HA GIANG – the most beautiful place in the north
Mountain road in Ha Giang
The remote province of northern Vietnam with the most beautiful sceneries.
Ha Giang province in northern Vietnam is the less frequented by tourists. Ha Giang is the place where almost 90% of the population are ethnic minorities with their culture and lifes. The last 20 years when the other Vietnam provinces and cities experienced the economic development, Ha Giang was the place, which had been forgotten in time. The main reason was the political situation and relations with China.
Ha Giang is a unique place, that is untouched by mass tourism.
The Chinese invasion of 1979 has been forgotten and the Vietnamese Government has financially helped with the construction of the new roads and infrastructure, and there are also some modest hotels. In Ha Giang town you will find any hotels and accommodation as well as homestay. If you continue to Dong Van and Meo Vac, accommodation deals are shrinking. The attendance of Vietnamese tourists gradually increasing, but also some foreign tourists are coming here.
Authenticity, nature, beautiful mountains and no comedy for tourists.
Ethnic woman goes with a pig on the market in Dong Van.
You will see a lot of fantastic mountain sceneries at the entire area.
Starting with hills, valleys and villages with the ethnic minorities residents (Hmong, Tay, Dao, Nung, Lo Lo, Giay, Pu Peo). The farthest and the most beautiful place of Ha Giang province is Dong Van Karst Global Geopark, designated by UNESCO as one of 77 sites with the important geological and cultural heritage. This geopark is littered with the ethereal karst formations that are nearly 400 million years old, and has two protected areas.
Dong Van Karst Global Geopark
Dong Van Karst Global Geopark is a home of 17 ethnic minority groups.
Ethnic minorities creates a unique and rich cultural heritage of the area. Traditional practices and habits of these ethnic groups are very diverse and interesting and they attract many travellers to explore these unique aspects. Northern most place of Vietnam is the village Lung Cu with the Vietnamese flag on the Dragon mountain. Lung Cu is known for many special foods and beverages. You can taste the alcohol from honey and corn, or Thang Co soup, which is cooked from every part of the animal.
Dong Van Karst Geopark – Ha Giang
Take a motorbike and drive through the fantastic areas of Meo Vac.
You can go to Meo Vac town from the Dong Van town , through the mountainous area with altitude of 1500 meters. This area is one of the most beautiful that you can see in the Ha Giang province. If you manage a time to visit this city on Sunday, you can go to the Sunday Market, which takes place outside the city. People from surrounding come here to sell their things, animals or food.
Looking for homestay in Ha Giang province? Choose homestay on Airbnb.
There are plenty of ethnic markets in Ha Giang province, almost in each town. One of the most interesting is Khau Vai „Love market“ 20 km from the city center, see map. People from the ethnic minority Hmong, Tay and Lo Lo are coming here and seeking a life partner or they are changing the partner. This market is held only once a year 27th day third month of the lunar calendar. Watch the video from the „Love Market„.
Woman from the Dao ethnic group.
Visit Meo Vac market with ethnic residents every Sunday morning.
Meo Vac town in the province of Ha Giang is an ideal place to visit the Sunday market, where ethnic residents sell mostly an cattle. They sell also dogs, goats, pigs. This market is not just a selling point, but also in terms of maintaining social relations of ethnic people. Ethnic residents (Mong, Tay) from distant areas around the town of Meo Vac will meet there. Some people go on foot at night with cattle for example 20 km. Market starts every Sunday since morning, most busy from 7-10 am and on the place you can taste local food and corn and rice alcohol.
Ethnic market in Meo Vac town (Photo „Marché de Méo Vac“ from „Sylvie Vietnam vagabondes“ licenced under CC BY 2.0.)
You have to buy a permit to the remote areas in Ha Giang province.
This permit costs 10 USD and can be obtained at the Immigration Office in Ha Giang town or at the police station in Meo Vac. Near the town of Ha Giang, 7 km south you can visit the Phuon Thien cave. It is a place of many monuments and many plums, pears, oranges and apple trees grows here. If you go from Hanoi, the best way is to take the train to Lao Cai and then a bus from this city. The bus trip from Lao Cai to Ha Giang town may take up to 6 hours. Yes sure, the best way how to get there is with a motorcycle.
