Dong Van: Adventure-Worthy, Natural Beauty

Dong Van: Adventure-Worthy, Natural Beauty

If you’re looking for adventure, this is definitely it. But if you appreciate beauty as well, it’s beauty in the most natural and true form. Dong Van Stone Plateau Geopark is recognized as part of the Global Network of National Geoparks (GGN). It’s famous for its breathtaking view and rich culture, but it’s also known for it’s exceptionally difficult terrain. In fact, the stone plateau geopark “must be one of the most difficult destinations to reach in Vietnam.”

Dong Van is made up of very rugged, rock-strewn mountain slopes that make climbing it more of a hard work than a vacation, but for true-blooded adventurers who thirst for real adventure, this may perhaps be one of the most ultimate experience of their lives. Dong Van reaches up to the four districts of Dong Van, Meo Vac, Yen Minh and Quan Ba. It’s known as the “Sa Pa” of Ha Giang because of its wonderfully cool climate. But winter can be terribly harsh here as what happened four years ago when thousands of cows and buffalos died because of the intense cold. Spring or summer is the best time to visit the region when Ha Giang is abloom with tri-colored peach, and in the summer the mountains are rich with beautiful cabbages and rice fields.

Because of the abundant agricultural produce, people naturally turn to farming as their means of living. The Sunday market in particular is one important weekly event in the place where the people of Dong Van of all ages and gender come in to participate. Young girls and old women don their best and most colorful dresses for the occasion, going around selling their products and socializing at the same time. The men prefer to wear black or dark-colored tunics but just as well participate actively in the joyous gathering. Just to get to the market on time, most merchants have to begin traveling at midnight, but this doesn’t stop them from joining in the event and even maintaining a positive disposition the whole time.

This is a chance for young girls and boys to meet up with their friends and for families as a whole to bond, with the men trying to relax after a hard day’s work and their wives taking care of them. The Lung Cu Flag Tower is another must-see destination in Vietnam. It is located in the northern-most point of the country boasting of a stunning landscape and fresh mountain air. Though getting there is quite dangerous and terribly tiresome, even painful, the rich beauty of nature and the people are worth every single sweat.