Top 10 interesting things should do and visit in Bac Ha

Just about 70 kilometers from the capital of Lao Cai and 300 kilometers from Hanoi, Bac Ha District becomes an attractive tourist destination for its gorgeous natural landscapes and historical landmarks. The name “Bac Ha” deprives from the Tay ethnic language, “Pac Ha”, meaning "a hundred thatch boots". Under the French colonial era, this area was called “Pakha” and now officially pronounced “Bac Ha” by Vietnamese people. Bac Ha is referred as a ‘White Alley’, reflecting immense peaceful valleys of plum blossoms over the hills, which creates romantic scenery in each spring.

Apart from majestic mountains, poetic rivers and caves, and tranquil atmosphere granted by the Mother Nature, Bac Ha is known as unique ethnic cultures, hospitable people, and delicious local specialties. The land is a home of H’Mong people and some other ethnic minorities such as Tay, Dzao, Nung, Lo Lo, Phula and La Chi. Those who love natural landscapes and unique ethnic cultural beauty, Bac Ha is the must-visit destination. The followings are top 10 things should to do and visit when reaching Bac Ha.

1. Bac Ha ethnic markets

Bac Ha Sunday Market is the largest market in Bac Ha District and remains the original features of the Northwestern mountainous provinces. Every Sunday morning, ethnic groups such as Black Dao, Tay, Nung, LaChi, Phu La, Hmongs in their traditional multi-colored costumes flock here, carry their items to exchange, trade local products and souvenirs such as jewelry, scarves, and wood carvings. The market has four halls, displaying all products of the highland, including household items, agricultural products, brocades, animals and foods. At the market, visitors also taste many rustic specialties such as colored sticky rice, corn cake, sticky rice cake. Tourists will be certainly stunned at jewelry and brocade dresses hand-woven by ethnic minorities with vivid patterns and designs. Coming to Bac Ha ethnic markets, tourist can immerse themselves in peaceful life here and understand the cultural values of the locals.

2. Dong Tien or Bac Ha Fairy Cave

Flowing on the boat on Chay River, tourists will be certainly charmed by the primitive forests, multi-shaped steep cliffs, towering trees and babbling streams along the riverbank, leading to the Fairy Cave. With the capacity of hundred visitors, Bac Ha Fairy Cave is formed by different levels constituting a fascinating rampart of rocks, like a magnificent maze favored by the Mother Nature. Inside the cave, there are giant stalactites like sparkling ancient towers combined with cool water streams to create a magnificent scene, and an airy space. According to a legend, it is believed that the fairies often wandered here because of its bewitchingly charming beauty of the cave. For the romantic scenery of the fairyland, a trip to Bac Ha Fairy Cave is highly recommended to witness the natural beauty with the own eyes.

3. Bac Ha flower valley

Just about 2 kilometers from the central Bac Ha, Bac Ha flower valley, or Giang Thai Pho flower valley, is an ideal destination for tourists to get lost in the bewitching world of scents and to immerse in the colorful flower garden. The carpet of red, pink, and yellow flowers stretches out, making anyone coming here feel extremely amazed, fantastic and excited. For flower lovers, Valley of Flowers Thai Giang Pho offers a daydreaming and poetic garden to contemplate all types of local and exotic flowers, even cross the immense lavender fields for the unforgettable fragrance. A trip to the flower valet will make tourists captivated, rest more comfortably and capture stunning photos of flowers.

4. Corn wine in Ban Pho Village

Situated at the highest point of Bac Ha District, Ban Pho Village is a home of the majority of the H’Mong. Ban Pho has long been famous for its traditional corn wine making since the main crop grown here is maize.  In Bac Ha, many regions cook corn wine, but Ban Pho corn wine is still the most delicious and famous because the local use the source of fresh water flowing from the cave; especially, the wine is cooked from yeast of Hong Mi tree, and traditional cooking, not filtered by modern machine. By using the traditional Hmong method of making corn wine, corn alcohol here brings taste of spicy, mixed with the gentle aroma distilled from the most quintessential flavor of yeast, which makes tourist feel the taste of mountains in Bac Ha. It can be said that among the variety of drinks, Ban Pho corn wine still preserves its original flavor and develops in the culinary culture, which is as a proof for cultural identity of the Mong ethnic people.

