Dong Van Old Town – the precious gem of Ha Giang

Vietnam is a small, beautiful country, attracting tourists not only because of its poetic and majestic natural scenery such as Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha – Ke Bang Cave, Cuc Phuong National Park or other sacred destinations: Huong Pagoda, Bai Dinh Pagoda,… but also has old streets with many cultural and traditional beauties of the local people. Hanoi Old Quarter or Hoi An Ancient Town are very familiar names that tourists often hear when coming to Vietnam. Yet, Vietnam also has another beautiful old town called Dong Van Old Town. So let’s explore Dong Van Old Town with Smile Travel in this article!

Read more: All about rocky plateau Ha Giang, Vietnam

1. Some details about Dong Van Old Town

Dong Van Old Town is located in Dong Van town, Ha Giang province, about 145km from Ha Giang city and about 437km from the center of Hanoi capital. Formed in the 20th century, Dong Van Old Town is still home to the Mong, Hoa, Tay, Nung, Dao, and Kinh ethnic groups. So when you come here, you will experience many different traditional cultures.

In Dong Van Old Town Ha Giang, there are houses that have been around for a long time with similar architecture, mainly 2-story houses with yin and yang tile roofs. Overall, Dong Van Old Town is a harmonious, sophisticated, and skillful combination of Vietnamese culture and Chinese architecture.

Dong Van Old Town is located at an altitude of 1000 – 1600m and is covered on all four sides by dense forests and mountains, so the air here is extremely fresh and cool, and in the winter it is somewhat colder. other regions. After many years of change and development, it seems that this old town still retains its simple, ancient and impressive features and is always a destination not to be missed during a trip to explore the mountains and forests of Northeast Vietnam.

2. How to get to Dong Van Old Town

If you are a backpacker, traveling by motorbike to Dong Van Old Town is a challenging choice. The distance is relatively long and winding, so you need to have a solid steering wheel as well as good health to be able to move safely.

If not, you can choose to take a bus to Dong Van Old Town as there are currently many bus companies operating this route. Taking a bus will help you have time to rest on the bus during the trip.

3. When is the right time to visit Dong Van Old Town?

Dong Van Old Town is beautiful all year round, each season has its own beauty. However, to have the best experiences, you should choose the right time to visit.

According to Dong Van Old Town travel experience, Smile Travel finds that the most appropriate time to visit Dong Van Old Town is around October to November – Ha Giang buckwheat flower season. When visiting Dong Van Old Town, you can combine a visit to the blooming buckwheat flower field, dyeing the entire sky purple, creating a romantic and poetic scene, along with the ancient architecture of the old town, you will have extremely cool “virtual living” photos, both poetic and romantic.

Or in spring (from February to April), after the cold winter, hundreds of flowers bloom, green trees, warm air and bright sky, walk around Dong Van Old Town, there’s nothing better than enjoying the atmosphere of heaven and earth.

You can refer to some tours below:

>> Tour 2 Days Hanoi – Ba Be Lake

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4. What to see and experience in Dong Van Old Town?

4.1. Take a walk to see Dong Van Old Town

Many people say that Dong Van ancient town exists as a place of intersection between the past and present. A place where ancient beauty is still found amidst modern life. Currently there are about 40 houses located close together under the cliff. If you pay close attention, you will see that the main color here is the nostalgic color of the houses that have faded over the years. For those who are passionate about ancient architecture, coming here to admire it is too reasonable. Rows of 2-storey houses are built with yin-yang tile roofs – a typical architectural style of ethnic people in the northern mountainous areas of Vietnam. Some houses in Dong Van Old Town are also decorated with lanterns in front of the door, highlighting the simple beauty of the houses.

Coming to Dong Van Old Town in the early morning, when the rays of sunlight creep through every house, the feeling is so warm and poetic, so peaceful that it’s hard to describe. And when sunset falls, the whole old town is immersed in the last rays of sunlight, so quiet and pensive.

4.2. Explore the market at Dong Van Old Town

Besides admiring the ancient houses covered with moss, you must definitely visit the traditional market of Dong Van Old Town in Ha Giang. The market is built in a U-shape right in the center of Dong Van Old Town. Here, buying and selling activities of local people take place, the chirping of laughter, cheerful and bustling chatter makes your mood excited as well. Here, you can buy many souvenirs or dry foods to bring home as gifts.

In addition, the market is also a place to meet, make friends, and exchange relationships for local boys and girls. The girls dressed in colorful brocade costumes, happily laughed and made friends with the boys there. Looking at couples in love with each other, tourists themselves sometimes feel happy for them.

4.3. Experience unique Ha Giang cuisine

Ha Giang cuisine is a famous cuisine with popular, mountainous dishes with unique ingredients and flavors: doi seeds, mac khen, cham cheo,… That’s why when you come to There is nothing better than enjoying the fresh air., you cannot miss the specialty dishes here. Along Dong Van Old Town, there will be many restaurants to serve your culinary enjoyment. Some dishes you should try include: Bac Me bamboo-tube rice, five-color sticky rice, kitchen buffalo meat, thang co,… combined with a little spicy corn wine will stimulate your taste buds. No matter how many human delicacies you have tasted, when you come to Ha Giang, you will feel that the food here is truly delicious and incredibly special.

5. Notes when visiting Dong Van Old Town

You should not climb on ancient houses to avoid damaging them.

• Because this is a public area, you need to protect the environment, maintain general hygiene, do not throw trash indiscriminately, and avoid damaging the aesthetics of Dong Van Old Town.
• You also need to respect the local culture of the people here.
• Be careful when moving, do not go into deep forest areas, it can endanger your life.

……..

Dong Van Old Town is a valuable asset of Ha Giang – a place that preserves the traditional culture of the rocky plateau, where the simple and rustic features of nature and people are still retained. If you have the opportunity to come to Ha Giang, don’t forget to visit Dong Van Old Town once.

Smile Travel is pleased to accompany tourists in Vietnam package tours, Ha Long Bay cruise tours, Team building services, MICE,… with the best quality, prestige and affordable prices. . Don’t hesitate any longer, contact Smile Travel via hotline/ WhatsApp/ Viber: (+84) 941.776.786 for 24/7 consulting support.

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