Ha Giang Loop - a road that opens the way to a better life for young people in the highlands.

For many young people in the highlands, the Ha Giang Loop is not just a tourist route, but a gateway to new life choices. Photo: Thai Hung

In recent years, the northernmost region of Vietnam, with its majestic mountains, treacherous mountain passes, and villages hidden in the clouds, has become a dream destination for hundreds of thousands of tourists. On the tourism map of the far north, the Ha Giang Loop – a tourist route circling the Dong Van karst plateau – has become an icon, attracting a large number of adventurous tourists, especially foreigners.

A motorbike trip along the Ha Giang Loop route typically lasts 3-5 days, passing through famous landmarks such as Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac, Ma Pi Leng Pass, and the Nho Que River. International tourists mainly travel by motorbike, guided by local drivers, ensuring safety and providing them with a deeper understanding of the local culture, people, and way of life.

It is through journeys across the country that tourism has opened up opportunities for many young people from ethnic minorities – those who once lived year-round relying on farming for their livelihood.

A group of international tourists poses with local drivers in Ha Giang. Photo: Jasmine Ha Giang

From farmlands to trekking routes

Hoang Van Khanh (27 years old, of the Pa Then ethnic group, Tuyen Quang province) is one of the young people whose lives have changed thanks to his connection with Ha Giang Loop. Previously, his family faced many economic difficulties. In addition to farming, Khanh had to take on additional manual labor jobs to make ends meet, but his income was still unstable and insufficient to cover expenses.

The turning point came when a friend introduced him to a job driving a motorbike, taking foreign tourists to explore the Ha Giang Loop.

The joy of having a new job quickly came with considerable pressure. In the first few days of driving foreign tourists in the back seat, Khanh almost didn't dare to speak to them because he didn't know English. Whenever a tourist asked a question, he would ask other drivers who were fluent in English for help.

Not wanting to remain insecure, he began to teach himself from the smallest things. From language learning apps on his phone to simple conversational phrases he learned while traveling, he took advantage of opportunities to learn directly from his tourists. He also participated in training courses organized by the company to improve his communication and customer service skills.

Thanks to his perseverance, Khanh's income is now two or three times higher than before. He has paid off all the debts from his previous business losses, bought a new car for his wife, purchased household items such as a refrigerator, television, and washing machine, renovated his house, and built a road for his family.

"Life has changed a lot. Not only have I gained money, but I've also learned to think differently," Khanh shared. "Currently, all my plans revolve around my two young sons. I want them to receive a full education and have the opportunity to go further than their parents did in the past."

The journey of growing up for young people.

Also choosing to stick with the Ha Giang Loop, Nguyen Duy Anh (28 years old, of the Muong ethnic group) is currently a driver and freelance tour guide.

Having moved with his mother from Hoa Binh to Ha Giang when he was young, and born into a disadvantaged family, Duy Anh quickly became aware of his responsibility to become the family's economic pillar.

By participating in the Ha Giang Loop tours, he and his colleagues received short-term training courses on tour guide skills, communication, customer service, and handling situations on the road. In addition, the local Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also regularly organizes skill-building classes for local tour guides.

"The rest is something we learn on our own, gaining experience from practice and supporting each other in our work," Duy Anh said.

Duy Anh poses for a photo with one of his customers on the Ha Giang Loop motorbike tour. Photo: Nguyen Duy Anh

His work is often continuous, with each tour lasting 3-4 days, especially during peak season when he has almost no time off. Even right before his wedding, he was still working on tours to save up money.

"However, thanks to this job and the stable salary, I was able to raise enough money for the wedding gifts myself, even though it took about six months," he shared.

Currently, Duy Anh's basic salary ranges from 10-12 million VND/month, with additional income during peak seasons such as November and December - when the Ha Giang rocky plateau enters the buckwheat flower season - or year-end bonuses. With this salary, he has become the main breadwinner for his family, supporting his parents and wife and children.

What's most valuable, according to Duy Anh, is the significant change in his mindset and life skills: "Before, I greatly admired my teammates because they spoke English well and communicated confidently with foreign tourists. At that time, I secretly wondered when I would be able to do the same. But when I started working, interacting more, and learning more, I realized: Ah, I can do it too!"

Now, Duy Anh proactively engages in conversations with tourists, learning more about culture, history, and professional etiquette. With improved communication skills, his work becomes easier, and he handles situations on the road with much more confidence.

Tourism - the key to sustainable development in the highlands.

The development of the Ha Giang Loop not only brings significant revenue to local tourism but also creates thousands of jobs for local people, especially young people from ethnic minorities. From those who were once only familiar with farming, many have become drivers, tour guides, accommodation staff, homestay owners, etc., with stable incomes and increasingly broadened perspectives.

Mr. Lai Quoc Tinh, Chairman of the Tuyen Quang Provincial Tourism Association, said: “In our locality, we have observed many ethnic minority personnel participating in tourism activities. The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tuyen Quang province always creates conditions to open training courses to improve skills and knowledge, as well as prepare tourism handbooks so that they can be confident and professional in their work.”

In Ha Giang ward alone, there are nearly 30 establishments providing tourism services, including travel agencies, accommodation, motorbike rentals, and motorbike taxi services for tourists.

To ensure a safe and convenient experience, these establishments regularly maintain and inspect their rental vehicles. After each trip, the motorbikes are thoroughly checked for engine and braking systems and cleaned. This is a mandatory procedure in the service provision process, ensuring quality and safety for every trip.

The picturesque Sao Ha village in Tuyen Quang. Photo: Khuong Minh

Efforts to improve service quality, especially in transportation and accommodation, have significantly contributed to attracting tourists to the area. The professionalism, focus on safety, and customer experience of tourism service businesses have created an image of a friendly and attractive destination in the eyes of both domestic and international tourists.

With the Ha Giang Loop attracting an increasing number of international tourists, the challenge is not only to increase the number of visitors, but also to ensure the quality and sustainability of tourism activities. When local people are given opportunities to learn trades, improve their skills, and become key players in the service industry, tourism will no longer be an external influx, but an intrinsic driving force for the long-term development of the highlands.

Tourism development opens a path to help young people in the highlands change their lives, escape poverty, and rise up through their own abilities. On the winding roads of the Ha Giang Loop, not only are there wheels rolling over rocky mountains, but also dreams gradually taking shape, enduring and strong like the land at the northernmost point of the country.

Ninh Phuong

Source: https://laodong.vn/du-lich/kham-pha/ha-giang-loop-cung-duong-mo-loi-doi-doi-cho-nguoi-tre-vung-cao-1626248.html