Belonging to a mountainous area, Ha Giang has relatively diverse natural scenery and cultural beauty. With little human impact, Ha Giang's nature still retains its wild and majestic features but still retains the unique characteristics of the people here. Here are 4 routes you can choose to explore Ha Giang. Let’s HoaBinh Tourist consider how it suits your schedule and preferences!
To get to Ha Giang from Hanoi, you can choose to travel by bus, car, or motorbike for a distance of about 300km. Among them, taking a bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang at night, and then renting a motorbike in Ha Giang to freely explore is considered the most popular choice. With the majestic natural scenery of Ha Giang, riding a motorbike will allow you to fully enjoy this beauty and take photos whenever you want, which is the best experience.
Starting from milestone 0, a famous tourist destination in the city center, we have 4 main options to explore Ha Giang. However, make sure not to confuse it with the second zero milestone in Ha Giang. In addition to the already mentioned milestone 0, there is another milestone 0 built on National Highway 2, which is the starting point of the road connecting Ha Giang and Hanoi.
On the Ha Giang tourist map, the road to Ha Giang from Milestone 0 to Quan Ba Heaven Gate and Yen Minh Pine Forest is a basic route. When mentioning Ha Giang, most people immediately think of the danger of Ma Pi Leng Pass, but Bac Sum Pass is also a challenge for those who love backpacking.
With a length of 7km and an altitude of more than 450m, Bac Sum Pass is the longest pass here. Depending on the weather, sometimes Bac Sum Pass is covered with clouds, and sometimes it appears with the vast and green scenery of the mountains.
After overcoming the curves of Bac Sum Pass, you will enjoy the Heaven Gate and Quan Ba Twin Mountains as a worthy reward. From the sky gate, you can see the majestic panorama of the Northwest mountains. Next, you can drive to Yen Minh pine forest - a place called "Da Lat of the Northwest" by many backpackers, where you can relax and enjoy the fresh air and the faint scent of pine.
After that, you can stop in the Yen Minh District to enjoy some rest. From Yen Minh, you can choose to continue through Doc Tham Ma - Lung Cu Flagpole - Dong Van Ancient Town, and return via Mau Due - Du Gia, to fully enjoy the beauty of Ha Giang.
The Du Gia - Mau Due route, although rarely chosen by tourists, is a famous discovery route on the Ha Giang tourist map. From milestone 0, follow Highway 4C to Du Gia, because this road to Ha Giang is easier to go than Highway 34. If you go on Friday, you will see the bustling local market from afar. Don't forget to take some time to visit and enjoy local dishes, it's an attractive part of the trip.
On the way back to Mau Due, in April-May, you will admire the sight of terraced fields sparkling with water, reflecting the sun and creating a brilliant scene. When heading to Mau Due, you will see many Dao houses located among the majestic cat-ear rocky mountains. Sometimes, you will see Dao girls and boys happily wandering on the streets. Slow down to enjoy the wild beauty and breathe fresh air here.
It should be noted that although the road from Milestone 0 to Du Gia is easy to travel, the section from Du Gia to Mau Due is still wild. The road to Ha Giang is winding, with many ruts and rocky slopes, so drive slowly and carefully and make sure you have enough fuel to avoid running out of gas mid-way. In the evening, you can rest in Mau Due district to continue your journey the next morning through Doc Tham Ma - Lung Cu Flagpole - Dong Van Ancient Town.
Explore a unique route at the Lung Cu flagpole and famous places in Dong Van, located on the Ha Giang tourist map. Tham Ma Slope is also one of the challenging passes in Ha Giang, waiting for you to overcome it.
Tham Ma Slope is named so because, in the past, it was used to test the strength of horses. If any horse is still healthy after going over the slope, it will be kept by the people. This shows that you need to be a steady driver to conquer this slope, right? In particular, at Doc Tham Ma, you will meet many ethnic children carrying colorful flower baskets. Remember to stop by to buy and support the children and create memorable memories with them.
When coming to Ha Giang, don't miss the Lung Cu flagpole, the tallest symbol in the northernmost part of Vietnam, representing the nation's sacred sovereignty. Next, you can visit Dong Van Ancient Town for lunch and rest.
From there, continue your journey to the Meo King's Palace (also known as the Vuong Family Mansion) and Pao's House. These are two interesting places for you to explore the history of the Mong, Lo Lo, and Han ethnic groups, as well as learn about the patriotism of Cat King, a leader who led the people against the Chinese invasion mausoleum.
When night falls, you can rest and regain energy in Dong Van's ancient town. After that, you can continue your journey on Ma Pi Leng - Nho Que River - Tu San Alley to enjoy the next interesting experiences.
When mentioning the most famous roads on the Ha Giang tourist map, we cannot ignore Ma Pi Leng and Nho Que River. As one of the four great passes of the Northwest, with one side being a cliff and the other side being an abyss, Ma Pi Leng Pass challenges the passion of backpackers to conquer.
Standing on Ma Pi Leng's pass, you can enjoy the panoramic view of the turquoise Nho Que river winding below. However, to fully admire the beauty of the Nho Que River, you need to rent a boat to go along the river and go through Tu San Canyon, the deepest canyon in Southeast Asia.
Tu San Canyon is a unique natural wonder in the Dong Van stone plateau, with cliffs up to 800m high. It only takes about 20 minutes by boat, and you will be immersed in the enchanting beauty of the canyon.
The road down to Tu San Canyon is somewhat difficult, but that does not stop human exploration. If you are not confident with your boat driving ability, you can contact local people to have them take you to the boat wharf and experience the Nho Que River.
After the boat trip, you can return to Meo Vac town to rest. Don't forget to return via the Mau Due-Du Gia route to experience the road to Ha Giang, considered by backpackers to be the most beautiful in Ha Giang.
If this is your first time visiting Ha Giang, here are some important tips to keep in mind:
By keeping these tips in mind, you can better prepare for your journey and enjoy your time exploring the beautiful landscapes of Ha Giang.
Ha Giang has consistently been a sought-after destination for both domestic and international travelers. Despite its popularity, many tourists continue to be drawn to this place due to the captivating culture of the local indigenous people and the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding natural environment. When planning your next vacation, make sure to give Ha Giang the attention it deserves as a potential destination. If you are planning a trip, make full use of this location! If you need assistance, have questions about costs, or would like to schedule a faster tour, contact HoaBinh Tourist through the hotline at 0939.311.911 - 0913.311.911 to experience going to Ha Giang.