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Thai Nguyen
Situated in Far North - East Vietnam, Thai Nguyen Province is surrounded by Bac Kan Province on the north, Tuyen Quang and Vinh Phuc provinces on the west, Lang Son and Bac Giang provinces on the east, and Hanoi on the south.
Mountains account most of Thai Nguyen's topography with Tam Dao, Ngan Son, Bac Son ranges. The complex network of rivers includes Cau, Cong, Du, and Rang. The main nature resources are coal, iron, steel, and titan. Thanks to good soil, Thai Nguyen tea, especially tea of Tan Cuong origin has long been a nation- wide famous product. Thai Nguyen has a lot of hills and forests.The main ethnic groups to populate this area are the Kinh, Tay, Nung, Dao, San Diu, Hoa, and H’mong. Economic potentialities: forestry, agriculture.
There are two seasons: winter lasts from November to April and summer is from May to October. Thai Nguyen has revolutionary tradition, historical vestiges including Van, Vo mountains, Dinh Hoa ATK vestige, and Duom Temple.
Thai Nguyen City is on National Highway No.3 (Hanoi - Cao Bang), 80km from Hanoi. There is daily train from Hanoi to Quan Trieu, about 8km from center of Thai Nguyen City.Annual average temperature is 25ºC.
Attractionsin Thai Nguyen:
1. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
2. A Tan Cuong Tea Plantation
3. Nui Coc Lake
4. Tien Sa Stream – La Bang Tourist Site
5. Chua Hang Cave
6. Linh Son Grotto
7. Pagoda Grotto & Fairy Stream
8. Phoenix Grotto & Mo Ga Stream
9. Khuon Manh Forest
10. Nam Rut Fall
11. Than Sa Archeological Site
12. ATK, Dinh Hoa Safe Zone, capital of the resitance war (1946-1954)
1. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
The museum is situated in the heart of Thai Nguyen City on an area of 39,000 sq. km. During the reign of the French Colony, it used to be the premise of the French mission in Thai Nguyen Province. The Museum overlooks the island in the city’s center. There is a large garden with many century-old trees at the back of the museum, making a shady surrounding, and the Cau River continually flowing downstream as a soft silk band.
The construction of the former Viet Bac (the North-West) Museum (now Vietnam Museum of Ethnology) started on December 19, 1960 and completed in 1962. It is considered the biggest and most beautiful architectural works in Thai Nguyen as well as one of the museums with grand architecture in Vietnam. Since its opening, the museum has become the pride of the Thai Nguyen’s people. With above 3,000 sq. m, the museum has preserved and displayed more than 10,000 artifacts and documents, which are a cultural heritage of the 54 Vietnamese nationalities. The museum encompasses five display halls, including:
1. Viet - Muong Hall: shows artifacts of the Viet, Muong, Tho and Chut groups.
2. Tay - Thai Hall: the Tay, Nung, Thai, Lao, Lu, San Chay and No Y groups.
3. Mong Dao and South-Asian groups Hall: H`Mong, Dao, Pa Then, La Chi, La Ha, Co Lao, and Pu Peo groups.
4. Nom & Kho Me Hall: the groups of Ba Na, Kho Mu, So Dang, Co Ho, Hre, Co Tu, and Ma etc.
5. Han & Hoa Hall: the groups of Hoa Ngai, San Diu, Ha Nhi, Lo Lo, Gia Lai, and E De etc.
All these halls have a rather perfect décor, combining the modern western display style with the traditional Vietnamese one. Have a look at the entire display system of the museum, you will learn about ethnology, physical and spiritual cultures and social life of the 54 Vietnam’s nationalities.
2. A Tan Cuong Tea Plantation
Leaving Thai Nguyen City ’s center about 10 km on provincial route of Dan - Nui Coc, you will meet with the immense evergreen of forests, mountains and budding tea plantations.
Although Vietnam has many tea producing regions, Tan Cuong tea of Thai Nguyen Province has been long best known for its great taste.
The Tan Cuong tea has a passionate natural flavor of young rice and a strong sweet taste made only by the Tan Cuong air and soil. Since the early 20th Century, tea products of Tan Cuong brand name have been available in Thai Nguyen, Ha Thanh, Nam Dinh and many other cities and towns across the country. With a fragrant flavor of young rice and an individual dedicate sweet taste, the Thai tea became a favorite drink of the Vietnamese and a gift from Thai Nguyen Province .
3. Nui Coc Lake
Nui Coc Lake is 15 km southwest of Thai Nguyen City . It lies amid spectacular scenery with a fresh and cool climate. The vast lake encompasses 89 small to big islands, such as Green Forest Island , Stork Island , Goat Island , Island of the Temple to the Goddess of Mountains (Ba Chua Thuong Ngan). With a depth of 23 m and a width of 25 sq. km, the lake is capable to hold 175 million cubic meters of water.
