Dong Van Karst Plateau (Cao Nguyen Da Dong Van)

The basics

The Dong Van Karst Plateau’s UNESCO designation encourages sustainable tourism and community development, and that’s exactly what you’ll find here. As you venture across this stone forest, you’ll run into roadside markets—especially on Sundays—that pop up amongst the incredible vistas, with locals selling wares and handicrafts, bowls of thắng cố, a savory stew, and more.

Beyond the cultural flavor, popular natural sites include Tu San—southeast Asia’s deepest canyon at more than 2,600 feet (800 meters), the Mã Pí Lèng Pass, and the Fairy Bosom peaks, a pair of identical mountains. Then there’s history: the French have left their mark here in the form of fortresses, city walls, and more.

Things to know before you go

• Dong Van French Fortress sits at the district’s highest limestone peak. From here, you can get panoramic views—and catch plenty of history.

• There are several modest temples in this area and many remaining active spots of worship.

• Thach Son Than, a series of strange limestone columns, is just one example of the wild geology here at Dong Van.

How to get there

Most travelers will begin their journey in Ha Giang, about 3 hours away. You’ll need a car or motorbike to reach the geopark and to explore it. Once inside, the main road (QL4C) can take you to most points of interest; should you want to stay the night, there are multiple homestays in the area.

When to get there

Northern Vietnam’s rainy season—monsoon season—typically occurs from May to September. That doesn’t mean it can’t rain outside that window, of course. Usually, that wouldn’t be a huge deal, but if you want to go hiking and tackle outdoor adventures, you’ll be safer from September to May.

Into the wild

Beyond protecting wild and wonderful geology, the park is a hotbed of exotic flora and fauna. The Asian black bear and the Sumatran serow (a solitary mountain goat) are two major highlights, as is the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey. One of the 25 most endangered primate species in the world, it’s only found here—and it was believed to be extinct until the 1990s.