Lang Son Travel Guide

Lang Son is the northern province of Vietnam which borders Cao Bang Province to the North, Sung Ta Province (China) to the northeast, Bac Giang Province to the south, Quang Ninh Province to the east, Bac Kan Province to the West and Thai Nguyen Province to the southwest.

This province has a number of natural and cultural attractions such as Cho Ky Lua (Donkey Market), Tam Thanh and Nhi Thanh caves, ice-covered Mau Son peak and To Thi Mount associated with a legend about a faithful wife waiting for a husband until being petrified into a rocky mountain.

Lang Son has two international border gates including Dong Dang railway border gate and Huu Nghi road border gate, two national border gates such as Chi Ma (in Loc Binh District) and Binh Nghi (in Trang Dinh District). So Lang Son has an important strategic position in the North-East of Vietnam.

The main ethnic groups found in that area include the Kinh, Tay, Nung, Dao, and Nga

The best time to visit Lang Son

In Lang Son, there is a clear distinction between seasons of a typical climate of the Northern Vietnam. Lang Son has the regional sub-tropical climate with a relatively cold winter lasting 4-5 months and snow sometimes appears on Mau Son mountain summit. Hottest month record a temperature of 27°C only. So you can travel to Lang Son any moment.

How to get to Lang Son

Lang Son is 154km from Hanoi, 60km from Thai Nguyen, 48km from Quang Ninh, 55km from Cao Bang, 73km from Bac Kan.

Currently, the highway to Lang Son is nice and flat, you can travel by motorbike, suitable for a 2-day trip in the weekends. However, remember to carry the registration paper/driver license, travel in compliance with the traffic law. In addition, you should bring a smartphone with Google maps to check the directions.

From Hanoi, the easiest way to get to Lang Son is by passenger bus. Depending on the type of vehicles, there will be different prices, ranging from VND 150,000 – VND 200,000~ $ 7-9/ Turn. You can catch a passenger bus at Luong Yen, Gia Lam or My Dinh station to get to Lang Son.

Things to do and top attractions in Lang Son

Mau Son Mountain

Mau Son Mountain is located in Loc Binh District, Lang Son Province, and 30km away from the center of Lang Son City and also one of the most magnificent sceneries of Southeast Asia. This is the highest point of the province of Lang Son.

The fortress of the Mac Dynasty in Lang Son

It located in Tam Thanh district of Lang Son Province. This used to be one of the most important military constructions in the feudal period of Vietnam history. When visitors stand on the peak of the fortress which lies between two spectacular cliffs, you can spread your view all over a natural, untouched yet mysterious area.

Tam Thanh Grotto

Tam Thanh Grotto is one of the most famous grottoes in the northern Vietnam. The 8m high entrance of the grotto is situated to the West of Ky Lua Street. It includes three grottoes: Nhat Thanh, Nhi Thanh, and Tam Thanh. The most famous is Tam Thanh Grotto, lying west of Ky Lua Street.

Ky Lua Market

Ky Lua Market is a century-old market located in the Centre of the city of Lang Son, where the people of Lang Son buy, sell and Exchange almost anything. A tourist attraction which, unfortunately, is not open every day, just the second and seventh days of the lunar calendar

Lang Son Festivals

Pac Mong Festival

Among more than 260 traditional festivals in Lang Son Province, Pac Mong festival is considered one of the greatest ones, attracting thousands of people from all over the country. It organized in the 5th day of a lunar year in Quang Lac village, Lang Son province. This is also an event that triggers the beginning of the festival season in the province every spring.

Long Tong Festival

Long Tong Festival is one of the biggest and most important events of Lang Son; it is organized annually in the 4th day of the year (according to Lunar Calendar) in more than 200 villages of the province. This festival is arranged annually for worshiping the God of agriculture in the spring to ask for his good wishes.

Local specialties in Lang Son

Hot egg-rolled cake is a unique specialty of Lang Son. You can eat at Mrs. Tham’s restaurant at No.14 Nguyen Du Street – Lang Son. Sour rice noodle soup, duck noodle soup, sour bamboo sprouts… are also Lang Son’s delicacies.
Grilled meatballs Lang Son is only as big as the wrist; they are wrapped inside three layers of green banana leaves for 1 to 2 days before being grilled on red, hot coals.

For further information about other destinations in Vietnam, please read more in Vietnam Travel Guide and make sure check your Vietnam visa requirement before you intend visiting our beloved country.