Many tourists visit Lung Cu solely to check in at the flagpole, but this place offers many other interesting experiences.
Le Thu Hang, over 30 years old, has traveled to all 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam and over 10 countries. A reader from Hanoi, having spent nearly a month in Ha Giang, shares five experiences that she considers the most valuable in this northernmost region of the country.
1/ Capture Photos at Famous Check-in Points
Lung Cu boasts two must-visit iconic locations representing ethnic pride: the Lung Cu flagpole and the northernmost point. In August 2018, the Dong Van District People’s Committee inaugurated the “northernmost point of the Fatherland,” consisting of an observation deck and several supporting facilities. It is located in the Tò Mông area, Cẳng Tằng hamlet, Lung Cu commune, approximately 2.5 km from the Lung Cu flagpole as the crow flies. This led to confusion as many people mistakenly thought it was the northernmost point.
In reality, the northernmost point of Vietnam is a rocky promontory protruding into the Nho Que River, within the boundaries of Séo Lủng hamlet, Lung Cu commune. The actual distance from the Lung Cu flagpole to the northernmost point is 3.3 km as the crow flies, according to the Hà Giang newspaper.
Flagpole in Lung Cu
Considering the geographical and historical significance, the Lung Cu flagpole and the northernmost point are rightfully called the auspicious feng shui landmarks in Ha Giang—a destination that no traveler should miss when exploring the northernmost region of the country.
Additionally, you can create a photo set in the cultural village of Lô Lô Chải at the foot of Rong Mountain, about 1 km from the Lung Cu flagpole. Strolling through the village, you’ll experience the ancient architecture amidst rocky terrains shaped like cat ears.
If you have extra time, hike to enjoy the panoramic view of Lũng Cú Pagoda, located in an area known as the “gate of the sky,” about 1.5 km from the town center. This high mountain peak offers a broad perspective, allowing you to capture the vast mountainous forest landscape. The ideal times for this are during the ripe rice season or the buckwheat flower season (October, November).
2/ Visit Lung Cu Market
Every Friday, there is a market near the flagpole area. This is where the Lô Lô and Mông people exchange goods.
Lung Cu market on the first day of winter
The market offers various unique items, especially medicinal herbs, stalls with colorful fabrics, and vibrant clothing. The fabrics used for clothing are adorned with meticulous hand-embroidered patterns. The market also sells various foods such as baked rice cakes, sweet potato cakes, fried cakes, and buns. These dishes, similar to others in the region, are softer and more fragrant. Prices range from 2,000 to 10,000 VND for each dish.
3/ Participate in Lô Lô Festivals and Weddings
The Lô Lô people celebrate various traditional festivals, including ancestor worship, new rice celebration, and forest deity worship.
Ancestor worship is the most important and grand traditional ritual of the black Lô Lô community, held annually on the 25th of the 7th lunar month. On this day, people invite priests to perform rituals to express gratitude to their ancestors. They wear their most beautiful ethnic costumes, participate in sports competitions, and engage in cultural exchanges with traditional dances and songs that carry the ethnic identity. The locals are very friendly, and tourists can participate in the festival, film, and take photos without disturbing the hosts.
4/ Visit Trình Tường Houses
Trình Tường houses of the Lô Lô people are unique architectural structures in Lung Cu. The courtyard of these houses extensively uses stones for paving the ground, building fences, and supporting structures. Trình Tường houses are warm in winter and cool in summer. Many homestays in Lô Lô Chải still maintain this architecture. Tourists can spend a night here, waking up early in the cool, quiet atmosphere with the sound of singing birds.
Check in at the Trinh Tuong Lolo ethnic group’s homestay
5/ Enjoy Lung Cu Specialties
Lung Cu offers unique dishes such as dau chua (sour bean soup), men men (cornmeal), and stone cakes. Dau chua is a condensed bean soup cooked with vegetables. The finished dish is a soup bowl with soft and sweet sour beans resembling tofu pudding. It’s a refreshing, aromatic, and nutritious dish.
Enjoying specialty floating cake at this place
Men men is a cornmeal dish prepared with a unique recipe and is the daily staple of the Mông people. Try eating men men with broth to experience its unique flavor. This dish also allows tourists to understand the hardship of local people living in dry conditions, where corn is the primary crop.
The third dish is stone cake, made from glutinous rice dough, molded into cakes, and can be sliced. The cake can be fried, used in soups, or cooked in hot pot dishes. To enjoy these specialties, you can visit local eateries (with prior notice), buy from street vendors, or explore the local market.
