Being a home to various ethnic minorities such as H’Mong, Tay, Dao, and Lo Lo, Ha Giang is a famous destination for nature lovers and adventurers, thanks to its charming untouched nature and indigenous culture. Here is the following list of the top 20 best things to do in Ha Giang for discovering Vietnam’s original natural beauty and ethnic groups.

Ha Giang Loop by Motorbike or Car

A round-trip adventure in the Ha Giang loop will be an amazing and wonderful experience, which leads tourists through majestic landscapes of limestone cliffs, gigantic mountains, glorious valleys, and ancient ethnic villages along the road. While doing the Ha Giang Loop, visitors also have chances to explore the unique cultures of the local minorities. Visitors can drive themselves or sit on the back of a motorbike of an experienced driver or choose a car for a group of 4 to 7 people. 

Thanh Thuy Border Gate

More than 20 kilometers from Ha Giang’s center, Thanh Thuy border gate, linked with Thien Bao gate of Yunnan, China, is a famous tourist attraction.  It is the most crucial and the only international border gate in Ha Giang. In 2014, the Thanh Thuy border gate was upgraded to an international border gate to boost trade between Vietnam and China, as well as the ASEAN region. Therefore, the Thanh Thuy border gate becomes a famous tourist destination for visitors coming to enjoy the captivating landscapes and go shopping.

Quan Ba Pass

More than 40 kilometers from central Ha Giang, Quan Ba Pass is often called Heaven’s Gate with the legendary “Happiness Road.” With a height of over 1500 meters, Quan Ba Pass becomes the first gateway to enter the Dong Van rock plateau. For trekking lovers and enthusiasts, visiting Quan Ba Pass is a fantastic experience to witness fantastic landscapes and visit local minority villages covered by gorgeous mountains and immense terrace fields.

Quyet Tien Market

Among various ethnic markets, Quyet Tien market is one of the most outstanding ones in Quan Ba district. Only 38 kilometers from Ha Giang City, Quyet Tien market is a large market with 1000 square meters. Every Saturday, ethnic women in their colored traditional dresses gather at the market and display local specialties such as corn wine, soybean, and brocatelle products for exchanging and trading. Coming here, visitors buy souvenirs, taste delicious local food and understand more about the unique cultural features of the ethnic groups.

Co Tien Twin Mountain in Quan Ba

Close to Quan Ba Pass is Co Tien Twin Mountain (Quan Ba ​​Twin Mountain), which is regarded as the masterpiece of Mother Nature. Co Tien Twin Mountain is a relic consisting of two adjacent mountains in Quan Ba ​​valley. Amidst the overlapping mountains and vast terraced fields, visitors will be surprised by the magnificent beauty of Nature. The fairy-tale place draws a great number of visitors with its breathtakingly gorgeous landscapes and the remarkable creation of Mother Nature.

Lung Khuy Cave

Situated in Lung Khuy village, Lung Khuy Cave was officially introduced to the public and international visitors in 2015. Like a masterpiece of nature, with a length of 300 meters, the cave is hidden in mountains, covered by ethnic villages. It is formed in limestone and surrounded by karst landscapes with poetic valleys and terraced fields. The local people often come here to pray for good weather, good crops, health, and happiness. Reaching here, tourists can hear the melody of water droplets falling from the cave ceiling and participate in cultural activities during festivals.

Lung Tam Linen Weaving Village

As a long-standing traditional craft village, Lung Tam is a weaving village of the Hmong on the Dong Van plateau in Ha Giang province. Located among the foothills, the village is long known for cultivating hemp textiles and beautiful brocade and linen pieces from flax fibers. Hmong people cultivate flax plants in separate fields to get the main material for weaving. Besides, weaving products are dyed with natural colors from forest leaves and wood.

Dong Van Karst Plateau Geo-park

Being the first global geological park of Vietnam, officially recognized by UNESCO's Global Geopark Network, Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark has a total area of 2356.8 square kilometers. The plateau is known for various unique landscapes, abundant natural resources, and biodiversity. Furthermore, the plateau is a settlement of approximately 250,000 residents, belonging to 17 ethnic minorities of Vietnam. Thus, apart from geomorphology and geological and ecological values, Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark reflects the long-standing cultural traditions of the indigenous community.

Lung Cu Flag Tower

Lung Cu Flag Tower is a monument of North Vietnam in Lung Cu Commune, totally containing 839 stone steps, with an impressive height of 33 meters and a huge flag of 54 square meters that represents the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. Standing at Lung Cu Flag Tower, tourists can take panoramic views of Dong Van, especially the winding Happiness Road below.

Nam Dam Community-Based Cultural Village

Located on top of a mountain and surrounded by pristine forests and immense terraced fields, Nam Đam community-based cultural village is known for its breathtakingly beautiful natural landscape, friendly local people and rich cultural features such as traditional clothes, brocade weaving, unique cuisines, and rammed earth houses. Tourists coming here can contemplate the charming but pristine nature and participate in the traditional cultural activities of the ethnic community.

