Lan Nong - a peaceful pearl in the middle of the mountain

A land of over a hundred years old, quietly preserving the pristine lifestyles of the Nung people, and now is opening the door to welcome tourists returning...

From the center of Cai Kinh commune, the road leading to Lan Nong winds like a thin silk strip stretching across the mountainside. The wind blows through coolly, carrying the scent of the forest and the sound of birds chirping. Occasionally, the sound of motorbike engines echoes over the cliffs, that is when local "silk drivers" are welcoming tourists, carrying them through spectacular bends. Anyone who wants to challenge themselves can choose to walk, it takes about 50 minutes, crossing the precarious mountainside, where each step is a touch to the original nature, to the rare silence in life that is flowing too fast.

Arriving at the final peak, Lan Nong appeared, nestled in the green of the mountains and forests. 13 houses faintly visible in the valley, blue afternoon smoke lightly flying, gradually dissipating in the white mist. Here, the Nung community has lived together for more than 120 years, through 8 generations, in a slow cycle of mountains and forests and crops. Each roof, each fence, each peanut garden, corn field contains a story of perseverance and a loyal heart to the land.

The domestic water source of the people here is led from a clear water mine flowing out from the heart of the mountain year-round, called Mo Toi (Dark Mine). The name sounds mysterious as if in each drop of water still remains the spirit of the mountains and forests. Drinking that sip of water, people can feel the flavor of soil, rocks, and life flowing through generations.

In the old days, Lan Nong was surrounded by vast ironwood forests, with trees so big that 26 main pillars could be cut to make houses. Now, that forest has become sparser, but memories of them are still in the stories of the elderly. They remember the sound of saws echoing in the forest, remember the shade of large trees covering the entire road.

The morning in Lan Nong begins with the sound of roosters crowing, kitchen smoke fades and the fragrant smell of boiled corn from the kitchen. At noon, golden sunlight pours down on the old tiled roof, sparkling on the patches of trees. When evening comes, the wind blows through the mountain crevices, carrying the smell of dew, the smell of soil, the smell of damp dry leaves in the rock crevices... blending into the familiar flavor of the mountainous region. At night, the full moon crawls across the mountain peak, spreading silver light into the valley, reflecting the quiet stilt houses. The sound of insects mixed with dog barks echoing from afar, the small village is immersed in peace, a peace that makes people's hearts washed away.

The Nung people in Lan Nong are gentle and hospitable. Welcoming distant guests, the stove will flicker, the dish boils on a cast iron pan while the host only smiles gently, with friendly eyes. In this place, the bond between people and nature is a way of life, harmonious and slow.

Lan Nong has electricity for lighting from clean energy sources but has not yet covered telephone coverage. However, it seems that no one sees a shortage because conversations still take place by the fire, laughter still echoes in the porch every afternoon. Now, when the new road has been cleared, Lan Nong is no longer an "isolated oasis". The small village is gradually opening up as a new destination for nature lovers, for those who want to leave the urban pace to find original peace.

The trekking route along the mountainsides, a night's stay on the wooden floor, a meal with wild vegetables, local chicken, and fragrant corn wine - all bring visitors the feeling of returning to the purest things of life. The people here also began to cherish the dream of tourism. Not noisy and bustling tourism, but experiential tourism, sharing tourism. They want to welcome guests with sincere smiles, with a bowl of vegetable soup picked from the fields, with a story about their ancestors who established the village more than 100 years ago. They hope that friends from all over will know their simple lives, to understand that in the mountains of Lang Son, there is still a place so intact, where every smile, every house, every stream are heritage.

Amidst the world that is rushing with noisy music, Lan Nong is a quiet, quiet note. That calmness is not lonely but sparkles with the beauty of freedom. People come here to listen to the sound of wind blowing through the canopy, to watch the mist melt on the roof, to understand what peace is without searching. And then when they leave, they will carry a little longing, pity for the gentleness of the people in the village, pity for the clouds lingering on the mountaintop, pity for the golden moonlight pouring down into that foggy night valley...

Lan Nong, a peaceful pearl in the mountains and forests, silently shines with its own simplicity, silently existing, making people's hearts flutter. Here, we live slower, breathe deeper, and love simple things more to see that peace is not far away, but right in each step, each breath.