Setenil de las Bodegas is a town in the province of Cádiz with about 3,000 inhabitants. The town stands out for its white-walled houses. In which, many accommodation places, restaurants and hotels are built in the rock cave. This place gives visitors a feeling of peace every time they visit. Photo: Westend61. The name “Setenil de las Bodegas” reflects the rich history of this town. “Setenil” refers to the 7 times Catholic rulers wrested territory from the Moors – Arab inhabitants. Only in their 7th attempt to conquer did they get this place. Later, residents used cool areas under the rock to store local produce, the town’s name adding the word “Bodegas”, which means “warehouse” in Spanish. Photo: Quiros_marian. Sitting at El Mirador restaurant, you can admire the view of unique houses along the Rio Trejo river gorge. Instead of building structures on top of the cliffs, townspeople use the overhang of the rock as walls, roofs, or partial house developments. Photo: Pinterest. Choosing to live under a large rock for centuries helps to preserve the natural shape of the canyon, reducing interference with the environment. The construction of houses is cost-effective, no need to build a roof because it is covered by the rock. The cave is earthquake-resistant and does not burn. People here use light pipes and skylights to get sunlight. Photo: Traveler. To fully explore the small streets inside the town, visitors are best to walk. The houses are close together, there are not many trees, but this place is still cool all year round. Photo: Mochileando. Most of the space under the rock is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. You can find the right accommodation with unique architecture through intermediary booking channels. However, it is important to carefully read the room description as well as the incentives that guests are entitled to. Photo: Trivago. Some restaurants and eateries take advantage of the cool part under the overhanging rock as seating for diners, without building a roof. Setenil de las Bodegas has a Mediterranean climate, with hot and dry summers from June to August, and mild winters from December to February next year. Carnival (February-March) with street parades, dance and music attracts visitors. Photo: Civitatis. The buildings lined up like a chessboard in Barcelona After nearly 2 centuries, the unique planning of Barcelona (Spain) still surprises visitors. Seen from above, the city looks like a giant chessboard.

Panoramic view of the rock from above (Photo: Phuong Anh/Vietnam+) Located in Yang Tao commune, Lak district, far from the city center Buon Ma Thuot About 40km along Highway 27, Elephant Yang Tao rock consists of a pair of Elephant Cha and Mother Elephant rock appear towering, carrying in them thrilling and mysterious legends. Mother Elephant Rock has a length of about 200m, the circumference at the foot of the rock is about 500m, about 30m high. Yang Tao rocky mountain is shaped like a giant elephant lying with its back against the majestic Central Highlands. This is the largest monolith in Vietnam. From the ground, it only takes about 15 minutes to reach the highest peak of the rock by climbing over gentle slopes. From the top of Mother Elephant rock, you can observe many landscapes in the region such as: Yang Reh Lake and Chu Yang Sin range – the roof of the Central Highlands. 5km away, Elephant Cha rock is located towards the overlapping mountains. Father Elephant Rock smaller in size than Mother Elephant rock: about 70m in length and about 180m in circumference. At the foot of the rocky mountain is a vast green rice field, bees and butterflies flutter, creating a beautiful natural scene. Elephant rock is becoming a popular destination in Dak Lak . This is also the place where couples come to exchange their hundred-year vows. Local people believe that when a couple falls in love and comes here for a date, the stone god will protect their love forever.

Lak Lake is located on Lien Son town, next to the traffic route between Buon Ma Thuot and Da Lat, about 56 km south of Buon Ma Thuot city along Highway 27. The lake is about 5 square kilometers wide. The lake is surrounded by high mountains, so the lake’s water is always calm and there are large primeval forests with rich flora and fauna. Around the lake, there are also historical architectures such as the palace of Emperor Bao Dai, the long house of the M’Nong people. Many traditional long houses are preserved here, besides, many new modern style houses are also built to serve visitors. Tourists come here not only to visit Lak Lake but also enjoy the cultural features of the Central Highlands such as fire dance, seasonal dance, gong performance, silk silk, k’long put, rock flock, elephant riding or boating. walking alone on the lake or crossing the lake. Currently, there are only about a dozen elephants left on the shores of Lak Lake to serve tourists. The elephants here are all caught from the forest since childhood. Up to now, there is an elephant that is 30-40 years old. The youngest child is also 29-30 years old. In the past, many tourists came to Lak Lake to experience the lakeside elephant riding service, however, recently, with the call for animal protection, many people are not interested in elephant riding anymore. According to the elephant manager in Lak Lake, a male elephant can weigh from 4 to 8 tons. Female elephants are smaller. Male elephants have tusks, female elephants only have fangs, very small. Currently, in Lak Lake, the elephant Y Kham Sen has the longest tusks, but only one side. The name Y Kham Sen means “golden child, gambler”. Normally, elephants are fed grass, sugar cane, vegetables, stems and bananas. Each child can eat tons of vegetables and fruits every day. If serving tourists riding elephants, a trip for two people, about 15 minutes, will cost 300,000 VND. The sun and wind of the Central Highlands this season is also a memorable experience for everyone who comes here. However, recently, not many people are interested in riding elephants, because the campaign calls for animal protection. In addition to activities by Lak lake, visitors can visit Buon Bip waterfall, a wild stone stream next to romantic coffee and rice fields.

