Ha Giang is the land of the Fatherland, famous for its majestic landscape, diverse culture and enchanting winding mountain passes. A 3-day, 2-night self-guided tour in Ha Giang will bring you an unforgettable experience, from exploring the Dong Van stone plateau, conquering Ma Pi Leng pass to enjoying the unique cuisine of the ethnic people here.
Ideal time to travel to Ha Giang
Ha Giang has its own beauty in each season of the year, leaving unforgettable impressions on anyone who comes here. However, choosing the right time will help you not only enjoy the natural scenery but also discover more unique cultural features of this land.
Buckwheat flower season (October – November)
October to November is the time when buckwheat flowers bloom, covering the hillsides, valleys and winding roads in Ha Giang. The purple-pink color of buckwheat flowers not only captivates people but also carries a profound cultural value, closely associated with the lives of the Mong people. In particular, the areas of Quan Ba, Sung La, Dong Van or Lung Cu are known as the places where the flowers bloom most beautifully.
If you love photography, buckwheat flower season is the perfect time for you to capture beautiful moments in nature. The vast flower fields combined with towering limestone mountains create a poetic and majestic scene that is hard to match.
Rice harvest season (September)
In September, Ha Giang enters the rice harvest season, the time when the terraced fields in Hoang Su Phi, Nam Ty or Thong Nguyen are dyed a brilliant yellow. The ripe rice season gives visitors the feeling of being lost in a colorful natural picture, where terraced fields stretch to the horizon.
Not only is it an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery, the ripe rice season also helps you understand more about the unique farming culture of ethnic minorities. The bright smiles of the people during the harvest season, combined with the fragrance of new rice, will surely make you love this land even more.
Spring (January – March)
If you want to immerse yourself in the joyful festival atmosphere and admire the brilliant colors of flowers, spring from January to March is the ideal time to come to Ha Giang. Spring brings the pink color of peach blossoms, the white color of plum blossoms, creating a poetic scene in the middle of the mountains and forests.
In addition, spring is also the time when traditional festivals of the H’Mong, Tay, and Dao people take place vibrantly. Participating in festivals such as Gau Tao festival and Long Tong festival will help you understand more about the customs, habits and rich spiritual life of the people here. With cool weather and fresh scenery, Ha Giang in spring promises to bring energetic and emotional experiences to visitors.
Suggested means of transport to Ha Giang
Choosing the right means of transport will greatly affect the quality of your trip. Depending on your budget, time and personal preferences, you can choose between a coach, a private car or a motorbike.
Coaches are convenient and highly popular
Coaches are the most popular means of transport, especially suitable for those who want to rest on the way. You can catch a bus at major stations in Hanoi such as My Dinh, Gia Lam, or Nuoc Ngam. Reputable bus companies such as Quang Nghi, Hai Van, and Cuong Lan provide sleeper bus services with prices ranging from 200,000 – 300,000 VND/trip.
The bus usually departs in the evening, helping you save time to rest and arrive in Ha Giang early the next morning. This is a safe and convenient choice if you are not used to driving long distances or want to arrive ready to start exploring.
Private car helps you be more proactive and flexible in your journey
If you want to drive your own journey and enjoy privacy, a private car is the right choice. However, the road to Ha Giang has many steep passes, requiring the driver to have experience driving on mountain roads. Before the trip, carefully check the brake system, tires, and bring all necessary items such as repair kits, drinking water, and snacks.
Traveling by private car not only gives you more flexibility in stopping at scenic spots, but also creates conditions for you to be more comfortable when carrying luggage or traveling with your family.
Motorbikes are for real backpackers
Motorbikes are the ideal vehicle for those who love the feeling of freedom and want to enjoy the entire natural scenery along the way. You can choose to drive yourself from Hanoi to Ha Giang, but the 300 km distance will be quite long and tiring. Another solution is to send your motorbike by bus to Ha Giang, then start your journey of discovery from there.
When traveling by motorbike, make sure to bring a standard helmet, sun protection jacket, gloves, and basic repair tools. In particular, do not forget to thoroughly check your motorbike before departure to ensure safety throughout the trip. With a motorbike, every road, every turn will become an interesting and memorable experience.
Detailed itinerary for a 3-day, 2-night self-guided tour of Ha Giang
Ha Giang is known for its majestic natural scenery and unique culture, making it an ideal destination for a 3-day, 2-night self-guided tour. The itinerary below is carefully designed so that you can fully admire the beauty of the land at the head of the country, from the Dong Van stone plateau, Ma Pi Leng pass, to the villages with rich cultural identity. Let’s start the journey of discovery today!
Day 1: Hanoi – Ha Giang – Quan Ba – Yen Minh
Morning: Travel from Hanoi to Ha Giang
Start your journey from Hanoi at 5am, travel along National Highway 2, through Vinh Phuc and Tuyen Quang provinces to Ha Giang. The distance is about 300km, equivalent to 6-7 hours of driving. On the way, you can stop at rest stops along the way, relax, and enjoy a light breakfast such as bread, sticky rice or pho at small restaurants in Tuyen Quang.
