Huu Lung Climbing & Lan Nong Nung Village Homestay: 2-Day Itinerary

This 2-day itinerary is for limestone climbing fans who also want to experience community life: climb the crags of Huu Lung by day, then sleep in a stilt house in a small Nung village by night. The trip suits beginner and intermediate climbers, groups of friends, and families with older kids. The best time is usually from around October to April, when the weather is dry and cool and the rock is less slippery.

Trip overview

Huu Lung is in Lang Son Province, about 100 km from Hanoi. It is emerging as a notable limestone climbing destination in Southeast Asia, with around 110 routes and new crags being added almost every year. Suggested route:

• Day 1: Hanoi → Huu Lung, climbing on beginner and intermediate walls → head into Lan Nong village in the late afternoon for a homestay.
• Day 2: Morning stroll around the village → another climbing session or a go at a harder crag → return to Hanoi in the afternoon.

Getting there: From Hanoi, you can drive yourself, ride a motorbike or hire a private car along the Hanoi – Lang Son expressway/national highway. The journey usually takes around 2–3 hours depending on the route and traffic. The crags sit deep in farmland, reached by narrow lanes and, in places, dirt tracks. It's best to go with a local guide or a climbing operator so you don't get lost.

Lan Nong is a hamlet in Loi village, Cai Kinh commune, located in the core zone of the Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark. The village has only about 13 households, most of them Nung people. Since 2025, motorbikes can ride right into the village on a gravel road. Before that, visitors had to leave their vehicles outside and walk more than 3 km. If you're coming by car, ask your host in advance where to park and how to get into the village.

Day 1: Climbing in Huu Lung and an evening in Lan Nong

Morning

Leave Hanoi early, around 6–7am, to reach the crag before the sun gets too strong. A good place to start is Head Wall. This sector has 23 routes graded 5c to 7a on the French scale, ideal for beginners and intermediate climbers. Head Wall is also home to Vietnam's longest climbing route, about 105 m high and split into 5 pitches, a good challenge for confident climbers who want to try multi-pitch.

Lunch

Have a light lunch near the crag. You can bring food from Hanoi or ask your guide to arrange it. Then rest in the shade, drink plenty of water and avoid climbing in the midday heat.

Afternoon

Move on to Dragon Wall, a sector completed in 2020 with 22 routes from 4c to 7b. Some routes are up to 40 m long. The 4c–5 routes are very friendly for first-time rope climbers, making this a great choice if you're with family or inexperienced friends. Photo lovers can stop by The Arch, billed as the only bolted natural rock arch in Southeast Asia, with routes up to 7a.

Evening

Leave the crag before dark and head to Lan Nong village. Dinner at the homestay is home cooking: home-grown vegetables, free-range chicken, stream fish and forest snails, served with com lam (sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes). Your host may offer a cup of homemade corn liquor; drink in moderation since you'll be climbing tomorrow. You'll sleep in the stilt house on mats laid out on both sides of the fire. By village custom, guests, even married couples, do not sleep together, so be prepared and respect this.

Day 2: Climbing and exploring the village area

Morning

Wake up early to watch the mist over the limestone valley, stroll around the village and chat with locals about daily life. The village's electricity comes from a solar power system, and it is working toward a low-waste tourism model. It's a great chance for kids to learn about living close to nature. If you'd like to hike up to the "heaven's gate" area near the village, ask your host first. Climbing there is only in the planning stage and may not be open to visitors yet.

Lunch

Have lunch at the homestay or bring rice balls. Then say goodbye to your host, settle the bill and head back to the crags.

Afternoon

Intermediate climbers looking to push their level can try Passe-Muraille. This sector has routes up to 30 m long, suited for working up to around 7b (equivalent to 5.12a on the American scale). Beginners can return to Head Wall or Dragon Wall to practice technique. Wrap up around 3–4pm and drive back to Hanoi, arriving in the evening.

Evening

Arrive back in Hanoi. If you still have energy, check and dry out your ropes and climbing shoes after the trip.

Estimated costs

The figures below are for reference only and may change depending on the season, group size and how you organize your trip:

• Hanoi – Huu Lung round trip: riding your own motorbike is fairly cheap (mostly fuel). Hiring a private car costs from a few hundred thousand to a few million VND, split among the group.
• Guided climbing with gear rental (rope, harness, shoes, helmet): usually around 1–2.5 million VND/person/day, depending on the operator and level of instruction.
• Stilt-house homestay with dinner and breakfast: around 300,000–600,000 VND/person/night.
• Food, water and incidentals: around 200,000–400,000 VND/person/day.

The total cost for 2 days and 1 night usually ranges from about 2–5 million VND per person, depending on whether you travel independently or with an organized group.

Tips

• Climbing safety: If you're inexperienced, climb with a qualified guide. Always wear a helmet and check your knots and gear before every climb. Don't climb when the rock is wet after rain.
• Respect the community: Ask before photographing locals, especially the elderly and children. Take off your shoes before entering the stilt house. Don't touch the altar, and follow your host's sleeping arrangements.
• Book ahead: The village has only recently started community tourism and just a few households take guests. Contact the commune authorities or a reputable operator to make sure you have a place to sleep.
• Roads: The roads to the crags and the village are narrow, with gravelly sections. A manual motorbike or high-clearance vehicle is recommended; avoid traveling after dark or in heavy rain. Download offline maps beforehand as phone signal may be weak.
• What to bring: Cash, a power bank (solar power is limited), a flashlight, insect repellent, warm clothes in winter, and a bag to carry your trash out of the village.
• Go green: The village is working toward a Net Zero model. Please limit single-use plastics and conserve water and electricity during your homestay.