Ha Giang boasts a pristine beauty that has long captivated travelers who love to explore majestic nature. Additionally, this northernmost province also boasts a unique charm and a rich cultural heritage.
Northernmost Charm and Cultural Heritage
Ha Giang is known as Vietnam’s northernmost land. In addition to this geographical distinction, it is also famous for its historical sites and neighborhoods. These sites and neighborhoods are imbued with the unique culture of its ethnic communities.
When to Visit Hà Giang
As a high mountainous province, Ha Giang experiences a distinctly colder climate compared to the adjacent lowlands and midlands. The average annual temperature ranges from 21 to 23 degrees Celsius. A notable feature of its climate is the high humidity throughout the year, coupled with abundant and prolonged rainfall.
Despite this weather pattern, you can travel to Hà Giang at any time of year. However, the most beautiful time is from October to December, when the buckwheat flowers and canola fields bloom vibrantly. Conversely, in spring, the forests are blanketed in white blossoms, as plum and apricot trees create a scene that makes you feel like you’re floating on clouds.
Moving into the warmer months, May sees the terraced fields shimmer during the water-filling season. While many people might overlook Hà Giang in June and July due to sudden summer showers, it’s precisely because of this that the mountains and forests here don a lush green coat.
Transportation to Hà Giang
Traveling to Ha Giang from the northern provinces is quite easy because there are many direct bus routes. On the other hand, visitors from the more distant southern or central regions should start their journey from Hanoi. From this capital city, there are almost hourly bus departures from My Dinh, Luong Yen, Yen Nghia, and Gia Lam bus stations.
Travelers can choose between sleeper buses or high-quality limousine vans, depending on their budget. Nevertheless, it’s advisable to travel by night bus to save time and conserve energy for your long exploration trip. The cost of a one-way bus ticket from Hanoi to Ha Giang varies from 200,000 VND (equal to 8 USD) to 300,000 VND (or 12 USD).
Upon arriving in Hà Giang City, you can rent a motorbike for independent travel for 150,000 VND (6 USD) – 300,000 VND (12 USD) per bike per day. Alternatively, if you have limited time and energy, or if your group includes elderly people and young children, you should hire a 7-16 seats service car.
What to Experience in Hà Giang
Given that the tourist attractions in Hà Giang are quite far apart, you should plan a trip of at least 3 days and 2 nights to have enough time for a superficial look. In fact, a 3-day, 4-night itinerary is recommended by many travelers, or even a more leisurely 5-day trip.
Here are some must-visit attractions in Hà Giang that you shouldn’t miss:
Dong Van Ancient Town
Built in the 20th century in Dong Van town, Ha Giang province, Dong Van Ancient Town is not only home to various ethnic groups but also a significant cultural and architectural heritage site that needs preservation in Hà Giang province. Within this historic area, the ancient town contains just about 40 houses that are over a century old, tightly clustered and encircled by rocky mountains. Here, visitors will have the opportunity to admire the peaceful and ancient beauty of the gray walls bathed in the golden morning sunlight. As night falls, the scene becomes lively with the sounds of the “ken moi” (a type of wind instrument) and the courtship dances of the local young men and women.
Notably, during the 14th to 16th days of the third lunar month, Dong Van Ancient Town is filled with red lanterns and hosts a festival night with many unique activities.
Address: Dong Van Town, Ha Giang
Lung Cu Flagpole
Perched at an altitude of 1,470 meters atop Dragon Mountain, the Lung Cu Flagpole is one of Vietnam’s four extreme geographical markers, marking Ha Giang as the country’s northernmost location. This flagpole has an octagonal structure with eight green stone reliefs at its base, illustrating Dong Son bronze drum patterns and significant historical events of the country.
To reach this significant landmark, visitors will climb 839 steps and admire the picturesque scenery of mountains and rivers gradually unfolding. From the mountaintop, as your eyes sweep across the landscape, you’ll sense the cool air characteristic of the Northeast mountains and the solemn, proud ambiance that surrounds you. Furthermore, when you visit, you can also stroll through the villages of the Lo Lo and H’Mong people and see the clear blue Dragon Eye Lake located right at the foot of the mountain.
Address: Long Son Mountain Peak, Lung Cu, Dong Van, Hà Giang
Ma Pi Leng Pass
Ma Pi Leng Pass is situated on National Highway 4C, spanning Pai Vi and Pai Lung communes, connecting Hà Giang city with the two towns of Meo Vac and Dong Van. Widely recognized as one of Vietnam’s “four great passes,” this pass is a top famous tourist destination in Hà Giang.
Ma Pi Leng is a winding and treacherous 20-kilometer mountain pass at an altitude of over 1,200 meters above sea level. For adventurous travelers, renting motorbikes allows them to embark on a thrilling “phượt” (backpacker) journey through the winding curves between towering cliffs and deep abysses.
Upon reaching the pass summit, you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view of the vast Dong Van Karst Plateau, the majestic Tu San Canyon, and the gentle Nho Que River flowing at the foot of the mountains. In this area, you can participate in trekking Tu San mountain, paddleboarding on the Nho Que River, and camping overnight. Moreover, if you visit during the rice harvest season or the buckwheat flower season, you’ll have the chance to admire the beautiful terraced fields and flower valleys.
