From Hanoi to Ha Giang Vietnam by motorbike

Ha Giang is a poor and disadvantaged province in the North of Vietnam and it is contiguous to China. This province locates in the first place on the S- shaped Vietnam map. So, we reckon Ha Giang is "north pole" of motherland.

From Hanoi to Hagiang Vietnam by motorbike
From Hanoi to Hagiang Vietnam by motorbike

However, the thing I want to tell you that Ha Giang is a beautiful and majestic land. In my opinion, Ha Giang is the most beautiful region to the north of  Vietnam.

Not only Ha Giang is an imposing scene (this place has a plateau with a lot of grey stone) but also Ha Giang still keep rare features, these features is very bold national character of minorities on the highland of Vietnam, such as Mong, Dao, Tay, Lo Lo… The mysterious beauty not only shows in their clothing and their houses which are built from alluvial… but also shows in the custom, character of persons who live in highland all year round.

From Hanoi to Hagiang Vietnam by motorbike
The road from Ha Giang city to Quan Ba district

Nowaday, many places in Vietnam are modernized but the Dong Van and Meo Vac Karst Plateau in Ha Giang hasn’t urbanized yet. I have gone to Sapa many times, but I really prefer Ha Giang more than Sapa. I believe you are likewise.

What’s the reason? Because Ha Giang has many things which are mysterious, beautiful and charming than many things in Sa Pa.

If you are hesitating before the choice between Sapa and Ha Giang, you have only one choice and you have only one week on holiday in Ha Noi, I recommend you to come Ha Giang.

From Hanoi to Hagiang Vietnam by motorbike
On the Hightway No.4C

Despite the short distance, the road leads to Ha Giang is more a bit difficult than the road leads to Sa Pa. Because the transport from Ha Noi to Ha Giang is less than transport from Ha Noi to Sapa.

There is not any train from Hanoi to Ha Giang

If you go to Sapa, you have many vehicles to choice as bus (high quality bed buses), motorcycle or private car and the train... but if you go to Ha Giang, there isn’t any train from Ha Noi to Ha Giang.

The train from Ha Noi to Sapa - Lao Cai only goes through Doan Hung district and it pauses here, then this train starts from Doan Hung to Yen Bai and Lao Cai in the Northwest of Vietnam.

Dong Van Ha Giang Market
In the market in Dong Van Ha Giang

And if you want to continue go to Ha Giang in the North of Vietnam from Doan Hung district, you will have to take a bus or use a motorbike on the rout is about 80 kilometres from Doan Hung to Tuyen Quang city and then it adds more 100 kilometres from Tuyen Quang city to Ha Giang city.

So, if you want to reach Ha Giang from Hanoi, I recommend that you should use one of two ways: you drive motorcycle to Ha Giang from Ha Noi or you take a night bus from Ha Noi to Ha Giang city, and then you rent a motorcycle in Ha Giang city in order to go to Dong Van & Meo Vac plateau.

The beauty of Ha Giang Vietnam
The beauty of Ha Giang Vietnam

The beauty of Ha Giang Vietnam
The road from Hanoi to Ha Giang Vietnam. Photo: Van Nguyen

I have gone to Ha Giang many times in a year and I use both of two ways. I have informations and experiences which I want to share with you:

Go to Ha Giang from Hanoi by motorcycle

Let’s rent or buy a secondhand motorcycle in Hanoi Old Quarter. A secondhand motorcycle costs you 4-7 million dong (they are the Win motorcycles which are made in China) to buy or it costs you 100,000 dong/day to rent a motorcycle.

Go to Ha Giang from Hanoi by motorcycle
Go to Ha Giang from Hanoi by motorcycle

The distance from Hanoi to Ha Giang city is 300 kilometres. You can read more about this in this post: How to get from Hanoi to Ha Giang

The route is from Ha Noi centre to Hanoi airport by many ways ( despend on your location): it is far 16-20 kilometres.

From Noi Bai (Hanoi airport), you turn to Highway No.2 from Hanoi to go to Vinh Yen city and then you go straight to Viet Tri city (on the old road).

