A self-driving tour of Ha Giang not only brings you memorable experiences, but also opens up before your eyes beautiful natural scenery along with interesting challenging roads. The trip will be safer and more complete when you travel with Meditours Ha Giang. With a team of experienced staff and a deep understanding of this land, we are committed to providing detailed instructions, ideal routes and safety notes, helping you enjoy every memorable moment on the journey to discover the majestic beauty of the stone plateau. We are not only a guide but also a reliable companion, helping you enjoy the best journey. Let Meditours be your trusted companion on your trip!
Is traveling to Ha Giang by self-driving car a good choice?
Traveling to Ha Giang by self-driving car is an interesting option that you must try during your trip. Driving yourself helps you be more proactive about time and route, and you can freely explore destinations along the way. However, you need to pay attention to the terrain and roads along the way. In this article, Meditours will provide you with the necessary information about the terrain and transportation system in Ha Giang to help you best prepare for your trip.
Terrain and road conditions in Ha Giang
The first factor to assess the safety when traveling to Ha Giang by self-driving car is the terrain conditions and road quality. As a northern border province, bordering China, Ha Giang is famous for its beautiful mountain passes and majestic mountain scenery. However, when moving up, the slope increases significantly, the road becomes narrower and has many dangerous bends. Drivers are required to have good driving skills and experience in dealing with situations that may occur on these mountain passes.
In addition to driving skills, the condition of the car is also very important. Before starting the journey, make sure that your car is in the best condition, has been thoroughly inspected and is fully equipped with a repair kit, extra fuel and essentials such as spare wheels and tires. In particular, drivers need to strictly follow traffic laws and pay attention to road signs to have a safe and complete trip.
Why is traveling to Ha Giang by car so popular?
Ha Giang stands out with its majestic natural scenery with towering mountain ranges and forests misty in the morning and evening mist. All create a picture that is both majestic and poetic, captivating many tourists. Thanks to that enchanting beauty, Ha Giang continuously attracts tourists from all over to explore and experience new things.
To serve the diverse needs of tourists, Ha Giang offers many options for transportation, including motorbikes, cars, jeeps, and even trekking tours. Among them, cars are often preferred by many people. However, because of the rugged mountainous terrain and difficult mountain passes, the issue of safety when participating in traffic by car is always a major concern for many tourists.
Is it safe to travel to Ha Giang by self-driving car?
For those in the North, driving to Ha Giang will bring an exciting experience. On the journey of about 300km, lasting from 5 to 7 hours, you will be able to admire the magnificent mountain scenery on both sides of the road, creating a relaxing but also exciting feeling.
According to the instructions, to go to Ha Giang by car, you will have to overcome many sharp turns and winding mountain passes. Therefore, this trip is most suitable for experienced drivers who have the ability to drive long distances. Although the terrain has many steep slopes and dangerous curves, because the road is not too crowded, the movement is quite easy and safe.
Before starting the journey, you need to determine the exact route to avoid getting lost, because there are many people who are familiar with the road but are still attracted by the beauty of Ha Giang. Because the road is quite far, make sure the gas tank is always full to be able to move comfortably. When arriving in Ha Giang, if you want to explore more thoroughly, leave your car in the villages and rent a motorbike to experience new roads in this area.
Ha Giang backpacking routes by car
Ha Giang possesses a charming beauty with majestic natural scenery, from the overlapping mountains to the endless rocky fields in the four districts of Meo Vac, Dong Van, Yen Minh and Quan Ba. Not only that, the golden terraced fields in Hoang Su Phi are like exquisite works of art, captivating visitors. To explore this wonderful beauty, visitors can choose between two main backpacking routes when coming to Ha Giang, specifically as follows:
Ha Giang City – Dong Van – Meo Vac – Ha Giang City
This route is the most popular choice for many tourists when coming to Ha Giang, especially those who are exploring this land for the first time. Below is a specific schedule for the trip:
Day 1: Depart from Hanoi to Ha Giang city. You will stay overnight in Quan Ba or Yen Minh town. The distance is about 350km, on the journey you can visit prominent destinations such as: KM 0, Quan Ba Twin Mountains, Yen Minh pine forest and lonely nghien tree.
Day 2: Continue the journey from Yen Minh town to Dong Van ancient town with a distance of about 170km. This section of the road will become more dangerous with many bends and passes, so be more careful when driving. Some of the attractions during the day include: Thanh Can Ty, Nha Cua Pao, Pho Cao, Doc Chin Khoanh, Doc Tham Ma, Dinh Vua Meo, Cot Co Lung Cu and finally Dong Van Ancient Town.
