Yen Minh, a district in Ha Giang province, is a hidden gem in the middle of the mountains of Northern Vietnam. It is known for its vast pine forests, deep smoky valleys, and winding passes that hug the mountainside. Not as bustling or noisy as many other tourist attractions, Yen Minh owns a peaceful, rustic and wild beauty, which is an ideal choice for tourists who love to explore nature and learn about the cultural life of the local people. In this article, Karst Plateau will take you on a journey to discover the idyllic yet charming beauty of Yen Minh, an exciting destination on your journey to explore Ha Giang Loop.
Yen Minh offers a much-needed respite for visitors who want to slow down and enjoy the natural beauty of this land
Yen Minh is one of the small districts located in the Northeast of Ha Giang province, featuring majestic natural landscapes and rich cultural life of ethnic minorities. The north of the county borders Yunnan Province, China, creating a natural border full of mystery and charm. To the east is Meo Vac district, famous for the Dong Van stone plateau. To the west is Quan Ba district, which is likened to the “heavenly gate” of Ha Giang, and to the south is Bac Me district, bringing the peaceful features of the mountains.
Yen Minh is located on National Highway 4C, also known as the “Happy Road”, connecting the mountainous districts of Ha Giang. The approximately 100 km long road from Ha Giang city to Yen Minh is a beautiful journey, taking visitors through the same mountain ranges, deep valleys, and spectacular winding bends.
When visitors arrive in Yen Minh, they will immediately be attracted by the peaceful yet enchanting natural scenery. The vast pine forests stretching at the foot of the pass, the winding small roads leading through beautiful small villages hidden among the mountains, all create a poetic scene that anyone who comes here feels that their soul is relaxed and purified. Not only a place to see the scenery, Yen Minh is also a place for tourists to immerse themselves in the life of ethnic minorities such as H’mong, Dao, Tay, and Nung, who have lived here for generations and still retain their unique cultural identity.
2. Useful information for visitors to Yen Minh
2.1 The best time to visit Yen Minh
Visitors can visit Yen Minh at any time of the year thanks to the cool and pleasant air. However, according to the experience of traveling to Yen Minh – Ha Giang of Karst Plateau, the time from October to December is the most ideal. Because this is the time when the buckwheat flower is in full bloom.
All over Yen Minh seem to be wearing a new shirt, colored by the charming purple, pink, and white colors of buckwheat flowers, thousands of carpets of buckwheat flowers winding along the hills, creating a scene that is both magnificent, poetic, and romantic like a fairytale.
2.2 Transportation to Yen Minh
Yen Minh district is located on National Highway 4C and is about 100km from Ha Giang city center
Motorbike: One of the popular means for those who like to travel on their own. Motorbikes can be rented in Ha Giang city for from 150,000 VND to 200,000 VND/day.
Private car: Visitors can drive their own cars or rent a car, giving them the flexibility to stop at attractions.
Taxi: Although there are no buses or buses to Yen Minh, taxis are a comfortable option but the cost will be higher.
2.3 Accommodation in Yen Minh Ha Giang
Yen Minh offers a wide range of accommodation options for travelers at affordable prices. You can choose to stay in homestays or hotels in the Yen Minh district area of Ha Giang
Phuong Dong Hotel
Phuong Dong Hotel is one of the famous hotels as well as one of the top 3-star hotels in Yen Minh area. Located in the area of Yen Minh town, but stopping here, visitors can rest. The hotel has a total scale of up to 11 floors along with 50 rooms to help you freely choose the rooms for you. Not only that, the architectural lines are bold with modern classics, this is also one of the hotels that tourists choose the most when coming to Yen Minh Ha Giang.
Bong Bang Homestay
Peaceful space, close to nature, serving all the needs of tourists
Located in Na Ma commune, Yen Minh district, Ha Giang province, here, visitors will enjoy the unique beauty of heaven and earth as well as the scenery of this place that nature has bestowed on this land. This place has the taste of the sun, the wind as well as the image of each visitor who stops here, bringing visitors extremely peaceful feelings. Coming here, visitors will be supported by an extremely friendly and enthusiastic staff, along with a clean room system, all objects in the room are made from nature, giving you a feeling of closeness to nature.
In the Bong Bang Homestay area, when you bring the night down, you and your friends sit on a humid fire, or confide in each other, the stories bring you an extremely interesting and attractive experience.
In Bong Bang, there are not many types of rooms for you to choose from, only double rooms or dormitory rooms, if you love privacy, you can choose this type of accommodation with a double bed suitable for two people along with the room fully equipped with equipment for you to use. Dormitory rooms are also one of the types chosen by many people with single beds for men and women this type of room will be suitable for groups of friends who want to spend a lot of time together talking all night together.
