Be captivated by "The Land of Blooming Stones"

All the sounds and vibrant colors of Ha Giang are vividly depicted by the authors in the book "Ha Giang - The Land of Blooming Stones". The book was edited by Nguyen Thai Binh and published by the National Political Publishing House in 2025.

When mentioning Ha Giang, people immediately think of the Dong Van Stone Plateau, with its vast expanse of rocky mountains, situated at an average altitude of 1,000-1,600 meters above sea level. Covering an area of ​​over 2,354 square kilometers, it spans four highland districts: Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Meo Vac, and Dong Van. With nearly three-quarters of its area covered by jagged limestone mountains, coupled with the high mountain terrain and harsh climate, land suitable for growing rice and other crops is scarce, aside from corn. Yet, extraordinary willpower and determination, along with aspirations for prosperity and happiness, have driven the people here to thrive amidst the barren rocks. They have developed unique farming techniques on this gray rocky land and diligently sow seeds to bring back corn, rice, and other food for their families and villages.

As if to compensate for the harsh production conditions, nature here has blessed the land with vibrant flowers blooming throughout the year, such as peach blossoms, plum blossoms, pear blossoms, rice blossoms, rapeseed flowers, buckwheat flowers, mint flowers, chrysanthemums, and cosmos flowers… Among them, buckwheat is considered a symbol of vitality, resiliently growing and blooming even in the freezing winter. Not only does it beautify the rocky mountains, but buckwheat is also a valuable food source, with its seeds used in making cakes, fermenting alcohol, or as animal feed.

In October 2010, the Dong Van Karst Plateau was recognized as a member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network by the Advisory Council. This is the only Global Geopark in Vietnam and the second in Southeast Asia. This event provided a significant boost to the development of tourism in Ha Giang.

Beyond its rocky plateau, what else does Ha Giang have that has led to its continuous recognition by prestigious organizations in recent years as "Asia's Leading Emerging Tourist Destination," "Asia's Leading Regional Cultural Destination," and ranking 25th out of 52 most attractive destinations in the world ? Twelve articles by various authors take readers on a journey to explore the land and people of Ha Giang, helping them understand the harmonious blend of distinctive culture and the poetic, unique landscapes that nature has bestowed upon this region.

The starting point of the journey to Ha Giang is the Km 0 marker. From here, visitors can branch out in many directions. Heading north leads to the Dong Van Karst Plateau, where you can experience famous attractions such as the Lung Cu flagpole, the "King of the Hmong" palace, Dong Van ancient town, Ma Pi Leng pass, and Khau Vai love market. Heading west leads to the Khun village community tourism area, the Hoang Su Phi terraced rice fields national scenic spot, Suoi Thau grassland, Tien Waterfall - Gio Pass, and Nam Dan ancient rock formations. Each destination possesses its own unique beauty and significance, deeply researched and described by the authors with vivid illustrations, offering new and exciting discoveries for readers and tourists.

Ha Giang is not only majestic because of its mountains and forests, but also captivating because of the harmonious blend of nature and people. It is the homeland and home to 19 ethnic groups, resulting in a rich and diverse traditional culture that contributes to a variety of attractive tourism products. Visitors have the opportunity to explore picturesque ancient villages, learn about the lifestyles and customs of the local people, and be impressed by Nam Dam – a peaceful place where birds sing – inhabited by the Dao people; Sao Ha village nestled on the rocky plateau – inhabited by the Mong people; Lo Lo Chai village at the foot of Lung Cu Flagpole – inhabited by the Lo Lo people; or immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Khun village… Along with these are the vibrant and colorful ethnic markets, offering visitors unforgettable experiences.

In addition, the rivers that give "Ha Giang" its name are even more impressive and captivating. These include four major rivers: the vast Lo River, the legendary Gam River, the rugged Chay River, and the poetic Nho Que River; along with many smaller tributaries: the Nhiem River, the Mien River, the Con River, the Bac River, and more.

In conclusion, the unique emotions, cultural experiences, and tourism of Ha Giang will motivate more tourists to visit this land; at the same time, spreading love and a sense of responsibility to preserve and develop this "Land of Blooming Stones".

CAT ANGEL

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/-am-say-voi-mien-da-no-hoa--a188421.html