Lo Lo Chai Ha Giang: The attraction and challenges of a 'World's Best Village'

The attraction of international titles

Lo Lo Chai Village, located in Lung Cu Commune, Ha Giang Province, is becoming a tourist hotspot after being named the “World’s Best Tourist Village 2025” by the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) in October. This title, combined with the blooming buckwheat flower season and favorable weather, has attracted thousands of visitors every weekend, especially in the last days of November.

According to Mr. Tran Duc Chung, Chairman of Lung Cu Commune People's Committee, the number of visitors to the commune has increased sharply, reaching about 10,000 visitors/week, sometimes up to 12,000-15,000 visitors/week. Among them, Lo Lo Chai is the most popular destination.

Visitors flocked to the village at noon on November 22. Photo: Hoang Hieu

Actual experience during peak season

The sudden increase in visitors has brought a bustling atmosphere to the normally peaceful village. Hoang Hieu, a local tour guide, said the number of visitors on weekends is even higher than during the Lunar New Year. Tourists often have to wait in long lines, sometimes for hours, to get a photo at famous photo spots.

"The place is crowded from the beginning of the week to the end of the week, always crowded with people and vehicles. I often have to find 'little-known' places to take guests to check-in," Mr. Hieu shared.

Visitors line up to take photos at the village. Photo: Hoang Hieu

Finding accommodation and food services has also become difficult. Ms. Ha Thuy Dung from Hai Phong said she was unable to book a room in Lo Lo Chai despite searching 10 days in advance. Many tourists can only visit the village for the day and then move to neighboring areas to stay.

Discover Lo Lo cultural identity

Lo Lo Chai village is located right at the foot of Lung Cu flagpole, the northernmost point of the country. This is home to more than 120 households, mainly Lo Lo ethnic people. The typical architectural feature of the village is the earthen houses, which are from a few decades to more than 200 years old, creating an ancient and unique space.

Coming here, visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local lifestyle, participating in traditional activities such as linen weaving, corn planting, and wine making. Local cuisine is also a highlight not to be missed with specialties such as thang co, smoked buffalo meat, bamboo rice and corn wine.

The peaceful beauty of Lo Lo Chai. Photo: Trang Tron

Information you need to know for your trip

Ideal timing

The last months of the year and the beginning of the new year are the best times to explore Lo Lo Chai, when peach and plum blossoms are in full bloom. However, to avoid overcrowding, visitors should consider coming on weekdays or choosing less crowded times such as early morning or late evening.

Accommodation and services

Currently, the village has 62 homestay businesses with a total capacity of serving about 1,000 guests per night. Due to the overload situation on weekends, visitors can consider staying in the nearby Then Pa village. To deal with the situation of spontaneous price increases, Lung Cu Commune People's Committee has requested businesses to publicly list service prices.