Iconic Ha Giang gate destroyed by landslide in Vietnam

Pham Duc Nam, chairman of the Dong Van Commune People's Committee, said the initial cause was water buildup from two consecutive storms that loosened thousands of cubic meters of soil and rock. No casualties were reported.

"Luckily the gate was there to block the debris, otherwise it would have swept straight into the Geopark Museum," Nam said.

 

 

Iconic Ha Giang gate destroyed by landslide in Vietnam

Sập cổng chào Đồng Văn do sạt lở đất

Authorities had detected signs of instability on the slope and closed the road an hour earlier, ensuring no vehicles or pedestrians were nearby when the collapse happened.

Excavators were dispatched immediately to clear debris and reopen access, but many routes between villages remain blocked. Tourists are still able to reach Dong Van but are urged to closely follow weather warnings as the risk of further slides remains high.

The collapse occurred on Ha Giang's fragile mountain terrain after weeks of punishing weather.

The Dong Van gate collapses due to a landslide in Ha Giang, Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the Dong Van People's Committee

On Oct. 1, after Typhoon Bualoi hit, wards in Ha Giang City suffered the heaviest flooding in 50 years, submerging neighborhoods and stranding visitors in popular destinations like Dong Van and Lo Lo Chai for several nights.

Since Typhoon Matmo struck on Oct. 6, rains have continued almost nonstop, saturating hillsides and raising the threat of more landslides.

The welcome gate itself had only been inaugurated in November 2024 as a cultural symbol of Vietnam’s northernmost region. Standing 10.5 meters wide and 6.3 meters tall, it was built from 740 stones, nearly 18.5 cubic meters of wood, and over 26,000 yin-yang tiles at a cost of more than VND1.5 billion ($56,900).

Beyond its architectural and cultural significance, the gate had become a favorite check-in spot for travelers visiting the Dong Van Karst Plateau, a UNESCO-recognized geopark.