The third time I set foot in the land of “flowers blooming on the rocks”, I still couldn’t help but admire the pristine scenery of this great place. 5 days and 4 nights is not a long journey, but it left me with many unforgettable impressions. Ha Giang is a favorite destination of many travel enthusiasts. Ideal timing Each season, Ha Giang brings its own beauty and attraction. You can visit the rocky plateau at any time of the year. From January to March, Ha Giang mountains and forests are full of life with flowers blooming everywhere such as peaches, plums, yellow mustard, rice flowers. In the sweet spring sunshine, the weather is cold, the scenery is pleasing to the heart, making visitors fall in love. From May to June, Ha Giang is in the pouring water season. The waterfalls flowing on the green terraced fields create a charming picture of nature. In this season, people also begin to rush to the fields, sowing the first seeds for the next crop. Ha Giang is famous for many beautiful flower seasons. From September to October, the golden season returns to Ha Giang. The ripe golden rice fields spread throughout Hoang Su Phi attract tourists every year. Inhaling the fragrant aroma of ripe rice, immersing yourself in a peaceful space in the middle of the golden season is an unforgettable experience for traveling devotees. From October to December, Ha Giang welcomes visitors with the pure buckwheat flower season. Taking beautiful photos, participating in the buckwheat flower festival are experiences not to be missed at this time. Schedule, move 1. Schedule Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi – Ha Giang City Day 2: Ha Giang City – Dong Van Day 3: Dong Van – Meo Vac Day 4: Meo Vac – Du Gia Day 5: Du Gia – Ha Giang city – Hanoi Day 6: Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City 2. Move From Ho Chi Minh City, I took a plane to Hanoi at night, then took a night bus to Ha Giang in the early morning. From Hanoi to Ha Giang, there are many bus companies to choose from. I chose 2 bus companies, Bang Phan (in the afternoon) and Ngoc Cuong (in the afternoon). In the afternoon, you can choose a palace car, a single bed (about 300,000 VND) or a double bed (about 550,000 VND). Shuttle bus at Noi Bai airport, the latest trip is 22:30, so visitors need to arrange a reasonable schedule. Travel time from Hanoi to Ha Giang is about 5 hours. In the afternoon, around 16:00, there is no palace car, I choose Limousine, the seat is quite comfortable, the ticket price is about 300,000 VND. In addition, there is a shuttle bus to the center of Hanoi. Motorcycle is my main means of transportation in Ha Giang. You can rent a tourist car or go with locals to explore the northern highlands. However, I chose to travel to challenge the steering wheel, fully admire the majestic beauty on the dangerous roads. Most homestays in Ha Giang rent motorbikes. However, I rented a car at Giang Son’s house because the service here received many good reviews. Homestay also provides accommodation for visitors to Ha Giang early in the morning. You can rest and clean yourself here before embarking on a journey to conquer the rocky plateau. The host is quite enthusiastic when advising destinations, giving you a reasonable experience schedule. Car rental price is 150,000 VND. In addition, you are also fully equipped with backpacking accessories such as car straps, helmets, raincoats, rain boots, gloves… Stay The rustic homestay, combined with the majestic mountain scenery is a characteristic of Ha Giang tourism. Here are the accommodations that I had the opportunity to experience. Dust Homestay (Dong Van) : Good design but located a bit far from Dong Van town center (about 1.5 km). Those who want to experience the bustling atmosphere of Dong Van old town at night, I think this is not the ideal choice. Vi Vi Homestay (Meo Vac) : Located in the Hmong community cultural tourism village in Pa Vi commune. This area focuses on many homestays with typical ancient architecture. Vi Vi Homestay has a fairly large area compared to other homestays, the rooms and toilets are clean. This area is not near the center of Meo Vac town. You should order food at the homestay in advance. Du Gia Homestay (Du Gia) : My group booked 2 lake view apartments, the room and toilet were quite clean. You can order food at the homestay or the central area. In the center, there are many bars and cafes. When I arrived, it was already dark, so I didn’t have a chance to experience much. Ha Giang owns resorts from affordable to high-class. Vist location Milestone 0 : The first check-in point on the journey to discover Ha Giang. The landmark is located opposite the square 26-3, right in the heart of the city, so visitors can easily come here and save memories. Quan Ba ​​Heaven Gate : Located at an altitude of 1,500 m above sea level, this is an interesting place for visitors to admire the picturesque scenery of the Northeast mountains. To get to heaven’s gate, you park your car at the stop below and then walk up the steps. Quan Ba ​​Twin Mountain : Considered as a natural masterpiece of the rocky plateau. Coming here in the early morning, you can hunt clouds, save beautiful moments of the wild nature, covered with fog. Lonely tree : The stop is “hunted” by young people on the road from Quan Ba ​​to Yen Minh. A special feature is that the lonely tree has a very large size, lying between the abyss and the pass with high cliffs. These are the check-in coordinates in Ha Giang that are loved by many backpackers. H’mong Village : The resort has only recently