The Hmong king’s palace (Vuong Chinh Sinh) in Sa Phin village.
On your way to the farest places of northern Vietnam – Dong Van and Meo Vac, visit the The Hmong king´s palace in Sa Phin. This unassuming palace is located along the road to Dong Van. However, it is very important for the local Hmong community. Residents of this area during the reign of Vương Chinh Đức together with Ho Chi Minh and gained national freedom. The palace has been used as a residence and fortress during Vuong Dynasty. You can also learn something about the history of Ha Giang province.
Try to allocate more than 3 days to explore the province of Ha Giang.
Noong lake – 25km from the town of Ha Giang (photo: vietnambreakingnews.com)
Noong lake – near to the Ha Giang town. The lake with growing trees in the water.
If you stay for a while in Ha Giang town, you can visit a large freshwater Noong lake. The lake is 25 kilometers south of the city, in monsoon period may be 80 hectares large. Fascinating insight arises in the dry season, when the water depth decreases, in the lake are growing trees. Local fishermen from Ha Giang are catching fish and shrimp in the lake, and you can ask them for sailboat on the lake. It is no problem to go there with a motorbike.
Ma Pi Leng Pass – The Pass, which goes through the high mountains area.
After a few minutes drive from the city of Dong Van begins famous road and mountain pass – Ma Pi Leng Pass. It’s probably one of the most beautiful roads you can ride in Vietnam. History of the road falls to the period between 1959-1965, when thousands of young people from 17 ethnic groups built this way, the construction process took 11 months.
Initially, the road was only for walking or horse team, but later it was extended to cars and trucks. Hills and mountains creates here fantastic images and the roads are dangerous here, ride cautiously on a motorcycle .
Ma Pi Leng Pass in Ha Giang
Hoang Su Phi is a remote area in Ha Giang with beautiful rice terraces.
Hoang Su Phi is less frequented area by tourists in the province of Ha Giang. But that does not mean it is not pretty. The entire area will pass huge areas of rice terraces, unspoilt nature and ethnic villages. If you stay for a few days in Ha Giang, this place is definitely worth a visit, but you need to take at least two days. Hoang Su Phi is about 70 km from the city (see map), but to get there through the winding road takes a lot of time.
Hoang Su Phi – untouched nature, ethnic villages and cultural heritage.
There are about 3 cheap hotels (Nha Nghi) in Hoang Su Phi town, or you can use a homestay with local people, ask the people at the city. There is also Panhou village ecolodge on the way, with higher prices for tourists. Ethnic residents are composed of 11 ethnic groups (mainly Hmong, Tay, Dao and Nung). Hoang Su Phi lies at an altitude of about 1000m, the weather is about the same as in Sapa, this place is with a little bit limited services.
Photo „Terraced fields in Hoang Su Phi, Ha Giang, Vietnam“ from „Nguyen Cuong“ licenced under CC BY 2.0.
Getting Your Permit in Ha Giang:
If you travel to farest distant places (and most beautiful – Dong Van, Meo Vac, Lung Cu …) in the province of Ha Giang, you will have to buy a permit. This permit can be purchased at the immigration office in Ha Giang town. This office is located on the street Tran Phu, 415a in the northern part of the town (see map below this article).
Obtaining is very simple. The officer at the window, handing his passport, he fills in the data from the passport to permit and you pay 10 USD. Then he will give you a permit and passport back. If you arrive on a motorcycle, police officer want a registration number of motorcycle, he writes this number to permit. Permit can also be purchased at the police station in Meo Vac town.
