Leaving the noisy city, after only two hours of driving from Hanoi, we arrived at Huu Lung, a land that still retains its rustic features and is less touched by commercialization.
People often remember Sa Pa, Moc Chau, Mai Chau as famous tourist destinations. But in Lang Son, Huu Lung appears as a peaceful area to find quiet.
In the fall, the gardens here begin to ripen, many gardens are near the end of the season. In the middle of the garden, Ms. Oanh Ngoc - a tourist from Hanoi - excitedly experienced the first time picking ripe fruit on the tree, handling the trunks of worms that were pulled down with a net from the stone tray.
"The sweet taste, thick taste and light fragrance make me remember them forever. That is the reason I have returned to this place many times, she shared.
After receiving the homestay room, Ms. Ngoc and a group of friends went to Yen Thinh valley.
The valley opens up a panoramic view of mountains and clouds, winding streams, and green fields in reach of the eye. Children release kites, adults kayak or relax in the cool stream. Here, Wi-Fi is almost non-existent, giving people the opportunity to fully connect with nature.
"The moment I was immersed in the clear water, I felt all the tension in the city as if it had disappeared," Ms. Thu said.
For that reason, many people compare Yen Thinh to a "little Mongolia" of the North.
sat on Huu Lung is Huu Lien commune, about 150km from Hanoi. Dong Lam (Huu Lien commune) has long been famous for its lush green grass, where the herd of horses leisurely grazed. Every rainy season, the vast grassland is suddenly submerged in water, turning into a vast, emerald green lake.
Mr. Nguyen Trong Cung - a travel blogger from Thai Binh - called this the "one-of-a-kind" season of the year.
"Going bamboo rafts through the cluster of ancient trees growing in the middle of the lake, it feels very quiet and strange. That was the moment when only in Dong Lam was the flood season, he shared.
Each raft trip lasts more than an hour, costing about 200,000 VND/person. In addition, many tourists like to roam SUP, kayak, camp by the lake, fish or swim - a way to fully enjoy the pristine beauty here.
By mid-September, the water receded, leaving behind a layer of fertile alluvium. Dong Lam steppe revives with long grass, herds of horses growing under the sun, a scene reminiscent of a peaceful remote region.
In the evening, under the yellow light of the homestay, an outdoor party with Lang specialties was prepared with spinach dishes, crispy spinach, Chinese pork leg, and black Chung cake.
"The tournament is crispy and fragrant. The delicious food is the reason why I come back to Huu Lung, Ms. Ngoc revealed.
The next morning, the journey ended with a visit to Bac Mo dam, the banyan tree and the cluster of ancient trees honored as Vietnam Heritage Trees, including 7 fig trees, 5 banyan trees with large roots, wide canopy, painting a rare ancient picture.
A 2-day, 1-night trip to Huu Lung - Huu Lien usually costs about 1 - 2.5 million VND/person. With a distance of only two hours by car, this is a short journey to "ets the heat", just enough to experience fresh nature and rich cuisine.
Huu Lung is not bustling, not crowded, but full of sweet ripe garden, dreamy valley, emerald green lake, long grassland and unforgettable specialty flavor.
