The Bac Son Valley of Vietnam is a picturesque landscape region that is highlighted by limestone mountains, flat rice fields and incredibly peaceful rural villages. This valley offers you excellent trekking in one of the most isolated tourist spots in Vietnam.

While Lao Cai Province and Ha Giang Province are famous for their golden rice terraces during the harvest season, Bac Son Valley in Lang Son Province exudes its own beauty through flat rice fields that extend beyond sight. Coming to Bac Son Valley, you can not only admire a ceramic image of mountainous nature but also associate with the unique lifestyle, culture and cuisine of the locals. In recent years, it has become a favourite community tourist destination that fascinates travellers.

1. Overview of the Bac Son Valley

Bac Son Valley is about 160 km North of Hanoi, located in the West of Lang Son Province. It is a plain valley, enveloped by majestic ranges of high limestone mountains and vast rice fields. Dotted throughout this peaceful landscape are stilt houses imbued with the colour of the times of the Tay, Nung and Dao, Vietnam's ethnic minorities who usually reside in the mountainous North-eastern region of the country.

In the past, Bac Son Valley was a resistance base associated with the notable Bac Son Rebellion in 1940. Archaeologists have found remains of prehistoric people dating back thousands of years ago on this land. This adds a reason for your visit to the area. With an area of nearly 700 km2, Bac Son of Lang Son is currently home to 72,000 people.

2. What to see in the Bac Son Valley?

2.1. Tam Canh Pass

Tam Canh Pass is part of the Bac Son Rebellion Relics Site, located in Lan Luong Hamlet, Long Dong Commune, Bac Son District. This majestic slope winding up steep limestone cliffs is considered one of the riskiest roads in Lang Son Province.

Looking back in 1945, right on this pass, Bac Son guerrilla soldiers ambushed and attacked a Japanese army, killed 7 enemies, confiscated several armours, and reduced the Japanese force in the area. Today, at the top of this pass, there is a stele where tourists can rest and learn more about this historic event.

2.2. Quynh Son Community Tourist Cultural Village

Among the main attractions to visit in Bac Son Valley, Quynh Son Village is a must-see site. This community tourist village is famous for its beautiful nature with a limestone mountain range along with several caves, flat rice fields and meandering streams. The typical cultural relic system includes Quynh Son Communal Temple - a long-term construction venerating Quy Minh Dai Vuong, who drove away invaders, maintaining peace for the people on the border; Ra Rieng Bridge where Bac Son militiamen ambush and attach the French troops, contributing to the victory of the Bac Son rebellion (September 27, 1940). Other tourist attractions to visit are karst caves and Yin-Yang seesaw manufacturing workshops.

In the Bac Son Valley in Vietnam, the daily life of the inhabitants takes place under the roof of houses on stilts with the traditional architecture of the Tay people. These rustic buildings cluster together, clearly manifesting community. Tourists enjoy experiences such as eating and living in the space of traditional stilt houses and directly joining in agricultural activities.

Address: Quynh Son Commune, Bac Son District, Lang Son Province

2.3. Dang Mo Waterfall

Because the poetically beautiful Dang Mo Waterfall is located in Binh Gia district, about 20 km from Binh Son Town, it is often integrated into the journey to Bac Son Valley.

From top to bottom, the fall is about a few metres passing over 3 layers of rock. Seen from a distance, it looks like an elegant strip of silk fallen in the middle of the forest. The fall maintains its water source all year round, therefore, you can still see streams of water hitting the rocks, creating pure white foam.

2.4. Na Lay Mountain

With an altitude of over 600m, Na Lay Mountain is not only suitable for tourists to strengthen their health but also high enough to offer you a breath-taking view of the valley.

From the top of Na Lay Mountain, you can spin 360°C to see the green and yellow of fertile rice fields, the blurred fog banks in the early morning, and the magical blue mountains in the distance. In autumn, when Bac Son enters the harvest season, standing here can help you observe an entire valley permeated with a golden carpet dotted with a small gentle stream, such a picturesque landscape that you won't find anywhere else!

2.5. Nong Luc Communal Temple

Among the best cultural and historical sites in Lang Son Province, Nong Luc Communal House is an artistic architectural relic built in the early 20th century with the most typographic architecture. Covering an area of approximately 180m2, the highlight of its structure is the combination of the stilt house of the Tay people and the traditional house of the Northern people. The building was built in 1924 during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) on top of a hill.

Besides architecture, the Nong Luc Communal Temple in Bac Son Valley is also linked with historical stories, particularly the meeting of revolutionary soldiers after escaping from the colonial prison on September 2, 1940, to plan an opportunity to trigger a general uprising against the French colonists. Moreover, it was also linked to the meeting on the evening of September 27, 1940, to form a revolutionary directory. It was an important event marking a new page in the land liberalization process.

Address: Hung Vu Commune, Bac Son District - approximately 90km from the city centre

3. Useful information

3.1. Best time to visit

Bac Son Valley in particular and Lang Son Province in general are characterized by the typical tropical monsoon climate with an annual average temperature of 17oC to 22oC. A year in this area is classified into 4 seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter, of which the winter is severely cold because it is located at the gateway to the Northeast wind. This characteristic results in the fact that the cold begins at the earliest and ends at the latest in the country. The ideal time to visit Bac Son is probably late June and mid-November as they coincide with the harvest period where the views are quite breath-taking.

3.2. Accommodation in Bac Son Valley

+ Duong Cong Chich Homestay

This property is located near the Community Tourism Cultural Village; therefore, it is super convenient for travelling. It has a style that mixes houses on stilts and modern houses. Rooms that are clean and not grouped together. The staff are natives, so they understand the land and know how to help you in necessary situations.

Address: Na Rieng Hamlet 2, Quynh Son Commune, Bac Son District, Lang Son Province
Contact: 097 825 10 55

+ Trong Dung Homestay

Located in the heart of the Bac Son Valley, this establishment is built in the form of a collective house on stilts comprising 8 floors with a capacity of 30 to 40 people, ideal for group travel. In addition, Trong Dung Homestay also offers private rooms, depending on guest demand. The biggest positive point is that from the room you can contemplate the whole view of the valley at dawn and dusk.

Address: Tham Pat hamlet, Quynh Son commune, Bac Son district, Lang Son province
Contact: 097 925 13 25

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