Best time to visit Ha Giang
Almost any time of the year is good to visit Ha Giang. There is really no best season for a motorbike ride. The hot and rainy season runs from April into October. The cold and dry season starts in November and ends in March.
Must things to see in Ha Giang
Fairy Bosom
Fairy Bosom is a unique landscape with two symmetrical smooth hills. They are so charming and balanced that locals started calling them Fairy Bosom and its name dates back to ancient times and it is associated with many legends.
Heaven’s Gate
Quan Ba Heaven’s gate is located about 50 km north of Ha Giang town and it is the gateway to the geological park. Once upon a time, behind the gate was a kingdom of Hmong people with 4 districts Quan Ba, Dong Van, Meo Vac and Yen Minh. In 1939 the French built a huge wooden door, 150cm thick to divide this area from the rest. The door is no longer there, only a sign in both English and Vietnamese languages: Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate.
Lũng Cú flagpole
The most northern village of Vietnam called Lũng Cú, Vietnam’s North Pole. The ‘pole’ itself (entrance fee; 20,000vnđ [$1]) is a tower atop a small hill with excellent views across China from the top.
Ma Pi Leng
Treeless walls of limestone mountains raising hundreds of meters above the craterous Nho Que Rivervalley – it was one of the best views in my life. So worth the trip up here for the views that you may only see once in a lifetime!! I was just blown away by the scenery and endless views of the landscapes.
Getting around Ha Giang
The easiest way is to rent a bike in Ha Giang. There are few different companies to choose from, but we rented our bikes from QT Bikes & Tours. We paid 200,000 dong per day for Honda Blade, but you can choose from many more, for example,a dirt bike Honda XR for 900,000 dong. Their bikes are new and well maintained. The guys in the shop will recommend you the best tour based on the number of days you plan to stay.
Cost of things in Ha Giang (as per November 2017)
Vehicle rentals: motorbikes in Ha Giang can be rented from 150,000 dong/day.
Gasoline: depends on your bike, but we usually paid 60-70,000 dong for the full tank (Honda Blade semiauto)
Food: Local restaurants served main dishes starting at 70,000 dong. A bowl of pho (noodle soup) starts at 40,000 dong though. A big water bottle (1,5L) was around 20,000 dong.
Entrance fees: the only entrance fee we paid was at Lung Cu to get to the top of the tower and it cost us 20,000 dong.
Accommodation: I’d say you can expect to pay somewhere around 70,000 per person in a hostel or homestay and around 500,000 for a medium-quality double room.
Ha Giang Travel Tips
1. Take your time to unwind. A three-day trip is not enough to truly feel the essence of Ha Giang. Four or five days is the best. In this case, longer means better
2. Make sure you bring enough cash
3. Keep your cool when driving! You will hear a lot of honks – there are so many winy roads that it is always better to announce your presence to everyone.
4. Don’t forget to bring these things with you:
– Raincoat
– Extra socks
– Waterproof cover for your phone, camera and your documents
– Sturdy footwear/riding boots – never think of riding a motorbike in flip-flops or sandals
– Your personal medication/first aid kit
– Mosquito repellent & sunscreen
– Torch
– Earplugs (for the bus journey or for sleeping at hostels)
Source: miles-smilesaway.com
