Lan Nong - a peaceful gem nestled in the mountains

Nestled amidst the mountains of Lang Son, lies a small village called Lan Nong, where time seems to slow down, mist blankets the stilt houses, and the wind whispers through the mountain slopes.

Lan Nong Village is nestled amidst a green mountain valley. Photo: Chau Ngoc

This land, over a century old, quietly preserves the pristine way of life of the Nung people, and is now opening its doors to welcome visitors...

From the center of Cai Kinh commune, the road leading to Lan Nong winds like a thin silk ribbon across the mountainside. A cool breeze blows, carrying the scent of the forest and the chirping of birds. Occasionally, the roar of motorbike engines echoes against the cliffs; that's when the skilled local drivers are welcoming tourists, taking them through the spectacular bends. Those who want to challenge themselves can choose to walk, a journey of about 50 minutes, across the precarious mountain slopes, where each step is a touch of pristine nature, a rare moment of tranquility amidst the fast-paced life.

Reaching the final hilltop, Lan Nong appears, nestled amidst the green of the mountains and forests. Thirteen houses dot the valley, their light blue smoke rising and dissipating in the white mist. Here, the Nung community has lived together for over 120 years, through eight generations, in a slow cycle of the mountains, forests, and seasons. Each house, each fence, each peanut garden, each cornfield holds within it a story of perseverance and a deep connection to the land.

Homestays welcome guests with colorful brocade fabrics and local handicrafts. Photo: Chau Ngoc

The local people's drinking water comes from a crystal-clear spring that flows steadily year-round from the heart of the mountain, called the Dark Spring. The name sounds mysterious, as if each drop of water still retains the spirit of the mountains and forests. Drinking that water, one can feel the taste of the earth, the rocks, and the life that has flowed through generations.

In the old days, Lan Nong was surrounded by vast forests of ironwood trees, some so large that they could be cut down to make 26 pillars for houses. Now, that forest has thinned out, but the memories of it still live on in the stories of the elderly. They remember the sound of saws echoing through the forest, and the shade of the large trees that covered the entire road.

Morning in Lan Nong begins with the crowing of roosters, the hazy smoke rising from the kitchen, and the fragrant aroma of boiled corn wafting from the hearth. At noon, golden sunlight pours down on the old tiled roofs, glistening on the trees. As evening approaches, the wind blows through the mountain crevices, carrying the scent of dew, earth, and damp, decaying leaves in the rocky crevices... blending into the familiar aroma of the mountainous region. At night, the full moon creeps over the mountain peaks, casting its silvery light down into the valley, illuminating the silent stilt houses. The sounds of insects mingle with the distant barking of dogs, and the small village is enveloped in tranquility, a peace that cleanses the soul.

The Nung people in Lan Nong are gentle and hospitable. When welcoming guests from afar, the fire will blaze, food will sizzling in cast-iron pans, and the host will simply smile kindly, their eyes filled with warmth. Here, the connection between people and nature is a way of life, harmonious and unhurried.

A garden with lush green grass and a rustic wooden fence. Photo: Chau Ngoc

Lan Nong now has electricity from a clean energy source, but still lacks mobile phone coverage. Despite this, no one seems to feel deprived, as conversations still take place around the fireplace, and laughter still echoes on the porches as evening falls. Now that the new road is open, Lan Nong is no longer an isolated "oasis." The small village is gradually revealing itself as a new destination for nature lovers, for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and find pristine peace.

Trekking along the mountain slopes, spending a night on wooden platforms, enjoying meals of wild vegetables, free-range chicken, and fragrant corn wine – all offer visitors a feeling of returning to the purest aspects of life. The locals are also beginning to nurture a dream of tourism . Not noisy, bustling tourism, but experiential tourism, tourism of sharing. They want to welcome guests with genuine smiles, with bowls of soup made from vegetables harvested from their fields, and with stories about their ancestors who founded the village over 100 years ago. They hope visitors from all over the world will learn about their simple life, to understand that amidst the mountains of Lang Son, there is still such a pristine place, where every smile, every house, every stream is a heritage.

Amidst a world bustling with noisy music, Lan Nong stands as a quiet, tranquil note. This serenity isn't lonely; it sparkles with the beauty of serenity. People come here to listen to the wind rustling through the trees, to watch the mist dissipate from the rooftops, to understand what peace truly is without needing to search for it. And when they leave, they carry with them a touch of nostalgia—nostalgia for the gentle nature of the villagers, for the lingering clouds over the mountaintops, for the golden moonlight pouring down into the misty valley on that night...

Lan Nong, a peaceful gem nestled amidst the mountains and forests, quietly shines with its simplicity, silently existing to stir the hearts of visitors. Here, one can live more slowly, breathe deeper, and appreciate the simple things more, realizing that peace is not far away, but lies within each step, each breath.

According to the Lang Son Provincial Center for Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion, Lan Nong is being developed into a "net-zero tourism village" within the UNESCO Lang Son Global Geopark. This model aims to preserve the isolated lifestyle without electricity or mobile phone signals, maintaining the pristine landscape, while simultaneously investing in sustainable tourism infrastructure, developing stilt house homestays, and cultural and ecological products operated by the local community. The goal is to create a unique and completely "clean" experiential destination in terms of technology.

Source: https://laodong.vn/du-lich/kham-pha/lan-nong-vien-ngoc-binh-yen-giua-lung-chung-nui-1652163.html