Hoang Su Phi captivates tourists with its endless terraced rice fields that turn golden during the season, stretching to the horizon. The smoky haze in the late afternoon over the thatched-roof houses adds a touch of romance. Hoang Su Phi is simple, rustic, yet exudes a certain charming and highly appealing ‘flavor’ that enchants travelers. Join Danang Private Car’s to explore and experience the beauty of this land at the northernmost point of Vietnam.
If you’re in need of tips for independent travel to Hoang Su Phi – Ha Giang, then this article is for you. In this article, DanangPrivateCar.com will provide you with essential experiences for visiting, staying, and relaxing in Hoang Su Phi. Let’s discover more through the following article.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Hoang Su Phi
Hoang Su Phi is a district located in the western part of Ha Giang province, characterized by its predominantly hilly terrain. This area is the upper source of a picturesque river. Most of the inhabitants here belong to various ethnic minority groups, including the Nung, Dao, Tay, Mong, and La Chi, with a significant majority. They lead a simple, peaceful, and genuinely hardworking way of life. Perhaps the highland rocky land has nurtured their determination and resilience, allowing them to thrive and live as beautifully as fragrant flowers amidst the Northeastern mountains and forests.
When you visit Hoang Su Phi, apart from connecting with the local ethnic minority people and exploring their culture, and experiencing their way of life, you also get to admire the breathtaking natural beauty. The terraced rice fields glisten in a brilliant golden hue, extending along the hillsides. On a late autumn afternoon, you can take a stroll on the dirt road, watch the sunset casting a warm glow across the entire sky. The golden color of ripened rice harmonizes with the evening twilight, creating a scene of extraordinary serenity and beauty. It can be said that Hoang Su Phi is as picturesque as a painting and well worth a visit for travelers in 2023.
When to Visit Hoang Su Phi?
Hoang Su Phi offers a unique beauty in each season, making every return to this place feel like rekindling a special love, different yet intimately familiar.
From January to March, it’s springtime in Hoang Su Phi, marked by vibrant and lively festivals. During this season, visitors can immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere and discover the distinctive cultural characteristics of the highland people of Northeast Vietnam. Additionally, the cherry and plum orchards are in full bloom, showcasing their vibrant colors. The land seems to awaken, becoming fresh and bright after the cold winter days.
From April to June, it’s the period of flooding in Hoang Su Phi. During this time, as locals lead water into the fields in preparation for the new crop season, Hoang Su Phi dons a silver cloak, reflecting the harmony between nature and the people here. In the evening twilight, the image of mountainous people diligently working in the fields, plowing and irrigating, adds a dreamy and serene quality to the scenery, deeply infused with rural charm.
September is the season of ripe rice in Hoang Su Phi. During this time, visitors can admire the terraced rice fields, glistening like honey, in their splendid, poetic, and breathtaking beauty. Don’t forget to capture high-quality Instagram-worthy photos amidst these radiant golden terraced fields.
Directions to Hoang Su Phi
Hoang Su Phi is approximately 300 km away from the center of Hanoi. To travel to this destination, visitors can choose from two routes:
Hanoi – Ha Giang City – Hoang Su Phi
Travelers can opt to go through Ha Giang City for sightseeing and recreation before continuing their journey to Hoang Su Phi. With this route, visitors usually take a passenger bus to Ha Giang City and then rent a motorbike to explore Hoang Su Phi. After arriving in Ha Giang City by bus, you can continue your journey with the following route:
- Drive along National Highway 2 (QL2) to Tan Quang → Take DT177 → Reach Hoang Su Phi. Additionally, you can choose another route by traveling along National Highway 2 to the Thanh Thuy border gate, then passing through Tay Con Linh to reach Hoang Su Phi.
Hanoi – Hoang Su Phi
If you’re traveling from Hanoi directly to Hoang Su Phi, the route is as follows: Hanoi → Kim Ma → Vo Chi Cong → Vinh Ngoc → Vo Nguyen Giap → National Highway 2A → DT 131 and DTCT 05 → National Highway 2C → QL37 → Follow Route 1 → DT177 straight to Hoang Su Phi.
