Yen Minh pine forest – a green land in the heart of karst plateau

Ha Giang, a northernmost mountainous province of Vietnam, is blessed with a number of beautiful landscapes, from zigzag mountain passes to vast terraced rice fields that can capture the heart of every tourist. Recently, young hodophiles have discovered a new destination to explore – Yen Minh pine forest, which is dubbed a ‘miniature Da Lat’. The forest is about 100km to the northeast of Ha Giang city. From the city, travellers should follow National Highway 4C and then go for an additional 30km after passing Quan Ba Heaven Gate, the first gateway to the Dong Van Karst Plateau, and Co Tien (Fairy) Mountain to reach the Yen Minh pine forest (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The Yen Minh pine forest stretches across the three communes of Na Khe, Lao Va Chai, and Bach Dinh in Yen Minh district. Although it is not easy to reach this place, once setting foot here, visitors will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of rows of tall straight pine trees that seem to touch the sky. Many people even describe the Yen Minh pine forest as a “miniature Da Lat” in terms of both landscape and weather since Da Lat, a resort city in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, has long been renowned for its cool weather all year round and immense pine hills (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A snaky road through the Yen Minh pine forest. Zigzag mountain passes are also considered a speciality of Ha Giang, as well as nearby provinces, which offers those who love travelling unique experience when exploring the beauty of mountainous areas in northern Vietnam. Ha Giang has a particularly important location as it shares a 274km-long borderline with China. Yen Minh is one of the four districts with karst terrain in the north of the province, together with Dong Van, Meo Vac and Quan Ba. These four districts cover more than 2,350 sq. km. out of Ha Giang’s total area of nearly 7,950 sq. km. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A pass through the Yen Minh pine forest. The forest is located within the Dong Van Karst Plateau, which was recognised as a member of the Global Geoparks Network by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2010 – the first global geopark in Vietnam and the second in Southeast Asia. The plateau spreads across Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac and Quan Ba districts. According to UNESCO, most of the surface of the Dong Van Karst Plateau is limestone (about 60 percent). Its landscape is spectacular and unique with high mountains and deep canyons. The plateau is home to 17 ethnic groups, giving this area unique and rich cultural heritage (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A pass through the Yen Minh pine forest. Apart from unique geological features, the Dong Van Karst Plateau also accommodates two protected areas: Du Gia and Khau Ca, which boasts rich biodiversity. Notably, the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus avunculus) there is one of the 25 most endangered primate species in the world. It is only found in Ha Giang province and was believed to be already extinct until its rediscovery in the early 1990s. The recognition of the Dong Van Karst Plateau as a global geopark by UNESCO has created new opportunities for socio-economic development in Ha Giang in general and the four districts located in the karst plateau area in particular (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Vehicles move on a pass through the Yen Minh pine forest in Yen Minh district. Apart from the Dong Van Karst Plateau and its Yen Minh pine forest, the northernmost province of Ha Giang also owns various other charming landscapes and historical relic sites such as the Quan Ba Heaven Gate in Quan Ba district; the Vuong family’s mansion, Lung Cu Flag Tower and Dong Van Ancient Town in Dong Van district, Ma Pi Leng Pass in Meo Vac district, Tien Waterfall – Gio Pass and an ancient rock field in Xin Man district, and Quang Ngan mineral stream in Vi Xuyen district (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Visiting the Yen Minh pine forest in November or December, tourists can behold wild sunflowers, ‘hoa da quy’ in Vietnamese, blooming in the forest and along mountain passes. When it comes to flowers, Ha Giang is also attractive to travel lovers thanks to beautiful fields of buckwheat flowers framed by magnificent limestone mountains, which have become a magnet for tourists in the province over the past years. Buckwheat is cultivated for its grain-like seeds, which are used to make specialty food by local ethnic minorities. The crop is often planted around September. From late October to early November, large fields of buckwheat flowers are in full bloom, creating a spectacular sight (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Yellow wild sunflowers light up the Yen Minh pine forest. Located on an average altitude of 1,200 metres, Yen Minh district borders Dong Van district and China to the north, Cao Bang province and Bac Me district to the south, Quan Ba and Vi Xuyen districts to the west, and Dong Van and Meo Vac districts to the east. It has 17 communes and one town, covering an