EN
From the center of Cao Bang to the golden grass of Vinh Quy
Ba Quang Grass Hill, also known by locals as Ba Quang Burnt Grass Hill or Vinh Quy Grass Hill, is located in Vinh Quy Commune, Cao Bang Province. The grass hill is about 70 km from Cao Bang city center, bordering Khum Din hamlet and Bac Vong hamlet, where the gentle slopes connect to create a rare open, airy space. This is one of the rare and pristine natural destinations that still retains the original beauty of this highland.
Ba Quang burnt grass hill is located between rolling hills, opening up an airy space.
From the center of Cao Bang city, visitors can move in the direction of Ha Lang, through Thanh Nhat town and then turn onto a small concrete road about 3 km to reach the parking lot. From here, walk about 700 m more and you will see a long stretch of yellow grass, dotted with a few lonely trees in the vast space of the mountains and forests.
Visitors follow the trail for about 15 minutes to reach the panoramic view point.
If staying overnight, visitors can stay at Ba Quang Panorama - the only homestay currently available in this area, room rates range from 250,000 VND to about 1 million VND. Not only a place to stay, this homestay is also an ideal stop to watch the sunset over the grassy hills, or the pale yellow dawn spreading over the misty grassy slopes.
On the grassy hill there is only one homestay for visitors to stay overnight with panoramic views.
Because it is located far from the center, the food service here is quite neat and friendly. Visitors can order food right at the homestay, with prices ranging from 70,000 - 250,000 VND, mainly local specialties prepared according to the season.
The season of burning grass dyes the Ba Quang hillside yellow
According to Mr. Tuyen, who visited Ba Quang at the end of October, this is the time when the grass hills begin to change color, from light green to yellow - orange - dark brown, lasting about the last three months of the year. "Unlike the season of lush green grass full of vitality, the season of burnt grass brings a more calm and profound feeling. For photography enthusiasts, this is the golden time of Ba Quang," Tuyen said.
Ba Quang grass burning season lasts in the last 3 months of the year, from October to around the end of December.
The gently sloping terrain allows visitors to have a panoramic view of the mountains. Especially at dawn or dusk, when the changing light makes the yellow color of the grass more vivid than ever. When the gentle wind blows, the grass sways gently as if the yellow color is fluctuating.
The color of the grass changes with the light at different times of the day.
From 3pm to 6pm, the time when the sun is soft and the sky is turning towards sunset is considered the most beautiful time to capture impressive photos. Early in the morning, if you have “good luck” as backpackers often say, visitors can hunt for the sea of clouds covering the hillside, making the scene look like it came out of a magical painting.
During this season, the weather in Ba Quang has started to get cold, especially in the morning and evening. Visitors should prepare warm clothes, sneakers for easy movement, along with some drinking water and light clothes. The wind in the highlands is often strong, but that is what makes the air become strangely clear and cool.
The grassy hill is located on high ground, the space is airy but quickly turns cold in the evening and early morning.
Cold night and dawn in the "golden season"
Perhaps a day trip is not enough to fully experience the beauty of the burnt grass hill, Mr. Tuyen shared: "Ba Quang is most beautiful at sunset and sunrise, so staying one night is a very worthwhile choice. In the evening, in the quiet space with only the sound of wind and small lights from the homestay, people feel like they are separated from the noisy everyday world".
The night on the hill was cold and clear. If the sky was clear, one could see the vast starry sky above the mountain range, an experience rarely found anywhere in the plains. The next morning, as the sun rose from the mountain top, its light slanted through the golden grass, the lingering mist making the scene soft and hazy in the moment of awakening of the earth and sky.
On calm days, standing on the grassy hill early in the morning you can admire the sea of clouds.
Because it is located in the highlands, autumn and winter in Ba Quang are often cold and windy, so preparing warm clothes, sneakers and drinking water is necessary. For those who want to take pictures, avoid wearing yellow clothes because it is easy to blend in with the grass color, instead you can choose white, red, blue or brown to stand out more in the scene.
Because the area remains untouched, visitors traveling in groups or staying overnight should bring some essential items such as flashlights, snacks, and thick jackets. And above all, respect the nature here: do not litter, do not harm the plants, because with just a little care, Ba Quang will forever be an intact burnt grass hill in the memories of those who have been there.
After leaving Ba Quang, visitors can combine visiting other famous places of Cao Bang such as Lenin stream, Thang Hen lake, Phia Oac mountain, or enjoy specialties such as sour pho, black plum, Ha Lang pig, Na Po green rice. Each destination has its own unique features, but all contribute to creating a symphony of nature and culture of the Northeast region.
When the blades of grass on Ba Quang burn yellow under the sun, that warm golden brown color seems to signal that winter is approaching. Lying in the middle of the hillside, looking up at the high sky and the drifting clouds, one feels time slow down, leaving only the deep silence of a golden season gradually closing the old year.
