Vietnam

While most travelers venture to Sapa for their trekking experience, between the rice fields and villages of Muong Hoa valley, many don’t know that you can also do great trekking in Ha Giang. In fact, it is one of the best destinations for trekking in Vietnam. This province is mainly visited in the form of the Ha Giang loop, by motorbike or private car, but these same mountains offer great hiking opportunities.

1. Trekking in Hoang Su Phi

2. Trekking around Dong Van

3. Trekking around Ha Giang City

4. Trekking around Quan Ba

5. Trekking in and around Du Gia

Ha Giang trekking tips

Where to book your Ha Giang trekking

What to bring

Best time for trekking in Ha Giang

1. Trekking in Hoang Su Phi

Hoang Su Phi trekking tour It is true that most of the trekking in Ha Giang is around the impressive karst mountains and lacks the paddy rice fields, the biggest draw for many to do their trekking in Sapa. But many don’t know that some of the most impressive rice fields in Vietnam are actually to be found in Ha Giang, namely Hoang Su Phi. It is hardly visited by tourist due to it’s off the beaten destination and without any easy transport to the area. Because of this, it always stayed under the radar. This makes visiting Hoang Su Phi unique and authentic. Similar as Sapa, the best way to see it is by making a stunning trekking from village to village while walking on the edge on some of the most superb cultivated areas in the world. Tip! Want to make a trekking in Hoang Su Phi? Make sure to check out our one of a kind Hoang Su Phi trekking tour or do the combination tour of the Ha Giang loop + Hoang Su Phi.

2. Trekking around Dong Van

Trekking in Dong Van Ha Giang If you want to do a trekking in Ha Giang which is more along the route of the loop, Dong Van is your best option. In and around Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark you will find the most stunning mountains of the province in combination with lots of villages of ethnic minorities. There is a variety of options available and you can choose from half day, full day or a multiple day trekking with overnight stay in a local homestay. Especially the area between Dong Van town and Lung Cu is very nice. Also Sung La valley, Sa Phin and Phin Tung are beautiful. In between Dong Van town and Meo Vac, you find the famous Ma Pi Leng Pass, which also has an option for trekking.

3. Trekking around Ha Giang City

Around Ha Giang City you will find some small minority villages which are a great base to start your trekking tour from. Two of the more known are Thon Tha village, just 5 km from the city and Khuoi My villagge. It is surrounded by hills and vast rice fields. The mountains are less high than the area around Dong Van, but instead of that you get a lot more rice fields in return and it is not so exhausting due to the more flat landscape. It is very peaceful to walk through these villages of minority. Most houses are from the Tay people who live in traditional stilt houses made out of wood and bamboo. Below the house often live farm animals such as buffaloes or pigs. Plan your trekking along a stream or to a waterfall to cool down. 4. Trekking around Quan Ba trekking in Quang Ba Quan Ba is mainly known as a quick stop at the scenic Heaven Gate and the views on the Twin Mountains. But a bit father from the main road you can find many small villages of ethnic minorities along the river. It is very peaceful to make a trekking around here. There are trails that go farther up the mountains where you have great views over the villages, river and valley below.

5. Trekking in and around Du Gia

Du Gia in Ha Giang If you are doing the loop in 3 days (or even less), you would most likely skip the area around Du Gia or just drive through it. Only the travelers that do the loop in at least 4 or 5 days will stay overnight here, and experience what a peaceful place this is. Compared to the rest of the destinations you visit during the loop, you will find a lot more rice fields here. Other ethnic minorities also live here, often in stilt houses, where other minorities along the loop are often living in houses made of stone, wood or mud. The lifestyle in combination with rice fields are more similar to those in Thon Tha village near Ha Giang city, the big advantage of Du Gia however, is that there are many high mountains here that surround the villages. During a Ha Giang trekking in this area you can also visit waterfalls and cool off in the small streams that flow through this area.

Ha Giang trekking tips

Where to book your Ha Giang trekking

Most of our Ha Giang tours here have optional ad-dons to make a trekking for a day in Dong Van. Though we also do trekking of multiple days and in different areas in Ha Giang province. For this, you can just contact us and let us know what you would like to see and do, so we can arrange the perfect trekking experience.

What to bring?

Pack as light as possible to make your trekking comfortable. In the winter it can gets a bit colder, but it is better to wear layers that you can easily add or take off, then to bring warm sweaters. Proper hiking shoes or walking shoes are highly recommended. A tin jacket against the rain and as a windstopper is very useful too. Meals are provided in local homestays and restaurants along the way, but bring snacks if you easily get hungry, because there are not many shops on the way.

Best time for trekking in Ha Giang

• You can do trekking in Ha Giang all year, though in the summer months there is a lot more rain, especially in July and August. This can make trekking less comfortable and there is more chance at landslides.
• December and January can be a bit colder, although this cool weather could be perfect for a longer trekking. In addition, in January it is flower season and in October to December it is Buckwheat flower season.
• If you want to see the rice fields in Hoang Su Phi in full glory, you should visit at harvest season from September to begin October.

