As a locality with beautiful natural landscapes and convenient travel conditions, Lang Son is a famous tourist destination in the Northeast of Vietnam. Besides historical relics, revolutionary relics and traditional festivals, Lang Son is also home to many ethnic communities with many rich and unique customs and practices… attracting many tourists to visit and explore.
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General information about Lang Son
Lang Son is a mountainous border province, bordering Cao Bang, Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Quang Ninh and Sung Ta city, Guangxi, China. Lang Son tourism attracts a large number of visitors because of its many scenic spots, beautiful mountains and rivers, many historical relics and customs imbued with national identity. Bac Son archaeological culture or Mai Pha customs reflect the depth of the long-standing traditions of the Tay and Nung people. Outstanding destinations stretch from Lang Son ward to Bac Son, Huu Lung, Binh Gia, Loc Binh area.
What’s the best time to visit Lang Son?
Lang Son is located in the subtropical climate zone, with distinct summer and winter seasons. The average annual temperature ranges from 17 to 23 degrees Celsius. Each season of the year, Lang Son has its own beauty with special experiences. The rainy season in Lang Son is mainly concentrated in the summer months, from June to August. To avoid raining season, you can choose to travel to Lang Son at the following times:
– Lunar January: This is the festival season in Lang Son, imbued with indigenous culture and traditional beauty. Coming here, you will be immersed in the atmosphere of unique festivals such as Tam Thanh Pagoda Festival, Ky Lua Cannon Festival…
Ky Lua festival in Lang Son.
– August to late November: The golden rice season in Bac Son dyes the entire vast land. Plum blossoms and peach blossoms cover the mountains and forests. Mau Son peak is hazy in the clouds. This is the time when many young people come to take photos and check-in, enjoying the fragrant scent of flowers and ripe rice everywhere.
Golden rice season view in Bac Son, Lang Son
– Winter time: Winter can be cold below 0 degrees Celsius at Mau Son peak, creating a rare snow-covered scene in Vietnam. Therefore, traveling to Lang Son in winter becomes special and attractive to those who love nature and the cold of the North.
How to get there?
By roadway:
The route from Hanoi to Lang Son is convenient. The distance is about 160 km, taking less than 3 hours because most of it is a highway. From the center of Hanoi, visitors go in the direction of Long Bien to Bac Giang highway, continue on CT01 to go straight to Lang Son.
There are many limousine companies going to Lang Son such as Duy Quang, Hoang Ha, Quynh Thanh, Van Ha, with prices ranging from 250,000 VND to 350,000 VND per ticket. The mini-vans cost 120,000 VND to 180,000 VND per ticket. The vans depart from My Dinh, Giap Bat, and Gia Lam stations.
By railroad:
You can choose to go to Lang Son from Hanoi on train number DD5, a distance of 150km by rail with a duration of 4 hours. You can choose to buy tickets depending on the type of seat and compartment with prices ranging from about 140,000 VND/ticket.
Tourists from other provinces, especially from the south and central of Vietnam, should come to Hanoi and travel in the above ways.
Accommodation in Lang Son
Accommodation in this procince is quite diverse, from budget motels to luxury hotels. In the center, visitors can choose 4-5 star hotels such as Sheraton Lang Son or Muong Thanh Luxury, with room rates ranging from 1.2 to 1.4 million VND per night. 3-star hotels include Sojo, Long Vu, Tra Linh, Dong Phuong, A1, Phu Quy with prices ranging from 400,000 VND to 700,000 VND per night. Motels or budget hotels range from 150,000 VND to about 300,000 VND.
A view from Phong Son retreat in Lang Son.
Outside the center, places with many tourist attractions are Bac Son, Binh Gia, Huu Lung, Loc Binh ward. Here, there are motels and homestays recommended by the Provincial Tourism Promotion Center such as Rung Xanh, Yen Nhi, Binh Minh, Thang Lien (Huu Lung); Canh Dong Vang, Thuy Tien, Ban Chang stilt house (Bac Son), Hong Son, Van Quang, Van Tuyen (Binh Gia); Chan May, Cong Doan, Hoa Qua Son, Huong Son, May (in Mau Son, Loc Binh ward).
Tourist attractions in Lang Son
Historical and cultural relics
Chi Lang Defile
Chi Lang Defile is a narrow kidney-shaped valley located between high mountains and Thuong river, in Chi Lang commune. In the past, this area was considered the wall of Thang Long (currently is Hanoi capital) to prevent the Northern expeditions. Chi Lang Defile is 20 km long, connecting Chi Lang and Huu Lung of Lang Son province. The west is surrounded by Cai Kinh mountain, the two ends of the defile are high rocky mountains, creating a dangerous position.
