Lang Son is located far north at the 0 km landmark of National Highway 1A, more specifically at Huu Nghi Quan (Friendship Gate). This is an important transportation link between Vietnam and China. The main ethnic groups found in that area include the Kinh, Tay, Nung, Dao, and Ngai. The annual average temperature is 21.5°C with an annual humidity of 82%. Famous tourist sites include Tien Pagoda, Tien Pond, Nhat Thanh Cave, Nhi Thanh Cave, Tam Thanh Cave, and Mau Son Resort.
The capital of Lang Son, 500 meters above serve sea level, is situated on the left bank of the Ky Cung River. Opposite the town and on the far side of the river is Ky Lua Market. The market is accessible by means of the Ky Cung bridge. Standing on the bridge visitors can see a high mountain peak resembling a woman with a baby in her hands. From time immemorial, the peak has been given the name of Vong Phu (Awaiting one’s husband). Legend has it that Lady To Thi with a baby in her hands stood there day after day waiting for the return of the husband who had gone to war. She waited for so long that both her and her child were petrified into stone.
Ky Lua Market is a bustling market place for good exchanges. It also serves as a rendezvous for young people of different ethnic minority groups including the Tay, the Dao, the Nung, and the Mong living in rural and mountain areas.
Dong Dang, a township on the Sino-Vietnamese border is 14 kilometers from Lang Son town. There is a special market where buffaloes and cows are on sale. Just three kilometers to the east of Dong Dang is the Huu Nghi (Friendship) border gate. As long as living memory can testify the border gate has been a major point for the exchange of goods between the Vietnamese and Chinese people living on either side of the border areas. After a period of border conflict, the border gate has once again opened to traders and visitors of the two countries.
Nhi Thanh Grotto
Visitors from far always regard Lang Son as home to some grotesque grottoes, of which Nhi Thanh is one of the most beautiful grottoes...
Lang Son has for long had national repute as a year round entertainment centre. Attractions such as Dong Dang Town, Ky Lua Market, Vong Phu Mountain, Tam Thanh Grotto,
Nhi Thanh Grotto are said to be very attractive to visitors who are seeking scenic beauty...
Situated in Nhi Thanh Street, approximately 1km from the Lang Son City, Nhi Thanh Grotto houses the Pagoda of Triple Regions (Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism). The grotto was closely related to the celebrity Ngo Thi Si when he was the chief of province between 1777 and 1780. He gave, in a short span of time, a new look to Lang Son in term of politics, economy and national defense. Especially in the domain of culture, he had the merit to discover 8 beautiful landscapes of Lang country including Nhi Thanh Grotto. He hired workers to start the renovation of this grotto in 1779. The right side area, being on a relatively more elevated land and the configuration of terrain better, was chosen to be the place for the building of the Pagoda of Triple Regions (in honour of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism).
Being a natural cave, Nhi Thanh Grotto lies beneath the Pagoda of Triple Regions, with the depth of 600 meters. 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 length of a corridor from front entrance to back entrance is over 500 metres with many beautiful and picturesque landscapes. Inscriptions can be seen today on grotto, which were engraved by famous personalities and poets over different epochs.
Moreover, the grotto has numerous stalactites and stalagmites in different shapes, making the grotto look more grotesque and mystical. The entrance to the grotto is almost obscured from sunlight, because it is covered with a dense foliage of trees. High on the wall to the right side of the entrance, there remains a poem carved deep into the stone. The poem was written by Ngo Thi Si (1726- 1780) when he was stationed in Lang Son as the commander of the Lang Son military post. Ngo Thi Si praised the beauty of the magnificent mountain and landscapes possessed by Lang Son. Ngo Thi Si was the person who discovered Nhi Thanh Grotto. The name Nhi Thanh was chosen by Ngo Thi Si to commemorate his birth place in Ta Thanh Oai village in Thanh Oai district, Hanoi. To commemorate his great contributions to the grotto, Ngo Thi Si had his portrait carved on an interior wall.
"Flows of clean pure white stream water run over hundreds of pieces of marble as if it is talking. Turn one's back to the stream and look up to a high mountain peak in the from can see the Vong Phu peak". Ngo Thi Si’s verses make you feel like to visit Lang Son’s beauty spots, and Nhi Thanh Grotto is one of the eight sites that attract a large number of visitors to Lang Son...
Mau Son, the Princess on the mountain, Lang Son
With the wind whistling up and the cloud floating down, the sky seems within hands reach. The panorama from the highest peak in Lang Son region is like a Chinese ink drawing. To the north is Ninh Minh, China, to the east is Na Duong and to the West is Dong Dang, all merging beautifully into one spectacular landscape.
It is about 30 kilometers from Lang Son City to Mau Son. The winding narrow mountain path, like a snake, lies tucked between 2 steep mountains. Sometimes, beautiful Dao girls in festive embroidered clothing flag down the car for a lift. With their traditional dresses and bright smiles, they are as naturally beautiful as their mountain homeland.
About seventy years ago before this path existed, there were only two ways to the top, walking or on horseback. At that time, this panoramic area attracted the French to Mau Son for relaxation. The weather was cool all year round and in addition, the Dear Mountain View of the northeast was the gateway to China, and the French built a military base there at the start of the 20 the century to guard the border. The site's original inhabitants, members of the Dao ethnic minority, were moved to make way for the French settlement. Only authorized personnel were permitted to enter the French base.
Later, Mau Son tourists were also welcome to the hill station. In January 1936, Dr.O.Pflot, a student of the famous bacteriologist Dr. Alexandre Yersin, visited Mau Son. Some local people say that the doctor first came to Mau Son to collect traditional medicinal herbs, which were cultivated in die region. And then, he petitioned Mr Tholace, the then French governor of the north, for permission to build tourist villas at the site. In 1936 he got the goaded to buy land and to start construction. There were thousands of local people working on the project, all mining, breaking and carrying stones to bad a number of massive villas, all in all it took seven years of work to accomplish this task. There were no bricks available to build with, the only materials available were stones. bled to ruins. Blocks of orange moss-covered stories are scattered throughout the site, lying dead amongst the old foundations, where even now, it is possible to identify the houses former kitchens, fireplaces and staircases.
Like sleeping beauty, after almost five decades, it was all but forgotten. Until 1987 motorbikes were not even allowed onto the torturous road up the mountain. Finally, Mau Son was woken up by its reputation whispered by visitors. Firstly, by residents of the surrounding area , followed by visitors from China and lowland Vietnam. Mau Son's door to the past has been opened again. When the French built their villas, they probably could not imagine a day when Mau Son would welcome all visitors. But today, Mau Son's residents want to share their home's secluded beauty with the world. If you only explore the pristine Tarn Thanh Cave or shop for woven fabrics in the ethnic minority market of Ky Lua, but forget Mau Son, then you have never truly seen Lang Son.
