Each autumn, white, pale pink and purple buckwheat flowers soften the limestone mountains of the Dong Van Karst Plateau in Tuyen Quang Province. They usually bloom from late October to early December, changing from pale pink to deeper purple.
Local legend says residents found the plant when maize and rice ran out before the next harvest. People still grow buckwheat for cakes, alcohol and traditional remedies.
Sung La, Pho Bang and Lung Cu attract visitors with flowers, villages, old houses and the national flag tower. In 2026, Lung Cu Commune planted about 70ha in 16 villages, including 18.2ha in key tourism areas. Residents sow the flowers in stages to extend the season.
Mountains and river
Ma Pi Leng Pass is one of Vietnam’s four great mountain passes. The road winds between cliffs and deep valleys, with the Nho Que River below. Buckwheat flowers add colour to the stark terrain.
The 12th Buckwheat Flower Festival in 2026, themed Echoes of the Rocky Plateau, is scheduled to open on October 25 in Dong Van Commune and run until the end of December. It will present the nature and culture of communities in the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark.
Flavours of the highlands
Buckwheat cake costs around VND10,000 and is often served with thang co, a horse meat stew. Chao au tau is made with aconite tuber, which is poisonous unless properly prepared. Reu nuong, or grilled moss, is associated with the Tay people.
Travel notes
Autumn is colder on the plateau than in the lowlands, so visitors need warm clothes, a hat and a scarf. Entrance fees generally range from VND10,000 to VND20,000. Visitors should not trample or pick flowers. Mountain roads can be difficult, so travelling in a group or hiring a local guide may make the journey safer.
Sources: Viet Nam News
