The limestone mountains, valleys and hillsides of the Dong Van Karst
Plateau in Tuyen Quang Province turn shades of white, pale pink and purplish
pink each autumn as buckwheat flowers bloom. The season brings color to Viet
Nam’s northernmost region and offers visitors a chance to explore its natural
beauty and rich ethnic culture.
From the Pho Cao crossroads, the road into the plateau winds past rugged
mountain ranges, traditional rammed-earth houses and stone fences built by
generations of local residents. Against the gray limestone, delicate flower
fields create a striking contrast with the rocky terrain.
Blooming from early October through December, buckwheat flowers gradually
change from white or pale pink to deeper pink and purplish pink. Their changing
colors give the plateau a distinctive look throughout the season.
The journey leads to Pho Bang, a quiet town known for its old earthen
houses, wooden doors and narrow alleys. In Sung La Valley, Lung Cam Cultural
Tourism Village draws visitors with its traditional rammed-earth houses,
including one featured in the film Pao’s Story. Flower fields around
the village add to its peaceful charm, while visitors can learn about Hmong
architecture, customs and daily life.
At Lao Xa, old Hmong houses and traditional silver carving offer further
insights into local heritage. Visitors can explore workshops and learn about
this intricate craft, which requires patience and skill.
Further toward Lung Tao and Lung Cu, flower fields dot the mountain slopes
and connect scenic attractions, including the Lung Cu National Flag Tower and
Lo Lo Chai Cultural Tourism Village. The area also offers opportunities to
discover the architecture, customs and daily lives of the Lo Lo community in
this remote border region.
To extend the flowering season, Tuyen Quang Province planted around 400ha of buckwheat flowers across communes on the plateau in 2026. Sowing
was divided into three phases to maintain blooms from October through December,
coinciding with local festivals and events. The 12th Tuyen Quang Buckwheat
Flower Festival, themed “Echoes of the Rocky Plateau,” further promotes the
region and its people.
Though the flowers eventually fade, the plateau's appeal endures in its
limestone scenery, traditional villages, preserved handicrafts and resilient
ethnic communities. Together, these elements make Dong Van a destination rich
in both natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Buckwheat flowers bloom in Lung Tam Commune, Tuyen Quang Province. This year, nearly 400ha have been planted across communes on the Dong Van Karst Plateau for the 2026 Buckwheat Flower Festival, which opened on October 25 and runs through December.
A buckwheat field in Lung Tam Commune, Tuyen Quang Province.
Buckwheat flowers not only add beauty to Tuyen Quang but also provide food ingredients for local cakes and other dishes. In the photo: A buckwheat field in Yen Minh Commune, Tuyen Quang Province.
A buckwheat field in Yen Minh Commune, Tuyen Quang Province.
The hillsides and mountains of Lung Tao Commune, formerly part of Dong Van District. Visitors can climb Ma Le Mountain for a panoramic view of the fields, which are usually at their best in mid-November. In the photo: A buckwheat field in Yen Minh Commune, Tuyen Quang Province.
Buckwheat flowers change from white to pink and then darker shades as they mature. At the seed-setting stage, fields display a mix of colors, creating a striking sight for visitors. In the photo: A buckwheat field in Yen Minh Commune, Tuyen Quang Province.
Om a buckwheat field in Yen Minh Commune, Tuyen Quang Province.
Buckwheat seeds are used to make cakes and liquor, while the plant also serves as livestock feed and traditional medicine. Its short growing cycle once made it an important food source between harvests. In the photo: A buckwheat field in Pho Bang Commune, Tuyen Quang Province.
On a buckwheat field in Lung Tao Commune, Tuyen Quang Province.
Popular spots for buckwheat flowers include Hoang Su Phi, Xin Man, Pho Bang, Pho Cao, Sung La, Dong Van, Lung Cu and Ma Le. Along National Highway 4C, known as the Happiness Road, flowers blanket valleys, hillsides and roadsides. In the photo: A buckwheat field in Lung Tao Commune, Tuyen Quang Province.
Buckwheat flowers blanket the valleys, adding soft colors to the rugged mountains of the Dong Van Karst Plateau.
A buckwheat field in Lung Tao Commune, Tuyen Quang Province.
Popular spots along National Highway 4C include Thach Son Than, Tam Son–Quan Ba, Van Chai, Pho Cao, Pao’s House, Lung Tao and San Tro. Visitors can also explore Lao Xa, Pho Bang and Pho La, known for their natural buckwheat fields.
Instead of planting all the flowers at once, localities have divided sowing into three phases to extend the blooming season from October through December. The flowers are expected to peak in early November, coinciding with the opening of the Buckwheat Flower Festival.
Lo Lo women in traditional dress walk through a buckwheat field in Lo Lo Chai Village, Lung Cu Commune, Tuyen Quang Province.
Lo Lo women in traditional dress walk through a buckwheat field in Lo Lo Chai Village, Lung Cu Commune, Tuyen Quang Province.
Lo Lo women in traditional dress walk through a buckwheat field in Lo Lo Chai Village, Lung Cu Commune, Tuyen Quang Province.
A woman poses amid vibrant purplish-pink buckwheat flowers.