Visiting the Nui Coc Lake tourist site, you will certainly be pleased with a variety of entertainments, recreation activities and sightseeing tours, like taking a boat tour round the lake and calling by some islands, listening to the tale about a faithful love of Coc and Cong, visiting Fairy Park and Zoo Park. Also, you can swim at the Water Park . There are a wide range of hotels and restaurants. In recent years, the Nui Coc Lake became a tourist attraction.
4. Tien Sa Stream – La Bang Tourist Site
You are welcome to La Bang, the origin of Thai Nguyen revolutionary history, and Tien Sa Stream to admire and enjoy what is granted by the nature.
The La Bang Commune in Dai Tu District is 35 km northwest of Thai Nguyen City on provincial route from Thai Nguyen to Tuyen Quang and 4 km from Dai Tu Township towards Tuyen Quang.
It is said that the La Bang stream then was very beautiful, with limpid water and a shade of luxuriant trees on the both sides. On a good night, four fairies landed on the Earth to play chess. Being absorbed in playing, they did not notice the morning setting in, so failed to return to the heaven. As a result, the four fairies turned into rocks that are four corners of the existing chessboard. Since then, the La Bang Stream has been known as Tien Sa Stream.
When you reach La Bang, at the forest gate you will see sheer rock citadels. A short walk of 500 m away is Slippery (Tron) Stream. As it is very difficult to go through the course because of slippery rocks, the stream is called Slippery Stream.
About 200 m from the Slippery River is the Fairies` Chessboard. This is the place where four fairies played chess and turned into rocks, as they could not notice the morning setting in because of being absorbed in the game. That is why the site is called Fairies` Chessboard.
Take a walk along the stream, you will get to the Abyss (Vuc Tham). 700 m from the Abyss is Sat area at Khe Pass. 300 m from the Sat is Chuom Temple with a beautiful natural setting, cool climate, and a giant rock bank an ideal place for bathing and excursions. Go farther from the Chuom Temple , you will get to Nga Hai where the two big courses flow and incorporate into a greater stream. Follow the stream, you will reach Voi Dat and Shelter Rock (Da Ham). The rock has a shelter that is capable to accommodate 20-30 people. Hunters of ethnic minorities often take some rest here at hunt’s end.
Go back to the La Bang Stream from the Shelter Rock and walk inside, you will reach a well-conserved primitive forest. There are big century-old trees, such as Tro plant with a perimeter of a hold by five people and Ba Luong banian tree. Ba Luong is a place where three streams converge to create a flow of stream known as Ba Luong.
The banian tree is very big and beautiful with patulous boughs over the two streams and cool weather. At a distance of 50 m from the banian tree is a century-old Goi tree (also known as Sen tree) with a diameter of three meters, a perimeter of a hold by six people and a height of 60-70 meters. This is a precious timber plant. Especially, as the summer sets in, there are a wide range of orchids, colorful orchid gardens, and mammals, such as monkeys, deer, squirrels, and birds etc.
As well as the above sites, on the way you will see imposing Deo Tieu area where people of Man tribe once lived and earned living by hunting and doing fieldwork. Today, the site preserves many tools and utensils.
The local authorities are planning to prepare an investment project, aiming to develop the Tien Sa Waterfall and La Bang Stream into an eco-tourist site connecting with the Tam Dao Hill Station.
To the northeast of Thai Nguyen along National Highway 1B (Thai Nguyen – Lang Son), there is a tourist site encompassing a wide range of scenic beauties, big cultural and historical sites subject to state conservation. With typical tourist products, such as eco-tourism and cultural tourism, the tour route includes the following destinations
5. Chua Hang Cave
Chua Hang Cave is 2 km west of Thai Nguyen City's center, crossing Gia Bay bridge towards the National Highway 1B (Thai Nguyen - Lang Son). There is a pagoda inside the cave with three rocky mountains of nearly a thousand meter in length in the heart of Chua Hang Town . Perhaps, the town was named after this attraction. Chua Hang's festival, which is held annually on January 20, attracts numerous pilgrims to enjoy the spring and pray for luck and happiness.
6. Linh Son Grotto
Though its name means “mysterious mountain”, Linh Son is actually a pair of limestone caverns named Heaven and Earth in Thai Nguyen Province, some 75 kilometers north of Hanoi.