Chi Lang Defile has witnessed numerous, glorious feats of arms by patriotic Vietnamese soldiers fighting for independence. Now, those visiting the Chi Lang Defile enjoy the beauty of mountains and rivers. It is around 114km from Hanoi by National Highway 1A.
Lang Son Citadel
Lang Son Citadel, also known as Doan Thanh (located in Chi Lang Ward). The ancient citadel is rectangular, with 4 gates facing East, West, South, North and 19 guard points. Today, there are only 2 relatively intact gates left, the South and West, along with some sections of the citadel.
The perimeter of the citadel is about 1 km, with all four sides being wide and flat, making it very convenient for launching attacks and rescuing when necessary. This is a prime military location with advantages in both attack and defense. Lang Son Citadel is a historical relic that played an important role in the fight against foreign invaders in Lang Son, and is a solid military architectural work of the scale of the feudal dynasties of Vietnam.
Mac Dynasty Citadel
The Mac Dynasty Citadel in Lang Son Province is a historical and cultural relic in Tam Thanh Ward, Lang Son Province. This is one of the few remaining relics of the Mac Dynasty period (1527–1677) in Vietnamese history. 
The citadel was built based on the natural terrain to guard the only road through Lang Son to China. The remaining traces today include two sections of stone walls built in the middle of a gorge between three high mountains, including To Thi Mountain and Lo Cot Mountain. The average thickness of the citadel is 1m, with many loopholes. The citadel gate was arranged for convenient defense.
Standing from the citadel looking east, you can see the entire center of Lang Son today. The staircase consisting of more than 100 steps was built later for sightseeing purposes. Mac Dynasty Citadel and To Thi Mountain are considered two representative relics of Lang Son province.
Ky Cung Temple
Ky Cung Temple is located on the bank of Ky Cung River, Tran Dang Ninh Street, Dong Kinh Ward, with a long history. Initially, this place was just a small temple worshiping Giao Long – the Water God who ruled the whole region. 
Later, due to historical fluctuations, the temple was rebuilt many times, becoming a beautiful and impressive architectural work. The temple has a Dinh shape, including three arched doors, two square brick pillars and a red tiled roof. Inside the temple, there are many horizontal lacquered boards, parallel sentences, stone steles and bronze worship objects of high cultural value. In addition to Quan Lon Tuan Tranh, the temple also worships Buddha Quan Am Bo Tat and Tam Toa Thanh Mau.
Ky Cung Temple is also related to one of the eight beautiful landscapes of Lang Son, Ky Cung Thach Do. This is a stone wharf located on Ky Cung River, considered a place of exchange between Vietnam and China. According to legend, in the past, envoys traveling between the two countries had to stop at this stone wharf to prepare offerings and offer incense at Ky Cung Temple. Today, the stone wharf has been built into an artistic flower park, attracting many visitors.
Bac Le Temple
The temple is located in Tan Thanh Commune. It is dedicated to the Goddesses of Forest, one of the three goddesses worshipped in the belief of Holy Mother in Vietnam…The gods provided boundless wealth from the 
mountains and forests to humans, and became symbols of eternal life.
The temple lies on a high hill and under the foliage of old trees. The main part of the temple includes front and back halls. On the roof of the front hall is a statue of two dragons flaking a moon, which symbolizes heaven and earth and multiplication of all living beings. Ceremonial hall consists of six rooms. In the main room, there stand the altar of the three goddesses in the center, and the altars of General Tran Hung Dao and Son Trang on the two sides. Other rooms are dedicated to Jade Emperor, Hoang Muoi and Hoang Bay. The temple was restored twice in 1922 and 1933. It attracts a large number of pilgrims every year.
Dong Dang Mother Goddess Temple
Dong Dang Mother Goddess Temple is one of the famous places of worship, located in the center of Dong Dang town, with special value in architecture, religious beliefs and history. 
The temple currently has a majestic architecture with 5 worship areas, built in a solid 2-storey architecture, the back leaning against the foot of the rocky mountain, the front facing the center of Dong Dang town. Inside the temple, there are still many precious ancient relics such as the Ma Nhai stone stele, the carved stone inkstone from the Gia Long Dynasty (1809), parallel sentences, etc.
On the 10th of January every year, there is the Long Tong festival at the Mother Temple with games such as lion dances and traditional martial arts.
