5 Best Things to Do in Lang Son (Vietnam) (#2 Is a Must)

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There are many amazing things to do in Lang Son.

As a frontier mountainous province in far northern Vietnam, Lang Son is covered with over 80% of mountains and hills. It is perfect for those fed up with mass tourism and desiring to delve into the breathtaking landscapes, historical vestiges and true local culture. Among prominent places in this province, Bac Son valley is considered one of must-do experiences. Its heart-stopping scenery deserves countless praises and admirations.

1. Ky Lua Market 

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One of the best ways to be immersed into local life is visiting its market. Once you’re in Lang Son, don’t miss the chance to explore Ky Lua market. Located in Hoang Van Thu ward, in the city center of Lang Son, it is a bustling trade center of the local people and travelers. Having operated for hundreds of years, it has everything you want to do and see in a market. There are a wide variety of goods at reasonable prices from just about all provinces in Vietnam. Products and clothes in various colors are woven from cotton by ethnic people. At the market, young ethnic people such as Tay, Dao, Nung also get together, do shopping, meet buddies and find partners through love songs. Not all, delicious dishes full of features of Lang area are irresistible. Ky Lua fair is organized once a year, from 22nd to 27th January of lunar calendar. This is the lively cultural activity.

2. Bac Son Valley

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Bac Son (Vietnam) is a mountainous district of Lang Son, and it is about 160 kilometers away from Hanoi. From Hanoi, go along the Highway 3 to Thai Nguyen and move to the Highway 1B. Bac Son is about 80 kilometers from there. Peaceful life, simple people (mostly Tay ethnic) and a wealth of impressive natural scenes have made it an adventure of a lifetime.

High mountains of 500-1200 meters are one of the amazing things travelers can expect from visiting here. The tranquil and beautiful mountain together with paddy fields and incredible lakes have enticed travelers around world to come and admire. To fully absorb and enjoy its paradise beauty, make sure you climb to a mountain’s peak. It may be tiring though, your fatigue will go away because the breathtaking panoramic view gives you such an incredible and unrivalled feeling of achievement.

Another highlight when coming to Bac Son valley is your unique chance to experience local life and great authentic food. You would love to spend time with Tay people in traditional stilt houses. Also, make the most out of your experience by trying best local dishes, especially when Vietnam is one of the world’s best food cultures. For example, tenderloin fried with mushroom, grilled pork with local herbs and vegetable, white rices, soup and tropical fresh fruit are just swooning.

3. Tam Thanh Grotto

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Dong Dang has the Ky Lua Street

The lady called To Thi and the Tam Thanh Pagoda.

(Vienamese traditional folksong)

Situated in Tam Thanh ward of the city center, Tam Thanh Grotto is one of the northern Vietnam’s most famous grottoes and is a complex of 3 caves (Nhat Thanh, Tam Thanh, Nhi Thanh) in Tam Thanh Pagoda. Its door is around 8m high, leading you to a corridor with 30 stone steps carved into the mountain. When entering the cave, don’t forget to get drops of precious pure water from its ceiling collected in a lotus basin. Visitors can explore spectacular stalactites and stalagmites with the shapes of a bird, tortoise and crocodile. A large Buddhist statue is carved in the cliff side. You would be dazzled by sunlight from a hole in the cave’s ceiling at the end of the cave. This is called Cua Thong Thien (gate to the sky). The sunlight shines through the cave, creating a more magical and magnificent atmosphere.

4. To Thi Mountain

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2 km from the city center, To Thi Mountain (also known as Vong Phu Mountain) can be combined with a visit of Tam Thanh Grotto. This is one of the best places to enjoy views of the whole city. There is a legend associated with this human-shaped monument. It is about a woman named To Thi holding her child in her arms and waiting in a vain for her husband return from battle field. She was finally turned into a rock. Lady To has become a faithful symbol of Vietnamese women.

5. Rampart of Mac Dynasty

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Other than Ky Lua Market, Tam Thanh Grotto, To Thi Mountain and Bac Son Valley, this is another attraction you can arrange to visit during your trip in Lang Son. Lying in Tam Thanh ward, the Fortress of the Mac Dynasty is not just a beauty spot but historically meaningful. This is the vestige of a military architectural works and reflects Vietnamese feudal period when factions fought each other over the country. The fortress also has great views across the surrounding paddy fields.