Thien (Heaven) and Dia (Earth) can be found on the slope of Hot, a limestone peak in Linh Nham Commune, Dong Hy District. With a floor area of 360m² and hundreds of stalagmites and stalactites, Thien is a sight to behold and the locals reckon it in beauty like the much-vaunted Thien Cung (heavenly palace) in Halong Bay. Upon entering the cavern, you may feel lost in a fairy world amid all the fascinating beauty created by the variegated stalagmites and stalactites. They resemble many shapes, the most obvious being the two dragons, the kneeling elephants, dancing kylins and lions, and the prostrate tigers guarding the entrance. The floor is fairly level, which makes walking around very easy, and there are staircases cut into the rock leading up to hewn altars on which stand Buddha statues.
Just outside the other end is a road to the mountain’s summit and another to the even more impressive Dia. This cavern has a floor area of 480m² and higher ceilings than Thien. Again the going underfoot is level and easy, and there are plenty more stalactites and stalagmites taking on various familiar shapes, particularly a big pen brush and a mother embracing her child. It used to be a Buddhist temple of sorts and there are still a few bronze Buddhas, a number of red lacquered statues trimmed with gold, and many stone figures on man-made altars cut from the walls.
In October 1995, some local residents discovered an old stele on the cliff above the twin caverns with carved Chinese characters meaning “restoring Linh Son Cavern”. Archaeologists and Sinologists from the Museum Preservation Department checked it out the following year but they found that most of the carved characters had faded beyond translation. Going buy the design and decorations, they did manage to ascertain that the stele came from the days of the Le Dynasty.
Linh Son is more than just a place of beauty; it also served as a refuge for the local people and the soldiers needing somewhere safe against the French troops and later the American bombs that carpeted the north of Vietnam.
7. Pagoda Grotto & Fairy Stream
Chua Grotto - Pagoda Grotto, also known as Hang Chua, and Fairy Stream make up an imposing natural ecological site with Mountainous Pagoda (Chua Nui) Grotto, On Mountain, Fairy Cave , and primitive forests, which are home to a diverse fauna and flora.
The site, which belongs to Van Lang Commune, Dong Hy District, Thai Nguyen Province , is 14 km from Thai Nguyen City ’s center towards National Highway B with a left turn at km 12. It is not only a place of scenic beauty but also a historical site. In the war against the northern enemy during the reign of Tong Dynasty, under the command of Duong Tu Minh, the Pagoda Grotto became a place of training for militants as well as a safe shelter for the locals.
To date, the wild scenery here is left unchanged. The Pagoda Grotto comprises of three natural levels, and with the time stalacites joint together to form rocky columns in the shape of old coconut trees. Besides, there is a flagstone in the shape of a chessboard and statutes of joss-stick pots. The hard palate of the grotto is covered with sparkling stalactites like a carpet of broken stones that are evenly spread on the brilliant ground as stars on the sky. Especially, there is a stone bell-topped pillar at the end of the grotto, and you can hear the echo throughout the grotto with a slight knock at the stone bell.
8. Phoenix Grotto & Mo Ga Stream
42 km northwest of Central Thai Nguyen City on National Highway 1B is a nationally recognized place of scenic beauty of Thai Nguyen Province . That is the Phoenix Grotto and Mo Stream site that situated about 800 m from National Highway 1B, the Phoenix Grotto, also known as Phuong Hoang Grotto, lies on the summit of Phoenix Mountain with an elevation of 600 m. In the center of the grotto, there are fairylike stalactites in the shapes of an elephant, a dancing kylin, a mother carrying a child in her arms, a dancer, giant falls, a bunch of coral seas, rocky cluster, statutes of big bells, stone joss-stick pots, and especially a phoenix spreading its wings to welcome the visitor.
At the foot of the Phoenix Mountain is Mo Ga Stream. Water flows from inside the grotto all the year round, creating a limpid course winding through large rocks to form nice bathrooms. The stream’s bed is open and closed from place to place to create nice surprises for visitors. At the Mo Ga Stream, you will enjoy the vitality of earth and air as well as the mysterious fragrance of mountainous flowers and forest ginsengs.
9. Khuon Manh Forest
Khuon Manh forest where the National Salvation Detachment II of Trang Xa Commune, Vo Nhai District was founded is 50 km northeast of Thai Nguyen City ’s center.
At this site on September 1941, on behalf of the Central Party’s Committee comrade Hoang Quoc Viet announced the establishment of National Salvation Detachment II, which is one of the precursors of current Vietnam People’s Army. This is an impressive historic site with an educational meaning.
10. Nam Rut Fall
“A water music – a ballad of the northeastern mountains and forests”
Nam Rut Fall, also known as by Tay people as Raindrop Fall, is spectacular attraction in Than Sa Commune, Vo Nhai District, 30 km from Thai Nguyen City .