If you travel by night bus, you will arrive in Ha Giang early in the morning, saving time but need to be in good health to start your journey as soon as you arrive.
Noon: Arrive in Ha Giang city and start your journey
Arrive in Ha Giang city at around 12pm, you can rest and have lunch at a local restaurant. Specialties such as egg rolls with hot broth, sour pho or grilled black pork will be great choices to recharge your energy. After lunch, check your vehicle, prepare your luggage before starting your journey to explore Ha Giang.
Afternoon: Quan Ba - Fairy Twin Mountain – Heaven Gate
From Ha Giang city, you travel about 46km to Quan Ba, where there are famous attractions such as Quan Ba Heaven Gate and Fairy Twin Mountain. On the way, the natural scenery opens up with immense fields, towering limestone mountains and fresh air that make you feel more relaxed than ever.
When you arrive at Quan Ba Heaven Gate, you will admire the panoramic view of the picturesque Tam Son valley. Fairy Twin Mountain is located nearby, standing out with its special shape, associated with interesting folk legends. This is an ideal place to take photos and enjoy the peaceful space of the highlands.
Evening: Yen Minh – Rest and enjoy local cuisine
Continue the journey to Yen Minh, this town is about 60 km from Quan Ba. The road to Yen Minh is famous for its lush green pine forests, often referred to as “Da Lat of the Northeast”. Upon arrival, check in at a hotel or homestay, rest before exploring local cuisine in the evening.
Enjoy specialties such as thang co, black chicken hotpot or bamboo rice – dishes that are imbued with the culture of the highlands. After that, you can walk around the town to feel the cool and peaceful atmosphere of the mountain night.
Day 2: Yen Minh – Dong Van – Meo Vac
Morning: Explore Pho Cao and Sung La
After breakfast, leave Yen Minh and travel to Pho Cao, about 20 km away. Pho Cao is famous for its typical H’Mong houses made of earth, located in the middle of a wild mountain forest. This is where you can meet the locals, learn more about their culture and lifestyle.
From Pho Cao, you continue to Sung La – known as the “flower village in the middle of the rocky plateau”. Sung La is most beautiful in spring and buckwheat flower season, when the flowers bloom, covering the hillsides. Here, you will visit “Pao’s House”, an ancient house that was the setting for the famous movie “Pao’s Story”. With traditional architecture and peaceful space, this is a place not to be missed to take photos and feel the unique cultural beauty.
Noon: Explore Dong Van town
Arrive in Dong Van, stop for a break and have lunch. Try specialties such as au tau porridge, steamed rice rolls with bone broth or thang den – an attractive snack on cold days. After lunch, spend time exploring Dong Van old town with hundreds of years old ancient houses, both nostalgic and preserving the rustic beauty of the highlands.
Afternoon: Visit Vuong family mansion and Ma Pi Leng pass
Leaving Dong Van town, you visit Vuong family mansion – a unique architectural work of the once powerful Vuong family. Built in the early 20th century, the mansion has an architectural style combining the H’Mong, Chinese and French, demonstrating the wealth and power of the Meo King’s family.
Then, continue the journey to Ma Pi Leng pass – one of the “four great mountain passes” of Vietnam. From the top of the pass, you will see the deep Tu San canyon and the emerald green Nho Que river. This is one of the most impressive scenes of Ha Giang, making anyone admire the majesty of nature.
Evening: Arrive at Meo Vac town
Arriving at Meo Vac town, you check in, rest and explore the night market (if available). This is where you can enjoy street food, shop for typical souvenirs and interact with the locals. The peaceful but vibrant atmosphere of the highlands will definitely leave you with unforgettable memories.
Day 3: Meo Vac – Du Gia – Ha Giang – Hanoi
Morning: Arrive at Du Gia waterfall – Peaceful beauty in the mountains and forests
Leaving Meo Vac, you will travel to Du Gia, a popular destination for its rustic beauty and peaceful atmosphere. On the way, you will cross winding roads between the mountains and forests, where terraced fields and small streams create a poetic natural picture.
In Du Gia, you can stop at a small waterfall to relax, take photos or simply enjoy the tranquility of the mountains and forests. This is also an opportunity for you to learn more about the lives of local people.
Noon: Return to the center of Ha Giang
Stop for lunch at a local restaurant in Du Gia before returning to Ha Giang city. On the way back, take some time to admire the beautiful scenery of Ha Giang, from winding mountain passes to villages hidden in the mountains and forests.
Afternoon – Evening: Return to Hanoi
From Ha Giang city, you take a bus or private car back to Hanoi. The journey ends late in the evening, concluding a meaningful and fulfilling 3-day, 2-night trip.
The 3-day, 2-night journey in Ha Giang is not only a trip to admire the beautiful scenery, but also an opportunity for you to experience the simple, genuine life of the highland people. With the detailed itinerary above, you will fully explore the beauty of this land, from famous landmarks to simple but meaningful moments. Pack your bags and get ready for a journey full of unforgettable experiences!