Tien Pagoda
Tien Pagoda is an ancient and sacred pagoda, located in the heart of Dai Tuong Mountain in Luong Van Tri Ward, built during the Le Trung Hung period (1533–1789). 
The pagoda is chosen by many people as a unique tourist destination and is located in the eight landscapes of Lang.
Tien Pagoda has a unique architecture, the outer part is the Tam Bao palace to worship Buddha, the inner part is the palace to worship Mother Goddess and Saint Tran. Tien Pagoda also preserves many ancient steles, ancient statues and folk tales. The most prominent is the story of Tien Well, a small well behind Voi Mountain, with clear water flowing all year round.
Tien Pagoda Relic is not only an attractive tourist destination in Lang Son but also a quintessential cultural heritage of Lang. Every year, on the 18th day of the first lunar month, Tien Pagoda opens a festival to welcome thousands of tourists and Buddhists to visit and pray. Tien Pagoda Festival is a traditional cultural event of the people of Lang, imbued with national identity and spirituality.
Scenic spots
Tam Thanh Pagoda – Tam Thanh Cave
Located in Lang Son ward, Tam Thanh cave belongs to the Nhi – Tam Thanh – To Thi Mountain – Mac Dynasty Citadel relic complex. This is a famous historical, cultural and scenic relic of Lang. Tam Thanh cave has layers of stalactites with diverse and vivid shapes such as Ngo Dong tree, Tien Ong tree with high, airy dome. The door of Tam Thanh Cave is approximately 8m high, opening to a corridor of 30 stone steps shaped into the mountain. 
There are dense groves hiding the cave from the sun. Deeper in the cave is Am Ty lake, where visitors can admire the natural beauty of the clear, never-dry lake.
In the cave is Tam Thanh pagoda (Thanh Thien pagoda). This is an old pagoda, formerly a place of worship of Taoism, worshiping Tam Thanh (Ngoc Thanh, Thuong Thanh, Thai Thanh), so it is called Tam (means Three) Thanh pagoda. Later, due to the influence of many factors, Taoism faded in the consciousness of local people, people brought elements of worship of Buddhism and Saints into the relic. Every year on holidays, the pagoda welcomes a large number of visitors from all over to visit and pray for luck.
Mau Son Mountain
Mau Son Mountain is around 30 km northeast of Lang Son ward, along Highway 4B. Since the 1930s, along with Da Lat, Sa Pa, Ba Na, Tam Dao, the French have surveyed, researched and chosen Mau Son as the place to build luxurious villas for French officials to relax. 
Located at an altitude of 1,200 m – 1,541 m above sea level, the climate here has many characteristics of the tropical and temperate zones, so the summer is cool and the winter is cold. In particular, Mau Son peak is one of two peaks in the North where snow often falls in winter.
Coming to Mau Son, visitors can trek through the primeval forest to see ancient rhododendron flowers; go to Linh Dia Mau Son area, where there are many vestiges of a religious center that once existed and developed; enjoy unique cultural features; taste the specialties of Mau Son mountain forest.
The delicious peaches and pears grown in this area are reowned throught the country. Scattered on the slopes are Dao ethnic hamlets where traditional lifestyle continues to exits.
Nhi Thanh Grotto
Nhi Thanh is one of the most beautiful grottos in Lang Son Province. It is located in Nhi Thanh Street, approximately 1km from the ward center.
Nhi Thanh Grotto is 600 meters deep. On the cliffs at the entrance are 20 inscriptions that are precious historical and literary documents, including autographs of famous scholars. The statue of scholar Ngo Thi Sy on the cliff engraved in 1779 is a precious work of art. The grotto has numerous stalactites and stalagmites in different shapes.
Above the grotto is Tam Giao Pagoda which was built in 1779. The pagoda is dedicated to Confucian, Buddha and Lao Tzu. Tam Giao Pagoda and Nhi Thanh Grotto is one of the eight sites that attract a large number of visitors in Lang Son.
Gio Grotto
Gio (Wind) Grotto is located in Sao Thuong B village, Nhan Ly commune, 4km northwest of the old National Highway 1A, 34km southwest of Lang Son city. The Gio Grotto scenic relic site covers a large area, with many rocky mountains and natural caves belonging to the Bo Nhan mountain range. 
The Grotto is located halfway up a steep limestone cliff, with a flat, easy-to-walk stone floor, hundreds of meters long, 50-70m wide, up to 30-50m high in some places, about 2500m2 wide, with convenient paths, divided into 3 floors, the length of all 3 floors is about 1500m, the entrance on the first floor opens from East to West, the remaining floors open to the North.