Transportation to Hoang Su Phi, Ha Giang
Getting to Ha Giang
From Hanoi to Ha Giang, travelers can use personal vehicles or take a bus. If you’re a confident driver and passionate about conquering challenging mountain passes, you can choose to drive your own car. However, this method of transportation involves risks due to the long and difficult roads. Instead, you can consider taking a bus, which is both safe and cost-effective. There are reputable bus companies you can consider for your journey to Ha Giang:
- Quang Nghi Bus Company
- Departure times: 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM (My Dinh Bus Station), 4:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Ha Giang Bus Station)
- Ticket prices: 350,000 VND – 550,000 VND
- Bang Phan Bus Company
- Departure times: 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM (My Dinh Bus Station), 4:30 PM – 10:30 PM (Ha Giang Bus Station)
- Ticket prices: 350,000 VND – 550,000 VND
If you need a quick and convenient transportation option, you can consider renting a private car service from Hanoi through DanangPrivateCar.com. They have a team of professional drivers with years of experience serving international travelers, making your journey more comfortable. You can find more information about private car trips from Hanoi to Ha Giang today for detailed advice.
Getting to Hoang Su Phi
From the center of Ha Giang City, you can continue your journey by renting a motorbike to explore various tourist attractions within the city center and then proceed to Hoang Su Phi. There are reputable motorbike rental shops in Hoang Su Phi, such as:
- Ha Giang 1 Hostel and Motorbike Rental:
- Phone: 0366 166 968
- Address: 54a Tran Phu, Minh Khai Ward, Ha Giang
- Phuot House Motorbikes & Tours:
- Phone: 0944 686 366
- Address: 01 Nguyen Trai Street, Ha Giang
You can find more reliable motorbike rental addresses in Ha Giang [here].
Explore the Natural Beauty in Hoang Su Phi
Terraced Rice Fields
Every year, from late autumn, around September to mid-October, Hoang Su Phi adorns itself with a new, radiant yellow coat of ripe terraced rice fields. These soft, winding terraced fields, snaking around the high hills, are completely different from the beauty of the vast plains’ mature rice fields. During this time, visitors can enjoy the tranquil and charming natural scenery, bask in the warm morning sun rays on the bright golden ripened rice fields, creating an exceptionally heartwarming view. From above, the old stilt houses nestle amidst the rice fields like tiny punctuation marks enhancing the natural painting.
Moving into the period from May to July of the following year marks the beginning of a new crop season. It’s also the time when the summer rains pour down, bringing life to the region. The water flows through various paths, providing an opportunity for local people to irrigate their fields and cultivate. The overflowing water transforms Hoang Su Phi into a vast, shimmering mirror reflecting the expansive sky. Visitors coming during the rainy season will witness the laborious beauty of the highland residents working diligently on the terraced fields.
Buckwheat Flower Fields
After the crop season ends, Hoang Su Phi sheds its golden attire of heavy rice ears and puts on a new romantic violet-pink dress of expansive buckwheat flower hills. It’s a big miss if you visit this place without admiring the beauty of the endless buckwheat flower fields. For a long time, the buckwheat flower not only embellishes the natural beauty but also serves as a source of local specialty food processing. For those who love the natural beauty of the Northwestern mountains and forests and enjoy checking in at stunning locations, the buckwheat flower fields are an unmissable destination.
Chieu Lau Thi Peak
Chieu Lau Thi Peak is one of the highest peaks in the Tay Con Linh mountain range, located in Ho Thau commune, Hoang Su Phi district, 42km from the district center. To conquer the peak, travelers need to hike a 2,402-meter-high trail. This is not an exceptionally long journey, but it is filled with risks, so travelers need to be cautious while ascending. However, the reward for those who successfully conquer this peak is invaluable. Standing on the high mountain, you can witness the dawn and sunset, enjoy the gentle golden sunlight passing through the drifting clouds, which is a soul-stirring experience.
Suoi Thau Temple
Suoi Thau Temple is one of the two temples built within the territory of Hoang Su Phi district in Ha Giang province. The temple has become a significant cultural and spiritual site in the local community.