come into operation, some areas are still incomplete. You can book a room here or visit with a ticket price of 50,000 VND. There is a tram to take you to visit the area. The infinity pool is a virtual living spot not to be missed at this resort. Pao’s house The house is nearly 100 years old, the scene in the movie “Pao’s Story” is the stopover of many tourists when arriving in Ha Giang. Wooden gate, pillar and stone fence wall, yin and yang tile roof imprinted with time traces, creating a unique virtual living background. Cat King Mansion : About 14 km from Dong Van old town, the mansion was recognized as a national relic in 1993. Outstanding sights with a campus of nearly 3,000 m2 and ancient architecture. Entrance ticket price is 20,000 VND. The Vuong family residence is an attractive check-in point in Ha Giang. Lao Xa Village : A small village about 6 km from Sung La. Coming here in the spring, you will have the opportunity to admire the cherry blossoms in full bloom, yellow mustard and brilliant white plums on the roofs. Visitors can spend the night here to hunt the dawn. However, Lao Xa is only a small village, so there are quite a few resorts. Sung La Valley Dubbed the beautiful flower in the rocky plateau. This place is famous for its blooming flower gardens and stone houses close together. You can easily save beautiful frames here. Lo Lo Chai : Located at the foot of Dragon Mountain, only about 1 km from Lung Cu flagpole. With 90% of the population being Lo Lo people, this place keeps the beauty of indigenous culture. It’s a pity that I can’t stay here to fully experience the rhythm of life in Lo Lo Chai. Lung Cu flagpole : With an altitude of 1,470 m above sea level, Lung Cu flagpole is considered the sacred northernmost landmark of the country. To “touch” this milestone, from Ha Giang city, you will go through a journey of nearly 200 km of rugged mountain roads. On the way, visitors can see Lung Cu flagpole towering on the top of a high mountain, with a red flag with a yellow star fluttering in the wind. Dong Van Old Quarter : This is one of the rare and bustling places in Ha Giang. Most tourists choose to stay overnight in Dong Van because it is located at the intersection between sightseeing areas. Compared to 5 years ago when I came here, now the old town has urbanized a lot, the surrounding houses are crowded with homestays and restaurants. Many stops, beautiful scenery in Ha Giang. Tu San Alley, Nho Que River Boat trip on Nho Que river, through Tu San canyon is an experience that attracts tourists to the Northeast. Taking a boat to admire the scenery on both sides of the river, you will admire the natural masterpiece with an impressive view from the bottom up. In particular, on the journey down the water, you will pass through Tu San canyon, one of the valleys with unique geological tectonics in Vietnam. My group rented a boat (including kayaking) at a cost of 500,000 VND. To get to the boat gathering place at Nho Que River, you need to walk at the white cliff area or drive yourself down about 4 km. If you are not confident in the steering wheel, you can hire locals to drive you down the Nho Que river, costing about 150,000 VND both going and returning. Tu San alley with Nho Que river is a virtual living background for visitors. Code Pi Leng : About 20 km from Dong Van, Ma Pi Leng belongs to the four great peaks of Vietnam. This is also one of the most beautiful check-in roads in Ha Giang when one side is craggy mountains, the other is a deep abyss with the deep green Nho Que stream. Ma Pi Leng stop or the rocky snout area are suggestions for a good photo angle. Pa Vi Ha Village Cultural Tourism Community Village : 17 km from Dong Van town, the village currently has 28 households with wooden-framed houses, walls, and 2-storey yin and yang tiled roofs. The houses are adjacent to each other and most develop homestay services for visitors to visit and experience. Come here, do not forget to discover the culture of the Mong ethnic group. Ban An Stream, Tham Lin Cave : 15 km from the center of Mau Due, Ban An stream is considered as a green pearl hidden in the middle of Ha Giang rocky plateau. Currently, the stream is still quite wild and has not been exploited for tourism much. The road here is not too difficult to go, but visitors need to be careful when crossing the degraded concrete road. From Ban An stream, you can rent a raft to go to Tham Lin cave. Ticket price here is 20,000 VND/person. You should book food and picnic here in advance. The wild beauty of Ban An stream. Du Gia About 70 km from Pa Vi tourist village, Du Gia owns a dangerous check-in road, attracting backpackers and paparazzi. In particular, in the season of carpentry, nature fascinates visitors by undulating cliffs and crimson trees spread along the path. There are peaceful and poetic homestays such as Du Gia Homestay, Du Gia Paranoma. If you have a lot of time, you can trek Tham Luong waterfall or experience shooting stream fish here. Cuisine The cuisine of the Northeast mountains is quite diverse. The dishes not to be missed when coming here are Thang Co, five-color sticky rice, kitchen buffalo meat, Au Tau porridge, Thang am, rolls, roasted pork next to… In general, the restaurants in Ha Giang prepare dishes that are quite easy to eat and the prices are also affordable. I have the opportunity to experience many quality restaurants and bars. Some food suggestions : Toan Thuy Restaurant (Yen Minh) Quan Quang Dung (Dong Van Old Quarter) Di Lan restaurant (Dong Van old town) Nga Thuong Restaurant (Mau Due)