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Located at an altitude of over 1,000 meters above sea level, Tua Chua Stone Plateau in Dien Bien Province is one of the rarest and most spectacular stone plateaus in the Northwest region. With a total area of thousands of hectares, this place is formed from ancient cat ear stone mountains millions of years old, stretching undulatingly, creating a special geological landscape.
Tua Chua Stone Plateau is a spectacular place. Source: Vietnam National Tourism Administration
The plateau terrain is not flat but consists of winding stone hills, stacked like giant steps, making it a "second Dong Van Stone Plateau" in Vietnam. The wildness, majesty, and typical stone mountain ecosystem have turned this place into an attractive destination for tourists who love to explore and learn about the culture of ethnic minorities living on the rocks. Let’s find out with Asia King Travel!
Tua Chua Stone Plateau is located in Tua Chua District, Dien Bien Province, which is about 130 km northeast of Dien Bien Phu city center. The terrain here is mainly limestone mountains interspersed with valleys and Mong and Dao ethnic villages, creating a wild and fascinating natural picture.
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This place creates a wild and fascinating natural picture. Source: VietnamPlus
Suppose you depart from the city center of Hanoi. In that case, you can follow the direction of National Highway 6 through Hoa Binh and Son La provinces, then turn onto National Highway 279 to reach Dien Bien Phu City, and the travel distance is about 500 km. For traveling, you can get to the attraction by a sleeper bus or a private car.
There are many ways to get to the stone plateau. Source: VietnamPlus
Moreover, there is another way to get to Tua Chua Stone Plateau, which is faster and more comfortable. You can book a flight from Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi) to Dien Bien Phu Airport (Dien Bien), then rent a motorbike or book a taxi to continue to Tua Chua Stone Plateau.
You can also meet ethnic people when visiting the stone plateau. Source: Tay Bac Travel
Once you arrive in Dien Bien Province, from the center of Dien Bien Phu City, visitors can go in the direction of Highway 12 for about 90 km, then turn onto Highway 129, and cross Muong Cha to reach Tua Chua Stone Plateau.
Tua Chua Stone Plateau is part of an ancient limestone massif formed hundreds of millions of years ago, in the Northwest limestone mountain region, with a geology similar to the Dong Van Stone Plateau in Ha Giang Province. Due to long-term tectonic movements of the Earth's crust, this area has emerged with great, rugged rocky mountains, interspersed with small valleys where people live and cultivate.
This place also preserves the cultural identity of many ethnic minorities. Source: iVIVU
In terms of function, Tua Chua Stone Plateau is not only a valuable natural resource but also a place to preserve the cultural identity of many ethnic minorities. Local authorities are gradually exploiting eco-tourism, combining community tourism, to conserve and promote the typical natural and cultural values of the area.
The most ideal time to explore the Tua Chua Stone Plateau is from September to April every year, when the weather is dry and cool, as well as there is no heavy rain. In particular, spring (from January to March) is the time when the plateau puts on a brilliant floral coat, with peach, white plum, and bauhinia variegata blooming all over the mountain slopes. During this period, local people also organize various traditional festivals.
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One of the most exciting experiences in Tua Chua Stone Plateau is climbing to explore the ancient limestone system, where visitors can admire the spectacular natural scenery with towering limestone blocks stretching as far as the eye can see, like a vivid stone painting of nature. The journey to conquer the high points also brings an unforgettable sense of adventure and excitement.
Climbing to explore the ancient limestone system is an exciting activity. Source: Vietgiaitri
Next, it is to visit the Mong – Dao ethnic villages, which preserve a myriad of traditional cultural values. Travelers will be able to observe indigenous life, admire stilt houses, listen to traditional stories, learn how to spin linen, and weave fabric, or take part in bustling highland markets with vibrant brocade colors.
You can visit the ethnic villages to observe indigenous life. Source: Vietgiaitri
Another popular activity in Tua Chua Stone Plateau is watching the sunset from the mountains. As the sun slowly goes down behind the mountains, the last light of the day reflects on the gray rocks, making a magical, romantic landscape that makes holiday-makers feel breathless. This is a great time to keep artistic memory photos.
Watching the sunset from the mountains is a magical view. Source: Pixabay
This is a traditional dish of the ethnic people in the mountainous region of Dien Bien. After being carefully filtered, the buffalo meat will be marinated with spices such as ginger, lemongrass, chili, and a kind of wild pepper called “mac khen”, and then hung in the kitchen to smoke for many days. When cooked, the dried meat has a strong flavor, the outside is charred, but the inside still retains its softness and natural sweetness.
Dried buffalo meat is a traditional dish of the ethnic people. Source: CERAfoods
Tourists often share that, just by tearing a piece of buffalo meat and chewing slowly, they can feel the whole smell of the Northwest mountains and forests permeating the tip of their tongues - a feeling that is both strange and interesting.
Highland glutinous rice is a specialty of rice grown on the terraced fields of ethnic minorities. After being washed, the rice will be steamed in a traditional wooden steamer, creating soft, fragrant, and completely non-sticky rice grains.
Highland glutinous rice is a specialty of ethnic minorities. Source: Vietravel
In particular, the sticky rice is often dyed with forest leaves such as purple leaves, turmeric, or spiny bitter gourd to create eye-catching five-color sticky rice. When taking a bite of this dish, visitors will feel warmed by the simple yet sophisticated flavor, full of connection with nature and the culture of the indigenous people.
Tua Chua Stone Plateau is not only a geological masterpiece of the Northwest region but also a convergence of picturesque natural beauty and indigenous cultural life with a rich identity. If you are looking for a journey that is rustic and full of highland experiences, then this place is a destination not to be missed on the journey to explore Dien Bien. Plan now with Asia King Travel!
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