Ha Giang - the remote northern region of Vietnam, is home to 22 ethnic groups and has been becoming an internationally well known destination for natural adventure and cultural exploration.

About 300 km north of Ha Noi, Ha Giang can only be reached by road. Nonetheless, the province provides a large number of hotels, motels and homestays. Most of them are located in Dong Van District, Meo Vac District, Ha Giang City.

Visitors can come to Ha Giang at any time of the year since each season in Ha Giang will offer different sceneries and be careful, its own beauty is enough to captivate every visitor’s heart. Coming here, it is common to capture groups of ethnic minority children dressing in their traditional costumes and smiling brightly as a warm welcome to visitors from afar.

Ha Giang in the spring will be coated in the scent of flowers, especially cherry blossoms, plum flowers, mustard flowers and pear flowers in March. Khau Vai Love Market takes place during this time also. In summer, the terrace fields are filled with water, esembling mirrors reflecting the clouds in the sky. Autumn is when the weather is cool and pleasant, with flows of gentle scent of ripe rice stretching over the golden rice fields. Travelling in October to December, purple buckwheat flowers, yellow canola flowers and tiny mustard flowers show off their vibrant beauty under the sun and wind.

The best thing while travelling in Ha Giang is probably riding a motorbike on the zig zag passes. It is risky but worth the try and definitely to be one of the most memorable and overwhelming experiences.

There are tons of places to explore in Ha Giang and somehow help visitors to learn the culture and history of this beautiful land. The Heaven’s Gate and Quan Ba twin mountains (Quan Ba District); the Vuong Family’s Residence and Lung Cu Flagpole (Dong Van District); Ma Pi Leng Pass (Meo Vac District); Tien (Fairy) Waterfall - Gio (Wind) Pass and the Ancient Rock field of Nam Dan (Xin Man District); and Quang Ngan mineral stream in Vi Xuyen District, and so many that are enough for visitors to save Ha Giang to the must-travel list.

Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark

Dong Van Karst Plateau was recognized as the first Global UNESCO Geopark of Vietnam and the second in Southeast Asia. Hiking to Dong Van Geopark is the most effective way to discover this exceptional geopark. Hiking trails meander through the mountains and offer stunning views. There are two natural conservation areas rich in fauna and flora species such as conifers, Asian black bear, Southern serow (a solitary mountain goat) and many species of bird in this geopark. Along the hiking trails, visitors can also learn the diverse culture of local ethnic minorities who live in traditional villages.

Ha Giang Loop

This is one of the best road trips and one of the most beautiful bike trip routes in Asia. The Ha Giang Loop passes through 4 districts, including Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac. The "Golden Road" crosses high passes and deep abysses, requiring professional steering to face endless loop-like curves. The scenery here is enchanting. During September and October, tourists cycling around can admire the golden rice fields in full bloom in the area. And from February to March is the time when spring flowers bloom.

The Vuong’s Residence

The Vuong Family’s Residence was built nearly 100 years ago by the skillful craftsmen. The mansion is about 14km from the town of Dong Van, in the locality of Sa Phin Commune. The Vuong Family’s Residence is like a stone castle among nature, protected by the high canopy of special trees in Ha Giang. Visitors can pay a visit to explore the converging architecture of 3 cultures including Chinese, French and H’Mong, or simply admire the place which was once a fancy, flashy residence of an ethnic king.

Ha Giang's minority fairs

To learn about the culture of minority groups in Ha Giang, kermises are the place visitors should not miss. Visit kermises of the ethnic minorities, visitors can be amazed by the colourful clothes and brocade fabrics, witnessing the daily life of ethnic people in Ha Giang through their activities of exchanging and trading products of the mountains and forests.

Dishes that visitors should try in Ha Giang include:

Five-colour sticky rice

The five colours of the dish represent the five elements of life in the Vietnamese's belief: yellow is earth, green is plant, red is fire, white is metal, and black is water. People believe that the existence of these five elements creates the well-being of heaven, the earth and humans.

Buckwheat cake

This cake is made from buckwheat seeds. The tiny seeds were crushed into fine powder and then mixed with water, poured into a soft mould rolled into bread, simple but special. The taste will be unique.

Thang Den

It is similar to the floating cake in Ha Noi or Cong cake in Lang Son Province, made of sticky rice flour and crushed mung beans filled inside. The cakes are kneaded into sphere shapes and boiled in hot water. Thang Den is often eaten with coconut milk and ginger drink.

Steamed egg rolls, buffalo meat, mint honey, Bac Me sticky rice, Au Tau porridge... are other dishes to taste in Ha Giang.

Hit the road to Ha Giang to experience the muse of the northern mountainous of Vietnam in person and gather unforgettable memories here!