At a distance of 80 from the fall, you can hear the sound of water music and the echo of cliffs like a piece of forest music amidst a fresh and climate air, making landscape here mysterious and wild as in Sa Pa or Da Lat. If you look up, the Nam Rut Fall appears glorious with tens of falls from rocks of above 50 m high, spreading the refraction of sunshine over Than Sa River. Listening to the sounds of singing birds, running falls, and blowing winds, your heart will be burst by water music compositions amid the moonlight covering mountains and hills.
In the summer, when wet season sets in, the Nam Rut Fall looks like the princess of green forests appearing for a couple of days and then hiding in mountains. The fall is featured by a combination of large falls with small ones flowing from spaces between rocks like a water faucet spreading out water over flowers and plants. So it looks appealing amidst a fresh and cool climate, making a wild beauty of the mountain girl with the piece of forest music that can be found only at the Raindrop Fall.
11. Than Sa Archeological Site
Than Sa Archeological Site is located in Than Sa Commune, Vo Nhai District, 5 km northeast of Nam Rut Fall. Than Sa’s terrain is featured by a high density of limestone ranges in the latter part of Bac Son range and narrow strips of valley along sides of Than Da River. The earliest human habitation here dates from the post-stone times, 23,000 to 40,000 years ago. Nguom stone roof, excavated lake, stone relics, stone axe and so on have been found here. The Than Sa archeological site has been listed for national conservation on December 24, 1982 . Visiting Than Sa, you will be able to admire beautiful scenery, superb mountains, green mountains and blue waters to think through the past and present life of human beings. Also, you can get to know beauties in the cultural life of ethnic minorities and stilt-house architecture of Tay and Nung groups that are only available at this place.
12. ATK, Dinh Hoa Safe Zone, capital of the resitance war (1946-1954)
Turn left at km 31 of National Highway 3 and take the pass road winding amid mountains and forests dotted with evergreen tea plantations and shading palm plantations, you will feel really relaxed after a long journey to Dinh Hoa Safe Zone.
A dangerous mountainous area with the position of military strategic significance, Dinh Hoa was chosen as a place for building up a safe zone. It is significant to note that the site was the headquarter during the nine-year war against the French aggressors. President Ho Chi Minh with leaders of the Party, the State and organs of the Central Party Committee and the Government worked here from 1947 to 1954. It is estimated that there are nearly 100 historical sites throughout Dinh Hoa’s mountains and forests. Of these, six sites are subject to national embellishment, namely:
1. Tin Keo site in Phu Dinh Commune where Uncle Ho lived and worked in 1947-1948 and with the Politburo made decision on the Winter - Spring Campaign in 1953-1954.
2. Palm Plantation at Khuon Tat Hamlet, Phu Dinh Commune where President Ho once lived and worked together with comrades Truong Chinh, Pham Van Dong, Vo Nguyen Giap and so on.
3. Phung Hien historical site at Diem Mac Commune where comrade Truong Chinh worked.
4. Bao Lien Hamlet in Bao Linh Commune where the Ministry of National Defense were based and General Vo Nguyen Giap worked between 1949 and 1954.
5. Quang Village in Dinh Bien Commune where the ceremony to merge the Vietnam Liberation Propagation Detachment and the National Salvation Detachment into Vietnam Liberation Army was held on May 15, 1945.
6. Former Chu Market Prison in Dinh Hoa that was built by the French in 1916 to detain patriots and Vietnamese communists. From 1933 to 1943, one hundred communists were imprisoned here. Despite the French`s attempt to impose pressure and suppress Vietnam `s revolutionary movements, a party cell informally ran in the prison. On 2nd October 1944 , under the leadership by the Central Party`s Committee and the Commissioner of Northern Vietnam, the party cell arranged successful escapes from the prison for twelve communists. Today, the historical site of Chu Market Prison is preserved relatively intact and is open for visit, historical study, and education in the revolutionary tradition for the next generations. The Chu Market Prison is known as an attractive place of historical and cultural interest in Thai Nguyen Province .
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Visiting Dinh Hoa, you will also be drawn by spectacular natural surroundings, such as Hang (Grotto) Pagoda, a seven-level waterfall, Bao Linh Lake etc . As well as the revolutionary sites of the former Viet Bac military zone the Dinh Hoa Safe Zone been acknowledged by the State as one of the most crucial historical sites of Vietnam in the 20th century and is subject to restoration, preservation and embellishment as part to make it on par with its significance to the national history.
On May 19, 2005 , Ho Chi Minh President Memorial House was officially inaugurated for public service.
The asphalt road linking Thai Nguyen`s Dinh Hoa Safe Zone to Tuyen Quang`s Tan Trao Safe Zone is scheduled to be put into operations on August 19, 2005 in a bid to facilitate travel by people while coming back to the origin of Vietnam `s revolutionary history.
