Tuyen Quang Travel Guide

General Information

Tuyen Quang is a mountainous province in Northeastern Vietnam, at the center of Lo River valley, a tributary of the Red River. It is the neighbor of Ha Giang province to the North, Bac Kan, and Thai Nguyen provinces to the East, Yen Bai province to the West and Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho provinces to the South. This province with the majestic elevated mountains peaks exceeding 2,000m above sea level is the homeland of several ethnic groups such as Kinh, Tay, Dao, and Nung, of which, Kinh ethnic group contributes more than half of the province’s population.

Covering the area of 568,800 hectares with most of the land spending on agricultural purpose, Tuyen Quang has been developing more and more with over 50% labor force at young ages which have been the strength of this mountainous province in economic development. With the appearance of more and more industrial zones and the local committee’s enthusiasm in calling for external investment, the region face has been evolving considerably positive.

To Vietnamese, Tuyen Quang has another name ‘the capital city of revolutionary’. Tan Trao, Son Duong are used to be the places for the historical events and meetings associated with the national destiny held by the Central Party and Uncle Ho. On the very first difficult time of national magical revolutionary, Tuyen Quang people had to bear the exceptionally important mission; that is to build and protect the ATK, protect Uncle Ho, Party Committee, National Assembly, Government, and Battlefront as well as Central Ministries and headquarters of Lao revolution. Party Committee and Tuyen Quang people played the significant contribution to the battle to gain the national independence.

Tuyen Quang is also characterized as “the province of great tourism potential”. The province owns 519 relics of history, culture, and landscape, including one special national relic, 117 relics at the national level, 181 relics at the provincial level. Not only associated with the process of national formation, Tuyen Quang is also the place where exists many tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the ethnic communities who have lived in this land for a long time. A visit to Tuyen Quang hopes to bring unmemorable experiences for tourists.

Weather in Tuyen Quang

The best times to travel to Tuyen Quang is from November to April when the weather is pleasant and favorable for your trekking and hiking trips here.

Getting to Tuyen Quang

Tuyen Quang is about 150km from Hanoi so it is easy to travel to Tuyen Quang by High way 2. You can easily catch a bus from My Dinh Bus Station, which takes about 3 hours to get to Tuyen Quang. Besides, if you ride a motorbike, go from Pham Van Dong to Noi Bai – Phuc Yen crossroad, turn to National Highway 2 to Phuc Yen, Vinh Yen and go straight on National Highway 2 via Phu Tho, Tuyen Quang.

What to See in Tuyen Quang

Despite not being popular on social media, Tuyen Quang has many beautiful scenes that many have never heard of. These destinations should be in your travel booklet as not-to-be-missed places.

Take the first look at the tangible values of this place.

Historical Relic of Tan Trao

Being used as the revolutionary base of Vietnam before the August 1945, Tan Trao is the most famous destination in a Vietnam discovery trip not only for the historical values but also for the wonderful natural landscape.

Located in Son Duong district and 41km far from the center of Tuyen Quang town, Tan Trao is a small valley, where the Communist Party of Vietnam held a national party conference 08/13/1945 to discuss the plan for a general uprising.

When coming here, visitors can have the chance to visit some remaining historical sites: Tan Trao Communal House, Hong Thai Communal House and Tan Trao banyan tree.

Tan Trao also owns many caves, rich resources, beautiful scenery that can delight visitors at the first sight.

Na Hang Ecotourism Area

For adventurous travelers, there are a few destinations that could satisfy their expectations to explore and discover mysterious caves and primeval forests like Na Hang in a tour to Northern Vietnam. This area is located in the northern part of Tuyen Quang, 110km from the center of Tuyen Quang city. Each cave, stream and waterfall associated with its own legendary stories; some of them have come into poetry and songs.

This is the convergence of Gam River and Nang River, contiguous to Ba Be Lake with majestic mountains, inspirational land. You can hire a small boat and travel around, to contemplate Pac Ta and Pac Vang temples, visit Pac Ta Mountain, the highest in Na Hang.

Additionally, Tat Ke-Ban Bung Nature Reserve, which is the homeland of a thousand kinds of fauna and flora across 42,000ha. Particularly, upturned nose monkeys, white-cheeked monkey, noon bear are noticed in the world red book.

Na Hang is very rich by ethnic culture with the residence of many ethnic minorities groups such as Dao, Tay, Nung, and San Diu. With the house on stilts covering by palm leaves, specific traditional cultural features, cultural tours to learn about ethnic groups are very attractive to tourists.

My Lam Mineral Stream

This famous stream is located in Yen Son district, Tuyen Quang province, 13km far from Tuyen Quang central town on the south-east. My Lam Mineral Stream is greatly appealing to visitors with mineral mud bath service, hot mineral water bath service and stunning natural beauty.

The stream has sulfur mineral water underground, was discovered from the 60s. Until now, the water has been proved to include high chemical compositions of Bicarbonate, calcium, sodium, potassium and sunfuahyrofluo. Taking a bath in 40-42^oC water helps visitors put off all their stress, pressure, bring all the relaxation and pleasure back. Even this method can cure arthritis pain, neuralgia, bringing joy and health for many patients.

Apart from tangible, Thai Nguyen people also take huge pride in their intangible values which have been existing hundreds of year.

Art Performances

Tuyen Quang is home of various folk song such as Then singing, ‘coi’ singing, ‘quan lang’ singing (Tay ethnic people), ‘pao dung’ (Dao ethnic people), ‘sinh ca’ (Cao Lan ethnic people), ‘soong co’ (San Diu ethnics people).

Traditional Festivals

Long Tong festival (Tay ethnic people)

Long tong festival, which means ‘crop praying’ festival, is an important event to begin a new year. It is always held on the 8^th lunar January with the meaning of praying for a good weather condition and productive harvests.

The beauty comes from the villages hidden in the foothills, covered in mists will surely make an impressive experience to visitors.

Mid-Autumn Festival

The festival is held every year on Mid-Autumn occasions, which is one of the greatest festivals in your tour to Vietnam, with various activities such as organizing the Mid-autumn Festival for children, introducing Tuyen Quang province to visitors, modeling of dresses and costumes related to the Vietnamese worship of the Mother Goddesses.

There is a lantern making contest, a fruit tray decoration contest and music shows at the festival. Especially, the sparkling gaudy colors from the giant lantern will catch eyes of both local and international participants, particularly many children at the first time and leave them beautiful phase of the lives

What to Eat in Tuyen Quang

Tuyen Quang is not the destination of diverse cuisine like other provinces. However, there are some kinds of food specialties which can leave the unforgettable impressions in your mind.

Five-colors steam sticky rice

The specialty is in the multi-colors of this food which are really eye-catching. This food is usually served in the holidays of Tay ethnic group worship.

The stream sticky is made of glutinous rice, very fragrant with five colors white, yellow, blue, red, purple; representing Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth. There is another explanation for the colors as soil, water, clouds, rain, and sunshine. All the ingredients for making this food is from the vegetables in Tay’s home garden.

Sticky rice cake with ant eggs

This rustic food may sound weird form someone, but you will surely want to have the second bite if you try once because of the delicious taste of the sticky rice and the fat of the ant eggs mixed with onions and dill.

Corn liquor in Na Hang

Like other mountainous areas, Tuyen Quang has its own kind of wine. This wine is made from maize and leaves yeast selected from 20 herbs such as forest peppers, cinnamon, licorice and distilled and steeped in a long time by traditional methods of Na Hang people. This wine not only has the sweet taste of corn liquor but also helps to some kinds of diseases such as rheumatism.