3. Natural attractions of Yen Minh
3.1 Yen Minh Pine Forest
Pine trees line the hills and valleys, creating a cool and refreshing atmosphere
Yen Minh pine forest is located in Na Khe and Lao and Chai communes, which is likened by tourists to the “miniature Da Lat” of the North. Stepping here, you will immediately feel the fresh, pleasant air, and forget the suffocation in the city to immerse yourself in nature. When you go deep inside the Yen Minh pine forest, this place is a paradise for pine species, with straight pine rows and spreading foliage.
If you come here early in the morning, you will be able to see the morning mist covering the whole forest like clouds creeping through the leaves. That hazy and mysterious scene makes you unforgettable when it comes to the Yen Minh pine forest. Walking in the pine forest, you will easily see highland children playing, looking out into the distance are ethnic boys and girls working in the terraced fields.
All create a harmonious scene between people and nature in the Northern mountains, a beauty that is rare anywhere else. Besides enjoying the beauty of the pine forest, this is also an ideal place to organize picnic activities.
3.2 Na Luong Cave
When arriving in Yen Minh, one of the experiences not to be missed is exploring Na Luong cave. This is a prominent destination with mysterious beauty, one of the most beautiful caves of Ha Giang.
Na Luong Cave is located right near the center of Yen Minh, about 25km to the west. With a cave entrance about 30 meters wide, visitors can easily identify it from a distance. In particular, the temperature in the cave is always lower than outdoors, bringing a pleasant feeling every time you set foot in it.
Vast cave system
Inside the cave there are many different branches
Na Luong Cave is a system of 7 independent caves located close to each other. Up to now, this is still the cave with the highest and deepest height in Ha Giang. So if you want to explore this vast cave, you have to spend a lot of time.
The entrance to the cave is covered with vines. The cave is located in a rocky mountain range, surrounded on 4 sides by old forests. Na Luong Cave has many different doors, but most of the entrances to the cave are mostly clinging to climbing plants, creating a slightly ghostly and mysterious scene. Visitors will feel the majesty of Na Luong cave as soon as they see the main gate of the cave. The main door is a stone arch 15m high and up to 30m wide. Therefore, just by standing from the outside, visitors can see part of the stalactites in the cave.
In the cave, there are many small passages leading to different areas of the 7 cave branches. You can go in different directions to fully explore the magnificent beauty of the cave in your own way.
Admire the beautiful stalactites in Na Luong Cave
Stalagmites nearly ten meters high in Na Luong cave
Coming to Na Luong cave, you will be amazed when admiring the stalactites – masterpieces that nature bestows here. The stalactites come in a variety of unique shapes, which will surely not disappoint visitors.
Na Luong Cave is full of all 3 types of stalactites that often appear in limestone caves. The stalactites in the ceiling of the cave are called stone bells, and stone plates. The stalactites on the cave walls are called stone curtains, and stone waterfalls. The stalactites on the cave floor are called stalagmites and stone pillars. The stalactites in the walls of Na Luong cave are often harmoniously shaped, some stalactites look very similar to familiar animals such as pigs, birds, monkeys, chickens, etc.
Meanwhile, the stalactites on the ceiling of the cave are somewhat rougher and more thorny. The stone columns on the ground are usually conical, looking like towers. In Na Luong cave, there are many large and thick stone pillars, on the surface of which there are often many layers of stalactites stacked on top of each other. There are stone pillars up to about 6m high and 1 to 2m thick.
Shelter of the falling flock
Deep inside Na Luong cave is a shelter for thousands of bats in winter. Here you will see a whole flock of bats hanging upside down on the cave wall. It sounds scary, but it makes many tourists excited. During the day, they often sleep in the cave, and do not go out to feed until evening, so it is not difficult for you to see this animal when you come to Na Luong cave. However, when observing falling species, it is best not to make loud noises, which can wake them up.
3.3 Du Gia Village
Du Gia Village is famous for its peaceful, pristine beauty
Du Gia village is no longer a strange name on the map of Ha Giang tourism. Especially when coming to Yen Minh, don’t forget to visit Du Gia village to discover the beauty and learn about the cultural identity here. Du Gia is also a famous place for possessing peaceful beauty, wild landscapes with majestic natural scenery by rivers, mountains, clouds and passes like a fairyland.
