Dong Van ancient town is a delightful place with gorgeous residences and vibrant markets. It is located approximately 160 kilometers away from Ha Giang City. The town is worth staying in for at least one or two nights, and it serves as an excellent home base from which to explore the attractions in the surrounding area.

Overview of Dong Van ancient town

The old village of Dong Van can be found at the geographic center of Dong Van, tucked in among the rugged mountains surrounding it.

Only a few households belonging to members of the Hmong, Tay, and Hoa ethnic groups were known to have been living in the ancient town around the turn of the twentieth century.

After that, when the Kinh, Dao, and Nung clans moved here to settle down, it became significantly more congested. There are around forty households in this community at the present time.

Beginning in the 1880s, this location was continuously inhabited by French colonists. They conceived of and carried out the building of a number of works, all of which are still standing as of this moment.

Dong Van ancient town, Ha Giang, Vietnam

How to get to Dong Van from Ha Giang?

The distance between Ha Giang and Dong Van is less than 100 kilometers, however traveling that route takes a lot of time because the road travels mostly along cliffs, which can be hazardous. You should try to arrive here before evening so that the journey to the historic town of Dong Van Ha Giang can be completed without any hiccups. After that, locate a location to "stay" at the ancient spectrum, and then proceed with the trek the following day in order to conquer Meo Vac.

It is possible to refer to the 4C Highway as the "artery" road that connects the four municipalities of Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, and Meo Vac. It will result in a well-known road passing through a number of well-known sights and sceneries.

Before we can make our way to the old town from Ha Giang, we have to make our way to the Dong Van area first. You need to adhere to this schedule, as doing so will ensure that you take the quickest and most scenic route.

Ha Giang City, the 4C Highway, Tam Son Town (Quan Ba), Yen Minh Town, Meo Vac, and Dong Van are the towns you will pass through on your trip.

There are a lot of different routes that you can take to get to Dong Van Ancient Town in Ha Giang. However, first things first, you need to make your way to Hanoi and arrange a mode of transportation that will take you from Hanoi to Ha Giang. You can get from Hanoi to Ha Giang by using a train, a bus, a motorbike, or a private car 

If you take public transportation to get to Ha Giang, you can continue on to Dong Van Ancient Town and finish your trip by taking alternate modes of transportation, such as motorcycles, bicycles, or taxis. However, utilizing a motorcycle is the most convenient alternative for touring the region because it allows for quick and easy access to the natural landscapes and visual splendor of the area. If you want to learn more about the area, consider renting a motorcycle.

Address of renting a motorbike

Hoang Ngoc Hotel

• Address: House number 47, 3/2 street, Dong Van town, Dong Van town, Dong Van, Ha Giang
• Hotline:0219 3856 020
• Price: 150.000 - 200.000 VND/day

Uncle Siu's house

• Address: Nguyen Trai Street, Dong Van district, Ha Giang province (behind Dong Van ancient market)
• Price: 250.000 VND/day

Uncle Huong's house

• Address: Dong Van ancient town, Dong Van district, Ha Giang province
• Price: 200.000 VND/day

Uncle Tran Minh Chi's house

• Address: Dong Van Ancient Market, Dong Van District, Ha Giang Province (behind the market gate)
• Price: 180.000 - 200.000 VND/day
• Hotline: 0977 99 30 71

You have the option of choosing a private car rental service in Hanoi that comes with a driver if the prospect of traveling a long distance by motorbike seems too frightening or dangerous to you, and if making arrangements to use public transportation seems difficult to you. Vietnam Trust Car Rental provides its customers with experienced drivers who are able to pick them up from their hotels, the airport, or the train station in Hanoi. You can take some time to relax and see some interesting attractions along the trip to Ha Giang. There are no surprises when it comes to the price, as the pricing structure is completely open and can be located on the website. Make your reservation for a private car ride from Hanoi to Ha Giang as soon as possible for further information. 

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The best time to visit Dong Van

You may pay the historic town of Dong Van a visit at any time of the year, but the months of October through December are ideal. The city of Ha Giang is especially beautiful during this time of year,  when the buckwheat flowers are in bloom and the weather is mild.

In addition, if you are able to plan your vacation around it, the best time to go to Dong Van is on the weekend. The weekend brings a sense of vitality and increased activity to the town, which is also busier.

You should spend the night in the old town of Dong Van on Saturday, and then go to the weekend market first thing on Sunday morning.

Buckwheat flower season in Dong Van, Ha Giang

Accommodation in Dong Van

Near Dong Van Town, there are a number of hotels and homestays available for guests to stay in. Some of the options you may look into are the Green Karst Hostel & Bar, the Hoang Ngoc Hotel, the Trieu Nghi Homestay, the Lam Tung Hotel, and the Binh Minh Hotel. The vast majority of lodging options are immaculate, cost-effective, and lovely, and they provide excellent service.

