Bac Me - Beautiful destination but few people know about it

Bac Me district in Ha Giang is a tourist destination that you should try once. When you come here, you will have the opportunity to explore impressive beauty and have unforgettable experiences! - Ha Giang loop tours

Overview of Bac Me

Bac Me is a small district located in the East of Ha Giang province, this place is favored by nature with both poetic and majestic beauty and has great potential to develop into an attractive eco-tourism area. 

Although located in a famous tourist area, Bac Me is not well known because it is quite far away and difficult to get to. But that is why this place has created an irresistible attraction for travel addicts who love to explore new things.

Bac Me has a natural land area of up to 864.28 km2, this is the place where 13 ethnic minorities live such as Tay, Mong, Dzao... Because of the diversity of culture and identity, it has created a special attraction for the rocky plateau land.

How to get to Bac Me

The road to Bac Me Ha Giang is about 60 km long, you will pass through many fields, mountains and forests and listen to the chirping of birds. To get to Bac Me, from Ha Giang town, you go straight up to Dong Van Stone Plateau, then pass Lung Cu Flagpole, to Meo Vac and then continue along the road from Meo Vac to Bac Me.

After visiting Cang Bac Me, you can take a boat trip on the poetic and majestic Gam River and return to Ha Giang city in a circle. This journey promises to bring you extremely interesting and new experiences.

Attractions in Bac Me

Cang Bac Me: Coming to Bac Me, you cannot miss the historical site of Bac Me Camp in Yen Cuong commune, built by the French army before 1939, with the purpose of controlling the entire traffic route connecting the three provinces of Cao Bang, Ha Giang and Tuyen Quang. In French, the word "camp" means barracks, military post. By 1939, the construction of Bac Me Camp was completed, including a system of information houses, prisons, watchtowers, etc.

Not only does Cang Bac Me have a lot of historical significance, but the quiet scenery covered with moss makes the scenery here even more loved by tourists. The ancient and wild beauty is the unique feature of Cang Bac Me that you can only find in Bac Me.

Gam River in Bac Me

Unlike the historical site of Cang Bac Me, Gam River has a gentle, poetic beauty, creating a sense of peace. Between the two sides of the mountains, Gam River appears like a green bow embracing the three provinces of Ha Giang, Cao Bang and Tuyen Quang, all creating a charming landscape.

Gam River still has the characteristic green color of Ha Giang rivers, but is not as dangerous as Nho Que River, Gam River flows gently and smoothly. Therefore, this place has become an ideal place to organize cultural, sports and experiential tourism festivals. From September to April of the following year, the annual flood season, Bac Me often organizes river god worship festivals, rain praying festivals, raft racing festivals... And this is also the ideal time to visit.

Eating in Bac Me

In addition to famous tourist destinations, Bac Me is also a land that preserves many traditional crafts such as brocade weaving, wine making... First of all, we must mention a famous specialty dish in Bac Me, which is Bac Me bamboo rice.

Bamboo rice is made from a delicious, plump, and carefully selected variety of sticky rice. Before being cooked, the rice is soaked several times in water with a little salt. Then it is put into a bamboo tube, covered with banana leaves, and placed on a charcoal stove to cook. 

When the rice is cooked, a fragrant aroma will spread out that will make you want to taste it immediately. The moderate softness of the rice combined with the aroma of bamboo creates a strangely attractive Bac Me sticky rice dish.

Brocade weaving - Traditional culture of Tay people in Bac Me

If you come to Bac Me, don't forget to visit the stilt house of the village chief of Ban Tan, Phu Nam. Here, you will easily see the image of nimble, skillful hands weaving to create high-quality, beautiful brocade items of ethnic people.

The materials used are dyed silk threads and indigo-dyed cotton threads. The process from dyeing to weaving is done entirely by hand without any involvement of technology or machinery. The extremely beautiful brocade fabrics woven are always loved by tourists.