area of more than 78,360ha. Of the local population of about 84,000, more than 50 percent belong to the Mong ethnic minority group while Dao ethnic minority people make up some 15 percent and Tay ethnic minority people 14 percent (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Sky touching pine trees in the Yen Minh pine forest. In the early morning, the whole forest is blanketed in white fog and little cold like a pine forest in Da Lat, a resort city in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong famous for cool weather all year round and immense pine hills. It is covered in the glow of sunset in the late afternoon, which makes this place fanciful scenery. Once setting foot here, the tranquility and freshness of the forest will help visitors forget the stress of everyday life so as to get relaxed and enjoy the beauty of nature (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The poetic Yen Minh pine forest is actually a man-made forest. Ha Giang province is loved by visitors for its untouched, majestic and poetic landscapes with rocky massive mountains, terraced rice fields that paint the valleys with yellow colour in the harvest season and mirror the sky colours in the sowing season. The northernmost locality also boasts rich cultural diversity thanks to more than 20 ethnic minority groups with traditional customs and festivals. The land also owns other attractions such as the Quan Ba Heaven Gate in Quan Ba district, the Vuong family’s mansion and the Lung Cu Flag Tower in Dong Van district, and Ma Pi Leng Pass in Meo Vac district (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A group of young picnickers rest in the Yen Minh pine forest. Camping or partying are popular choices of visitors once they come here. Aside from the pine forest, tourists can explore many other destinations in Yen Minh district such as Na Luong Cave – one of the scenic landscapes at the provincial level, Co Cai Cave – a revolutionary relic site, Du Gia village with pristine nature, and the community-based culture and tourism village of Buc Ban hamlet. They can also learn about unique cultural identities of the 16 ethnic minority groups residing in this mountainous district such as Mong, Dao, Tay, Nung, Bo Y, Pu Peo, and Giay (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The national flag flown on a shelter in the Yen Minh pine forest. This forest is said to be among the most beautiful landscapes in Ha Giang province. Many tourists also go camping overnight in the forest to enjoy the fresh atmosphere here in the early morning. The Yen Minh pine forest, about 1,000 – 1,600 metres above the sea level, is situated within the Dong Van Karst Plateau, which has been a member of the Global Geoparks Network since 2010. It is the first global geopark in Vietnam and the second in Southeast Asia. The plateau has most of its surface being limestone (about 60 percent). Its landscape is spectacular and unique with high mountains and deep canyons (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Part of the Yen Minh pine forest. The Dong Van Karst Plateau accommodates two protected areas with a large number of fauna and flora species such as conifers, Asian black bear, Southern serow (a solitary mountain goat) and many species of bird. Moreover, the unusual and mysterious Tonkin snub-nosed monkey is one of the 25 most endangered species of primate in the world. It is only found in Ha Giang province and was believed to be already extinct until its rediscovery in the early 1990s. UNESCO’s recognition of this plateau as a global geopark has created new opportunities for socio-economic development in Ha Giang and the four districts in the karst plateau area in particular (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A corner of the Yen Minh pine forest. Apart from the Dong Van Karst Plateau and its pine forest, Hoang Su Phi terraced rice fields, a national relic site and part of the national intangible heritage, are also among the most well-known tourist attractions in Ha Giang. They cover 11 communes in this northernmost province: San Sa Ho, Ho Thau, Nam Ty, Thong Nguyen, Ta Su Choong, Ban Nhung, Po Lo, Thang Tin, Nam Khoa, Ban Luoc, and Ban Phung. The fields are estimated to have been cut into the mountainside around 300 years ago by the La Chi, Dao and Nung ethnic people. These terraces shine like gold during the harvest season (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The Yen Minh pine forest has been a shield protecting local residents and also a source of livelihoods for them as it has been drawing more and more travellers to this mountainous area. To optimise its advantages and potential, Ha Giang, a mountainous province less developed than other localities in Vietnam, has spared no efforts to develop new types of tourism over the past years such as ecotourism, adventure tourism, resort tourism, and tours to historical and cultural relics and festivals. It is striving to make tourism a spearhead economic sector by 2030 so as to turn the province into a key national tourist hub in the near future (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The tall straight pine trees in the forest were grown by local people.  