First-time travelers often seek tips for a self-guided trip to Ha Giang to ensure a well-prepared journey. If you are planning to visit this destination, don’t miss the following article. DanangPrivateCar.com will share helpful information below!
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Tips for a Self-Guided Trip to Ha Giang for First-Time Travelers
When is the Best Time to Visit Ha Giang?
Ha Giang is a province in the Northeast region of Vietnam, primarily inhabited by ethnic minorities. Currently, Ha Giang tourism is increasingly attracting visitors, especially young travelers who love adventure and exploration.
Each season in Ha Giang brings its own unique beauty, so you can visit Ha Giang at any time of the year.
- From January to March: You will be immersed in the beauty of Ha Giang’s peach and plum blossoms.
- In April: This is when the Ha Giang Love Market takes place, one of the most captivating festivals in the region. You can still enjoy the lingering blooms of peach and plum trees.
- From May to June: This is a great time to witness waterfalls cascading down terraced fields and watch the local highland people busy planting crops.
- From September to October: The rice harvest season creates stunning scenery perfect for photo opportunities.
- From October to December: This is the season of buckwheat flowers, as well as the romantic and poetic yellow mustard flowers.
Travel Guide to Ha Giang
According to DanangPrivateCar.com’s self-guided travel experience, there are two main types of transportation to Ha Giang: bus and motorbike or car. It takes about 5-7 hours to reach Ha Giang, depending on the route you choose. Below are the two main routes for easy selection:
- Motorbike Route: Start from Hanoi – Lang Hoa Lac – Thang Long Boulevard – National Highway 21, then cross Trung Ha Bridge and Co Tiet in Son Tay. Follow Route 32 to Phu Tho. Then, turn left onto National Highway 2, and follow the roundabout to National Highway 2C in Tuyen Quang. Continue along this highway to reach Ha Giang.
- Car Route: Hanoi – Thang Long Bridge – DT05 – Noi Bai Lao Cai Expressway – National Highway 2B – Tuyen Quang. From Tuyen Quang, head towards the city, follow National Highway 2, pass through Ham Yen, Bac Quang, and Vi Xuyen to reach Ha Giang.
If you opt for a bus, you can choose from one of the bus companies suggested by DanangPrivateCar.com: Cau Me, Bang Phan, Ngoc Son, etc. The ticket prices are very affordable, at just 200,000 VND for a sleeper bus or 300,000 VND for a limousine bus ticket.
Additionally, if you are traveling in a large group, with family or friends, and require a private and comfortable trip, DanangPrivateCar.com’s private car rental service with a driver from Hanoi to Ha Giang will be the top choice. With door-to-door service, you can rest or visit places along the way, making your trip more enjoyable compared to public transportation like buses. Moreover, the transparent pricing on the website and easy payment options will help you avoid the price gouging that can occur with some public transportation.
Transportation in Ha Giang
Traveling by Taxi
Taxi is a suitable mode of transportation for families and groups of friends. There are many taxi companies in Ha Giang to choose from, such as Mai Linh Taxi, Thanh Cong Taxi, Ha Giang Taxi, etc., with relatively affordable prices.
Traveling by Motorbike
Due to the continuous mountainous terrain and many sharp turns, motorbikes are the most popular mode of transportation. The motorbike rental services in Ha Giang are diverse and easy to choose from. However, based on the motorbike rental experience from DanangPrivateCar.com, you should thoroughly check the bike before riding and choose reputable rental places. Some rental points you can consider include Hong Dao Motorbike Rental, Hang Thuong Motorbike Rental, etc.
Where to Stay When Traveling to Ha Giang
Currently, the system of guesthouses and hotels in Ha Giang is well-developed, with prices ranging from 150,000 VND to 500,000 VND depending on your budget. According to MIA.vn, the two areas most commonly chosen for hotel bookings are Dong Van and Meo Vac. These two locations are close to tourist attractions and offer beautiful views. Some well-known hotels with good quality and service that you can consider are: Hoang Ngoc Guesthouse, Khai Hoan Guesthouse, Lung Cu Guesthouse, Khau Vai Guesthouse, etc.
