If you are looking for a place to temporarily leave the noisy city, enjoy the fresh air and explore the unique highland culture, Binh Lieu (Quang Ninh) is the ideal choice. This land is known as "miniature Sapa" with spectacular border roads, white grass hills, cool climate and the simple life of ethnic minorities. In this article, you will find all the experiences of traveling to Binh Lieu 2025: how to go, where to stay, what to eat, what to do and small notes to have a complete trip.
Detailed travel guide to Binh Lieu from A to Z
Where is Binh Lieu? What's special about it?
Binh Lieu is a mountainous district of Quang Ninh province, bordering Vietnam - China. About 120 km from Ha Long city and about 270 km from Hanoi, this place is known as "miniature Sapa" with a cool climate all year round, rolling hills and white fields of reed grass in season.
The special thing about Binh Lieu is not only its majestic natural scenery but also the simple life of the Tay, Dao, San Chi, Mong ethnic groups, along with the colorful highland markets.
What is the best month to go to Binh Lieu?
The most ideal time to explore Binh Lieu is usually from March to April and September to December. In March to April, the weather is dry and cool, and clusters of flowers of the So flower and purple sim flower begin to dot the hills, very suitable for light trekking trips. In September to October, Binh Lieu puts on a golden coat of ripe rice, captivating tourists who love to hunt for photos. In particular, from October to December is the season of white reed grass blooming all over the mountainsides, along with the bustling reed flower festival that attracts a large number of visitors. Around December to January, the temperature can drop below 10 degrees, ideal for those who love the cool air of the highlands.
The best time to explore Binh Lieu is usually between March and April and September and December.
How to get to Binh Lieu
From Hanoi, you can take a bus at My Dinh or Gia Lam station (route to Mong Cai, Ha Long), get off at Tien Yen intersection and then continue by bus or taxi for about 28 km to reach Binh Lieu center. In addition, many tourists choose to drive their own car or motorbike along Highway 18 through Hai Duong, Ha Long and then turn towards Tien Yen - Binh Lieu to proactively stop and admire the scenery along the way. If you depart from Ha Long, it only takes you about 2-3 hours by bus, bus or rent a motorbike going straight along Highway 18C. When arriving at Binh Lieu town, for convenience in exploring, you should rent a motorbike for about 150,000-200,000 VND/day.
Outstanding attractions in Binh Lieu
Milestone 1305 and Milestone 1297
Milestone 1305 is located on the top of the border mountain range between Vietnam and China, and is one of the most famous check-in spots in Binh Lieu. Dubbed the "dinosaur spine" for its spectacular and majestic appearance, to conquer this milestone, you will have to overcome nearly 2 km of winding stairs on the mountainside (about 2 hours of climbing), so you need to prepare well before going. The most ideal moment to come here is at dawn, when the mist is still light on the mountain and the sun has just risen, creating a peaceful and magnificent scene that is rarely found anywhere else.
Milestone 1305
Always "paired" with milestone 1305, milestone 1297 actually belongs to Dinh Lap district of Lang Son province, right next to the border with Binh Lieu. Compared to milestone 1305, the road to milestone 1297 is much shorter and easier to go. If the most beautiful time at 1305 is dawn, then at 1297 it will be sunset, especially in the reed grass season from October to December, the entire mountainside around the milestone is covered with a fluffy white coat, creating an extremely poetic scene.
1927 milestone
Hoanh Mo Border Gate
Hoanh Mo border gate is located in Hoanh Mo commune, a national border gate adjacent to Dong Trung border gate (China). This is not only an important trading point of the Quang Ninh border area but also a place where tourists often stop by to learn about the vibrant life in the border gate area. Coming here, you can observe the bustling exchange of goods, shop for some small imported items, or simply stroll around and feel the unique border atmosphere with cultural exchanges between the two countries.
Hoanh Mo Border Gate
Khe Van Waterfall
About 15 km from the town center, Khe Van waterfall consists of three levels of water pouring down, creating white foam in the middle of the green mountains and forests. This is an ideal place for picnics, bathing in the stream, and enjoying the cool air on hot summer days. The surrounding landscape is still pristine, suitable for nature lovers.
Khe Van Waterfall
Siamese Peak
Cao Xiem is known as the “roof of Quang Ninh” with an altitude of 1,429 m, attracting trekking enthusiasts to conquer. The journey to the top is quite tiring, but when you arrive, you will enjoy the floating sea of clouds and the rare open space of the mountains and forests. This is a memorable experience for those who want to challenge themselves.
Siamese Peak
Dong Van Market
Dong Van Market is located in the center of Dong Van commune, the most vibrant commercial and cultural place in the region. Held on fixed days of the week, the market attracts a large number of locals and tourists with a variety of products including fresh agricultural products, brocade, traditional products and snacks. This is also where you can witness the typical border trade, chat, learn about the culture and customs of the Dao, Tay, San Chi ethnic groups in Binh Lieu area.
Dong Van Market
What to eat in Binh Lieu?