Day 3: Today you will spend time exploring the Nho Que and Meo Vac river areas. The road is still mainly steep passes like the previous day, but you need to pay more attention when going down to the Nho Que river wharf because the path is very dangerous. You can also choose to stay in Pa Vi or Meo Vac village for the night.
Day 4: On the last day, you will return to Ha Giang city from Meo Vac. You can choose to go by the loop or in the direction of Cao Bang, with a driving time of about 6 hours. You can visit Ba Be Lake to enjoy the beauty here before continuing to Hanoi, with a distance of about 270km and a continuous driving time of approximately 5 hours.
Ha Giang City – Hoang Su Phi
Different from the route from Ha Giang City to Dong Van, the route to Hoang Su Phi offers a more unique and wild natural beauty. Hoang Su Phi area is famous for its colorful terraced fields, especially in September and October every year, when the harvest season takes place. To fully experience the wonderful beauty of this place, while ensuring your health for the trip, you should plan a trip lasting 3 days and 2 nights.
Day 1: Departing from Hanoi, you will drive for about 5 hours to Bac Quang town, with a total distance of 250km. After a short break, you will continue to Hoang Su Phi, which takes about 2 more hours. This trip is relatively easy, without many dangerous mountain passes.
Day 2: You will have the opportunity to explore the most attractive and wonderful places in Hoang Su Phi such as Ban Luoc, San Sa Ho, Ban Phung, Nam Ti and Thong Nguyen…
Day 3: When returning to Hanoi, you can choose to return along the same route or follow the provincial road through Xin Man, Bac Ha, Lao Cai, and then continue on the highway to Hanoi. The total distance traveled during the day will be about 350km.
Ha Giang tourist destinations by self-driving car
Traveling to Ha Giang by self-driving car is an ideal journey for you to freely explore the majestic natural beauty and learn about the unique cultures of ethnic minorities. Driving on winding roads between mountains, you will be able to admire the breathtaking scenery, from the Dong Van stone plateau to the famous Ma Pi Leng pass. This journey not only brings a sense of conquest but also brings you closer to the beautiful destinations and unique identity of Ha Giang. In this article, let’s explore the must-see stops on this exciting self-driving journey!
Hoang Su Phi
Located in Hoang Su Phi district, Hoang Su Phi terraced fields are known as one of the most beautiful natural masterpieces of Ha Giang. With soft, winding rice fields embracing the mountain slopes, this place creates a lush green landscape, especially attractive in the golden rice season. This wild and majestic natural landscape is not only an ideal destination for those who love the original beauty but also a place to preserve many unique cultural values of the indigenous people.
When traveling to Ha Giang by self-driving car, you can easily stop at Hoang Su Phi to fully enjoy the rare beauty of this land. This is not only an ideal place to walk through small roads winding between the rice fields but also a beautiful photography spot, where you can capture memorable moments in the middle of nature. The terraced fields are connected one after another, stretching endlessly between the mountains and forests, creating a scene that is both poetic and majestic.
Not stopping there, a visit to Hoang Su Phi is also an opportunity for you to interact and explore the lives of ethnic minorities such as the Dao, Nung, or La Chi. You can chat with them, learn how they take care of their rice fields, or even participate in their daily activities to feel the deep connection between people and nature here. These intimate experiences will not only enrich your trip but also leave you with unforgettable memories of this majestic yet friendly land.
Dong Van market
Dong Van Market, located in the heart of the Dong Van stone plateau, is one of the busiest and most typical markets in Ha Giang, imbued with the culture of the ethnic minorities in the highlands. Every Sunday morning, Dong Van Market becomes a meeting place not only for local people but also for tourists from all over to visit and explore. The bustling market space, full of colors from the traditional costumes of ethnic groups such as H’Mong, Dao, Tay, Lo Lo, makes this place like a vivid and attractive cultural picture.
At Dong Van Market, you can find countless unique products that only the mountainous region of Ha Giang has. Fragrant herbal bundles, delicious fruits grown on high mountains, corn wine brewed by traditional methods, or typical foods of this land are all present on simple stalls. This is not only a place for shopping but also an opportunity for visitors to learn more about local products and the ingenuity of the highlanders through handmade products such as brocade, silver jewelry or bamboo and rattan utensils.
