Green corn season on Dong Van rocky plateau

(Photo: VNE)

With rugged rocks cover most of the area, Ha Giang province lacks arable land and has drought all year round. As such, maize is the main food crop here, which plays an important role in the life of the local highland people.

While serving as a stable ingredient in local diet, it’s also used as food for livestock.

(Photo: VNE)

If Dong Van is well-known for its pink peach blossoms, white plum flowers, and purple buckwheat flowers, the green maize fields give the plateau an attractive makeover. Visitors will be amazed by the true beauty of Mother Nature if they visit during the summer months.

(Photo: VNE)

In June, the Duong Thuong valley going through Lung Ho junction exudes vitality and abundance, a different picture from the rest of the year.

(Photo: VNE)

A bird’s-eye view of a road leading to Pho Cao commune.

(Photo: VNE)

Standing from the top of Ma Phi Leng pass, visitors can embrace a gorgeous scene. A long, winding road lies in the middle of patches of green trees.

(Photo: VNE)

The more you venture into the plateau’s village, the better you’ll feel the vitality of the plants that still grow despite the rouged terrain.

(Photo: VNE)

A winding road in the green of cornfields in Lao Xa.

(Photo: VNE)

Farmers often harvest the corn in June and July. However, harvesting time depends on several factors, including rainfall and geographical location.

(Photo: VNE)

In any family of ethnic people, like Mong, Dao, Lo Lo, Giay, visitors will come across strings of corn lined up on the gable or in the kitchen.

Locals often dry the corn under the sun three to four times before sorting them out for different purposes, such as eating, making wine, making cakes or feeding animals.

Dong Van plateau, a must-visit stop for travel enthusiasts

Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark was recognized as one of 77 geological parks in the world by the UNESCO’s Global Geoparks Network in 2010, and became Vietnam’s first geological park. Located about 1,400 – 1,600 meters above sea level, Dong Van Rock Plateau is formed by narrow valleys alternating with rocky mountain ranges in the north of Vietnam. Up to 80% of Dong Van Rock Plateau is covered by limestone which contains the fossils of thousands of prehistoric species from 400-600 million years ago.

The park spreads over the four districts of Meo Vac, Dong Van, Yen Minh and Quan Ba, with a total area of 2,356 square kilometers. It is home to more than 250,000 people from 17 different ethnic minorities with diverse cultures and traditions. The ethnic minorities live by cultivating rice along the basins of the Nho Que River and corn on the rocky mountain slopes.

Dong Van plateau travel tips

Getting to Dong Van

The distance from Hanoi to Dong Van is about 320 km. This is quite a distance and riding by motorbike could be very tiring. Ideally you can take a bus to Ha Giang, then rent a motorbike in Ha Giang to go to Dong Van.

From My Dinh bus station or Giap Bat in Hanoi, there are always many bus trips running from Hanoi to Ha Giang. To help reduce fatigue, you should take a bus with a bed starting at around 8 – 9 p.m. You can sleep until you arrive in Ha Giang the next morning.

Where to stay in Dong Van?

Although it is a highland district, Dong Van is a famous tourist destination, with many guesthouses and hotels. Heere is a list of some good quality cheap guesthouses in Dong Van.

Dong Van Old Quarter Coffee House

Address: Dong Van town, Ha Giang.

Telephone: 096 963 34 34.

Thien Huong Guest House

Address: at house 23, 3/2 street, Dong Van town, Dong Van, Ha Giang.

Telephone: 0219 3856208

Lung Cu Guest House

Address: Lung Cu Commune, Dong Van, Ha Giang.

Telephone: 0219 3856216

Khai Hoan Guest House

Address: Town of Dong Van, Dong Van, Ha Giang.

Telephone: 0219 3856147