Pho Bang Town
Pho Bang is a small, peaceful town nestled amidst the mountains and forests of Hà Giang. Within Pho Bang town, there are only about 3,000 residents, mainly the H’Mong and Han Chinese people. The houses here are simply built with sun-dried bricks and yin-yang tiled roofs, along with old wooden doors. Walking through the town, visitors can enjoy the simple daily life of the locals. Notably, if you visit Pho Bang on rainy days, you’ll feel a unique sense of melancholy and tranquility. In the vicinity, you can also admire the rose valley and the buckwheat flowers blooming along the roadside.
Address: Pho Bang, Dong Van, Hà Giang
Hoang Su Phi Terraced Fields
Mentioning Hà Giang tourist destinations, one cannot overlook the national scenic spot – the terraced fields of Hoang Su Phi district. Indeed, the unique wet rice cultivation method on these terraced fields has made this place a landscape attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists each year.
Located in 24 communes and towns of Hà Giang province, the Hoang Su Phi terraced fields encompass a total area of up to 3,700 hectares. The stunning feature here is the poetic beauty of thousands of fields stretching across the area, naturally winding around the hillsides, which will captivate you. Adding to this charm are small murmuring streams, primeval forests, and vast tea hills interspersed among the terraced fields.
Address: Hoang Su Phi, Hà Giang
Sung La Valley
Amidst the majestic Dong Van Karst Plateau, you’ll find a “paradise” filled with the most beautiful flowers in Hà Giang, called Sung La Valley. Therefore, adventurous souls must come here to feel the rustic and peaceful beauty of the mountains and forests.
Sung La is a peaceful village nestled among the rugged, cat-ear rocky mountains. It is particularly famous for its simple house eaves and stone fences weathered by time. Visitors will feel like they’ve stepped into a fairyland with valleys filled with the pure white of plum, pear, and canola flowers or the purplish-pink of wild peach blossoms. Significantly, two must-visit places in Sung La Valley are Lung Cam cultural village and Pao’s house from the famous movie. During your visit, you’ll experience the highland culture through rustic meals, folk games, and the simple songs of the H’Mong people.
Address: Sung La, Dong Van, Hà Giang
Yen Minh Pine Forest
Situated roughly 10 km from Yen Minh town, the Yen Minh Pine Forest is often called a miniature Da Lat and serves as a captivating destination for young visitors to the northern mountainous region.
Visitors here are overwhelmed by the scenery of tall, straight pine trees and vast green meadows. Consequently, this is an ideal place to temporarily escape the bustling city and enjoy the cool, refreshing air of the high mountains. Moreover, you can also experience camping in the forest and admire the early morning mist from above.
Address: Yen Minh, Hà Giang
Quan Ba Twin Mountains and Heaven’s Gate
The first gateway to the Dong Van Karst Plateau is Quan Ba district. Within this district, there are two attractive Hà Giang tourist destinations that you cannot miss: the twin mountains and Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate.
Featuring a unique form with two parallel mountain peaks, the Quan Ba Twin Mountains are also called Co Tien (Fairy) Twin Mountains. Legend has it that the surrounding area, associated with the legend of the miraculous fairy milk, also has an extremely cool climate and the Mien River flowing through, nourishing lush fields.
Located 1,500 meters above sea level is Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate. Due to its prime location nestled between two mountain peaks and right on the horizon, visitors can fully appreciate the harmonious beauty of where heaven and earth meet. Furthermore, this is also a beautiful cloud hunting spot with gentle mists surrounding the mountainside.
The Vương Family’s Mansion (H’Mong King’s Palace)
The Vuong family’s mansion, also known as the H’Mong King’s Palace, is situated in Sa Phin Valley, approximately 1 km from the Dong Van Karst Plateau. As a result, this is a famous Hà Giang tourist destination containing interesting historical relics and stories.
According to historical records, the H’Mong King Vuong Chinh Duc chose this land to build the mansion due to its favorable “feng shui” conditions. Spanning over 3,000 square meters, the mansion’s construction took 9 years. Its architectural design shows the influence of Chinese culture, and you can find precious wooden columns and pillars, as well as intricate granite carvings. The mansion includes 4 horizontal and 6 vertical compartments, divided into three areas: the front, middle, and rear sections.
Hà Giang Highland Market
One of the unmissable unique features when traveling to Hà Giang is visiting the highland markets. Beyond being places for buying and selling goods, these markets are also where you can experience the unique customs and practices of the ethnic people.
Famous highland markets consist of the Khau Vai Love Market in Meo Vac district, Du Gia market in Yen Minh district, as well as Pho Cao market and Lung Phin market in Dong Van district. Markets usually take place in the mornings every weekend or every five days. While there, you can freely shop for souvenirs, enjoy local specialties, admire the colorful costumes of various ethnic groups, and even participate in interesting entertainment activities and cultural performances.