“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous

Ha Giang Province

Location

Recent years, Ha Giang Province is considered the new destinations that attract the tourists so strongly. There are all thing needed in this province for exploring such as the great landscapes with endless local flower gardens, the fresh air and the rich culture of ethnic groups.


Ha Giang is located in the north east in the North of the country. The province is the place of the huge mountains where own the amazing nature and they are also the peaceful home for the ethnic group who live together.  Ha Giang borders with Cao Bang province to the east, Yen Bai province and Lao Cai to the west, Tuyen Quang to the south and China to the north.
  • Center city: Ha Giang City.
  • Districts: Bac Me, Bac Quang, Dong Van, Hoang Su Phi, Meo Vac, Quan Ba, Quang Binh, Vi Xuyen, Xin Man and Yen Minh Districts.
  • Tourist places: Ha Giang City, Dong Van District, Hoang Su Phi District, Meo Vac District, Quan Ba District, Xin Man District and Yen Minh District.
  • Climate: Thai Nguyen province is in the area of the tropical monsoon climate and the high mountain. The average temperature is from 22 to 24 C degree. There is not the clear line between seasons in the year cause of the complex terrain. The best time for travelling in Ha Giang depends on you yourself because Ha Giang is considered the great destination for year around.
  • Transportation: Travel conveniently by land to the province and from it to other provinces.

         The distance is for reference as below:
         From Ha Giang to Ha Noi:  285 km
         From Ha Giang to Noi Bai Airport: more than 264 km
         From Ha Giang to Cao Bang:  218 km
         From Ha Giang to Yen Bai:  200 km
         From Ha Giang to Lao Cai:  197 km
         From Ha Giang to Tuyen Quang: 153 km
  • Ethnic groups: There are many ethnic groups who live together in the province. The main groups are Mong, Tay, Dao, Kinh and Nung groups.  

Landscapes

  • Dong Van Plateau: this is very famous destination of Ha Giang province with the amazing landscapes and the ancient town called Dong Van that the wonderful place for tourists to explore. The place is in Dong Van District. It is far from Ha Giang center more than 140km.
  • Lung Cu: the commune is so famous because it is considered the place with the beginning kilometers of the country. There is the rich culture of ethnic groups and the long history for exploring. The commune has its so many specialties so it is always the dream destination to many people.
  • Quan Ba Twin Mountain: called the special art from the nature, Quan Ba Twin Mountain is the wonderful destination for its unique shapes with two mountains located side by side. Quan Ba Twin Mountain is in Quan Ba District. It is far from Ha Giang center more than 40km.
  • Ma Pi Leng Pass: the pass leads people to the Dong Van plateau. The pass is considered one of the most spectacular passes in the country like a silk crossing the mountains.
  • Khau Vai love market: this is the fair market in Khau Vai Commune in Meo Vac District. The market is the unique feature in the culture of the people in the plateau of the North.
  • Vuong Family’s Mansion: the local typical architecture that has its many years. The mansion is located in Xa Phin Commune in Dong Van District. It is far from the center of Dong Van district more than 20 km.
  • The terrace rice field in Hoang Su Phi: there are many terrace rice fields in the plateau. You can visit them in Dong Van or Meo Vac District. However the best terrace rice field is considered the rice fields in Hoang Su Phi commune. The best time of the terrace rice fields here is in May and June each year.
  • Sung La Valley: the valley is far from Dong Van District about 20 km. This is the great valley with the rice fields, the corn fields and the local flower gardens where located some local houses that make a perfect natural picture.
  • Yen Minh Commune: the peaceful commune is called the grassland of the province. There is the Yen Minh pass with the road that crossing the forest where you look the very nice town in the huge nature.
  • Noong Lake: the large lake has its impressive view in the province. The lake is in Vi Xuyen District that far from Ha Giang city about 17km.
  • Pao’s House: this is the typical house of Mong people. It is closed with the very famous film named Story of Pao so the house called the house of Pao. The house is located in Sung La Commune in Dong Van District.

Festivals:

  • Nature Worship of Pu Peo group: the worship time is in 6th of June of the lunar year. It is happened in the Pu Peo community that living in the communes in Ha Giang province.
  • Ancestors Worship of Lo Lo group: happened in Lung Cu Valley in Dong Van District, The worship time is in 14th July in the lunar year.
  • Cap Sac Ceremony of Dao people: the ceremony to prove that a man who becomes an adult. The ceremony is in November or December or January of the year.
  • Gau Tao Festival: the very famous festival of the groups in Ha Giang. This is considered the festival to welcome the New Year or spring holiday where all people meet, dance and talk together etc. The festival is happened after the 2nd of the Tet holiday with couple days.
  • Fire Dancing Festival: the festival belongs to Ta Phen group who live in Bac Quang and Quang Binh Districts in Ha Giang. The festival is happened in October or November of the lunar year to the middle of January in the lunar year. This is the festival to thank gods for the good weather and good crops that people had in the year and pray for the good crops also the good weather in the next year.  


And there are many unique festivals in the province.

Local specialties

There are different local specialties in the province such as mang cuon nhoi thit (the roll shoots with the meat inside), thit trau gac bep (it is same with the smoked buffalo meat or dry buffalo meat), Au Tau porridge, moss grilled, honey from Dong Van district, San Tuye Tea, local sausage, thang co dish (local dish), dry beef, corn liquid, local oranges, Thang Den soup (sweet local soup), sour noodle soup and rat meat.