Ethnic markets in Ha Giang:
It is very good option to visit a small or large authentic ethnic markets in Ha Giang province. The best day for visiting large ethnic markets is Saturday and Sunday. Some markets are take place in the working days in the week. It’s a great opportunity to see the people of ethnic minorities, who came here many kilometers from their homes. They sell mainly fabrics, animals and food. Here is a little excerpt of larger markets, ethnic markets are called according to areas where they are held:
Ha Giang town – Sunday market
Quyet Tien, Quan Ba (Tam Son) – Saturday market
Quan Ba – Sunday market
Coc Pai – Sunday market
Lung Phin – Sunday market
Hoang Su Phi – Sunday market
Sa Phin – every 6th day
Pho Cao – every 6th day
Pho Bang – every 6th day
Ma Le (Dong Van) – Saturday market
Dong Van – Sunday market
Khau Vai Love market (26th and 27th of the third month of the lunar calendar)
Meo Vac – the largest Sunday market in Ha Giang province
Ethnic market in Dong Van town.
Weather in Ha Giang:
The best time in Ha Giang is in the dry season, in the months from October to April. It is not good to go in this mountainous area during the rainy season (May to September). The average temperature is approximately the same as in Hanoi. But in mountain areas the weather can change quickly. However, the number of precipitation in the rainy season is higher than in Hanoi. The roads can be very dangerous here.
Watch this wonderful video from Ha Giang in October.
How to get to Ha Giang from Hanoi:
1. By bus to Ha Giang town:
Ha Giang town is very far from Hanoi (about 300 km) and the best and interesting places are in Meo Vac and Dong Van. It is possible to use a night or day bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang town. Bus stations in Hanoi – My Dinh and Gia Lam. Night bus departs from My Dinh around 21:00 and then arrives in Ha Giang in the next early morning. Bus ticket costs apx. 8 USD for one way trip.
2. By train to Lao Cai town and here take a bus to Ha Giang town:
The good option is also the night train from Hanoi to Lao Cai (Sapa) and then take a local bus from Lao Cai to Ha Giang town. You can make a stopover in Bac Ha town and take a look on the Sunday ethnic market of Flower Hmong. Use a search engine of transport links Baolau or 12go.asia, here you can buy train tickets from Hanoi to Lao Cai. There is no train connection in Ha Giang province and in Ha Giang town.
Dont forget to buy a permit in Ha Giang town for visiting some remote places !!!
Ha Giang was almost forgotten in the time.
Where to rent a motorbike in Ha Giang:
Lots of travelers rent a motorbike in Ha Giang town and then go to the far north (Dong Van, Meo Vac, Lung Cu …). There are several rental bikes in Ha Giang town, there is no problem to rent a motorbike. Rent a bike for 1 day is around 7-15 USD / 1 day.
You can visit for example HaGiangMotorbike, Chothuexemayhagiang or QT Motorbikes. There are contacts on this websites where you can find these rentals. I recommend choose a bit more powerful bike, not a scooter for this mountain area. Good choice is semi-automatic motorbike. Before you go check and try your motorbike, check the tires…
Places of interest in Ha Giang:
• Noong lake (25 km from Ha Giang town)
• Sunday market in Ha Giang town
• Hoang Su Phi, Xin Man
• Thac Tien – Đeo Gio (Fairy waterfall)
• Yen Minh
• Dong Van Karst Global Geopark
• The valley of Quan Ba + Tam Son town
• Lung Khuy Cave (10 km from the town of Tam Son)
• Thien Phuong cave (7 km from the city)
• northernmost village of Vietnam – Lung Cu
• Lung Cu flag tower
• Dong Van and Meo Vac
• The Hmong king’s palace (Vuong Chinh Sinh)
• Khau Vai love market (once per year)
• Ma Pi Leng Pass and Nho Que river
• Tham ma Pass
• sunday market in Meo Vac, Dong Van, Yen Minh…
• Male market in Dong Van
• ethnic minority villages (Pho Cao, Pho Bang, Sung La, Lung Cu…)
Ha Giang – map:
Where to go from Ha Giang:
You can continue to Dong Van, Meo Vac (the northernmost places in Vietnam), Bac Ha, Sapa, Cao Bang.
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