Exploring not-to-be-missed destination of Lo To Chai village

A panoramic view of Lo Lo Chai village

Since that milestone, Lo Lo Chai has become a destination “not to be missed” for both domestic and international visitors. In the final days of the year, people flock to the small village at the foot of the Lung Cu Flag Tower in numbers reminiscent of a festival pilgrimage. Seven days a week, the village is alive with footsteps and cheerful conversations.

The appeal of Lo Lo Chai lies in the harmonious beauty of its natural landscape and the distinctive charm of its four seasons. In summer, when the lowlands are scorched by intense heat, Lo Lo Chai retains its cool, refreshing air. In autumn, the village is enveloped in drifting mist, evoking a dreamy, ethereal atmosphere of the borderlands. In winter, the harsh cold makes the flickering hearth a warm and intimate space that brings people together. In spring, flowers bloom brilliantly across the mountain slopes, turning the Lo Lo people’s village into a vibrant and colorful painting.

Beyond its scenery, Lo Lo Chai preserves a remarkably intact range of the material and spiritual cultural values of mountainous ethnic communities. Strolling through the village, visitors can easily encounter clusters of centuries-old rammed-earth houses nestled together amid rocky mountains. Walls plastered with clay and earth, and roofs covered with yin-yang tiles, create a rustic and tranquil beauty. Traditional crafts such as carpentry and embroidery are still practiced here, along with festivals rich in cultural identity, including forest spirit worship ceremonies, rice harvest celebrations, and new house festivals.

Peach blossoms in full bloom beside ancient rooftops

Despite welcoming large numbers of visitors, Lo Lo Chai has retained the intimate atmosphere of a traditional rural village. When night falls, the entire village settles into quiet stillness. Sitting by a warm hearth, sipping a cup of hot tea, one feels as if time slows down. Everyday worries seem to fade away, giving way to profound reflections on the peaceful land at the northernmost point of the Fatherland.

Translated by Tran Hoai