Go to Ha Giang from Hanoi by motorcycle
Ha Giang backpacking. Photo: Tuan Ha

You continue go straight from Viet Tri to Doan Hung three- way crossroads, then turn right, you still go on Highway No.2 to Tuyen Quang city and then go straight to Ha Giang city.

If you depart at 8- 10 AM, you will reach Ha Giang city at about 4- 5 PM. You should rent a hotel or hostel in order for your sleep at night. It costs you average 300,000-400,000 Vietnam dong per room in hotel (equivalent 15- 200 USD).

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Next morning, let’s go to the most delicious noodle store in Hagiang, this store is located near milestone number 0, it costs you 20 - 30 thousand VND ($1) for a bowl of pho in this store. Then, you can drink a cup of coffee costs 20 - 25 thousand VND in a shop of a nearby. At about 8 AM, you depart from Ha Giang city to reach the Dong Van Karst Plateau.

Dong Van is an upland district of Ha Giang, it is far about 146 kilometers from Ha Giang
Dong Van is an upland district of Ha Giang, it is far about 146 kilometers from Ha Giang

Distance from Ha Giang city to Dong Van is abou 140 kilometres, you will go through toponyms, such as Quan Ba district, Yen Minh district and Dong Van district. On through the way, you should visit many places (these places concentrate in area which is called Dong Van Karst Plateau, it is within a radius of  about 20 kilometres):

1. Quan Ba twin mountains (two mountains is very image of busts of the girl who is 18- 20 years old)

2. Quan Ba heaven gate, place to stop, you will see Quan Ba twin mountain if you look down from here

3. Sung La flower village (this village has a lot of ancient houses which are very beautiful)

4. Mong's King Vuong Chi Sinh edifice ( that is called “vua Meo”)

5. Lung Cu flagstaff- milestone marks territory sovereignty of Vietnam and villages of minority: Mong, Lo Lo who live around the foot of mountain

6. Dong Van highland kirmess

From Hanoi to Hagiang Vietnam by motorbike
From Hanoi to Hagiang Vietnam by motorbike

The second night, you should stay at Dong Van town. This town is small and poor. However, there are too many tourists. If you need to rent the best hotel or a cheap hostel, let’s contact with me, I will present with you.

In the evening, let’s go to Dong Van ancient in order to drink coffee and contemplate the ancient that is old and small.

Coffee in Dong Van Ha Giang Vietnam
Coffee in Dong Van Ha Giang Vietnam. Photo: zing.vn

Next morning, you should leave Dong Van distric to go to Meo Vac district. The distance from Dong Van district to Meo Vac district is about 25-30 kilometres. This is the road that is the most beautiful and imposing in Vietnam. In the middle of itinerary, from Meo Vac about 10 kilometres, you will see a pass which has a lot of obstacles, it is called Ma Pi Leng pass.

Many young Vietnamese rent the motorbike in Ha Giang city to go to Dong Van Stone Plateau
Many young Vietnamese rent the motorbike in Ha Giang city to go to Dong Van Karst Plateau

From Meo Vac town, you go around to Yen Minh district and Quan Ba district, then you come back Ha Giang city.

Ma Pi Leng Pass on the Hightway No.4C from Dong Van to Meo Vạc
Ma Pi Leng Pass on the Hightway No.4C from Dong Van to Meo Vạc

Ma Pi Leng Pass on the Hightway No.4C from Dong Van to Meo Vạc
The food of Ma Pi Leng Pass. Photo: Hachi8

If you want to discover life style, custom and see daily routine life of minorities in this region, you can find out and go to Nam Dam village in Quan Ba district. It is a small village distances Highway No. 4C and Quan Ba town district about 10 kilometres. In here, you can spend 200,000 dong per day in order to stay in home of inhabitant in "homestay". You can ask they cook meals in the Mong's style and you also walk around, take photos, mountain trekking.

This is the latest article to guide the way to go to Ha Giang from Hanoi by bus