The high grotto ceiling, hanging stalactites create many beautiful shapes such as: curtains, flowing water, animals such as elephants, sedges, storks, Buddha statues, stone bells, terraced fields like a vivid natural picture when the light is shined on, creating a vivid and magical image. Gio Grotto has great value in terms of landscape, culture and tourism. Visitors coming here can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery but also learn about the natural environment, the changes and tectonics of the caster cave… When visiting the Gio Grotto scenic area, visitors can visit other surrounding grottos such as: San Khau, Sang, Thien Dinh, Doi, Thuy Tien Cave…
Explore popular experiences
Trekking on Phia Po Peak
Cha Mountain (Phia Po) is located in Mau Son Commune, with an altitude of 1,541 m above sea level, and is considered the “Roof of Lang”. From Lang Son ward, visitors follow National Highway 4B to Loc Binh ward, continue for about 6 km and there will be an inter-village road 
leading to the foot of the mountain. Cha Mountain is characterized by wide green grass slopes in the summer. In winter, the grass carpets gradually turn yellow. This is a place with fresh air and beautiful natural scenery, rich and pristine flora, and the most diverse primeval forests in the North.
The journey to conquer Phia Po is usually divided into 2 stages. The first day is trekking 3.5 km from the foot of the mountain to the campsite, setting up tents, eating and resting overnight. The second day continues to move to the highest peak with a similar length. The total trekking distance for two days is about 14 km.
Local markets
One of the tourist attractions in Lang Son that many tourists love is the market. Lang Son is famous for Dong Kinh, Ky Lua, Dong Dang markets and Tan Thanh border market. These markets have been open for hundreds of years as a trading centre for local and visitors from foreign lands. It is a point of cultural convergence for many ethnic minority groups.
These are a commercial complex – supermarket with hundreds of stalls selling all kinds of goods. You can find a series of products of all kinds, quality and affordable prices. Just walking around the market, you may spend all the money you bring. One thing to note, be bold to bargain, you will buy your favorite items at a bargain price.
Specialty of Lang Son
Roasted pork – roasted duck
Roasted pork and duck with mac mat – a local leave type of Clausena indica, are a specialty dish that bears the mark of Lang Son. The taste of the dish, in addition to the delicious meat, also lies in the flavor of mac mat leaves. This is a type of tree that produces 
fragrant leaves and fruits, with a strange aroma, often used in dishes of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups.
After being seasoned, mac mat leaves are stuffed into the belly of the cleaned pig and duck, sewn tightly, let them absorb the spices and then roasted. The quality of the roasted meat depends on the chef, who spreads honey mixed with warm water evenly on the pig while roasting. Honey not only helps to keep the skin of the pig and duck from cracking, but also gives the skin a shiny, golden color and makes it crispy. The dish is qualified when the meat is not loose, but is soft and chewy. Local people mix a special dipping sauce that is amber in color and thick for roasted pork and duck. From roasted duck, visitors to Lang Son can enjoy duck pho.
Sour Pho
Lang Son Sour Pho is usually served in a large plate, with noodles at the bottom, followed by char siu, cucumber, roasted peanuts, fried sweet potatoes, and dried onions. 
Sour Pho has a full range of sour, spicy, salty, and sweet flavors. The most important ingredient in the sauce is vinegar and sugar, mixed with fragrant fried onions and garlic, fish sauce, and ginger.
Lang Son Sour Pho is cold, suitable for enjoying on hot days. But you can still eat sour Pho in the winter when the sauce and noodles are heated up. Depending on your preference, when eating sour Pho, you can add a few slices of fresh chili, squeeze a lemon, or sprinkle a little pepper for a light, non-greasy flavor.
Khau nhuc
Khau nhuc, also known as Nam khau, originated from China and was introduced to Vietnam by the Tay and Nung ethnic groups. This is a dish used during holidays, weddings, and is elaborately prepared. The main ingredients of the dish include pork belly, taro, and a mixture of spices including onions, garlic, ginger, minced basil, sugar, pepper, oyster sauce, five-spice powder, a little white wine and tau soi leaves – a salty pickled vegetable of the Tay and Nung people, chopped. Through many stages such as boiling, roasting (frying) and then steaming. Khau nhuc is served with rice, bread and vegetables for breakfast or main meals. The meat is tender, soaked in the flavor of taro and spices, the skin is slightly sweet, the fat is rich but not greasy.
Source: collected by An
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