5. Hoang A Tuong Palace

Constructed from 1914 to 1921, Hoang A Tuong Palace was designed by the unique Asian-European architectural style. On the top of the White Plateau, the most powerful building attached to a tumultuous history, full of enchantment and mystery. With the total area of more than 4,000 square meters, this is the mansion of a father and son named Hoang Yen Chao and Hoang A Tuong, belonging to the wealthy upper class, exploited the lower class by dominating fertile lands and monopolizing the trade of salt and foods. Surrounded by gorgeous mountains and the peaceful hill, Hoang A Tuong Palace opens a picturesque view of majestic high mountains in the lush countryside. This destination will bring a memorable trip to visitors to contemplate sophisticated architectural design and picturesque landscapes.

6. Trung Do community tourism village

Another attractive destination in Bac Ha is Trung Do Village, which is characterized by the unique architecture of the stilt houses of the Tay people. In the Trung Do village, Trung Do temple has been recognized as a national relic. Coming here, visitors will be stunned by the charming natural scenery, poetic space and the cultural beauty of the Tay ethnic community through traditional songs, dances and rituals. Especially, tourists can participated in festivals of the ethnic communities and immerse themselves in cultural and traditional values of the village, which will make the experience remarkably memorable.

7. Taking cruise on Chay river

Chay River stretches along the winding terrain of the mountains, with vertical cliffs along the riverbank, which is an ideal place for visitors to explore the beauty of the highland. Flowing along the river, tourist can contemplate the panoramic view of the magnificent mountains, steep cliffs, charming landscapes and temples in the both sides of Chay River. Cruise on the river will bring tourist the feeling of the adventure, crossing Trung Do Temple, Fairy Cave, and ethnic minorities’ market. The gentle flow under and primeval forests above makes the landscape more majestic.

8. Trekking around ethnic villages in Bac Ha

If those who are adventurous, trekking around ethnic villages in Bac Ha is an ideal option to explore this tranquil area. Through winding and long roads, tourists will be rewarded with magnificent sceneries of gorgeous mountains, high cliffs and imposing alleys dotted with small ethnic houses and emerald rice fields. Tourists have chances to trek the mountains, walked to ethnic villages visit vegetable farms and houses of the local, talk to the friendly local and understand their cultural features in daily life. Trekking around ethnic villages will be an amazing experience for visitors to immerse in the local life and enjoy the peaceful natural beauty.

9. Overnight at the Mong ethnic group’s house  

Instead of choosing luxurious hotel or homestay, spending a night at the house of the Mong ethnic group is a wonderful but memorable experience for tourists. It is an occasion for tourists know the unique architecture design because houses of the local are strongly impacted by their living conditions and the harsh terrain and weather. Staying here, visitors can experience the daily lives of the local, have fun with the Mong group, understand about their cultural beauty and taste local dishes local dishes and specialties, such as Bac Ha’s corn wine, or Black Chung Cake. All of these will certainly bring tourists remarkably fantastic trip.

10. “Thang co” Bac Ha

“Thang Co”, lasting more than two hundred years, is the special food of Hmong people and other ethnic minorities in the Northwest highland. The dish is cooked from many different types of meat, such as beef, pork meat, and buffalo meat, but mainly horse meat. Horse meat is marinated with 12 different traditional spices, such as cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, and salt; then fried and cooked in a large pan. The meat is simmered for hours, creating a sweet and attractive aroma. Besides the tasty flavor of the meat, the broth is also a particular characteristic of this food. In the cold weather, nothing is more perfect than tasting a bowl of Thang Co with a cup of corn wine of the Mong people, and chatting with the local.