Buzz
Many may not realize that there are visa-free travel destinations in China, including Binh Bien, Mong Tu, and Kien Thuy. These districts belong to Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China, allowing Vietnamese travelers to visit with a passport.
Discovering Binh Bien: A Hidden Gem Resembling 'Mini Phoenix Ancient Town' Near Vietnam
1. Preparation:
– Passport: To obtain the passport, you need a photo ID card and a portrait photo. The processing time is within 2 days.
– Chinese Network SIM card: priced at 250,000 VND/SIM with a validity period of 5 days, inclusive of 5G access to all apps.
– Download the green VPN app: This app is used when you have Wi-Fi. First, you need to turn off location services, then access the VPN to connect. Once connected, you can access Facebook, Google, etc. as usual. Without this app, Wi-Fi in China only allows access to Zalo.
– Exchange currency: Change Chinese yuan at gold shops, or right before the Lao Cai border gate, where many people also exchange currency. The exchange rate is around 3400 ~ 3600 VND per CNY.
Procedures: Chinese tour guides will meet the group from Ha Khau and collect everyone's passports for processing. During the journey, there will be two checkpoints. One at the toll station near the border gate, where police will count people and check information for each individual. The other checkpoint is at the junction before turning onto the road to Binh Bien.
Insights about Binh Bien:
– Binh Bien is an autonomous district inhabited by the Miao ethnic group, located in Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, about 100km from Ha Khau. The main attraction here is Mieu Tich Thuy Village, also known as the 'Mini Phoenix Ancient Town.' The architecture here combines modern style with a touch of ancient Chinese, with predominant colors being brown and light orange.
– While the Mini Phoenix Ancient Town is bustling, Binh Bien exudes a peaceful and romantic charm. Due to underdeveloped tourism and low awareness, Binh Bien retains the pristine beauty of the mountains and forests, along with the simple beauty of the Miao people - Chinese culture.
– Additionally, there is the pristine Dai Vi Son forest with its diverse vegetation and a suspension bridge across the mountains. It takes about 30 minutes by electric car from the ticket booth to reach the forest. If you visit around June or July, you will have the chance to admire the sea of clouds along the mountainous road.
– High-speed boat: Ticket price is about 15 RMB for a 45-minute ride. If you have a visa, you can go independently, but I haven't researched traveling with a passport yet.
– The road to Binh Bien has a steep mountain pass, so if you're prone to motion sickness, remember to bring motion sickness medicine!
– The weather in April here is cool, warm during the day with temperatures ranging from 26 to over 30 degrees Celsius, and cold at night, with temperatures around 18 degrees Celsius. Remember to bring an extra jacket!
– If you prefer a lively atmosphere, then this is not the right place for you.
– Mieu Village is very large, you won't finish exploring it in half a day. Just lift your camera and you'll instantly get beautiful 'Instagrammable' photos. Don't spend too much time taking pictures at the entrance because there are many more beautiful scenes inside! I got too absorbed in taking pictures at the entrance, so by the end, it was dark and the lighting wasn't good for capturing the interior scenes.
Authored by Le Thi Thanh Tam
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Reference: Mytour Travel Handbook
MytourJune 5, 2023