Homestay Green Karst Hostel and Bar

• Address: 77 Tran Phu Street, Dong Van, Ha Giang
• Hotline: 0968 098 619

Hoang Ngoc Hotel

• Address: House number 47, 3/2 street, Dong Van town, Dong Van town, Dong Van, Ha Giang
• Hotline:0219 3856 020

Trieu Nghi Homestay

• Address: Dong Van, Ha Giang
• Hotline: 038 799 9077

Lam Tung Hotel

• Address: Group 3, Dong Van Town, Dong Van. Ha Giang 
• Hotline: 0219 3856 789

What to do in Dong Van Ancient Town

Visit Dong Van Market

The Dong Van Market is a lively and busy cultural hub that can be found in the center of Dong Van Town in Ha Giang Province, Vietnam. People of many different ethnic groups in the area congregate in this bustling marketplace because it has, for generations, served as a hub for commercial activity and social interaction.

The discovery of diverse vivid arrays of regional produce, handicrafts, and traditional commodities, which together create a sensory feast, piques the curiosity of visitors quite significantly. In addition, you can discover anything you're looking for here, from clothing to agricultural tools and supplies. In addition to that, you can also find ordinary household supplies like chargers for your phone.

In addition, the Dong Van Town market frequently hosts a variety of games that guests are welcome to participate in, and guests also have the opportunity to have their hair cut on the street. In addition to this, you are in for a pleasant surprise because the road is shared with a variety of creatures such as buffaloes, ducks, and chickens.

Dong Van Market

​​​​​​Explore Dong Van Old Quarter

The Dong Van Old Quarter in Ha Giang is a part of the city's history that deserves to be preserved. In the province of Ha Giang in Vietnam, it is tucked away inside the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark. The Quarter is home to a diverse range of historical practices and cultural artifacts.

Many of the houses that line the road reflect traditional H'mong, Tay, and Hoa design elements, resulting in an interesting fusion of many kinds of architectural traditions. In addition to that, Chinese architectural principles may be seen reflected in the design of these homes. The Old Quarter of Dong Van provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel back in time while maintaining an authentic representation of Vietnam's rich cultural diversity.

Discover Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark

The Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark is a geological wonderland as well as a cultural gem that can be found in the Vietnamese province of Ha Giang. Because of its stunning limestone landscapes, rocky mountains, and one-of-a-kind geological formations, it has been designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark.

In addition to the stunning natural scenery, the geopark is home to numerous cultural groups, each of which maintains its own unique traditions and practices. If you venture inside the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, you will be able to push the boundaries of what is considered beautiful. Travelers who are interested in both exciting experiences and learning about other cultures will find that this location strikes the perfect balance between human civilization and the natural world.

The couple is experiencing travel on the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark

Experience Ma Pi Leng Pass

The exceptional Ma Pi Leng Pass is a mountain pass that is well-known for the stunning beauty of its surroundings as well as its difficult terrain. The limestone cliffs have been cut away to create the pass, which provides breathtaking vistas of the Nho Que River below. When you visit this pass on a day with clear skies and pleasant weather, you will be able to witness spectacular views from the summit of the mountain and the never-ending river below.

Explore the Lung Cu flag tower 

You can easily discover Lung Cu with its usual signal, which is a large flag pole named the name: Lung Cu Flag Tower. This signal is located approximately 30 kilometers from the city center.

When you go to Lung Cu, you will have the opportunity to stroll to the top of the hill, where you will be able to see the flag poles and take in the breathtaking views of the Vietnamese countryside. In addition to that, when you turn around and look at it from the other side, you can see the mountains in China.

Primarily, you will be missing out on something beautiful if you do not stop to take in the scenery along the road that connects Ha Giang City and Lung Cu. In Ha Giang, the road passes through some breathtaking mountain scenery.

Lung Cu flag tower

Visit Hmong King's Palace

The Hmong King Palace is a monument to the past that can be seen in the Sa Phin Valley, which is around 15 kilometers distant from the city. In addition, in the year 1902, very accomplished Chinese craftsmen built a castle out of wood specifically for the Hmong King.

The Hmong Kinh Palace has been around for longer than a century at this point. People will have the opportunity to travel through time and investigate the fascinating history of the area when this location opens its doors to tourists and welcomes those who are coming.

Enjoy local food in Dong Van

When you go to the historic town of Dong Van, don't forget to stop at one of the little shops that line the road and sample some of the local delicacies. If you are fortunate enough to visit this location during the festival seasons or on the weekends, you will have the chance to sample all of the regional specialties that are typical of the highlands. These include smoked buffalo meat, egg rolls, Thang Co, corn wine, five-color sticky rice, five-color rice soup, smoked buffalo meat, and Bac Me blue rice, among others. In instance, the old town of Dong Van Ha Giang sells a wide variety of fast food during the night.

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