From a remote village at the northernmost tip of Vietnam – where people once relied mainly on growing rice and corn – Lô Lô Chải has transformed through tourism and risen to become one of the Best Tourism Villages in the World.
Peaceful Spring in Lô Lô Chải – Photo: Nam Trần
Located at the foot of Lũng Cú Flag Tower, the northernmost landmark of Vietnam, Lô Lô Chải is a small village of the Lô Lô ethnic group, situated at an altitude of about 1,470 meters above sea level.
For many years, Lô Lô Chải has been a must-visit destination for both domestic and international travelers exploring the Đồng Văn Karst Plateau.
On October 17 in Zhejiang, China, the UN Tourism officially honored Lô Lô Chải as one of the Best Tourism Villages in the World 2025.
The village has always been beautiful—beautiful in its way of life and in the peaceful scenery at the frontier of the country. Walking through the village gate, visitors seem to leave all worries behind as they stroll slowly along the clean village paths lined with moss-covered stone walls.
When the Chinese drama Meet Yourself, starring Liu Yifei, went viral on social media, many viewers were reminded of the tranquil scenery of Lô Lô Chải. As a result, the village gained even more recognition.
More than a decade ago, the Lô Lô people here mainly depended on small rice and corn fields scattered across the rugged limestone mountains. Today, life has changed significantly as villagers develop tourism while still living in the same homes their families have inhabited for generations. The village has about 120 households, mostly Lô Lô people, and 56 of them now participate in tourism services.
Lô Lô Chải in its early days of tourism development – Photo: Quang Thế
Lô Lô Chải honored as one of the Best Tourism Villages in the World 2025 – Photo: Nam Trần
Spotlessly clean village road in Lô Lô Chải – Photo: Nam Trần
Lô Lô Chải is beautiful in every season:
- In autumn, the village drifts quietly in the early morning mist.
- winter, families gather warmly beside glowing fireplaces.
- In spring, flowers bloom in vibrant colors.
- In summer, the mountain air feels cool and refreshing.
One of the most striking features of the village is its century-old rammed-earth houses, clustered together and surrounded by rocky mountains. The houses are built with clay walls and roofed with traditional yin–yang tiles. Each home has a spacious courtyard enclosed by hand-stacked stone fences covered in moss.
Rammed-earth houses in Lô Lô Chải, which have been part of local life for decades and even centuries, are now homestays welcoming visitors from near and far – Photo: Nam Trần
In recent years, homestay services have grown rapidly. Many young people from lowland areas have rented old rammed-earth houses, restoring them to welcome travelers while carefully preserving their original architecture and traditional interior layout.
Visitors can wander freely around the village, stopping by homes without even knocking on the door. Every house warmly welcomes guests. What makes people fall in love with Lô Lô Chải are the simplest details: patches of moss on stone walls, a lazy cat basking in the spring sunlight, or the cozy moment of gathering around a charcoal fire to roast corn, sweet potatoes, and cassava.
A stall selling local specialties at a homestay in the village – Photo: Nam Trần
Lô Lô Chải located near the Vietnam–China border – Photo: Nam Trần
A tabby cat in Lô Lô Chải – Photo: Nguyễn Trọng Cung
Lô Lô Chải also has a high rate of overnight visitors. Almost everyone who comes chooses to stay. The homestays preserve the original structure of the old houses, and everything inside is arranged in a simple, traditional style that creates a warm and inviting atmosphere.
By staying with local families, visitors can immerse themselves in the culture of the Lô Lô people—through their food, their stories, and the quiet conversations shared around the dinner table.
If you ever visit the rocky plateau of northern Vietnam, make sure to stop by Lô Lô Chải—a village where houses face toward the country’s northernmost point, and every corner is filled with warmth and affection.
