Ha Giang - charming colors in the northern highlands

Ha Giang greets tourists in April with its gentle rays of sunshine, fresh and cool climate. Along the way, yellow canola flowers, red silk-cotton flowers, and pink buckwheat flowers paint a vivid picture of the rocky land.

On the way from Ha Noi to Ha Giang, the first stop for most tourists is Thac Cai Temple (Tuyen Quang) - an ancient temple built in the 15th century. This famous sacred temple is situated at the base of a big mountain, next to the majestic Lo River. Built according to the worship of Mother Goddesses by the ancient Lac Viet people, Thac Cai Temple is located at a nearly 500-year-old Antiaris toxicaria tree.

Once into the territory of Ha Giang, Vi Xuyen National Martyrs Cemetery and Quan Ba Heaven Gate are two frequently visited places. In particular, Quan Ba Heaven Gate is an important gateway of Dong Van, the starting point of the Happiness Road.

To fully contemplate the beauty of Dong Van Karst Plateau, visitors will have to ascend 135 steps leading to the top of the mountain. Here, the panorama of Tam Son Town and Doi Co Tien Mountain will be clearly in sight. 

Appearing amid the wild scenery of the mountains and forests, H'mong Village is an ideal resort in Ha Giang. With an area of about 20 hectares, H'mong Village was built with the desire to restore almost the original architecture of the ethnic H’mong people’s traditional houses. In front of the resort area is a large yard for interactive activities and highland cultural experiences such as ném còn (a game of throwing fabric balls), đánh mảng (a game of striking targets with the feet)...
 

Lung Cu Flagpole is another must-see attraction in Ha Giang. It is the northernmost position in Vietnam with a 54m² - wide flag representing 54 ethnic groups of the country. No one can suppress the sacred feeling while standing at the foot of the flagpole and singing the national anthem.
 

This is also a great spot for tourists to get a 360-degree view of Ha Giang’s natural beauty. From here, they will continue their journey with activities imbued with the Lo Lo ethnic group’s cultural identity. Besides, they can visit establishments where people make traditional alcohol, embroidery, and draw beeswax on a linen background.
 

Ma Pi Leng, one of the four great mountain passes in North Vietnam, is also a must-visit place along with the famous Tham Ma Slope. Along the path of 24 km, tourists can also admire the Nho Que River, visit the Youth Monument and the Happiness Road Museum. The next stop is the architectural artwork of the Vuong Dynasty (H’mong King Palace). This is a rare and one-of-a-kind work in the Dong Van Karst Plateau.
 

The H’mong King Palace is organized into 3 sections: front, middle, and back with a total of 64 rooms. Surrounding the Palace is a lush fruit garden with vibrant flowers.

In addition to historical sites and monuments, cultural villages such as Lung Cam and Thon Tha will be an unforgettable highlight of the journey. Rustic and simple houses appear in a peaceful and quiet space as if they were painting more beautiful pictures of plateaus, mountains, and forests.