Off the Beaten Path: Ha Giang, Vietnam

Ha Giang is the final frontier in northern Vietnam, a lunar landscape of limestone pinnacles and granite outcrops. The far north of the province has some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, and the trip between Dong Van and Meo Vac is quite awe inspiring. Ha Giang should be one of the most popular destinations in this region, but its proximity to the Chinese border still requires a travel permit. Roads are slowly improving, and the slight hassles of scoring a permit are effortlessly offset by some of Indochina’s most amazing scenery.

The remote and rugged mountains of Vietnam's north-west are home to some of South-East Asia’s most beautiful scenery and fascinating people. 

The most famous rocky area of Ha Giang is Dong Van Rock Plateau, which is recognized by UNESCO as one of 77 geological parks in the world. Lung Cu hamlet lying inside Dong Van Rock Plateau is another indispensible destination as it marks the very northern tip of Vietnam by Lung Cu Flag Tower on Dragon Mountain.

Ha Giang is a locale of fanciful natural caves such as Phuong Thien Cave, Chui Cave, Fairy Cave and Swallow Cave. Although all the caves offer wonderful scenery with fantastic shapes of stalactites, each one has its own story and traits. Legend says that fairies used to bath in Fairy Stream inside Fairy Cave which is the source of its name.

Ha Giang is also well-known for its magnificent forests in which there are more than 1,000 species of good woods, drug trees as well rare animals like tigers, peacock or pangolin.

A unique spot only be seen in Ha Giang is “Khau Vai Love Market”. The market-day is held monthly only on the 26th and 27th of a Lunar Year. In there, both single and married people in different ethnic groups can come to find ones’ ideal life-partner and sharing their feeling and understanding to each other. Lunar New Year seem to be the best time to visit Ha Giang when ones can see a wide variety of traditional customs of ethnic minorities here, such as celebrating success, rain ritual, sons ritual, crossbow shooting competition, pan-pie performance or “Còn” Throwing competition.

The path is approximately 125 miles long. Ma Pi Leng Pass is located in the Dong Van Geoparks which is recognized as the global geoparks. The road along the mountainside has romantic, spectacular scenery that is ideal destination for tourists. Ma Pi Leng Pass is not long but it is the most dangerous pass in the northern border mountain area. It is considered as the “King” of the Vietnam’s pass or Great Wall of Vietnam or the Pyramid of the Meo. At the top of Ma Pi Leng mount is the “happiness” road, there has a stone stele recording the marks in the construction process.

Scenery in Ma Pi Leng pass is unique with majestic and wild beauty. Looking to the north and northeast, thousands of gray mountains. Next to the road is an abyss, below is the Nho Que River with cool water.

Looking for that uniquely different vacation destination. Call Rawhide Travel and Tours today 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com. We can help!

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