Lung Cu Flagpole
Lung Cu is located right at the headland of the Fatherland, one of the proud symbols of Ha Giang, attracting tourists by its majestic and wild beauty. This place is surrounded by unique limestone mountains, interspersed with mysterious cave systems, creating a fascinating natural picture. When arriving at Lung Cu, you will experience a challenging mountain climbing journey, leading to the top to admire the beautiful scenery of deep valleys, small villages nestled next to clear streams. Each step on the mountain not only brings a sense of conquest but also opens up to visitors the pure, pristine beauty of this land.
Not only valuable in terms of landscape, Lung Cu Mountain is also a place to preserve special cultural and historical imprints of the rocky plateau. This is a land deeply attached to the Mong people, one of the ethnic minorities with unique cultural features in Vietnam. Visitors coming here not only explore the natural beauty but also have the opportunity to learn about the life, customs, and ancient cultural relics of the indigenous people. All of these things make Lung Cu a destination not to be missed when you want to learn and fully feel the sacred soul of Ha Giang – the land at the headland of the Fatherland.
Some notes when traveling to Ha Giang by self-driving car
Ha Giang is known as one of the most attractive destinations in Vietnam, famous for its wild beauty, majestic mountain ranges and rich culture of the indigenous people living here. If you want to explore Ha Giang freely and comfortably, traveling by self-driving car is the right choice. However, before starting the trip, let’s learn some important things to note when traveling to Ha Giang by self-driving car to ensure that your journey will be safer:
Rest in Ha Giang
When coming to Ha Giang, staying at homestays with strong local culture is the top choice of many tourists. Homestays such as Bui Homestay, Dong Van B&B, Lang Tay Homestay, or Du Gia Homestay not only bring a cozy space but also are places where you can learn more about the life and customs of the local people. From Dong Van, Meo Vac to other districts, you will easily find homestays built in traditional style, bringing a close and authentic experience.
For families or groups of friends who prioritize convenience, 2-3 star hotels in the center of Ha Giang city are the ideal choice. Hotels such as Phoenix, Huy Hoan, or Ha Giang Historic House stand out with modern rooms, professional service and convenient locations for travel. This is a great choice to combine comfortable rest and explore the outstanding destinations in the rocky plateau.
If you want to experience a unique vacation amidst majestic nature, resorts such as P’apiu Resort, Truong Xuan, or Ecolodge Pan Hou will not disappoint you. These resorts not only provide high-class services but are also located in prime locations, among lush green valleys or pristine hills, providing a peaceful space for you to relax and enjoy the wonderful beauty of Ha Giang.
Outstanding cuisine of Ha Giang
Smoked buffalo meat: This is not only an indispensable part of the daily meals of the people in the highlands of Ha Giang but also a dish that carries the culinary culture of this place. This type of meat is made from fresh buffalo meat, carefully selected by the locals, then marinated with typical spices such as mac khen, garlic, chili and ginger. The meat is hung over the fire to dry, creating a unique smoky flavor that no other dish has. When enjoyed, the outer layer of the buffalo meat is dark brown, has a moderate toughness, while the inside retains its natural pink-red color and rich flavor.
Sour Pho: A specialty not to be missed when coming to Ha Giang, it is a perfect combination of traditional flavors and creative cooking style of the local people. This dish stands out with pho noodles made from fragrant, soft sticky rice and a unique sweet and sour sauce. To make the perfect sour pho, the sauce is mixed with sugar, tapioca flour, and typical spices of the mountainous region, creating a gentle sour taste mixed with a little sweetness. Sour pho is often served with attractive toppings such as char siu, Chinese sausage, crispy roasted meat and a little spicy stir-fried chili.
Buckwheat cake: When mentioning Ha Giang, people often think of vast fields of buckwheat flowers, but few people know that the seeds of this flower are also used to make a unique specialty cake. Buckwheat cake is a wonderful creation of the Mong people, crystallized from small but nutritious buckwheat seeds. To make delicious cakes, buckwheat seeds are ground, mixed with water and shaped before baking. When cooked, buckwheat cake has a dark brown color, giving off a gentle aroma, a sweet taste and especially a unique slightly gritty texture.
To make your journey to Hà Giang more complete, safe, and enjoyable, Meditours Hà Giang Loop is your perfect travel companion. We take pride in being one of the leading travel companies in Vietnam, specializing in providing top-notch services. With a team of experienced professionals and a deep understanding of Hà Giang, Meditours Hà Giang Loop is committed to delivering unforgettable experiences and unparalleled service that no other provider can match. Visit our website at https://meditourshagiangloop.com/ or contact us via phone at 0976024986 for expert advice and to answer all your questions. Let us make your Hà Giang adventure truly exceptional!