Pho Cao village

Pho Cao village is a small village in Dong Van district, with a total population of 5000, mostly the Mong ethnic people. In the rustic land, many traditional costumes and habits are still retained by ethnic people. Arriving here, visitors will be stunned by the unique architecture of the Tring Tuong house, with a big main door and no windows, surrounded by a stone fence. Besides, tourists can feel the peaceful daily life of the locals and the bustling atmosphere of Pho Cao market every Saturday.

Pho Bang village

Bordering China, Pho Bang has been a peaceful village of Hoa and Mong ethnic groups for ages. Hidden between the centuries-old limestone mountains, the village is an unspoiled destination with a rich, long-lasting culture. Especially, the houses are in ancient colors with wooden columns, green moss covering the mud walls, blooming peach fields and stone fences. Coming here, tourists will feel like they are escaping the bustling urban life and immersing themselves in the space of silence and peace.

Mansion of Vuong Family

Situated in Sa Phin village, Vuong Mansion is a luxurious house in the region, which is greatly impacted by traditional Chinese architecture. It contains 64 different rooms decorated with phoenixes and carvings of dragons, bringing the essence of the H’Mong and the symbol of royalty and affluence. According to historical records, Vuong Chinh Duc, the head of the Vuong family, dominated the highlands with his richness and proclaimed himself king during the French colonial time. Hence, the Mansion of the Vuong Family retains the history marks and becomes the pride of the Mong people.

Dong Van Old Quarter

Nestling between valleys surrounded by rocks, Dong Van 100-year-old quarter has ancient and unique architecture. The Old Quarter is a historical site with approximately 40 ancient houses. Coming here, tourists will be impressed by old houses in Chinese architectural design, such as two-story houses with yin and yang structured roofs decorated with red lanterns. Up to now, ethnic groups here still retain their centuries-old tradition and culture.

Dong Van Market

Dong Van is the most spacious exchange and trading place in the Dong Van–Meo Vac plateau. The market brings the most remarkable highlight of Dong Van, which takes place every Sunday. Near the Old Quarter, since 5:00 a.m., many female minorities dressing up in their colorful traditional costumes gather here to sell their goods. The products are diverse, from clothes and local foods to farm equipment, household items and animals like ducks, cows, buffaloes, and chickens.

Ma Pi Leng Pass and The Happiness Road

Ma Pi Leng Pass is the most famous and amazing mountain pass in Vietnam, at an altitude of 1,500 meters and about 20 kilometers long. Standing from the top of Ma Pi Leng Pass, tourists will certainly be amazed at breathtakingly stunning limestone landscapes, green forests, and the poetic Nho Que River. The pass is also famous for “The Happiness Road,” which had been under construction for 11 years.

Boating on Nho Que River

Lying at the foot of Ma Pi Leng Pass, Nho Que River is a famous tourist destination in Ha Giang. Seen from above, it is like a long, soft, green silk strip hidden in the midst of mountains. With a length of 46 kilometers, boating on the Nho Que River brings tourists a special yet fantastic feeling to contemplate the majestic scenery, stunning small curves through gorgeous mountains and immersion in the poetic and dreamy place.

Meo Vac – Khau Vai Love Market

Khau Vai love market is a not-to-miss destination when reaching Ha Giang for its unique culture. Only organized on the 26th and 27th of lunar March annually, Khau Vai love market is a romantic place for couples who love each other but finally could not get married.  These days, local ethnic women and men, dressing up in the best traditional costumes, go to the market to freely find their ex-lovers to confide in. After the market, they get back to their daily lives without being impacted by the love market.

Trekking around Hoang Su Phi

As one of the most off-the-beaten-track destinations, trekking in Hoang Su Phi is an unforgettable experience for contemplating its original nature, superb landscapes of forested mountains, immense valleys and poetic waterfalls. For a trekking journey, tourists have the chance to explore stunning rice terraces, visit local minority villages with their unique culture and participate in Hoang Su Phi Fair, the most colorful cultural feature in ethnic minorities’ lives.

Quang Nguyen Hot Mineral Spring

Located beside the poetic Nam Ly stream, with gorgeous landscape and pristine scenery, Quang Nguyen Hot Mineral Spring is an ideal destination for those to relax and charge energy after long tiring days. The hot spring has a source of natural hot mineral water, which is good for health and even for treatment. With cool fresh water and pleasant weather all year round, Quang Nguyen Hot Mineral Spring will bring a fascinating experience for visitors.

In conclusion, the above 20 best things to do in Ha Giang will help visitors make great choices for their destination. The best way to travel to Ha Giang is to plan in advance with a specific schedule so that you can experience the most wonderful things.

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=> Trekking Hoang Su Phi 4 days