Come to Binh Lieu - the "mountain girl" that captivates travel enthusiasts

Bình Liêu: Vùng đất được thiên nhiên ưu ái

"Dinosaur spine", the road leading up to milestone 1305 in Binh Lieu, Quang Ninh. (Photo: Hung Truong)

While “scouring” forums to find information and travel experiences in Binh Lieu, a mountainous border district of Quang Ninh province, I had the chance to meet Hung Truong, the administrator of a group about this land. He enthusiastically advised me and gave me tips on activities not to be missed in Binh Lieu. Through conversation, Hung shared that he was originally a student of Law University, and after graduating, he worked as a tour guide. In 2018, when he set foot in many places, he realized that although his hometown was wild, it had many destinations with poetic scenery and possessed a “specialty” that few places had: border markers.

“Taking tourists to all over the world, why don’t I introduce Binh Lieu to everyone?”, he wondered. Since then, he returned to his hometown, working with his friends as tour guides, leading people to discover the simple beauty of the mountainous region.

The winding roads like silk ribbons wind around the mountainside. (Photo: Hung Truong)

Introducing Binh Lieu, Hung said that Binh Lieu is blessed with a mild climate all year round, diverse terrain structure and beautiful natural scenery. Each season, this place has its own unique beauty, attracting those who love to travel.

Not only that, Binh Lieu also attracts many visitors because this is a border area with 43,168km of border adjacent to China and more than 60 landmarks. The whole district has 6 communes and 1 town, only Huc Dong commune does not have a border with the neighboring country.

One special thing is that in Binh Lieu, there are five ethnic groups living there, including Tay, Dao, San Chi, Hoa and Kinh people, who are considered “ethnic minorities” as they only account for less than 4% of the population here. Due to their living habits, the people here are very honest and friendly.

Thanks to these unique features, a rustic Binh Lieu has attracted many young people to explore. They even come back many times to be able to "absorb" the beauty of the "mountain girl" of the border region.

Spring in Binh Lieu is the season when peach and plum blossoms compete to show off their beauty. (Photo: Hung Truong)

Bell-shaped peach blossoms, a "specialty" of Quang Ninh province. (Photo: Hung Truong)

Spring is the season of traditional festivals with unique identities in Binh Lieu that have been preserved by the ethnic communities living in the area for generations. (Photo: Hung Truong)

San Chi girls in traditional costumes compete on the football field. (Photo: Hung Truong)

Summer is the season of lush vegetation, the whole of Binh Lieu is covered in a lush green color. In the photo: Ethnic girls attend the Wind Abstinence Festival of the Dao ethnic group in Binh Lieu held on May 20-22. (Photo: Cuong Pin)

In Binh Lieu, Ngan Chi forest in Vo Ngai commune is one of the most important upstream forests in the protective forest system in Binh Lieu. This place has a diverse ecosystem with rich multi-layered vegetation, from small trees living in humid places under the canopy to ancient trees hundreds of meters high and hundreds of years old. Not only that, Ngan Chi forest is also home to many species of wild animals, birds, reptiles and insects... Bathing in the waterfall in the forest in the summer is an unforgettable experience. In the photo: Khe Tien Waterfall, one of the famous check-in spots in Binh Lieu. (Photo: Hung Truong)

The familiar border patrol route in Binh Lieu is covered in green. (Photo: Hung Truong)

The grassy hills are about to turn autumn. (Photo: Hung Truong)

Autumn is the most beautiful season of the year in Binh Lieu with cool weather. The terraced fields are filled with the golden color of ripe rice and a bountiful harvest. (Photo: Hung Truong)

Unlike Ha Giang or Sa Pa, the terraced fields in Binh Lieu are located on gently sloping hills, creating a very unique beauty that cannot be confused with other places. (Photo: Hung Truong)

Late autumn is the best time to see the beautiful reed grass in Binh Lieu. (Photo: Hung Truong)

Everywhere is covered with white reeds. (Photo: Hung Truong)

Cao Ba Lanh mountain peak alone is dyed in the fairy-tale pink color of pink reeds. (Photo: Hung Truong)

As the weather gradually turns to winter, Binh Lieu is once again covered in the yellow color of burnt grass. (Photo: Dieu Linh)

In early December, the white flowers of the So flower bloom on the hillsides, along the roads leading to the villages, becoming a unique feature of Binh Lieu. (Photo: Hung Truong)

Interspersed among the green forests are the red “sky” of maple trees. Coming here in March, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy Binh Lieu’s specialty dish, ant eggs rolled in sau sau leaves (french maple). (Source: Binh Lieu Travel)

It is not an exaggeration to say that Binh Lieu is a "paradise of border markers", because there are more than 60 border markers here. (Photo: Cuong Pin)

Milestone 1326 (2). (Photo: Cuong Pin)

Milestone 1300 is likened to a “happiness hill” with a view of winding border roads. (Photo: Hung Truong)

Milestone 1327 is known as the “heavenly milestone” because the road leading to it is a series of steps leading to the top of the misty mountain. (Photo: Hung Truong)

Cao Xiem Mountain, known as the roof of Quang Ninh province. (Photo: Hung Truong)

The entire Binh Lieu district has 5 ethnic groups living there including Tay, Dao, San Chi, Hoa and Kinh people, considered as “ethnic minorities” as they only account for less than 4% of the population here. In the photo: The red color stands out in the costumes of Dao Thanh Phan women. (Photo by Hung Truong)

Thanh Y Dao women in traditional costumes. (Photo by Hung Truong)

Camping on the top of Cao Ly and overlooking the valley with peaceful villages is a memorable experience when visiting Binh Lieu. (Photo: Hung Truong)