Hidden beside the soft and winding terraced rice fields, the temple is unassuming but, when visited, offers an exquisite yet rustic, simple beauty. According to stories passed down from ancient times, the temple consists of two main areas: the temple area and the kitchen area. The temple’s walls, column bases, and rafters are made of wood, and the roof is thatched. Despite various historical ups and downs, the temple has been repaired multiple times.
Tay Con Linh Mountain Range
For those who love Vietnamese literary works, the Tay Con Linh mountain range is undoubtedly not unfamiliar. The mountain range is located in the upper reaches of the Chay River, west of Ha Giang province and 46km from the center of Ha Giang town. The Tay Con Linh range spans a vast area within the districts of Su Phi and Vi Xuyen. Standing at the mountain’s peak, you can admire the entire majestic mountain range, the soft, winding terraced fields at the mountain’s base, the twisting valleys, and more. When visiting Tay Con Linh, you will be amazed by the natural beauty here, with large drifting clouds, gentle sunlight passing through the clouds and illuminating the villages, creating a painting that connects heaven and earth, bringing them closer than ever, a beauty that no words can fully describe.
Hoang Su Phi Market
Located at the foot of the majestic Tay Con Linh mountain, Hoang Su Phi Market takes place every Sunday. Here, locals can exchange goods for their daily life, such as vegetables, fruits, textiles, and embroidery. While not overly bustling, the atmosphere here is always lively. People go to the market with excitement, making it feel like a festival. As a result, some young men and women start preparing for the market the night before to ensure they arrive on time.
Vinh Quang Temple
Vinh Quang Temple is located in the center of Vinh Quang town, Hoang Su Phi district. It was built around the late 19th century. In addition to worshiping various other deities according to the local spiritual beliefs, Vinh Quang Temple also venerates Hoang Van Dang, who is the spiritual leader of Hoang Su Phi.
What to Eat When Visiting Hoang Su Phi?
When visiting Hoang Su Phi, you’ll have the opportunity to savor a variety of delicious dishes and local specialties. Here are some dishes you must try:
- Com Lam (Bamboo Rice): Made from sticky rice and cooked in bamboo tubes, it offers a unique and aromatic flavor, reflecting the essence of the mountainous region.
- Carp from Terraced Fields: If you visit during the rice harvest season, you can enjoy this local delicacy. The taste of these carps, raised in terraced rice fields, is unforgettable.
- Com Nep (Green Sticky Rice): A delicacy you can’t miss in Hoang Su Phi. This green sticky rice is fragrant and inviting, and it’s a specialty often served to guests by the La Chi people.
- Mouse Meat: Mice are a significant part of the La Chi culture, and mouse meat is a special local dish. If you get a chance, don’t hesitate to try it.
- Goat Meat: The free-range goats in the area produce tender and flavorful meat. Various goat meat dishes are a highlight of the local cuisine.
- Thang Co: Made from the organs of cows or horses, Thắng Cố might not be the most visually appealing dish, but it’s a culinary experience worth trying.
- Thit Trau Gac Bep (Buffalo Meat Cooked on the Fire Stove): This is a signature dish of the Northwest region. It’s known for its rich and flavorful taste, prepared with great care and attention to detail.
- Glutinous Rice Wine: Made from glutinous rice and yeast leaves, this wine has a unique and distinct flavor. It’s a popular local specialty often brought back as a souvenir by travelers.
So, when you visit Hoang Su Phi, be sure to sample these delightful dishes to experience the rich and diverse local cuisine.
Some Tips for Traveling to Hoang Su Phi
To make your journey to Hoang Su Phi more complete, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Ensure you have all the necessary documents such as ID cards, driving licenses, and check the quality of your vehicle. Bring reflective clothing and check the lights and brakes carefully before departure.
- The weather in Hoang Su Phi can be quite cold, so make sure to pack warm clothing and thermal wear.
- Additionally, it’s a good idea to bring snacks like biscuits, candies, and drinks because there are few food stalls along the way.
- Especially, consider bringing clothes, books, and snacks to give to the local children.
These are all the travel experiences in Hoang Su Phi – Ha Giang that DanangPrivateCar.com’s wants to share with you. Hopefully, these tips will help you on your upcoming trip to Hoang Su Phi.
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