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Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
Nestled at the foot of Dragon Mountain in the northernmost province of Hà Giang, Lô Lô Chải Village embodies the timeless beauty of Vietnam’s uplands — where traditional culture, pristine nature, and warm hospitality harmoniously intertwine. In 2025, the village earned global recognition as one of the “World’s Best Tourism Villages” by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a testament to its commitment to sustainable tourism and cultural preservation.
Geographical Setting and Global Recognition
Located in Lũng Cú Commune, Đồng Văn District, Lô Lô Chải lies just one kilometer from Vietnam’s iconic Lũng Cú Flag Tower — the symbolic northernmost point of the nation. Beyond its scenic landscapes, the village serves as a vibrant cultural heart of the frontier highlands.
In 2025, the prestigious UNWTO “Best Tourism Village” award placed Lô Lô Chải on the global tourism map. Previously, it had already been honored as a model cultural and tourism village of Hà Giang Province, reflecting the locality’s success in integrating community-based tourism with heritage conservation.
Traditional Architecture and Way of Life
Home to 114 households, mostly of the Lô Lô (Black Lô Lô) and Hmong ethnic groups, Lô Lô Chải preserves distinctive architectural and cultural features. The village is particularly noted for its earthen-walled houses, known locally as nhà trình tường, built entirely from compacted earth — a traditional technique that ensures both warmth and durability in the harsh mountain climate.
Currently, about 37 ancient earthen houses remain intact, many of which have been lovingly restored and converted into traditional homestays. These homes retain their original forms, with yin-yang tiled roofs, thick clay walls, and wooden interiors adorned with ancestral artifacts, musical instruments, and colorful brocade fabrics — creating an atmosphere of authenticity and intimacy.
Cultural Heritage and Traditional Crafts
Lô Lô Chải is a living museum of intangible cultural heritage, where local knowledge and craftsmanship are passed down through generations. Women of the Lô Lô ethnic group are skilled in weaving and embroidery, producing vibrant brocade textiles with intricate motifs that tell ancestral stories. In 2022, the “Art of Decoration on the Costumes of the Black Lô Lô People” was officially recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Vietnam, underscoring its cultural significance.
Other traditional crafts — such as woodworking, drum making, and bronze casting — continue to thrive, contributing both to the preservation of cultural identity and to the creation of unique tourism products.
Cultural life in Lô Lô Chải is enriched by a wealth of traditional songs, dances, and rituals that embody the community’s spiritual connection to nature. Particularly remarkable are the 26 ceremonial dances performed to the rhythms of bronze drums, representing a sacred dialogue between humans and the spiritual world. These performances, often featured during weddings, harvest festivals, or cultural events, captivate visitors with their rhythm and symbolism.
The culinary heritage of the Lô Lô people offers another form of immersion. Local delicacies such as mèn mén (steamed cornmeal), đậu chúa (fermented tofu), thịt treo gác bếp (smoked pork), thắng cố (traditional stew), and buckwheat beer reveal the resourcefulness and creativity of mountain life. Visitors are also encouraged to take part in seasonal farming activities — from planting vegetables to harvesting buckwheat flowers.
Staying overnight in Lô Lô Chải means more than finding accommodation — it is an invitation to live like a local. The community-run homestays, priced between 150,000 and 800,000 VND per night, allow visitors to share meals, join cultural exchanges, and learn traditional skills such as weaving or cooking local dishes.
The village also features the famous “Café Cực Bắc” (Northernmost Café) — a scenic spot where travelers can enjoy a cup of local coffee while admiring panoramic views of Dragon Mountain and the Lũng Cú Flag Tower.
A Symbol of Sustainable Tourism in Vietnam
Lô Lô Chải stands as a compelling example of how cultural preservation can go hand-in-hand with sustainable development. Through the restoration of traditional houses, the revival of crafts, and the empowerment of local residents, the community has demonstrated that tourism can be both profitable and respectful of heritage.
As a UNWTO “Best Tourism Village 2025”, Lô Lô Chải not only celebrates the harmony between people and nature but also inspires other rural destinations across Vietnam and beyond to pursue a path of sustainable, inclusive, and community-led tourism.