Mountains account most of Thai Nguyen's topography with Tam Dao, Ngan Son, Bac Son ranges. The complex network of rivers includes Cau, Cong, Du, and Rang. The main nature resources are coal, iron, steel, and titan. Thanks to good soil, Thai Nguyen tea, especially tea of Tan Cuong origin has long been a nation- wide famous product. Thai Nguyen has a lot of hills and forests.The main ethnic groups to populate this area are the Kinh, Tay, Nung, Dao, San Diu, Hoa, and H’mong. Economic potentialities: forestry, agriculture.
There are two seasons: winter lasts from November to April and summer is from May to October. Thai Nguyen has revolutionary tradition, historical vestiges including Van, Vo mountains, Dinh Hoa ATK vestige, and Duom Temple.
Thai Nguyen City is on National Highway No.3 (Hanoi - Cao Bang), 80km from Hanoi. There is daily train from Hanoi to Quan Trieu, about 8km from center of Thai Nguyen City.Annual average temperature is 25ºC.
Attractionsin Thai Nguyen:
1. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
2. A Tan Cuong Tea Plantation
3. Nui Coc Lake
4. Tien Sa Stream – La Bang Tourist Site
5. Chua Hang Cave
6. Linh Son Grotto
7. Pagoda Grotto & Fairy Stream
8. Phoenix Grotto & Mo Ga Stream
9. Khuon Manh Forest
10. Nam Rut Fall
11. Than Sa Archeological Site
12. ATK, Dinh Hoa Safe Zone, capital of the resitance war (1946-1954)
1. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
The museum is situated in the heart of Thai Nguyen City on an area of 39,000 sq. km. During the reign of the French Colony, it used to be the premise of the French mission in Thai Nguyen Province. The Museum overlooks the island in the city’s center. There is a large garden with many century-old trees at the back of the museum, making a shady surrounding, and the Cau River continually flowing downstream as a soft silk band.
The construction of the former Viet Bac (the North-West) Museum (now Vietnam Museum of Ethnology) started on December 19, 1960 and completed in 1962. It is considered the biggest and most beautiful architectural works in Thai Nguyen as well as one of the museums with grand architecture in Vietnam. Since its opening, the museum has become the pride of the Thai Nguyen’s people. With above 3,000 sq. m, the museum has preserved and displayed more than 10,000 artifacts and documents, which are a cultural heritage of the 54 Vietnamese nationalities. The museum encompasses five display halls, including:
1. Viet - Muong Hall: shows artifacts of the Viet, Muong, Tho and Chut groups.
2. Tay - Thai Hall: the Tay, Nung, Thai, Lao, Lu, San Chay and No Y groups.
3. Mong Dao and South-Asian groups Hall: H`Mong, Dao, Pa Then, La Chi, La Ha, Co Lao, and Pu Peo groups.
4. Nom & Kho Me Hall: the groups of Ba Na, Kho Mu, So Dang, Co Ho, Hre, Co Tu, and Ma etc.
5. Han & Hoa Hall: the groups of Hoa Ngai, San Diu, Ha Nhi, Lo Lo, Gia Lai, and E De etc.
All these halls have a rather perfect décor, combining the modern western display style with the traditional Vietnamese one. Have a look at the entire display system of the museum, you will learn about ethnology, physical and spiritual cultures and social life of the 54 Vietnam’s nationalities.
2. A Tan Cuong Tea Plantation
Leaving Thai Nguyen City ’s center about 10 km on provincial route of Dan - Nui Coc, you will meet with the immense evergreen of forests, mountains and budding tea plantations.
Although Vietnam has many tea producing regions, Tan Cuong tea of Thai Nguyen Province has been long best known for its great taste.
The Tan Cuong tea has a passionate natural flavor of young rice and a strong sweet taste made only by the Tan Cuong air and soil. Since the early 20th Century, tea products of Tan Cuong brand name have been available in Thai Nguyen, Ha Thanh, Nam Dinh and many other cities and towns across the country. With a fragrant flavor of young rice and an individual dedicate sweet taste, the Thai tea became a favorite drink of the Vietnamese and a gift from Thai Nguyen Province .
3. Nui Coc Lake
Nui Coc Lake is 15 km southwest of Thai Nguyen City . It lies amid spectacular scenery with a fresh and cool climate. The vast lake encompasses 89 small to big islands, such as Green Forest Island , Stork Island , Goat Island , Island of the Temple to the Goddess of Mountains (Ba Chua Thuong Ngan). With a depth of 23 m and a width of 25 sq. km, the lake is capable to hold 175 million cubic meters of water.