Dong Van stir-fried pho
Behind Dong Van market is a row of pho restaurants that are considered by many to be the number 1 specialty in Binh Lieu. What makes this pho special is not the taste but the unique way of serving - an extremely interesting cultural feature. Diners will have to go to the market themselves to buy ingredients from meat, vegetables, onions... for the restaurant owner to prepare and process with a special type of pho noodles made from bao thai rice. This is a dish that everyone must try when coming to Binh Lieu to experience the unique culture of the people here.
Dong Van stir-fried pho
Binh Lieu Black Chicken
The Dao and Tay villages in Dong Van and Huc Dong are famous for their black chickens (Hmong chickens) raised naturally on the hills. The chickens are small, have firm meat, and crispy skin. When grilled on hot coals or steamed with lemon leaves, they give off a very unique aroma. They are sweet and rich without being greasy. This dish is not only delicious but also shows the hospitality of the people and is often served to distinguished guests.
Binh Lieu Black Chicken
Binh Lieu cellophane noodles
The cellophane noodles here are made entirely by hand from cassava tubers grown on high fields. The noodles are large, chewy, and have a distinctive amber brown color. Many families in Binh Lieu still maintain the habit of drying the noodles in their yard on dry, sunny days, creating a beautiful picture of the countryside. Cellophane noodles cooked in hot pot or stir-fried with black chicken or stream fish are rustic specialties that visitors should definitely try.
Binh Lieu cellophane noodles
Coóc Mô cake & ngai cake
During market days or reed flower festivals, people can easily find vendors selling green cooc mo cakes or fragrant soft mugwort cakes. Cooc mo cakes are skillfully wrapped in tube shape, made from new sticky rice, with sweet and fatty bean filling; mugwort cakes are pounded with mugwort leaves for a strange green color, a slightly bitter taste but very good for digestion. This is not only a dish but also a bit of the soul of the highland market of Binh Lieu.
Cookies
Wormwood cake
Where in Binh Lieu?
Binh Lieu currently has many homestay options with a strong local character, suitable for tourists who want to experience the culture of the highlands. You can stay at A Dao Homestay (Phat Chi village, Dong Van) with a rustic stilt house in the middle of the mountains and forests; choose Huong Hoi Que Homestay (Dong Van commune) which stands out with its traditional earthen house, private rooms overlooking terraced fields; or visit Song Mooc House (Song Mooc A village) with a space that blends classic and modern, with a view of the mountains and a small lake. Hoang San Homestay (Dong Thanh village, Hoanh Mo) is also popular thanks to its location near the border gate and interesting exchange and campfire activities.
Suggested itinerary for 2 days 1 night tour to Binh Lieu
Day 1
Bright:From Hanoi, visitors depart to Binh Lieu by bus or self-drive, estimated to take about 5-6 hours. Upon arrival, check in at the homestay, rest and have a light lunch in town.
Afternoon:Depart for milestone 1297 to catch the sunset. This is a fairly easy route, does not require too much effort so it is suitable for a warm-up trip. Once there, you can walk around the area, enjoy the scenery and take pictures with the grass hill.
Dark:Return to town, have dinner and then walk around town or join a campfire if staying at an organized homestay. Overnight in Binh Lieu.
Day 2
Bright:Getting up early, visitors move to milestone 1305 to climb nearly 2 km of stairs to the top to welcome the sunrise. The journey to conquer the milestone takes about 2 hours, but you can choose not to climb to the top, depending on your needs and health. No matter where you stop, you will always capture the majestic scenery here, freely for virtual living experiences.
Afternoon:Before leaving Binh Lieu, you can stop by Khe Van waterfall, only about 15 km from town to visit and breathe the cool air. Then depart back to Hanoi.
Dao Thanh Y ethnic women on the mountainside of Binh Lieu
Tips and notes when traveling to Binh Lieu
- The road to Binh Lieu has many steep and winding passes and the road surface is sometimes uneven, so you should prepare a motorbike/car with a good engine if you travel by yourself.
- There are very few gas stations in this area and the distances between attractions are far, so fill up your tank or bring extra gas before you go.
- Evenings and early mornings in Binh Lieu are often cold, especially from October to January when temperatures can drop below 15 degrees Celsius. Bring a warm jacket, scarf, and hat to keep warm, especially if you plan to go cloud hunting or watch the sunrise at landmarks.
- Local cuisine can be strange to some visitors, especially dishes made from black chicken, stream fish or wild vegetables. You should prepare cold medicine, stomachache medicine or digestive enzymes in case you are not used to the food.
Why should you visit Binh Lieu this year?
Because Binh Lieu still retains its pristine beauty, not yet overly commercialized. In 2025, many homestays and new tourist routes will be completed, creating more favorable conditions for visitors' experiences while still maintaining its inherent wildness. This is definitely an ideal place to "change the wind" on the weekend, breathe fresh air, explore nature and unique border culture.
Binh Lieu Tourism 2025
