Visit Lung Cu Flagpole

Perhaps not a single tourist comes to  Ha Giang  without visiting Lung Cu flagpole. From this flagpole to the North Pole of the country is about 2km, but in the subconscious of the Vietnamese people, this is still a sacred symbol of the beloved Fatherland.

The sacred Lung Cu flagpole at the top of the country

The flagpole is 1470m above sea level in Lung Cu commune, Dong Van district, Ha Giang province. From Ha Giang city, visitors to  Ha Giang tour  will have to go through nearly 200km of rugged mountain roads to reach this place. This is one of the national flagpoles located on the top of  Lung Cu  , also known as  Dragon Mountain . And the name of the mountain range is also associated with many legends told by many people today. Lung Cu in the H’mong language means Long Cu, a sacred land where dragons reside.

Sacred inscriptions on Lung Cu Flagpole

There is a legend associated with the glorious years of our nation. It was in the reign of King Quang Trung, after a great victory over the Northern invaders, that he had a very large drum set up at Lung Cu peak. Every hour, the king signaled to his army to sound three drums to the other side of the border to affirm national sovereignty. Later, when there is a problem in the changing world, that drum will resound in the distance to summon the patriotism of the nation. And Lung Cu also means King’s empty dividend. These meaningful legends exalt the sacred beauty of Lung Cu flagpole.
 

Some special features of Lung Cu flagpole

Traveling  to Ha Giang,  you will be guided by a guide to experience the height of nearly 1500m up the Lung Cu flagpole. However, you do not know that this flagpole has undergone many restorations to get to the height it is now. This flagpole was first built in the Ly Dynasty. It was originally made from only a 10 meter tall sarcophagus. However, in 1887 when the French colonialists were still invading our country, this flagpole was restored and changed in height and size many times.

The historical periods of the country are engraved on the relief plate at Lung Cu Flagpole

A special event that you will surely be mentioned by the tour guide of  Ha Giang  is the event on August 12, 1987, the 54m2 wide red flag with yellow star symbolizing the 54 ethnic groups of the Vietnamese Fatherland. officially flying on top of Lung Cu. Standing at the foot of the flagpole today, surely anyone can feel the proud feelings of this beautiful land of Vietnam.

In later years, such as 1992, 200, 2002, the flagpole continued to be restored. The current flagpole was officially inaugurated on September 25, 2010. Currently, when participating in  the Ha Giang tour,  you will see the flagpole has a height of 33.15m in which the foot of the pole is 20.25m high and the foot diameter is column is 3.8m.  

Pictures of Vietnamese bronze drums on Lung Cu Flagpole

In addition, the flagpole was built based on the model of the Hanoi flagpole. At the foot of the column you will see 8 blue stone reliefs simulating the illustrations of the historical process of the nation. Interspersed with that are the typical cultural features of the Ha Giang ethnic community. And above the reliefs are 8 bronze drums, a typical symbol of Vietnamese culture.
 

Experience special things when going to Lung Cu flagpole

The road to Lung Cu National Flagpole was built with a total of 839 steps, divided into 3 stages. Between the stages, there is a waiting house for  tourists in Ha Giang  to stop and admire the scenery. And moving all the way there, you will experience very special things. Seen from below, Lung Cu flagpole stands tall on top of mountain, yellow star flag fluttering in the wind. Surely now those stone steps will not cause any difficulty for you.

Stairs to Lung Cu Flagpole

On the way to conquering the stone steps, you can also admire the masterpieces of nature created on  the Dong Van rock plateau  or admire the simple and idyllic beauty of the villages from afar. Each step on the stairs leading to the top of the flagpole, visitors  to Ha Giang tour  will be able to experience different emotions. The higher the step, the more magical Ha Giang appears

And when you set foot on the top of the mountain, standing at the foot of the flagpole, you will not feel tired at all, but instead have different emotions. Looking from above, you will see two ponds that never dry up on either side of the mountain. These ponds are called dragon’s eyes and are the main source of water for the people of Lo Lo and H’mong villages. Next to it is a picturesque Ha Giang right below my feet.

Buckwheat flower field at the foot of Lung Cu Flagpole

And if you have reached here, then you climb to the top of the flagpole. The 140-step spiral staircase with narrow aisles and enough light will lead you up where it’s cloudy, windy and you’ll feel so relaxed. The feeling of standing on the highest point of the North Pole, touching the sacred flag with your own hands is wonderful. Coming here from September to December, you also have the opportunity to see the colors that are nowhere else. From the top of the flagpole you will see terraced fields with the bright yellow color of ripe rice or the pale pink color of buckwheat flowers. It is the colors that will make your trip more interesting.