Not only famous for the Yen Minh pine forest, the Dong Van Karst Plateau is also home to another tourist magnet – the Lung Cu Flag Tower that for many is a milestone not to be missed. Located at the peak of this plateau, it marks the northernmost tip of Vietnam. It is where Vietnamese living at home or abroad long to visit at least once in their lives. There have been differing opinions on the source of the name Lung Cu, which can be ‘Long Co’ (a drum with a dragon on it) or ‘Long Cu’ (where dragons live). From a linguist’s viewpoint, the name means ‘Dragon Valley’ (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The landscape of sky-touching trees dotted with wild flowers promises an unforgettable experience for tourists once they come here. The Yen Minh pine forest, dubbed a ‘miniature Da Lat’, stretches across the three communes of Na Khe, Lao Va Chai, and Bach Dinh in Yen Minh district of Ha Giang province. It is about 100km to the northeast of the province’s Ha Giang city. From this city, travellers should follow National Highway 4C and then go for an additional 30km after passing Quan Ba Heaven Gate, the first gateway to the Dong Van Karst Plateau, and Co Tien (Fairy) Mountain to reach the Yen Minh pine forest (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The green foliage of the pine trees in the forest. Recently, Lung Khuy Cave and the H’mong Village Resort in Quan Ba district, along with the Mong ethnic community-based cultural and tourism village in Meo Vac district was recognised as new tourist destinations in Ha Giang. The cave network in Lung Khuy commune with magnificent stalactites is said to be the most beautiful in the province. Meanwhile, the 20-ha H’mong Village Resort is a newly opened facility, providing visitors with comfortable services. The Mong ethnic community-based cultural and tourism village, on the highway connecting Dong Van and Meo Vac districts, operates as a community-based tourism service cooperative model engaging 30 local households (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The pine forest spans a vast area, rising in the middle of the sky and standing out along a winding road. Many people are interested in visiting this pine forest in Ha Giang, which is also home to many attractions to visitors. To admire the beauty of the Yen Minh pine forest, it is best to come in the early morning or at sunset. These are the times people can enjoy the breathtaking and unforgettable scenery of sunrise and sunset there. Aside from beholding beautiful landscapes, tourists can also experience meaningful picnics and capture memorable moments with their families or friends via photography in this place (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Young hodophiles take a photo in the Yen Minh pine forest. This forest stretches for a few kilometers on low hills. Tourists can see fuzzy layers of fog here, making them feel like they are in the famous resort town of Da Lat in central Vietnam. When entering the pine forest, they can feel its fresh and cool air. They may also want to stop to take beautiful pictures of this pine forest. Besides, tourists can see green grass and roofs of local houses dotting mountains, all of which create a beautiful and peaceful landscape. To the travellers who love taking photos, this place promises amazing pictures (Photo: VietnamPlus)

In the Yen Minh pine forest, visitors can walk on dirt roads or sit and relax on green grass in order to enjoy moments of peace during their trip. This forest is also an ideal place for tourists who love to take pictures. It is a spectacular view when the sun rises and the sunlight goes through the canopy of the pine forest. Tourists can also lie on the lush green grass and look up at the clear blue sky as well as the surrounding high mountains. When the sun goes down, it gives this place a beautiful and peaceful sunset picture (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Ha Giang province is a charming land, and much of this northernmost mountainous locality is incredibly beautiful. To optimise its advantages and potential, the province has spared no efforts to develop new types of tourism such as ecotourism, adventure tourism, resort tourism, and tours to historical and cultural relics and festivals. Thanks to its efforts, Ha Giang has become an attractive destination for tourists from both Vietnam and other countries. The number of visitors to the province increased by 14 percent each year during the 2010 – 2015 period, and 14.6 percent between 2015 and 2020, contributing 8.8 percent to the province’s gross domestic product (GDP) (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Dubbed a ‘miniature Da Lat’, the Yen Minh pine forest stretches across the three communes of Na Khe, Lao Va Chai, and Bach Dinh in Yen Minh district. Coming to Ha Giang, a journey to discover the Yen Minh pine forest will be an interesting and unforgettable experience for tourists, helping them get rid of the busy daily life. Therefore, if you have a chance to visit Ha Giang, apart from visiting famous places such as the Lung Cu Flag Tower, Hoang Su Phi terraced rice fields, Quan Ba Heaven Gate or Ma Pi Leng Pass, the pine forest in the Dong Van Karst Plateau is a destination that should not be missed (Photo: VietnamPlus)