Dong Van Ancient Town

Travel Dong Van ancient town – Not only is it famous for its fields of bright pink buckwheat flowers covering the rocky plateau, dangerous but extremely impressive mountain passes, and calm, flowing emerald green rivers. Ha Giang also has another point. With a history of formation and development in architecture and culture of up to hundreds of years – Dong Van ancient town.

It is one of the most famous landmarks in Ha Giang and is popular with many tourists when coming to Dong Van. Located on a wild and rustic land, Dong Van old town is one of the highlights that attracts the curiosity of many tourists. Let’s explore with Origin Vietnam what is so attractive about Dong Van ancient town.

1. Where Is Dong Van Ancient Town?

Formed from the early 20th century until now, Dong Van ancient town is located in Dong Van town, Dong Van district, Ha Giang province, Vietnam. About 150 km northeast of Ha Giang city and about 450 km north of Hanoi

2. How Is Dong Van Ancient Town Unique?

Dong Van ancient town is located at an altitude of 1,000 – 1,600 m above sea level. This place is very hidden, all four sides are covered by high mountains. That’s why the air is also extremely fresh and cool.

In the early 20th century, this neighborhood was home to a number of Tay, H’Mong and Hoa families. After that, it gradually became more vibrant and bustling thanks to the Nung and Dao ethnic groups migrating here to live. After many years of development and change in Ha Giang, in order to stimulate tourism, this neighborhood still retains its ancient, impressive simplicity.

The houses in Dong Van ancient town are hundreds of years old, built with nearly the same architectural style. Most are two-story houses with yin-yang tiled roofs. The overall Dong Van ancient town is a harmonious combination of Vietnamese culture and Chinese architecture.

During their trip to Ha Giang, many tourists still choose Dong Van Ancient Town as a discovery destination that should not be missed to find peace in a busy life. It is no exaggeration to say that Dong Van old town is an extremely special highlight in this wild and majestic rocky mountain space.

3. When Is The Best Time To Visit Dong Van Ancient Town?

The climate in Dong Van ancient town is cool and pleasant all year round, so visitors can travel here at any time of the year. In winter, this place will be a bit chilly, but experiencing winter in Dong Van old town is also very interesting.

In addition, you can also choose to go to Dong Van ancient town from early October to November, this is the buckwheat flower season in Ha Giang. You will both explore Dong Van ancient town and admire the scent of brilliant flower fields.
However, the most beautiful tour to Ha Giang will be during the ripe rice season in September or the Khau Vai love market festival season around March and April of the lunar calendar. Therefore, you can consider coming to Ha Giang at a suitable time and combining visiting Dong Van ancient town.

4. How To Get To Dong Van Ancient Town?

For tourists in the northern provinces of Vietnam, traveling to Dong Van ancient town is quite easy because there are many passenger buses or you can travel by motorbike to get here.

For tourists from provinces in Central and Southern Vietnam, the optimal option is to travel by plane. After arriving in Hanoi, you continue to travel to Dong Van ancient town by road.

Once you arrive in Hanoi, you can catch a bus to Ha Giang from the capital’s major bus stations such as My Dinh, Giap Bat, Gia Lam. From Ha Giang City, there are two popular options for tourists: renting a motorbike or taking an intra-province bus to get to Dong Van ancient town.

Note: After arriving in Ha Giang, you will also travel another 150 km to reach Dong Van ancient town. The road is quite dangerous because the pass has many cliffs, so if you come here by motorbike, you should also pay attention to the return time. Absolutely avoid running at night to keep yourself and others safe.

5. Activities And Experiences In Dong Van Ancient Town

5.1 Admiring Dong Van Ancient Town

Dong Van Ancient Town is not too large, you can spend a morning walking around the streets admiring the ancient houses. The oldest house here was built in 1860 by Mr. Luong Huy Ngo.

Some houses in Dong Van ancient town are also decorated with lanterns in front of the door. When walking here, you can also chat with extremely friendly people to understand more about their lives. If you want to go inside to visit, you need to ask the owner’s permission first.

The special feature of this old town is that each time of day has its own, delicate and different beauty. If you go for a walk in the morning, the old town is beautiful and gentle with the colors of sunlight in a magical quiet space, bringing fresh, pleasant air in the high mountains, then in the afternoon, when the sunset falls. This place is beautiful, gentle and romantic under the sunset, bringing a bit of sadness. The evening is the time when Dong Van ancient town is most brilliant thanks to the prominent red lanterns that illuminate the entire yard.

