Lo Lo Chai - A peaceful village in the far north.

Having visited many beautiful places across the country, during our recent exploration of Vietnam's northernmost point, we immediately visited Lo Lo Chai village, a peaceful village in Ha Giang with a pristine, fairytale-like beauty.

The Lo Lo Chai village is located right at the foot of the Lung Cu flagpole. (Source: ivivu)

To reach Lo Lo Chai, we had to overcome a long and challenging journey. From the center of Ha Giang city, we traveled another 150km along a mountain pass to the Dong Van karst plateau, but to reach Lo Lo Chai, we had to travel an even longer and more challenging stretch of mountain pass, with towering jagged mountains on one side and a sheer cliff leading down into a deep valley on the other.

Approaching the Lung Cu flagpole, instead of going straight, we turned left and followed a winding dirt road for about 1.5 km to reach Lo Lo Chai village, home to more than 100 Mong and Lo Lo families who have lived in the beautiful Dong Van karst plateau for decades.

Fairytale land

Nestled amidst the windswept highlands, Lo Lo Chai village resembles a fairytale land, surprisingly peaceful, a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Lung Cu flagpole. From the very beginning of the village, you can see the distinctive rammed-earth houses characteristic of the Ha Giang rocky plateau.

The closely spaced tiled roofs create a serene and peaceful scene. The cracked, weathered walls have become a distinctive feature of these ancient villages on the rocky plateau. Along the village roads, the locals plant many rapeseed and peach blossoms, so the village is always vibrant with flowers.

Located near the northernmost point of Vietnam, Lo Lo Chai village is developing rapidly and becoming a community-based tourism destination on the Ha Giang rocky plateau. From any location in Lo Lo Chai, you can admire the Lung Cu flagpole atop Long Son mountain, peeking out from amidst the clouds in the distance.

Lo Lo Chai is home to over 100 households, mostly Lo Lo people, along with Mong and Dao people. Previously, the people mainly practiced slash-and-burn agriculture, but the harsh soil conditions of the rocky plateau meant they only had enough to eat. Taking advantage of its strategic location at the northernmost point of Vietnam, the people here have developed a community-based tourism model, and their lives have become more prosperous.

On average, this small village welcomes about 1,000 tourists each month. Especially during the end of the year, coinciding with the buckwheat flower season, homestays are always fully booked, demonstrating the attractiveness and tourism potential of Lo Lo Chai.

Taking advantage of the traditional rammed earth houses (warm in winter, cool in summer), the people of Lo Lo Chai have designed and renovated their homes into charming and comfortable homestays for tourists to visit, explore, and experience the culture of the Lo Lo community. Currently, Lo Lo Chai still has about 37 rammed earth houses, and most of them have been transformed into very popular homestays.

We had a wonderful day and night experiencing the peaceful homestay of the young couple Quẩy Sinh Di and Lò Bích Poi.

At night, everyone gathered around a bonfire, roasting corn and potatoes, and singing by the flickering firelight, gazing at the Lung Cu flagpole high above. Despite their young age, this couple still preserved their ethnic identity. The owner, Poi, always wore the beautiful and graceful traditional Lo Lo clothing.

Outside their traditional house is a charming tea table decorated in the Lolo style, where guests can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the morning after waking up. The young couple also regularly uses the internet, creating a personal Facebook page to promote their homestay. As a result, many domestic and international tourists know about their homestay, and rooms are always fully booked.

On average, Lo Lo Chai village welcomes about 1,000 tourists each month. Especially during the end of the year, coinciding with the buckwheat flower season, homestays are always fully booked, demonstrating the attractiveness and tourism potential of this small village in the far north of Vietnam. Now, on any journey to conquer the northernmost point of the country, skipping Lo Lo Chai village means missing out on a unique experience.

A sign directing you to the Northernmost Cafe. (Photo: Vi Yen)

Special coffee shop

One Instagrammable spot you shouldn't miss when you come here is the Northernmost Cafe. What could be better than enjoying coffee at the northernmost point of the country, or simply taking a photo with the cafe's sign, even though the English name is misspelled (Northern People's Cafe, when it should be Northern Pole's Cafe)?

Located in the heart of the village, the Northernmost Cafe sits in a traditional earthen house with simple wooden tables and chairs, soft background music, and a welcoming atmosphere where visitors can come and go freely, linger for coffee or soft drinks, or simply visit. The owner always greets customers with a smile. To be honest, the coffee here isn't exceptional, but the unique setting and geographical location make the coffee taste truly special.

Right from the entrance to the village, you can see the characteristic rammed-earth houses of the Ha Giang rocky plateau. The tiled roofs are clustered together, creating a serene and peaceful scene.

Reportedly, this cafe was founded by a Japanese tourist named Yasushi Ogura. During his time in Vietnam, and especially in Lung Cu, he fell in love with the nature and people of the area, so he dedicated himself to developing a cafe model right in this remote village at the northernmost point of Vietnam. He meticulously guided the local people of Lo Lo Chai on everything from the facilities, tables and chairs, and equipment to the methods of preparing drinks and interacting with customers.

Bright yellow rapeseed flowers bloom in Lo Lo Chai village. (Photo: LA)

For those seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, especially those embracing the current "healing" trend, Lo Lo Chai is an ideal destination. Besides its peaceful scenery and unhurried pace of life, you'll always be welcomed by the locals like a long-lost relative. Walking through this village at the very edge of the country, you'll experience a wonderful sense of relaxation. Almost all tourists here are friendly, including foreign visitors. This northernmost point of the country gave us unforgettable experiences, and we look forward to returning.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/lo-lo-chai-lang-binh-yen-noi-cuc-bac-282667.html