Visiting the Nui Coc Lake tourist site, you will certainly be pleased with a variety of entertainments, recreation activities and sightseeing tours, like taking a boat tour round the lake and calling by some islands, listening to the tale about a faithful love of Coc and Cong, visiting Fairy Park and Zoo Park. Also, you can swim at the Water Park . There are a wide range of hotels and restaurants. In recent years, the Nui Coc Lake became a tourist attraction.
4. Tien Sa Stream – La Bang Tourist Site
You are welcome to La Bang, the origin of Thai Nguyen revolutionary history, and Tien Sa Stream to admire and enjoy what is granted by the nature.
The La Bang Commune in Dai Tu District is 35 km northwest of Thai Nguyen City on provincial route from Thai Nguyen to Tuyen Quang and 4 km from Dai Tu Township towards Tuyen Quang.
It is said that the La Bang stream then was very beautiful, with limpid water and a shade of luxuriant trees on the both sides. On a good night, four fairies landed on the Earth to play chess. Being absorbed in playing, they did not notice the morning setting in, so failed to return to the heaven. As a result, the four fairies turned into rocks that are four corners of the existing chessboard. Since then, the La Bang Stream has been known as Tien Sa Stream.
When you reach La Bang, at the forest gate you will see sheer rock citadels. A short walk of 500 m away is Slippery (Tron) Stream. As it is very difficult to go through the course because of slippery rocks, the stream is called Slippery Stream.
About 200 m from the Slippery River is the Fairies` Chessboard. This is the place where four fairies played chess and turned into rocks, as they could not notice the morning setting in because of being absorbed in the game. That is why the site is called Fairies` Chessboard.
Take a walk along the stream, you will get to the Abyss (Vuc Tham). 700 m from the Abyss is Sat area at Khe Pass. 300 m from the Sat is Chuom Temple with a beautiful natural setting, cool climate, and a giant rock bank an ideal place for bathing and excursions. Go farther from the Chuom Temple , you will get to Nga Hai where the two big courses flow and incorporate into a greater stream. Follow the stream, you will reach Voi Dat and Shelter Rock (Da Ham). The rock has a shelter that is capable to accommodate 20-30 people. Hunters of ethnic minorities often take some rest here at hunt’s end.
Go back to the La Bang Stream from the Shelter Rock and walk inside, you will reach a well-conserved primitive forest. There are big century-old trees, such as Tro plant with a perimeter of a hold by five people and Ba Luong banian tree. Ba Luong is a place where three streams converge to create a flow of stream known as Ba Luong.
The banian tree is very big and beautiful with patulous boughs over the two streams and cool weather. At a distance of 50 m from the banian tree is a century-old Goi tree (also known as Sen tree) with a diameter of three meters, a perimeter of a hold by six people and a height of 60-70 meters. This is a precious timber plant. Especially, as the summer sets in, there are a wide range of orchids, colorful orchid gardens, and mammals, such as monkeys, deer, squirrels, and birds etc.
As well as the above sites, on the way you will see imposing Deo Tieu area where people of Man tribe once lived and earned living by hunting and doing fieldwork. Today, the site preserves many tools and utensils.
The local authorities are planning to prepare an investment project, aiming to develop the Tien Sa Waterfall and La Bang Stream into an eco-tourist site connecting with the Tam Dao Hill Station.
To the northeast of Thai Nguyen along National Highway 1B (Thai Nguyen – Lang Son), there is a tourist site encompassing a wide range of scenic beauties, big cultural and historical sites subject to state conservation. With typical tourist products, such as eco-tourism and cultural tourism, the tour route includes the following destinations
5. Chua Hang Cave
Chua Hang Cave is 2 km west of Thai Nguyen City's center, crossing Gia Bay bridge towards the National Highway 1B (Thai Nguyen - Lang Son). There is a pagoda inside the cave with three rocky mountains of nearly a thousand meter in length in the heart of Chua Hang Town . Perhaps, the town was named after this attraction. Chua Hang's festival, which is held annually on January 20, attracts numerous pilgrims to enjoy the spring and pray for luck and happiness.
6. Linh Son Grotto
Though its name means “mysterious mountain”, Linh Son is actually a pair of limestone caverns named Heaven and Earth in Thai Nguyen Province, some 75 kilometers north of Hanoi.