Some useful tips when traveling to Bac Me

- Best time to visit Bac Me is autumn and spring. Because the weather at this time is not too cold, there is little rain and the scenery is very beautiful.

- Hotel services in Bac Me has not really developed, so accommodation here is still quite limited. Therefore, most tourists visit and admire the beauty of Bac Me within just 1 day.

With its unspoiled nature and diverse ethnic culture, Bac Me is definitely an extremely interesting tourist destination that you cannot miss. Get ready to enjoy a trip to explore this beautiful land!

Source: https://hagiangtraveltour.com/news/visit-bac-me-a-remote-and-majestic-land-in-ha-giang.asp

Raise awareness of protecting endemic plants in Halong Bay

On March 14, the Halong Bay Management Board (Quang Ninh) held a ceremony to plant more than 150 precious trees and endemic plants on Hon Co Island, Halong Bay. Overnight cruises in Halong Bay

This activity aims to create landscapes, raise awareness of protecting endemic plants, and respond to the project "Halong - City of Flowers".

At the ceremony, the Halong Bay Management Board received trees, including: 20 Halong cycads, 5 Halong palm trees, 30 cottonwood trees, 30 bamboo trees, 30 Halong galangal roots, 10 ivy trees, 10 wild tamarind trees and other rare orchids and plants...

These trees are planted in gardens next to the port, the boarding and disembarking points, the tourist concentration points, on the mountainside, and the road to visit the cave to cover the vegetation affected by Typhoon Yagi.

These are rare and endemic plants that are of great value to biodiversity on the rocky islands and tourist attractions in the bay. Most of these trees have large canopies that provide shade, beautiful and colorful flowers, contributing to creating green spaces, attractive check-in corners for tourists, increasing the attraction of the destination.

These endemic and rare plants have been successfully researched and propagated by the Halong Bay Management Board through scientific projects to preserve and conserve endemic plants over time. Some other plants are planted in the form of ex situ conservation, because they are often scattered on cliffs, mountain tops and in places with harsh living conditions.

It is expected that the Halong Bay Management Board will continue to plant more than 240 endemic and rare plants in Hon Co by the end of April 2025.

Hon Co is the pilot site for planting endemic and rare plants this year in Halong Bay. According to the plan, Halong Bay Management Board will monitor and learn from experience to deploy more widely in the following years at destinations and rocky islands in this heritage bay, both to enhance environmental protection education and introduce the value of endemic and rare plants to tourists, creating beautiful landscapes for the tourist attraction.

Source: https://cruise-halong-bay.com/news/planting-of-rare-trees-in-halong-bay.asp

Thang Nghiem pagoda, a 1000-year-old heritage in Hanoi

Thang Nghiem Quoc Tu Pagoda is located in Khuc Thuy village, Cu Khe commune, Thanh Oai district, Hanoi city, about 15 km south of the capital city center. The pagoda is located right in Thanh Ha urban area, belonging to the relic complex of Khuc Thuy village - a locality with a strong spiritual and national cultural identity. Hanoi travel

Thang Nghiem pagoda is the place where many famous monks and generals of the Ly and Tran dynasties lived and practiced, such as Khuong Viet National Master, Van Hanh National Master, Hung Dao Dai Vuong... The pagoda has been associated with many national historical stories since its inception.

History of Thang Nghiem Pagoda

According to historical records, Thang Nghiem Pagoda was built during the reign of King Ly Cong Uan. The book Dai Viet Su Ky Toan Thu has a passage: "In the autumn of the 7th month of 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Dai La citadel... Inside the citadel, Hung Thien Pagoda and Ngu Phuong palace were built, and outside the citadel to the south, Thang Nghiem Pagoda was built."

Legend has it that after moving the capital, King Ly Thai To set out to visit the Nhue Giang River and saw an ancient temple hidden in the distance. After worshiping Buddha, the king saw the solemn scenery, the land of flying dragons and dancing phoenixes, so he named it Trang Khuc Thuy, established Moc Ap Thang, so that later he could often visit to worship Buddha and enjoy the scenery. The name Thang Nghiem originated from that.

