48 hours in Ha Giang

Ha Giang is a popular destination in spring when all kinds of flowers are in bloom, the nature is pristine, and it's perfect for those who love the cool season.

This 48-hour trip to Ha Giang was suggested by Ms. Ngoc Pham, a tourist from Hanoi who visited Ha Giang last weekend, and Mr. Vi Hiep, a tour guide and driver for a Hanoi-based travel company specializing in Ha Giang tours.

Day 1

Morning and noon

We departed from Hanoi around 6:00 AM, having breakfast on the bus with pre-prepared food and drinks. The distance from Hanoi to Ha Giang City is 300 km, and the travel time is approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes.

The Km0 milestone in the center of Ha Giang city. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Upon arriving in Ha Giang city, tourists often stop for lunch at one of the city's well-regarded restaurants – Km0 Restaurant. "The food is delicious and easy to eat, with many dishes such as sour fish soup, grilled river fish wrapped in betel leaves with fish sauce, boiled cabbage with egg dip, and stir-fried meat," said Ms. Ngoc. Tourists can also choose from other restaurants in the city such as Ngoi Do and Duc Giang.

After lunch, tourists can take photos and check in at the Km0 milestone of Ha Giang City. This is the intersection of National Highways 2, 34, and 4C, also known as the starting point of the Happiness Road, which passes through four districts of Ha Giang province: Yen Minh, Quan Ba, Dong Van, and Meo Vac.

Afternoon and evening

In the afternoon, we moved on to other check-in points such as Quan Ba ​​Sky Gate, took photos with the Fairy Twin Mountains, and admired the panoramic view of Tam Son town from above. These are a series of attractions located on the road between Ha Giang City and Yen Minh town.

The Quan Ba ​​Twin Mountains are located on the road to Yen Minh town.

Upon arriving in Yen Minh town in the evening, we checked into Bang Thao Hotel for the night. "The hotel is clean and has all the essential amenities. There's a restaurant here that serves pretty good rice and hot pot," Ms. Ngoc said.

Yen Minh is small, quiet in the evenings, and has few shops and activities, so tourists mostly stay in groups or have coffee and tea at a few small cafes in the town center.

Day 2

Morning and noon

Tourists depart from Yen Minh town and stop in Pho Cao commune (Dong Van district) for breakfast.

The journey is nearly 20 km long and takes about 45 minutes. This area has many delicious local specialties such as five-colored sticky rice, rice cakes, thang co (a traditional stew), and bamboo-cooked rice. If you visit during market day, you should eat at the market; otherwise, you can find these dishes scattered throughout the town.

Before reaching Pho Cao, there's a must-see landmark: Tham Ma Pass. This is a great spot for taking photos from above, showcasing the unique winding mountain pass, especially if you've just experienced the pass yourself.

The next leg of the journey involves traveling from Pho Cao to Sung La, visiting Lung Cam Cultural Village, home to an ancient H'Mong house that was used as a filming location for the 2006 movie "Pao's Story". The village also boasts beautiful fields of canola and buckwheat flowers.

"Tourists can prepare some snacks and treats to give to the ethnic children dressed in colorful clothes to welcome them," Ms. Ngoc said. This place also has many beautiful landscapes, with white and yellow mustard flowers and peach blossoms in full bloom, so tourists can take many photos.

Continue along National Highway 4C towards Dong Van Old Town. The journey is approximately 25 km and takes about an hour. Stop for lunch in the town center.

Dong Van town is bustling, with many delicious dishes, large restaurants, and beautiful cafes. Tourists can choose dishes such as beef hotpot, black chicken hotpot, and thang co (a traditional stew). Lighter options include rice rolls dipped in pork bone broth and au tau porridge. Pho Co Cafe is a must-visit after lunch.

The town center of Dong Van in mid-January. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Afternoon

Conquering Ma Pi Leng Pass, located about 45 minutes from the center of Dong Van town, is also the most beautiful section of the Happiness Road .

Many people say that you haven't truly been to Ha Giang if you haven't visited Ma Pi Leng Pass. "The scenery here is truly beautiful and majestic. When I set foot in Ha Giang and saw it with my own eyes, I understood why people say you must visit this place at least once in your life," Ms. Ngoc shared.

At the Ma Pi Leng Pass area, tourists can take photos from the top of the pass and then take a boat trip on the Nho Que River, admiring the majestic beauty of the Tu San Gorge - the deepest dissected terrain in Vietnam. The cost for the Nho Que River boat trip and electric vehicle to the boat dock is 120,000 VND per person.

Alternatives

Tourists can visit Lo Lo Chai village and Lung Cu flagpole, stay overnight there, or go to other places such as Suoi Thau grassland (Xin Man district), pine forest in Yen Minh (Yen Minh district), and the Hmong King's mansion (Dong Van district along the way).

Ha Giang province is large and has many attractions, with many mountainous roads, making transportation quite complicated. A 48-hour trip is usually only suitable for those with limited time and will not be enough if tourists want to visit more places. Therefore, the above itinerary is only a guideline. Tourists should combine this with a 48-hour itinerary in Dong Van for a more complete and unrushed trip.

Tam Anh

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