Lang Son is a Vietnamese province that shares a border with China. Along the 232 km long border, there are nearly 500 different border markers. Of these, single marker 1297 and secondary marker 1297/4 attract the most visitors, especially from mid-October to the end of November.
Around this time, the pampas grass flowers bloom all over the roadsides, on the cliffs...
Ms. Nhung Kani, a female tourist from Hai Phong, said: "The most beautiful season of reed grass is in the 10th lunar month, especially in the area next to milestone 1297 in Lang Son. Many people often mistake milestone 1297 for Binh Lieu (Quang Ninh), but in fact this place belongs to Lang Son province. On September 2nd, the road I traveled on was quite landslide, there were some sections where I had to turn back."
Milestone 1297 is located in Bac Xa commune, Dinh Lap district, Lang Son province, bordering Vo Ngai commune, Binh Lieu district, Quang Ninh. With its geographical location near the border of Lang Son and Quang Ninh provinces, visitors can come here from both directions.
If departing from Lang Son city, visitors follow National Highway 4B to Dinh Lap town, turn left onto National Highway 31. When arriving at Bac Xa commune, go straight along the main road along the mountainside to reach milestone 1297. This whole distance is more than 100km long.
If you choose to depart from Binh Lieu district, Quang Ninh province, you can take National Highway 18C along many different routes. Each route only requires you to travel 20 - 30km.
However, no matter which direction and road you choose, visitors will have to cross steep, winding and dangerous mountain passes. The road up to the milestone is suitable for motorbikes, low-chassis cars or high-chassis cars under 29.
"There are two ways to reach milestone 1297. One is Binh Lieu, Quang Ninh. The other is Dinh Lap, Lang Son. If you are in Quang Ninh, to get to milestone 1297, take Binh Lieu road, which will be closer. From the paved mountain pass, you can drive smoothly, and you just need to climb a slope about 700m long to get there.
The road to the top of the milestone is now much easier to walk. The steepest sections have been turned into steps, and the gentler sections have been paved with rough concrete to make it easier to move," Ms. Nhung added.
Depending on the physical strength of each visitor, the time to climb up and down this milestone takes about an hour. During the reed grass season, many visitors come here to check in and sightsee, so it will take more time if you want to take souvenir photos at the milestone. To get a romantic photo, visitors should wear fluttering, graceful, brightly colored dresses.
If you go to milestone 1297, the ideal time is in the afternoon. Visitors can combine watching the vast white reeds stretching far and wide and capture the moment of the sunset red on the horizon. In the morning, taking photos at a good angle will not be backlit, the reeds will be white.
There is still 4G signal at the border markers, but the network is a bit unstable. There are almost no food vendors around the border markers, so for convenience and initiative, visitors should prepare food and drinks in advance...
