feast is set up where people invite each other to drink corn wine and enjoy Thang Co (a specialty dish of the Hmong people).
Delicious Mountain Cuisines
Pho Trang Kim: Pho (noodle soup) is not unfamiliar to tourists visiting Vietnam. However, Pho Trang Kim is made in a very special way. The pho noodles are handmade and cut thin only when ordered. While traditional pho uses beef bones for broth, here, chicken bones are preferred. This makes a fantastic bowl of pho.
Their chicken bone broth is a delightful alternative, creating a fantastic bowl of Pho you won’t forget. [Image Source: Internet]
Thang Co: The fame of this dish is undisputed! To prepare this dish, locals clean and season the innards of horses, buffaloes, or cows with various spices and herbs from the mountains. Then, it is stir-fried until tender. Though it may look a bit intimidating, the taste is unbeatable.
Crafted with locally sourced ingredients, Thang Co boasts succulent buffalo or cow meat infused with a fragrant mix of mountain herbs and spices. [Image Source: Internet]
Explore Dong Van Today!
With many interesting experiences, Dong Van is sure to leave beautiful memories for visitors. If you want to visit and experience the beauty of this plateau, contact Lua Viet Tours today! We specialize in providing high-quality tours in Vietnam with professional service. Contact us now to receive attractive travel deals!