According to folk legend, the pagoda was built in the year 200 when Shi Xie was the governor of Giao Chau, by two missionaries from India, Venerable Kim Quoc and Venerable Kim Trang, to spread Buddhism.

Thang Nghiem Pagoda has had many different names over the ages such as But Pagoda, Phap Vuong Pagoda, or Ba Chua Hen Pagoda (Dinh Dynasty), Thang Nghiem Pagoda (Ly Dynasty), Tri Long Pagoda, Tri Bong Pagoda (Tran Dynasty), Lien Tri Pagoda (Le Dynasty), Phuc Dong Pagoda (Nguyen Dynasty). Nowadays, local people still commonly call it Khuc Thuy Pagoda because the pagoda is located in Khuc Thuy village.

During the two wars against France and USA, all of the pagoda’s assets and structures were used to save the country. Due to the impact of bombs and bullets, most of the architecture, relics and documents were destroyed or lost.

By 2010, Thang Nghiem Pagoda was rebuilt, spacious and beautiful, with a modern appearance and sophisticated architecture, attracting many visitors to visit, sightsee and worship.

Attractions of Thang Nghiem Pagoda

Thang Nghiem Pagoda is a beautiful, solemn and peaceful esoteric temple that will surely surprise you. The temple is beautifully designed with the main color of yellow, brown and red decorated and carved with extremely sophisticated details.

The Tam Bao of Thang Nghiem Pagoda bears many Buddhist architectures of the Northern Delta of the Ly Dynasty, where Buddha statues representing different religious philosophies are kept. This is an important worship space in Vietnamese pagodas and most Buddhists when coming to the pagoda will burn incense and pray at the Tam Bao shrine.

Surrounding the three jewels are 100 Buddha statues sitting on lotus pedestals, painted in bright yellow, each symbolizing Buddha Shakyamuni bestowing wisdom and virtue.

Behind the Tam Bao, the pagoda built a large hall as a place to preach and propagate Buddhism, attracting hundreds of Buddhist monks and nuns to study and practice, and also a place to hold major ceremonies of the pagoda such as Buddha's Birthday and Vu Lan Festival.

The tomb complex with stone tomb towers and surrounding bronze reincarnation pillars is very delicately carved.

Enjoying the scenery in the Thang Nghiem Pagoda, you will feel comfortable and peaceful with rows of green trees, fragrant lotus ponds and unique Buddhist space. In addition, in the pagoda there is also an ancient well built of laterite, on the body of the well there are ancient Chinese characters.

How to get there

To get to Thang Nghiem Pagoda, you can choose one of the following ways to get there in the most convenient way for you:

+ Bus: You can choose Bus route 85 (Departing from Nghia Do Park - Thanh Ha Urban Area) with a stop at Thanh Ha Urban Area, then walk a few hundred meters to the temple gate. Before going, check the schedule and stops of public transport!

+ Personal transports: To the direction of Ring Road 2, starting from the center of Hanoi, follow the path of Ring Road 2, follow Nguyen Trai Street, Nguyen Xien - Xa La Street, Pham Tu Street and Southern Axis Street to Thanh Ha Urban Area, continue to Thang Nghiem Pagoda in Cu Khe. You can also follow Huu Hoa street to easily reach Thang Nghiem pagoda.

Source: https://hanoitraveltour.com/news/thang-nghiem-pagoda-in-hanoi.htm

Discover the fire dance custom of the Red Dzao People

The fire dancing and "coal bathing" festival, held in February 2025 in the Ban May area at the foot of Fansipan mountain, will recreate the unique cultural and spiritual activities of the Red Dao people. - book train Hanoi to Sapa

Put Tong, which means "coal bath" in Dao language, is one of the most sacred rituals in the ancestor worship of the Red Dao people.

