Lạng Sơn Province

Lạng Sơn province is located in northern Vietnam, the capital has the same name. It has a long border with China. The basic geology is Tower Karst, a tropical karst with limestone towers separated by alluvial plains. The plains are quite low, the lowest point is only 20 m asl, on average the plains are 250 m asl and quite fertile. The limestone mountains are up to 1500 m high. The highest is Mẫu Sơn (1,541 m asl).

The main river is Kỳ or Kyu River, which is 243 km long, flows through the capital and has a catchment area of 6,660 km². The source is in the Bắc Xa mountains in the north at an altitude of 1,166 m, it has tributaries which originate in nearby China, e.g. Sông Bản Thín. A part of the country is strongly involved in the changing relations to China. Most heavily this influenced Đồng Đăng Border town which has a long history of wars with China.

The economy is based on agriculture and forestry, but there is also significant mining of bauxite, phosphate, coal, gold, silver and lead.

Two famous caves in the province are generally considered historical places of interest, the Tam Thanh Cave and the Nhi Thanh Cave. Both have Buddhist altars and are well illuminated, we have listed them as show caves. The Tam Thanh Cave is very large with three chambers, a water pond, and has a window opening which provides a view on rice fields. The Nhi Thanh Cave is about 700 m away and the other end of the cave system. Both are located in the western outskirts of the capital.