Dong Van Karst Plateau Memoirs
Upon setting foot in Ha Giang, our memories of this enchanting land are distinctly visible. The mountainous province of Ha Giang is the first place in Vietnam the Lo River flows and is vivid proof of glorious history of the border land where there is only rock.
We cannot count up how many times we have returned to this border province but Ha Giang remains unchanged - still very warm and lovely. When we travel along solitary hilly trails, the drifting fog creates a majestic space. Village children surround and greet visitors with warm smiles on their bright face and their waving hands raised above their heads. After parting from the lovely children, we cross flowering Sung La colza fields - an oasis of yellow flowers on the vast rock plateau, which reminds us of Pao, a beautiful girl in “Pao Story” movie. The real scene generates a very different sense of the idealistically romantic landscape.
Giang Seo Va have lived in solitary colza flower-filled valleys for all his life. Lying on the roadside to the valley is the house of this 30-year-old Mong man. His mother is patching clothes and taking care of children playing afar.
He has just returned from the colza field and his clothes and body are quite dirtied. Va welcomed us with local maize wine. We all know that the wine symbolises his hospitality to us.
Ha Giang is alluringly beautiful year-round. Perhaps, this is why the windy plateau is like a dream that comes true to all visitors, especially in the springtime and in the autumn time. Poetic wooden houses with mossy roofs are full of wine aroma. This land is reddened by peach flowers in the springtime and entangled by the breath of stone, the high blue sky and the vast space. In spring, Ha Giang is like a virgin standing by long Cunninghamia lines. Opening flower-buds of pears and plums beatify colourful costumes dressed in the New Year time. The autumn elapses gently with the fragrance of ripened rice grown on terraced fields.
The border land is like changing the clothes when buckwheat is in blossom. Ha Giang province is said to be the most beautiful when buckwheat is flowering. Many tourists prefer visiting Ha Giang province when the buckwheat is blossoming.
Getting immersed in the space is always emotional? People on the rock plateau must know to get immersed in characteristic dances, songs and festivals on the rock plateau. Perhaps, that is why Ha Giang possesses a treasure of characteristic festivals. Khau Vai love market is a rendezvous for unsuccessful couples of lovers to meet each other once every year. We meet Trang Linh, who has visited the Khau Vai love market for several times. She said: “The sincerity and righteousness of local people deeply impress us.” Linh, her husband and their two children have gone to the Khau Vai love market for several times to listen to the love story of Nung and Giay to remind each other of unsuccessful love affair.
Minh Xuan
Vietnamese