The festival is meant to ward off bad luck, pray for good luck, health, favorable weather and peace in the new year. At the same time, it is also a day to pray for the deceased and for the living.

On this occasion, boys and girls put on colorful traditional costumes and gather to celebrate, creating an energetic and imbued space with national identity.

When visiting Fansipan mountain, visitors will have the opportunity to witness the 11-step ritual, performed by a priest and Red Dao artisans.

Participants dance to the music and praise the gods, expressing their utmost respect for the gods and ancestors. The dances are constantly interwoven and intense, making visitors feel the vibrations in the festival atmosphere.

Another unique experience not to be missed at the Put Tong festival is the "coal bath" ritual of the Red Dao men. The ritual begins when the Shaman performs a ceremony to pray to the gods of heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers to protect the participants.

Then, the fire is lit, when the embers burn fiercely, the young men in the village will join in the dance, jumping on the fire to the urging sound of drums and gongs, creating a powerful and dramatic performance.

This ritual is not only a symbol of purification, but also shows belief in the power of the gods, helping people overcome difficulties and receive peace and luck in the new year. 

This year’s Put Tong Festival is even more special as Sun World Fansipan Legend tourist area invites artisans to May village to recreate a traditional wedding ceremony of the Red Dao people. Visitors will be immersed in the atmosphere of a traditional wedding, enjoying dances and poetic love songs. 

Early spring is also the time for visitors to travel to Fansipan to conquer the peak and admire the complex of 12 tallest spiritual structures in Vietnam.

Clasping hands under the Great Amitabha Buddha Statue, praying for a peaceful new year, or admiring the compassionate Quan Am Bo Tat Statue standing tall among the vast clouds and mountains, or walking on the La Han path, where the shadows of hundreds of years old rhododendron trees create a serene space, visitors will feel the peace and gentleness spreading in their souls.

Source: https://sapatrainticket.com/travel-blog/fire-dancing-festival-of-red-dzao-people-in-sapa/

Quang Ninh to implement programs and events to stimulate tourism

In 2025, Quang Ninh plans to organize more than 150 events from local to international scale, including Ha Long Carnival and Miss Sea Vietnam to attract domestic and foreign tourists, aiming for 20 million visitors this year. Indochina Junk Bai Tu Long bay

According to information from the Department of Tourism of Quang Ninh province , in 2025, the province plans to organize 24 international, national and provincial-level events, along with nearly 150 local-scale programs to attract tourists.

Notable events include the Ha Long Carnival 2025 (taking place from April 30 to May 1), the Miss Vietnam Global Sea Contest 2025 (held in May and June) or the art program "Legend of the Heritage Land" (taking place in the second quarter of the year).

In particular, the international program "Art for Climate Festival - Halong 2025" organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will last from February to June 2025 with 20 large and small activities, spread across many locations in Ha Long City.

Entering the second quarter and early third quarter of 2025, Quang Ninh continues to be bustling with a series of attractive sports and tourism events such as sailing festivals, hot air balloon festivals, kite festivals, OCOP fairs... 

This is also the time that coincides with many major holidays such as Hung Kings' death anniversary, Labour Day April 30 - May 1, National Day September 2 and the peak summer tourist season, promising to stimulate domestic tourism demand to increase sharply. Destinations such as Ha Long bay, Van Don, Co To, Mong Cai are forecast to welcome the largest number of visitors of the year.

Regarding the international market, according to the Department of Tourism of Quang Ninh province, the tourism industry in the area will promote and advertise overseas, sign cooperation agreements with major travel agencies, organize survey programs for the press and international tourism partners. At the same time, the province will also focus on building specialized tourism product packages to increase the attraction for international tourists.

Quang Ninh aims to welcome 20 million visitors in 2025, including 4.5 million international visitors, bringing in revenue of about VND 55,000 billion (2.2 million USD), contributing to promoting the province's economic growth.

Source: https://indochinajunkcruises.com/travel-news/quang-ninh-boosts-tourism-with-over-150-events.htm