If you’re dreaming of your next Vietnam destination, Ha Giang is always on the list. Tourists often regard it as one of the most beautiful places in Vietnam.
The province of Ha Giang is located in the far north of Vietnam, surrounded by Cao Bang, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai, and contains Vietnam’s northernmost point. It shares a long border with the south of China.  Ha Giang offers unique scenery in the land of the northeast region of Vietnam: steep cliffs, lush landscape, and a foggy atmosphere. This wild and mountainous region, rich in ethnic minorities, is quite outstanding. With the help of my local guide, we listed down all of our ideas of the things not to miss in Ha Giang.

Hoang Su Phi (Hoàng Su Phì) village

Like Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai), Hoang Su Phi attracts visitors by the beauty of terraced fields. Hoang Su Phi is a district in the west of Ha Giang Province, at the foot of imposing Tay Con Linh Mountain. With its terraced fields, Hoang Su Phi displays its charming beauty as a paradise that dimly looms in the clouds.

From September to October, the rice is changing to golden color
From September to October, the rice is changing to golden color @ Phạm Hoàng Cương‎

Bac Sum (Bắc Sum) Slope

Located at the foot of the Fairy Twin Mountain, Bac Sum slope looks like a snake bending itself at a majestic mountain. Bac Sum slope is the steepest and winding slope of Ha Giang. If visitors have ever crossed the Bac Sum. Let’s stay at the top of the slope and look back on the road you’ve crossed.

The beautiful sight at Bac Sum slope
The beautiful sight at Bac Sum slope. Photo @jonas.hi95

Quan Ba Twin Mountain ( Fairy twin mountain)

Co Tien (Fairy) twin mountain is a famous landmark in Quan Ba, which is located on the road to Dong Van, about 40 km from Ha Giang town. Coming here, visitors have the opportunity to admire the art of the nature give to this land. Between the mountain and rice terraced fields, there are many mountains with strange shape that make visitors surprise by the spectacular beauty of the nature. Especially, Two mountains associated with the legend “Co Tien Mountain” very interesting.

From a distance, Quan Ba Twin Mountain looks like two cherries as an art of nature.
From a distance, Quan Ba Twin Mountain looks like two cherries as an art of nature. Photo: @Fxhfh Eyrndj

Yen Minh (Yên Minh) Pine Forest

Yen Minh pine forest is about 20 km from Quan Ba town. This is a beautiful pine path and it was said that Yen Minh pine forest is “Dalat version 2″ in the Northeast Homeland. The feeling was wandering among vast pine forests, inhaling the aroma galaxy sometimes in the cold wind and fog young turpentine night, listening to the rustle of the forest home happy pine branch is a wonderful experience of any visitor come to this place.

Yen Minh pine forest is “Dalat version 2″ in the Northeast Homeland
Yen Minh pine forest is “Dalat version 2″ in the Northeast Homeland. Photo: @maivantrang

Sung La (Sủng Là) Valley

Sung La valley is located on highway 4C, about 20km from Dong Van district. This place is the central part of Ha Giang highland, so anyone who comes to Ha Giang will go through it. Sung La valley lies between the rugged mountains, dark color. Villagers plant corn and other staples in Sung La valley. But what is different here is that there are rose fields that cover almost all of the nearby area. It sounds great as flower paradise!

From the road perched halfway up the sky look down, visitors will see Sung La as a colorful natural picture
From the road perched halfway up the sky look down, visitors will see Sung La as a colorful natural picture.

Pho Bang (Phó Bảng) Town

Pho Bang which was called a ”forgotten ancient town” is hidden between the centuries-old limestone mountains. It is hard to imagine that this tiny town was once the capital of the entire region. Here, there are only two main streets and dozens of clay houses with tiled roofs and walls and doors decorated with ancient parallel sentences in Chinese.

Pho Bang is hidden between the centuries-old limestone mountains, and is remote from the road
Pho Bang is hidden between the centuries-old limestone mountains and is remote from the road. Photo: @Hoàng Linh Hà

Tham Ma (Thẩm Mã) Slope

Ha Giang is famous for its rugged passes, slopes. Tham Ma is a slope with many echoing the bends and curves connecting Yen Minh and Pho Cao Town. This is also the gate that takes visitors to the Dong Van Plateau. Even though they challenge the riders, but in return, they’ll be rewarded with stunning perspectives when viewing those passes.

One of the most unique sights in the East – Northwest, this slope is quite dangerous but so breathtaking view
One of the most unique sights in the East – Northwest, this slope is quite dangerous but so breathtaking view. Photo: @ali_olfat

Lung Cu (Lũng Cú) Flag Pole

Lung Cu flagpole, marking the country’s extreme north, is a popular tourist destination that inspires a deep sense of pride in Vietnamese. From a distance, Lung Cu is a spectacular sight with the view dominated by giant boulders and the national flag flying above Dragon Mountain.

From its top, visitors can see the whole of beautiful and spectacular landscape. Photo: Nguyễn Minh Hoàng
From its top, visitors can see the whole beautiful and spectacular landscape. Photo: Nguyễn Minh Hoàng

Dong Van ( Đồng Văn) Ancient Town

As one of Ha Giang’s major tourist attractions, Dong Van is located in Dong Van town, Dong Van district, Ha Giang province. Dong Van town lies in the middle of the valley with four rocky mountains. The old town has 40 rooftops nestled under rocky mountains. The houses in Dong Van ancient town were built quite strange from wood, earth, and stone with unique architecture.

The old town has 40 rooftops nestled under rocky mountains
The old town has 40 rooftops nestled under rocky mountains. Photo: @Lê Giang

The Palace of Vuong family ( Hmong King Palace)

The Hmong King’s Palace is considered a gem of the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang and is a popular tourist destination besides the Dong Van Stone Plateau. Lying some 130 kilometers of Ha Giang Town to the north, the century-old palace is still the largest construction in the area and boasts a special architecture style.

 

The palace that is built from stone, fir wood and terracotta tiling in a combined Chinese, French and H’mong traditional architectural style.
The palace is built from stone, fir wood, and terracotta tiling in a combined Chinese, French, and H’mong traditional architectural style. Photo: @vincent.vu

Ma Pi Leng (Mã Pí Lèng) pass  & Nho Que river

The beautiful sight in Ha Giang which many visitors love to mention is the Ma Pi Leng pass. Ma Pi Leng pass is the most beautiful and famous road in the rock plateau. It is also one of the four high mountain passes of Vietnam attracting visitors by its rugged and rare beauty. From the top of Ma Pi Leng Pass, visitors can admire the Nho Que river winding down. A boat trip on the Nho Que river is a great ideal to view the view from bottom to top. Especially with the bends of the sleeves is a risky experience that many people love.

 

Ma Pi Leng pass is considered as one of the most perilous, yet stunning, passes from the mountainous North.
Ma Pi Leng pass is considered as one of the most perilous, yet stunning, passes from the mountainous North. Photo: @Fxhfh Eyrndj

 

Ha Giang Markets

Ha Giang markets are not only a place to exchange goods but also a place where visitors can experience the unique cultures of many ethnic groups in Ha Giang. This beautiful place is famous for markets such as Khau Vai ( Khâu Vai) Love Market, Du Gia (Du Già) Market, Central Market of Meo Vac District, Pho Cao ( Phố Cáo) Market, Lung Phin ( Lũng Phìn) Market, Dong Van ( Đồng Văn) Market, etc.

 

The markets in Ha Giang is the places which converge many unique cultures of minority groups in highland
The markets in Ha Giang are the places that converge many unique cultures of minority groups in highland. Photo: coppersea