Ha Giang destinations & my unforgetable travel experiences on a recent journey to Ha Giang

Ha Giang destinations & my unforgetable travel experiences on a recent journey to Ha Giang

As a local tourguide & tour operator, I have been to different places in the country on my excursions with guests or on my adventure trips exploring new lands, but I have never visited Ha Giang before. Through my friends & our company’s driver who visited this area, I know about Ha Giang in their good stories that Ha Giang landscapes are terrific and its amazing passes are challenging to conquer, especially to its northern districts such as Meo Vac, Dong Van, Yen Minh & Quan Ba.Their stories motivated me a lot about this land and urged me to pack for my real adventure with my fellowship by bus & motorbike to explore the beauty of Ha Giang last weekends. Indeed, this trip fascinated me with my unforgetable travel experiences about Ha Giang destination that I am really excited to share in this blog !

I am touching Lung Cu Flag Tower

Where is Ha Giang located?

Ha Giang is the northernmost province of Vietnam with an area of 7,946km, sharing its northern border with China, its western border with Lao Cai & Yen Bai province, with Cao Bang province in the east; and with Tuyen Quang in the south. The topography of Ha Giang province is mainly mountainous with many high & winding passes, it is hard to reach,that is why Ha Giang is considered as one of the poorest provinces in the country with 90% of its population as ethnic minority groups. Tourism industry is also quite new to this province, mainly for local Vietnamese & a few foreign tourists who love experiencing this off-the-beaten-track destination

Ha Giang city as the province’s capital is 320km far from Hanoi following national road 02 and take you at least 7 hours to approach from Hanoi.However, the impressive landscapes are boasted in her up-northern districts such as Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van & Meo Vac, Hoang Su Phi, which are away far from Ha Giang city. Exploring the beauty of Ha Giang is an adventure journey to visit those up-northern districts of magnificient rocky mountains, deep valleys with rice terraces & rustic local villages of different hill tribes !

Dong Van Geopark

My real-life travel experiences about Ha Giang

Last weekends,we chose to reach Ha Giang city by an overnight bus with solf-sleeping bed departing from Hanoi at 9h30 p.m & arrived Ha Giang bus station at 4h30a.m.Then we rent a geared-motorbike to adventurously travel up to the northern districts for 2 days/ 1night, overnight in Dong Van old town. Below are my 5 long-lasting & unforgetable travel experiences about Ha Giang

1 Feeling of Adventure & Conqueration !

We must say that we were very lucky with weather on that trip to Ha Giang.When getting out of the overnight bus, it was so heavily raining that I thought of changing our original program, then the rain stopped completely at 6h00 a.m.I recontacted Ms Giang- a local motorbike renter to get a motorcylce rent and started our adventure on two wheels.Due to the last night’s rain, roads were still wet,slipery & dangerous with some recent landslides still available along the roads.Afer 10km on flat road from Ha Giang city, we drove up & up on winding & curving passes to reach Quan Ba, Yen Minh,Dong Van & Meo Vac districts ( 160km far from Ha Giang township).This is one of the most scaring route with zigzag paths I have never experienced in my life but it gave me the sense of courage & conqueration.I could overcome myself with constant fear of landslides, flat tyre, dangerous passes; and conquer many challenging passes to be named as Quan Ba, Tham Ma, Ma Pi Leng – 2 out of 4 imposing passes in Vietnam to carry out my planned itinerary ! However, don’t be discouraged because you will be rewarded with truly stunning landscapes of valleys & mountains along the journey.

Winding Pass in Ha Giang

2.Admire breathtaking landscapes of mountains & valleys – Dong Van Global Geopark

After 15km from Ha Giang city, we were in the land of Dong Van Rocky Plateau stretching along Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Meo Vac, Dong Van districts, which was recognized as Global Geopark by UNESCO on 3rd October 2010. Together with many challenging passes, my mind was blown with spectacular landscapes of rugged mountains and deep valleys.We stopped continuously for wonderful photos of stunning sceneries in Quan Ba Heaven Gate &Twin Mountains,Ma Pi Leng Pass, Road of Happiness,Yen Minh Pine Forest & Nho Que river.The further up-north we travelled to, the more fascinated we felt about magnificient beauty of this rocky plateau.I had to admit that this was the most breathtaking landscape I had seen in my life – under the beautiful sunny weather.

Ha Giang Landscapes

3.Touch the northernmost point of Vietnam.

Ha Giang is located in the far north of the country with Vietnam’s northern point named Lung Cu Flag Tower flying the Vietnamese national flag – an emblem of Vietnmese Sovereignty.We climbed up to the top point of 1700 mettes high, got a panoramic view of the region & the China side with photos and felt the sacredness of national sovereignty with a wish to achieve in our life.As a Vietnamese, when paying a visit to Ha Giang, it’s a must to reach Lung Cu Flag Tower.

Touch Lung Cu Flag Tower

4.Meet friendly locals of ethnic groups

Forget the hustle & the bustle of the city, come to this rural highland, together with its pristine natures, you feel the faithfulness & hospitality of locals.They are naturally friendly and not influenced by tourism development yet.They do not follow you and try to sell you things like touristic Sapa highland.We visited local villages, drank local corn wine, had talks with local family in their ancient clay house styles, learnt about their unique cultures.This is another interesting travel experience that made my trip more memorable.I still feel local’s warmly-heartedness & their friendly smiles now !

Friendly local ethnics

5. Take part in colorful weekly markets

For more interesting experiences of local cultures in your trip to Ha Giang,you should spend time visiting colorful weekly markets which take place in a certain day of the week.Very colorful & authentic with these cultural events in the region where you can meet people from different hill tribes characterized by their unique dresses coming to the markets to exchange products, to drink & to meet eachother!Local ethnics prepare their produce during the week and trade them in market day.They put on their colorful traditional dress and happily head to the market.By their colorful dresses, we can tell which hill tribes they are from. In the market, how wonderful to stroll around seeing different local products in various sections such as forest vegetables, farming tools, baskets, clothes, animals,foods; enjoying colorful beauty of the markets in the highland ; or tasting such local dishes of Thang Co, Men Men or Au Tau porridge…etc…

There are many local markets in Yen Minh, Quan Ba, Dong Van, Luong Cu & Meo Vac which are organized on certain day of the week, notably Dong Van & Meo Vac markets ( on Sunday), Khau Vai love market (just on 27th March- a day in the year for lovers), Ma Le market ( Saturday) Lung Cu market…..To attend this special cultural event, your trip to Ha Giang highland should be well planned for your unique travel experiences.