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| Today, the Happiness Road is a vital transportation artery that provides impetus for the socio -economic development of 23 communes in the rocky plateau region. |
Following the footsteps of spring
The winding Happiness Road, nestled amidst jagged limestone mountains, takes visitors past famous landmarks: Quan Ba Twin Mountains, Tham Ma Pass, Sung La Valley, Lung Cu Flagpole, Vuong Family Mansion, Dong Van Ancient Town, Ma Pi Leng Pass… Each bend in the road is a picture in itself, each season bringing a different color palette. But in spring, the road seems to don a new coat, ablaze with pink peach blossoms, vibrant yellow mustard flowers, and pristine white pear and plum blossoms.
Traveling along the Happiness Road, Lao Xa – a small village about 5 km from Sung La valley – unfolds before your eyes in breathtaking beauty. Traditional houses with earthen walls and yin-yang tiled roofs are hidden amidst the mist, their stone fences revealing glimpses of pink peach blossoms. The sound of the flute calling out to friends blends with the laughter of children, creating a lively and warm atmosphere in the small village. Since community tourism developed, many families here have opened homestays, revived traditional crafts like silver casting and brocade weaving, and sell souvenirs.
Mr. Sung Mi Tua, the owner of a homestay, shared: “Previously, my house was just a three-room house with earthen walls. Now, I've renovated it to welcome guests, and planted more flowers around the house for tourists to take photos. Every spring, many guests come, and my family's life has improved significantly.”
From Lao Xa to Lung Tam, to the villages along the Happiness Road, spring is not only about colorful flowers but also about rebirth. At the Lung Tam Linen and Brocade Weaving Cooperative, the Hmong people have successfully combined the preservation of traditional crafts with experiential tourism, exporting brocade products to more than 20 countries. The women's hands, spinning flax and embroidering patterns, seem to be weaving a new dream for their highland villages.
Following the arrival of spring, visitors can also immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere of the Hmong, Dao, and Lo Lo ethnic groups… The warm, intoxicating corn wine, the resounding drums and flutes in traditional games like throwing the ball, playing the spinning top, and shooting the crossbow… Spring in this rocky region blossoms not only with flowers, but also with laughter, faith, and the aspiration for change.
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| Children on the Road to Happiness, symbols of beautiful life and joy in the highlands. |
Exploiting historical and cultural values.
Along the Happiness Road, each destination is a living chapter of history. The Vuong family mansion in Sa Phin commune – a nearly 130-year-old ancient house – becomes even more majestic when the pink peach blossoms bloom against the moss-covered stone walls. Ms. Vuong Thi Cho, a fourth-generation descendant of the Vuong family, now works as a tour guide at the historical site. Her voice is gentle yet profound, leading visitors through stories of history, architecture, and the way of life of the ancient Mong people. “The Vuong family mansion is our pride. I only hope that everyone who comes here will feel the spirit of our ancestors – resilient, righteous, and full of self-respect,” she said.
Not far away, Lo Lo Chai village – where Vang Di Pho started his tourism business – is becoming a shining example in the border region. He renovated an old house into a homestay, telling tourists the story of his ethnic group. Inspired by this example, the entire village renovated 28 old houses into a "living museum" preserving Lo Lo culture. The once impoverished village has now transformed, being honored by the UNWTO as the " World's Best Tourist Village 2025" – a testament to the enduring vitality of highland culture.
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| Mr. Ted Osius (first), former US Ambassador to Vietnam, and the diplomatic delegation cycled along the Happiness Road. |
A path of sweat, tears, and aspirations.
On our spring journey, we remember the pioneers of the Happiness Road, the young volunteers of yesteryear who shed sweat, blood, and tears to awaken the border region. Mr. Nguyen Manh Thuy, former Chairman of the Association of Former Youth Volunteers of Ha Giang province, emotionally recounted: “More than 1,500 young people and laborers from 8 mountainous provinces spent six years (1959-1965) leveling mountains, cutting hills, and excavating nearly 2.9 million cubic meters of earth and rock to build this legendary road.”
Today, the Provincial Tourism Association has capitalized on that value in the product "The Road of Happiness - The Road of Blood and Flowers," connecting historical destinations and helping tourists better appreciate the natural beauty and the resilient, united spirit of the people in the highlands. More than 70% of tourists visiting Tuyen Quang choose this journey, a trip not only with their feet, but also with their hearts.
From the "blood and flowers" project of the past, the Happiness Road today has become a symbol of vitality and faith. On the hillsides covered with cherry blossoms, in homes filled with laughter, happiness is sprouting and blossoming like an everlasting spring in the far north of our country.
Yellow River
Source: https://baotuyenquang.com.vn/van-hoa/du-lich/202602/tren-cung-duong-hanh-phuc-9a40fac/
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