Thien (Heaven) and Dia (Earth) can be found on the slope of Hot, a limestone peak in Linh Nham Commune, Dong Hy District. With a floor area of 360m² and hundreds of stalagmites and stalactites, Thien is a sight to behold and the locals reckon it in beauty like the much-vaunted Thien Cung (heavenly palace) in Halong Bay. Upon entering the cavern, you may feel lost in a fairy world amid all the fascinating beauty created by the variegated stalagmites and stalactites. They resemble many shapes, the most obvious being the two dragons, the kneeling elephants, dancing kylins and lions, and the prostrate tigers guarding the entrance. The floor is fairly level, which makes walking around very easy, and there are staircases cut into the rock leading up to hewn altars on which stand Buddha statues.
Just outside the other end is a road to the mountain’s summit and another to the even more impressive Dia. This cavern has a floor area of 480m² and higher ceilings than Thien. Again the going underfoot is level and easy, and there are plenty more stalactites and stalagmites taking on various familiar shapes, particularly a big pen brush and a mother embracing her child. It used to be a Buddhist temple of sorts and there are still a few bronze Buddhas, a number of red lacquered statues trimmed with gold, and many stone figures on man-made altars cut from the walls.
In October 1995, some local residents discovered an old stele on the cliff above the twin caverns with carved Chinese characters meaning “restoring Linh Son Cavern”. Archaeologists and Sinologists from the Museum Preservation Department checked it out the following year but they found that most of the carved characters had faded beyond translation. Going buy the design and decorations, they did manage to ascertain that the stele came from the days of the Le Dynasty.
Linh Son is more than just a place of beauty; it also served as a refuge for the local people and the soldiers needing somewhere safe against the French troops and later the American bombs that carpeted the north of Vietnam.
7. Pagoda Grotto & Fairy Stream
Chua Grotto - Pagoda Grotto, also known as Hang Chua, and Fairy Stream make up an imposing natural ecological site with Mountainous Pagoda (Chua Nui) Grotto, On Mountain, Fairy Cave , and primitive forests, which are home to a diverse fauna and flora.
The site, which belongs to Van Lang Commune, Dong Hy District, Thai Nguyen Province , is 14 km from Thai Nguyen City ’s center towards National Highway B with a left turn at km 12. It is not only a place of scenic beauty but also a historical site. In the war against the northern enemy during the reign of Tong Dynasty, under the command of Duong Tu Minh, the Pagoda Grotto became a place of training for militants as well as a safe shelter for the locals.
To date, the wild scenery here is left unchanged. The Pagoda Grotto comprises of three natural levels, and with the time stalacites joint together to form rocky columns in the shape of old coconut trees. Besides, there is a flagstone in the shape of a chessboard and statutes of joss-stick pots. The hard palate of the grotto is covered with sparkling stalactites like a carpet of broken stones that are evenly spread on the brilliant ground as stars on the sky. Especially, there is a stone bell-topped pillar at the end of the grotto, and you can hear the echo throughout the grotto with a slight knock at the stone bell.
8. Phoenix Grotto & Mo Ga Stream
42 km northwest of Central Thai Nguyen City on National Highway 1B is a nationally recognized place of scenic beauty of Thai Nguyen Province . That is the Phoenix Grotto and Mo Stream site that situated about 800 m from National Highway 1B, the Phoenix Grotto, also known as Phuong Hoang Grotto, lies on the summit of Phoenix Mountain with an elevation of 600 m. In the center of the grotto, there are fairylike stalactites in the shapes of an elephant, a dancing kylin, a mother carrying a child in her arms, a dancer, giant falls, a bunch of coral seas, rocky cluster, statutes of big bells, stone joss-stick pots, and especially a phoenix spreading its wings to welcome the visitor.
At the foot of the Phoenix Mountain is Mo Ga Stream. Water flows from inside the grotto all the year round, creating a limpid course winding through large rocks to form nice bathrooms. The stream’s bed is open and closed from place to place to create nice surprises for visitors. At the Mo Ga Stream, you will enjoy the vitality of earth and air as well as the mysterious fragrance of mountainous flowers and forest ginsengs.
9. Khuon Manh Forest
Khuon Manh forest where the National Salvation Detachment II of Trang Xa Commune, Vo Nhai District was founded is 50 km northeast of Thai Nguyen City ’s center.
At this site on September 1941, on behalf of the Central Party’s Committee comrade Hoang Quoc Viet announced the establishment of National Salvation Detachment II, which is one of the precursors of current Vietnam People’s Army. This is an impressive historic site with an educational meaning.
10. Nam Rut Fall
“A water music – a ballad of the northeastern mountains and forests”
Nam Rut Fall, also known as by Tay people as Raindrop Fall, is spectacular attraction in Than Sa Commune, Vo Nhai District, 30 km from Thai Nguyen City .
