Dong Van (Tuyen Quang) captivates visitors not only with its majestic natural landscapes but also as a place where a unique traditional craft is preserved: hemp weaving among the Hmong people. For the Hmong, hemp fibre is more than just a material for making clothes; it is also a spiritual bond connecting people with their ancestors, the earth and the heavens.
In modern life, the traditional costumes of ethnic minority groups are at risk of fading into obscurity. In some places, local communities can no longer preserve the distinctive cultural identity reflected in their traditional attire. In response, many localities across Tuyen Quang Province have sought to preserve and revive weaving and embroidery, while encouraging people to wear their traditional costumes with pride. In Hong Thai Commune, women continue to preserve traditional crafts, ensuring their cultural roots are not forgotten and allowing visitors to experience the locality's rich cultural heritage.
Dong Van Old Quarter is a must-visit stop on any journey to explore Tuyen Quang, the country’s northernmost frontier. With the weather turning chilly and buckwheat flowers beginning to bloom across the fields, this is one of the most beautiful times of the year to visit Dong Van.
In Residential Group 12 of Khuoi My, Ha Giang 1 Ward, Tuyen Quang Province, September and October mark the time when ripe rice turns the terraced fields golden. The rice paddies curve around the mountain slopes and traditional houses, creating a landscape that is both majestic and poetic.
Despite profound social changes, the White-Trouser Dao people in Hung Duc Commune, Tuyen Quang Province, continue to preserve many valuable traditional customs and practices, particularly the Cap Sac ritual. This is an important rite of passage that marks the coming of age of Dao men and recognizes their maturity within the community.
At this time of year, a visit to Xuan Van offers a chance to admire golden pomelos hanging heavily from trees along the alluvial banks of the Lo River, as well as lush persimmon orchards beneath the high autumn sky. These seasonal fruits are an inviting attraction for visitors, drawing them to the area and inspiring a deeper appreciation for this fertile land and its hardworking, down-to-earth farmers who joyfully tend their orchards through each abundant harvest.
Sao Ha Village, located in Van Chai Hamlet, Yen Minh Commune, Tuyen Quang Province, sits at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level and is surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and a nearly 250-hectare primeval forest. Nestled in the heart of the rocky plateau, Sao Ha feels like a peaceful, mysterious haven, completely cut off from the outside world.
These days, the streets of Tuyen Quang are once again bursting with color and lively sounds as unique giant Mid-Autumn Festival lantern models officially take to the streets.
In the highland commune of Quan Ba, home to the Bo Y ethnic community for generations, traditional costumes have been preserved almost intact through the years. No longer worn only during festivals, Tet celebrations, or important community events, Bo Y costumes have now become a distinctive cultural product, contributing to the development of community-based tourism and promoting the ethnic group’s cultural identity to visitors.
From August 29 to September 3, people across the country enjoyed a five-day holiday marking Vietnam’s National Day on September 2. As early autumn brings mild weather, clear golden sunshine, and cool breezes, Tuyen Quang has emerged as an attractive destination, welcoming large numbers of visitors from across the country to explore its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and historical landmarks. From the Special National Historical Site of Tan Trao, a land closely associated with important milestones in Vietnam’s revolutionary history, visitors continue their journey along winding mountain roads toward the UNESCO Global Geopark of Dong Van Karst Plateau.
Nestled peacefully at the foot of the Lung Cu National Flagpole, Lo Lo Chai Village is home to the Lo Lo ethnic community, where traditional customs, practices and beliefs have been preserved and passed down through generations. Every autumn, in the seventh lunar month, as cool weather settles over the rocky plateau, the Lo Lo people gather to hold their Ancestral Worship Ceremony, a traditional ritual of profound significance to the community’s cultural and spiritual life.
On August 27, Thanh Thuy Inter-level Ethnic Minority Boarding Primary and Lower Secondary School officially welcomed its first students to the new campus. The spacious and well-equipped school, featuring classrooms, boarding facilities, a dining hall, a multipurpose building and other facilities for teaching, learning and daily activities, brought joy and excitement to both teachers and students.
For years, the Tuyen Quang Thanh Tuyen Festival has become a distinctive cultural brand, while making Mid-Autumn Festival lantern models here has evolved beyond seasonal work into a community-based art form. With model prices ranging from VND 10 million to VND 100 million, the craft is providing jobs and income for many local workers.
Under the skilled hands of artisans in Trung Thinh Commune, raw silver ingots are carefully weighed, shaped, engraved, fired, and polished into exquisite pieces of jewelry. Every stage is carried out entirely by hand, requiring patience, precision, and years of accumulated experience.
Located at the foot of Quan Ba Heaven Gate, Nam Dam Community-based Cultural Tourism Village is home to the Dao ethnic community and preserves almost intact its rich traditional cultural heritage.