However, if you can’t book a room in Meo Vac or Dong Van, you can also find accommodations in farther locations like Yen Minh or Quan Ba. A small note is that you should book your room about a month in advance, especially if traveling during the buckwheat flower season and for hotels with mountain views.
What to Eat When Traveling to Ha Giang?
Ha Giang cuisine is famous for many delicious specialties, including Thang Co, five-colored sticky rice, buckwheat cake, Thang Den, which have all won the hearts of many tourists.
Some dishes you should not miss include:
Thang Co Specialty
It would be a significant omission if you travel to Ha Giang without trying Thang Co. Thang Co is one of the very famous specialties of the Northwest region. This traditional meat soup is made from horse meat and a special broth. The essence of Thang Co lies in its broth, which is simmered from bones and offal, combined with over 12 unique spices like cinnamon, star anise, and lime leaves, creating a very rich broth. The secret to enhancing the broth’s flavor is to fry the meat briefly before simmering it.
In terms of flavor, Thang Co has a strong, somewhat challenging aroma for first-timers, but the more you eat, the more addictive it becomes. Moreover, when enjoying Thang Co, you should pair it with corn wine to enhance the dish’s flavor. You can enjoy Thang Co at the local markets in Meo Vac, Lung Cu, Dong Van, etc., for a very affordable price of about 20,000 VND per bowl.
Thang Den Specialty
Thang Den is another must-try specialty when visiting Ha Giang. This dish has a filling of mung beans and red beans for added flavor. Once the beans are cooked and formed into a paste, they are wrapped in a layer of dough and shaped into balls. Thang Den is prepared only when customers order it. The dish is chewy, colorful, with a slight sweetness and the fragrance of glutinous rice. It’s cooked with a mildly spicy syrup made from ginger and sugar, and enriched with coconut milk and roasted peanuts, making it irresistibly delicious.
Au Tau Porridge
There is a saying: “If you haven’t eaten Au Tau porridge, you haven’t been to Ha Giang.” The main benefit of this dish is to help diners sleep better and relieve fatigue after a long day. Au Tau porridge is available year-round, but if you want to try it, you should visit the markets or eateries in the evening.
Smoked Buffalo Meat
Smoked buffalo meat is a dish used to promote the image of Ha Giang. The meat is mainly made from buffalo thighs, marinated with salt, pepper, ginger, chili, and mac khen (a local spice) to infuse the flavors. The marinated meat is then hung over the kitchen to be smoked with forest wood for about 2 months until it dries. As a result, the finished product is dark brown and has a smoky flavor.
Corn Wine
Corn wine is a popular drink among the highland people. Every household here has at least 3 to 5 liters of corn wine to treat guests. This drink is favored because the weather in Ha Giang is quite cool in summer and snowy in winter, so locals have the habit of drinking wine to keep warm. The taste of corn wine is very pleasant, sweet, and has a distinct corn aroma.
Most Beautiful and Famous Tourist Destinations in Ha Giang
Visiting Ha Giang, you will have the opportunity to admire and explore many famous landmarks, from villages to markets, terraced fields, and more. Here are some places you should experience on your self-guided journey to Ha Giang:
Lung Cu Flagpole
This is considered a must-conquer destination for any adventurer. To reach the Lung Cu Flagpole, you need to overcome a 1.5km journey, 389 stone steps, and ascend 140 spiral steps.
Dong Van Old Quarter
Situated amidst a valley surrounded by rocky mountains, Dong Van Old Quarter is not only the living area of many H’mong and Tay people but also a highly attractive destination for tourists from both domestic and international origins.
Vuong Family Mansion
Regarded as a green gem in the heart of the plateau, Vuong Family Mansion (or King Vuong’s Palace) is constructed in a Vương character shape, surrounded by ancient sa moc wood trees and situated atop a majestic hill amidst the mountainous forest.
Buckwheat Flower Fields
One of the distinctive features not to be missed in Ha Giang is the breathtaking view of the buckwheat flower fields, which display unique colors that are characteristic only to Ha Giang.
Thus concludes the comprehensive sharing of tips for first-time self-guided travelers to Ha Giang by DanangPrivateCar.com. We hope you have a dream-like journey in this land.
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