Experience Ba Be National Park in a depth that’s only possible with a guide on this private all-inclusive door-to-door tour. Spend three nights in different homestays, from a Tay stilt house to a traditional Dzao village. En route, hike around 16 miles (25 kilometers) through mountains, valleys, and villages, dine and drink corn wine with Hmong people, cruise Ba Be Lake, and tour Puong Cave and Hua Ma Cave. Experience Ba Be Lake and Ba Be National Park by boat and on foot Meet Tay, Dzao, and Hmong people—and an actor known as “Mr Pirate” Spend three nights in homestays and enjoy 10 delicious meals Relax with round-trip transfers and guiding—direct from your hotel door.

Overlooked from Ma Pi Leng Pass, Nho Que River is so wild but charismatic and poetic. What a breathtaking attraction that you cannot miss when you visit Ha Giang! Have ever heard about the origin of this river? Today, we would like to share you a very fascinating story about Nho Que River.

Once upon the time, there was a whole big mountain in Ha Giang Loop that blocked the river effort from spreading life to the barren land on the other side, where was completely arid. The River God was trying to negotiate with the Mountain God to asked him to move aside. However, The Mountain God pretended to be deaf and stayed still for years. Knowing that story, the King of Heaven ordered the Thunder God to settle the situation. One day, the sky was scattered with deafening thunderbolts. The Thunder God swung down his sword to the mountain. Suddenly, there was an explosion that trembled the mountain and separated it into two. The stream of water rushed around the valley and turned things ‘alive’ as the hope of life kept going since then. Now becomes the charming Nho Que River, cutting through Ma Pi Leng while the other side is Sam Pun.

Nho Que River flows from Nghiem Son Mountain, China through Ha Giang, Viet Nam and Cao Bang province of Vietnam with a length of 192 km. It starts in the area of Seo Lung Village to Tu San Canyon and runs along with Ma Pi Leng to Meo Vac, then pouring as a tributary of Gam River. The catchment of the river is approximately 6052 km². So Nho Que brings a major contribution to local life by supplying plentiful water to agricultural and hydroelectric activities in dry seasons. This is also a captivating spot along the mountainside for tourists these days. Trekking down Tu San Canyon, the deepest point of the river might challenge us a bit as we are supposed to have good breath control. Yet, we will have something in return. The best experience is to try on kayaking or motorboat on the river and admire the majestic of nature hidden in cloud and sunshine.

Ha Giang is located in the far north of Vietnam, about 280 kilometers from Hanoi. The impressive mountains in combination with the unique culture of ethnic minorities are attracting more and more tourists.

1. The most impressive mountain scenery

The whole of the north of Vietnam is known for its beautiful mountain area, but the most impressive mountains can be found in the province of Ha Giang.

There are several mountain passes that you have to overcome when driving through this area. The most famous mountain pass is the Ma Pi Leng pass which runs between Dong Van and Meo Vac.

2. Unique cultures

The province Ha Giang has the biggest population of ethnic minorities. You will find here mainly the Dao, Lo Lo, Giay, Nung, Tay and  Hmong ethnic groups.

Because tourism has only been on the rise here for a few years, everything still feels very authentic. When you drive around you will easily spot the beautiful and colorfully dressed minorities.

3. Trekking

It may not be as well organized as Sapa, also in Ha Giang you can make beautiful trekking tours. Since the mountains in this area are made of limestone, it is not suitable for terraced rice paddies in most places. The hiking routes mainly promise mountain views and visits to local remote villages.

In addition, a walk through the mountains is a wonderful change after days of sitting on a motorcycle or in a car. If you are looking for terraced rice fields, you can also combine the Ha Giang loop with Hoang Su Phi.

4. The most northern point of Vietnam

At the very northernmost point of Vietnam you will find Lung Cu and the flag tower, which you can climb. To be fair, the views along the way are more exciting and perhaps the best in the province, but it is of course nice to wave to China.

The flag tower is located on top of a hill that you can reach by walking up 300 steps and the views across rural countryside and villages are stunning.

5. Motorbike loop

To see the most special sights, a route has been mapped out that starts and ends in Ha Giang city, the provincial capital. This route is also called the Ha Giang loop. The most popular way to get around this loop is by motorcycle.

The Ha Giang Loop usually takes three to four days and takes you across the QL4C from Ha Giang to Bao Lam, and the QL34 that takes you from Bao Lam to Ha Giang.

If you don’t have a driver’s license or are confident enough to drive through the dangerous mountains of northern Vietnam, it’s best to go with a guide.

Ha Giang, about 280 kilometers from Hanoi, is one of the most attractive destinations in the North of Vietnam. It borders Cao Bang Province in the East, Yen Bai and Lao Cai Provinces in the West, Tuyen Quang Province in the South, and China in the North.

With a total area of nearly 8000 square kilometres, Ha Giang is famous for its stunning landscapes of mountains, rivers, forests, and terraced rice fields. Thanks to these natural conditions, this destination is exceptionally ideal for trekking, rock climbing, and scenic driving.

Besides natural beauty and adventurous activities, Ha Giang is also well-known for its rich cultural and ethnic identities. It is home to diverse ethnic groups, including the Dao, Hmong, and Tay, with their own unique customs and traditions. When you travel to Ha Giang, you will have a chance to learn about the ethnic minority people’s culture and daily life by visiting local markets, talking with locals,  joining their festivals, etc. The Love Market and New Rice festivals are outstanding festivals in Ha Giang.

In general, Ha Giang will surely exceed your expectations, whether you come here to relax, soak in nature, or learn more about ethnic minorities here. Let’s continue reading for more information!