In addition, when coming to Du Gia village, you can also experience quite a lot of interesting activities such as catching stream fish, bathing, or walking through the villages. The people here are hospitable and extremely friendly, just like its beauty.
4. Cultural experiences in Yen Minh
Yen Minh not only has amazing natural scenery but also is a place where typical cultural features of ethnic minorities converge. Each branch of culture brings visitors new and profound experiences.
4.1 Festivals and local traditions in Yen Minh
The custom of worshipping forest gods has existed for a long time in the spiritual life of the Pu Peo people
Yen Minh organizes many interesting festivals, each festival brings different cultural features. Some typical festivals:
Pu Peo Forest Festival: Taking place on the 6th day of the 6th lunar month, this festival is an opportunity for people to pray for a good harvest. People will participate in cultural activities such as singing dances, folk games, and rituals, expressing the cultural colors of the locality.
Other traditional festivals: Yen Minh also often organizes large-scale festivals during Ha Giang tourism festivals. This is an opportunity to introduce the culinary culture, costumes and cultural performances of ethnic minorities.
Cultural discovery in the villages: Visitors have the opportunity to participate in cultural activities in the villages, learn about customs and customs, and enjoy the unique dishes of the local people.
4.2 Delicious food in Yen Minh
Specialties in Ha Giang that you should try
Yen Minh cuisine is very diverse and rich, with typical dishes that you can’t ignore:
Thang Co: The traditional dish is made from horse meat and spices, often eaten with friends at markets.
Five-color sticky rice (Xôi Ngũ Sắc): With vibrant colors from natural leaves, sticky rice is not only beautiful but also has a unique taste.
Menmen: It is a steamed dish made from corn flour, often served with meat and vegetables – a typical taste of the Mong people.
Sour pho: This is a dish that originated in China. The main ingredients of sour pho are pho cakes, char siu meat, roast duck, sausage, and stir-fried chili. The special feature of sour pho is the sweet and sour sauce made from rice vinegar, and sugar, seasoned with a little mountain spices and mixed with tapioca flour to create consistency.
4.3 Interact with the local ethnic community in Yen Minh
Here, they come to exchange goods, buy fresh produce and socialize with neighbors
Interacting with the local ethnic community is one of the interesting experiences in Yen Minh. You will discover unique cultural features through the daily activities of the local people.
Yen Minh fair market: This market only meets every Sunday, so when it is not yet clear, people from the Tay, Nung, Dao, Mong ethnic groups, etc. Bringing traditional costumes from all over the road to the market to exchange and buy and sell food. Especially, almost everyone brings a few specialties of the people to the market such as vegetables, fruits, agricultural tools, household appliances, fine art products, cattle, poultry, etc. The dining spots are also very crowded, this place sells many dishes such as thang co, noodle shop, pho, etc.
Everyday Life Experience: Visitors can participate in daily activities with the ethnic community here such as farming, brocade weaving or learning traditional dishes. Through these activities, you will have a better understanding of the life and culture of the people here.
Cultural Destruction Through Art: Activities such as dancing, singing, and playing traditional musical instruments are experiences not to be missed. Folk songs will bring you closer to the spiritual and spiritual life of the people here.
5. Things to do in Yen Minh
Hiking is one of the best ways to fully immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Yen Minh
Yen Minh is also an ideal place to enjoy adventure and fun outdoor sports activities.
Hiking and Trekking: The trekking routes in Yen Minh are extremely diverse, from easy-to-follow trails for beginners to adventurous trails for those who love a challenge.
Climbing: With majestic peaks like Ma Pi Leng, conquering these peaks will bring you unforgettable experiences and moments of beautiful mountain scenery.
Rowing: If you love water sports, you can participate in boating on streams or lakes in the Yen Minh area. This is not only a sports activity but also offers great moments of relaxation.
Photograph: The vast scenery and majestic mountains are the ideal opportunity for photographers or photography enthusiasts. Don’t forget to capture the beautiful moments at popular destinations.
Watch the sunset and sunrise: Finding a high location to watch the sunset and sunrise will be a beautiful experience. Tender and romantic, making your heart full of emotions.
Exploring Yen Minh is an exciting journey that is sure to leave many beautiful memories in the heart of every visitor. With its stunning natural landscapes, unique attractions and rich culture of ethnic minorities, it deserves to be one of the top destinations in the journey to explore Ha Giang. Come and experience Yen Minh to feel the beauty of heaven and earth and the people here, enjoy peaceful moments between nature and the culture rich in identity. Plan your trip and don’t forget to visit Karst Plateau for more detailed information about itineraries in Yen Minh and other attractions in Ha Giang.
