LUNG CU Flagpole in Ha Giang (TIPS+GUIDE) ☀️
7 min readAug 30, 2019
Lung Cu Flag Point in Dong Van district is the northernmost place of northern Vietnam.
- One of the most beautiful provinces in the north of Vietnam is Ha Giang, there in the Dong Van district (Lũng Cú commune) lies the northernmost place of Vietnam - the Lung Cu Flag Tower. It is a 33m high tower with a 54m² flag and this size represents the number of ethnic groups in Vietnam. Approximately 5 km north of this tower you will see the Nho Que river, which continues to Ma Pi Leng Pass - the most beautiful pass in the north of Vietnam.
- A large number of tourists, mostly on motorbikes, come there from Dong Van town, about 25 km away. Dong Van is a good starting point for those, who want to explore the north of Vietnam. The whole area around Lung Cu is a place of ethnic minorities, Mong and Lo Lo, several ethnic villages but also beautiful mountain scenes of Dong Van Karst Global Geopark.
Lung Cu Flag Tower is not just a tower with a flag, but also a history place of Vietnam.
- Near this flag tower is Lo Lo Chai village and 2 small lakes. Some people of the ethnic minority Lo Lo claim that the history of the tower’s name dates back to the end of the 17th century. Lung Cu means something like “King’s Drum”. In 1798, after a great victory against the northern invaders, Emperor Quang Trung ordered a giant bronze drum at the top of the mountain.
- Every two hours, the soldiers struck three drum beats to assert the territorial integrity of the country. According to tis historical legend of the Lo Lo ethnic minority, 2 lakes at the tower are the eyes of the sacred dragon, he left them behind after his death. One belonged to the Mong group and the other was of Lo Lo ethnic group.
How to travel to the Lung Cu Flag Point? You can travel by motorbike/mototaxi or private transfer.
- Lung Cu Flag Tower is very far from Hanoi, about 460 km by land. First you have to get to Ha Giang town (there are tourist buses from Hanoi to Ha Giang) and in Ha Giang town you can take a local bus to Dong Van town, it is about 160 km from Ha Giang. In Dong Van you can travel by motorbike/mototaxi to Lung Cu, see map below the article.
- From Dong Van town to Lung Cu Flag Tower — it is about 25 km, nice scenic and good road, it is very easy to get there if you have your own motorbike, use your Google map. The best way, if you can, is to travel in Ha Giang province by motorbike and it is also good to know, only if you are an experienced motorbike driver. If you can, skip the rainy and foggy weather.
>>> Book your bus tickets from Hanoi to Ha Giang + Schedule
What to see and visit in Lung Cu?
- On the way to Lung Cu Flag Tower you will be traveling in the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, so you will see very nice mountain scenery, ethnic villages, nature, but also the border of China. There are no other tourist attractions at the Lung Cu Flag Tower, except this tower. You can visit the surrounding villages where the ethnic residents of Lo Lo and Mong live, and even in the village you can also find some accommodation, there are some local homestays of local residents from Lung Cu, these homestays are adapted for foreign tourists.
- You can visit Lo Lo Chai village or buy a coffee in Café Cuc Bac. It is a remote area, yet without much intervention by mass tourism, but in the near future it can change. Services and food are still limited there. On the way from Dong Van to Lung Cu you also have the opportunity to visit the sunday ethnic market near the village of Ma Lé.
What is the best time to visit the Lung Cu Flagpole? And what is the weather in Dong Van?
- You can visit the Lung Cu Flag Tower all year round. However, this is true also for other mountain sites of Ha Giang Province, if you can avoid a lot of rainy/foggy days, rainy days are mainly in the monsoon season - summer months. In the winter - dry season (December - February) it may be very cold in the area and it is also good to take some warm clothes. The best time to visit Lung Cu Flag Tower should be the autumn months.
Where to stay and find some accommodation in Dong Van - Lung Cu?
The best way is to stay in Dong Van town, there are various cheap hotels, nha nghi, guesthouses or hostels. Dong Van is a good starting place for exploring Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark. You can also find some accommodation (mainly local homestays) in Lung Cu.
Accommodation in Dong Van (Book online):
▶ Hoang Ngoc Hotel
▶ Binh Minh Hostel
▶ Huyen Tram Guesthouse
▶ Ly Hoan Guesthouse
▶ Dong Van B&B
▶ Lam Tung Hotel
▶ Gia Linh Motel
Accommodation in Lung Cu (Book online):
▶ The Lover Lo Lo Chai
▶ Homie Homestay
▶ Sister’s House
Practical information about Lung Cu Flag Point:
How to travel from Hanoi to Ha Giang?
- You can take a tourist bus to Ha Giang town. There is no railway connection to Ha Giang province. There are various buses and vans, limousines from Hanoi to Ha Giang. You can book bus e-tickets from Hanoi to Ha Giang online.
- Book your bus e-tickets + schedule from Hanoi to Ha Giang easily online on Baolau or 12go.asia
- You can read this article: How to get from Hanoi to Ha Giang?
How to get from Ha Giang to Dong Van and Lung Cu?
- The best way to start your trip to Lung Cu Flag Tower is to travel from Dong Van town. Dong Van town is about 25 km from Lung Cu. From Ha Giang to Dong Van you can travel by motorcycle or you can travel by local bus. From Dong Van to Lung Cu you can travel by motorbike/mototaxi, the road is very good and you will some very nice mountain sceneries.
How much is the ticket to the Lung Cu Flagpole?
- Ticket to the Lung Cu Flagpole costs approximately 50 000 VND (it can change in the future).
Where is located the Lung Cu Flag Tower?
- Lung Cu Flag Tower is located on the Dragon Mountain (Long Son), and it is about 1,700 m above sea level.
What to prepare and what to watch out?
- In the winter, this mountain province can be very cold, so take your warm clothes. It is better if you skip the rainy and foggy weather - monsoon season. It is a frontier zone so watch out where you are going, some border points are marked, you can not cross the border to China. You have to buy a permitt in Ha Giang town for traveling in this province.
It is possible to buy some food at the Lung Cu Flag Tower?
- You can buy there some food - drink at the nearby village, also some tourist souvenirs, but it’s very limited. However, I do not exclude that some new shops or restaurants will grow there in the near future. There is also a popular Cafe Cuc Bac where you can buy some coffee/drink.
Where is Lung Cu Flag Point and Lo Lo Chai Village?
- Lung Cu Flag Point is about 25 km from Dong Van and about 160 km from Ha Giang town. Lung Cu is a part of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, one of the most amazing mountain places in the north of Vietnam. Lo Lo Chai Village is about 2 km from Lung Cu village.
Map of the travel route from Dong Van to Lung Cu Flag Point
(this road is in a good condition, you can travel by motorbike/private transfer)
Lung Cu Flag Point + Lung Cu Village - Photos:
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