At a distance of 80 from the fall, you can hear the sound of water music and the echo of cliffs like a piece of forest music amidst a fresh and climate air, making landscape here mysterious and wild as in Sa Pa or Da Lat. If you look up, the Nam Rut Fall appears glorious with tens of falls from rocks of above 50 m high, spreading the refraction of sunshine over Than Sa River. Listening to the sounds of singing birds, running falls, and blowing winds, your heart will be burst by water music compositions amid the moonlight covering mountains and hills.
In the summer, when wet season sets in, the Nam Rut Fall looks like the princess of green forests appearing for a couple of days and then hiding in mountains. The fall is featured by a combination of large falls with small ones flowing from spaces between rocks like a water faucet spreading out water over flowers and plants. So it looks appealing amidst a fresh and cool climate, making a wild beauty of the mountain girl with the piece of forest music that can be found only at the Raindrop Fall.
11. Than Sa Archeological Site
Than Sa Archeological Site is located in Than Sa Commune, Vo Nhai District, 5 km northeast of Nam Rut Fall. Than Sa’s terrain is featured by a high density of limestone ranges in the latter part of Bac Son range and narrow strips of valley along sides of Than Da River. The earliest human habitation here dates from the post-stone times, 23,000 to 40,000 years ago. Nguom stone roof, excavated lake, stone relics, stone axe and so on have been found here. The Than Sa archeological site has been listed for national conservation on December 24, 1982 . Visiting Than Sa, you will be able to admire beautiful scenery, superb mountains, green mountains and blue waters to think through the past and present life of human beings. Also, you can get to know beauties in the cultural life of ethnic minorities and stilt-house architecture of Tay and Nung groups that are only available at this place.
12. ATK, Dinh Hoa Safe Zone, capital of the resitance war (1946-1954)
Turn left at km 31 of National Highway 3 and take the pass road winding amid mountains and forests dotted with evergreen tea plantations and shading palm plantations, you will feel really relaxed after a long journey to Dinh Hoa Safe Zone.
A dangerous mountainous area with the position of military strategic significance, Dinh Hoa was chosen as a place for building up a safe zone. It is significant to note that the site was the headquarter during the nine-year war against the French aggressors. President Ho Chi Minh with leaders of the Party, the State and organs of the Central Party Committee and the Government worked here from 1947 to 1954. It is estimated that there are nearly 100 historical sites throughout Dinh Hoa’s mountains and forests. Of these, six sites are subject to national embellishment, namely:
1. Tin Keo site in Phu Dinh Commune where Uncle Ho lived and worked in 1947-1948 and with the Politburo made decision on the Winter - Spring Campaign in 1953-1954.
2. Palm Plantation at Khuon Tat Hamlet, Phu Dinh Commune where President Ho once lived and worked together with comrades Truong Chinh, Pham Van Dong, Vo Nguyen Giap and so on.
3. Phung Hien historical site at Diem Mac Commune where comrade Truong Chinh worked.
4. Bao Lien Hamlet in Bao Linh Commune where the Ministry of National Defense were based and General Vo Nguyen Giap worked between 1949 and 1954.
5. Quang Village in Dinh Bien Commune where the ceremony to merge the Vietnam Liberation Propagation Detachment and the National Salvation Detachment into Vietnam Liberation Army was held on May 15, 1945.
6. Former Chu Market Prison in Dinh Hoa that was built by the French in 1916 to detain patriots and Vietnamese communists. From 1933 to 1943, one hundred communists were imprisoned here. Despite the French`s attempt to impose pressure and suppress Vietnam `s revolutionary movements, a party cell informally ran in the prison. On 2nd October 1944 , under the leadership by the Central Party`s Committee and the Commissioner of Northern Vietnam, the party cell arranged successful escapes from the prison for twelve communists. Today, the historical site of Chu Market Prison is preserved relatively intact and is open for visit, historical study, and education in the revolutionary tradition for the next generations. The Chu Market Prison is known as an attractive place of historical and cultural interest in Thai Nguyen Province .
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Visiting Dinh Hoa, you will also be drawn by spectacular natural surroundings, such as Hang (Grotto) Pagoda, a seven-level waterfall, Bao Linh Lake etc . As well as the revolutionary sites of the former Viet Bac military zone the Dinh Hoa Safe Zone been acknowledged by the State as one of the most crucial historical sites of Vietnam in the 20th century and is subject to restoration, preservation and embellishment as part to make it on par with its significance to the national history.
On May 19, 2005 , Ho Chi Minh President Memorial House was officially inaugurated for public service.
The asphalt road linking Thai Nguyen`s Dinh Hoa Safe Zone to Tuyen Quang`s Tan Trao Safe Zone is scheduled to be put into operations on August 19, 2005 in a bid to facilitate travel by people while coming back to the origin of Vietnam `s revolutionary history.