#lang son

[stochasticplanet]

21.848458°N, 106.741771°E Lạng Sơn, Lạng Sơn province, Vietnam photo by Tùng Anh

[vietnamadvisor]

Escape the world in the isolated village of Lan Dat

Ethnic Travel - Located about 10km from the center of Huu Lien commune (Huu Lung district), Lan Dat village has been one of the ideal tourist destinations in Lang Son in recent years thanks to its green and pristine natural scenery.

This is a small village of the Dzao people, located next to the Dong Lam grassland but almost completely isolated from the outside world, separated by jagged, rocky mountains covered in clouds all year round.

The only road into the village has to cross a high mountain with many sharp, steep cliffs, along the rugged mountainside, with continuous bends.

Although the road is difficult and it is impossible to get to the village by any means, visitors coming here are compensated by the fresh, quiet space, without the sound of vehicles, dust, or noise.

Depending on the physical strength and speed of each tourist, the time to cross the forest and mountains to reach Lan Dat can take from 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Having the opportunity to visit Lan Dat village in March, Ngo Yen (born in 1996, in Bac Ninh province and her friends were surprised by the wild and strangely beautiful natural scenery.

“There is no phone signal or electricity here, but the air is fresh and very cool. There are many buffaloes and horses grazing around the village, creating a feeling of closeness and familiarity like many other countrysides in Vietnam,” the young girl said.

Yen and her group of friends rode motorbikes 70km from Bac Ninh to Dong Lam grassland and then walked to Lan Dat village. They left at 8:30 and returned home at 7:00 p.m.

From Dong Lam grassland, Yen and her group of friends moved along a small trail leading to Lan Dat village. There was a very steep section of the road with many jagged rocks that made the young girl's feet hurt a bit.

After about 30 minutes of traveling, the group arrived. They stopped to rest at a local's house and then took the opportunity to walk around and explore the scenery.

“Our group was lucky to have Phung, a local, to help with directions, so we were able to shorten our travel time,” Yen added.

At Lan Dat village, in addition to enjoying the peaceful, green landscape, Yen also had the opportunity to have lunch with the locals, enjoying some special local dishes such as bee pupae, grilled chicken, smoked meat…

“I was so happy to eat and socialize with everyone in Lan Dat village that I didn't even want to go home.

In the upcoming rice harvest season, I plan to return here to admire a very different beauty of the village," the female tourist humorously said.

Yen noted that if tourists plan to go to Lan Dat village, they should prepare necessary food and drinks because there are no tourism services here, only nearly 10 households living by farming and raising livestock.

In addition, during the time here, visitors need to preserve the landscape and environment, and not litter.

If you have the opportunity to visit Huu Lung district, in addition to Lan Dat village, visitors can combine to explore some other interesting places in the locality such as: Khe Dau waterfall, Bac Son valley, Ma mine, Lan Van dam, Huu Lien commune community eco-village…

Visitors should also not forget to enjoy some typical dishes imbued with local cultural identity such as roasted pork with mac mat leaves, roasted duck, sour Pho, crispy fried stream fish, and Huu Lung grilled spring rolls.

Source: https://ethnictravelvietnam.com/Travel-News/a-day-at-the-remote-village-of-lam-dat/

[nate-bikes-europe]

Heading out

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Top of Lang Son peak

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Lang Son

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Got to the hotel and not exactly delighted right now

Total distance: 315km

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Last push

[indochina1]

Imperial Japanese Soldiers Advance on Lang Son, September 1940. Source: Wikipedia

In September 1940, Imperial Japan, frustrated by the colonial administration’s inability to close the Tonkinese border and inhibit supplies reaching Republican China, invaded northern Indochina, taking Lang Son and encircling Haiphong. After four days of fighting, an accord was reached between Japan and Vichy France that allowed the Japanese to occupy Tonkin, to take control of the Kunming-Haiphong railway, and to station 6,000 troops in the territory. The French colonial government was however left intact.