5.2 Visiting The Market In Dong Van Ancient Town

The market was built with 3 rows of houses forming a U shape right in the central area of Dong Van ancient town. This is where people of all ethnic groups buy, sell and exchange goods. In addition, Dong Van ancient market is also the place where indigenous boys and girls come to meet and get married.

When you come to the market in Dong Van ancient town, you will see many indigenous people in extremely beautiful colorful costumes. You can also find souvenirs, especially handicrafts. In addition, there are also spices and ingredients of Ha Giang specialties that can also be easily purchased at this market.

5.3 Exploring Dong Van Ancient Town Cafe

If you have visited Dong Van ancient town, don’t miss the opportunity to “date” at the Old Quarter cafe. As one of the few old houses that still retain their ancient beauty in Dong Van ancient town, “Old Quarter Coffee” is like a destination that invites tourists, even more true to its function as a coffee shop.

This was originally the home of a Tay landowner of the Luong family, who was very influential in the Dong Van area in the past. This nearly hundred year old house has also gone through many ups and downs along with the old town, and fortunately is still preserved almost intact.

The scale of the Old Quarter coffee shop is quite large with a spacious frontage and an interior courtyard. Most visitors coming here are attracted by its very nostalgic beauty, easily reminding people of ancient memories. If anyone visits this cafe once, they will definitely be fascinated and remember it forever.

Ancient Town Coffee Shop is just a few minutes’ walk from the rows of ancient houses. On the first floor are very natural bamboo tables and chairs. Above the 2nd floor is a place for visitors to have quiet time so they can fully view the beauty of the old town. The only source of light in the shop is red lanterns, making the space even more sparkling and magical.

5.4 Dong Van Market

Experience local culture by exploring Dong Van Market. This is the place to buy and sell goods and agricultural products of ethnic minority communities. You can explore crafts, traditional costumes or local dishes. This is where you can learn about the lives of the people here.

6. Specialties When Traveling To Dong Van Ancient Town

Northeast Vietnamese cuisine has long been a famous cuisine not only in northern localities but also throughout the country. Therefore, if you have the opportunity to visit Dong Van ancient town, don’t forget to experience this cuisine.

Roadside shops have all kinds of Ha Giang specialties for you to enjoy. They are sold a lot at local markets and you can buy them as gifts for friends and relatives. Especially on weekends or festival seasons, there will be many other typical delicacies such as corn wine, Thang Co, Dong Van rice rolls, Au Tau porridge, five-color sticky rice, Bac Me bamboo-tube rice, buffalo meat. smoked,…Surely, you will have unforgettable culinary experiences when coming to Dong Van ancient town.

7. Accommodation When Traveling To Dong Van Ancient Town

When traveling to Dong Van ancient town, visitors can refer to some of the accommodation facilities below:

7.1 Hotels:

Hoang Van Hotel. Address: Group 2, Dong Van Town, Dong Van, Ha Giang
Lam Tung Hotel. Address: Group 3, Dong Van Town, Dong Van, Ha Giang
Hoang Ngoc Hotel. Address: Highway 4C, Dong Van town, Ha Giang.
Thien Huong Hotel. Address: House number 23, 3/2 Street, Dong Van Town, Dong Van, Ha Giang.
Ma Pi Leng Hotel. Address: 35 Group 7 Dong Van Town, Dong Van, Ha Giang

7.2 Guesthouses:

Huyen Tram Guesthouse. Address: Dong Van Town, Dong Van, Ha Giang.
Dong Van B&B Guesthouse. Address: Lane 2, 19/5 Street, Dong Van Town, Dong Van, Ha Giang.
Ly Hoan Guesthouse. Address: Group 3, Dong Van Town, Dong Van, Ha Giang.
Binh Minh Guesthouse. Address: Group 2, Dong Van Town, Dong Van, Ha Giang.
Old Quarter Guesthouse. Address: No. 29 Group 3, Dong Van Town, Dong Van, Ha Giang.

7.3 Homestays:

Mrs. Phien Homestay. Address: Dong Van Town, Dong Van, Ha Giang.
Ms Loan Homestay. Address: Dong Van Town, Dong Van, Ha Giang.
Homestay Tuyen Ha. Address: Group 1, Dong Van Town, Dong Van, Ha Giang.
Trieu Nghi Homestay. Address: Group 4, Dong Van Town, Dong Van, Ha Giang.
Mr. Kin Homestay. Address: 29 Old Quarter, Dong Van Town, Dong Van, Ha Giang.

Dong Van Ancient Town also has many interesting things waiting for you to explore. Only when you arrive can you fully appreciate the beautiful natural scenery, friendly local people, unique culture and cuisine here.