The Ha Giang Loop passes through some of the most breathtaking attractions, from cascading waterfalls, and remote settlements to local markets, and a deep canyon. If you’re planning to self-drive you might miss out on a few attractions. So, where should you stop to make the most of this unforgettable journey?
As someone who’s explored the Ha Giang Loop, I know how overwhelming it can be to choose the best places to visit. Get ready to uncover the top places you simply can’t miss on this epic adventure.
Let’s dive into the essential attractions that will make your Ha Giang experience truly extraordinary!
15 Must-Visit Places on the Ha Giang Loop
Places from 1-11 are frequented by tourists who have opted for the 4D 3N tour. You can cover places 12-15 if you opt for a longer journey, at least 6D 5N. Refer to the Ha Giang Loop Itinerary blog, which covers all the places mentioned in this blog.
Table of Contents
1. Quan Ba Heaven Gate
Located 43 Km from Ha Giang city, the Quan Ba Heaven Gate (Cổng Trời Quản Bạ), which is the gate leading visitors to the rocky kingdom of Don Vang UNESCO Geopark, can be reached by crossing the Bac Sum pass. From the Heaven Gate, you can view the vast Tam Son valley, the surrounding Karst mountains, and the paddy, vegetable, and flower fields lying scattered like paint on a canvas. It is known for the two Karst hills shaped like the bosom (breasts) of a woman – the so-called “Fairy Bosom” or “Twin mountains.” Thereby, the viewpoint is also called Fairy Bosom Mountain Viewpoint.
There is a vantage point in the vicinity that can be accessed via a flight of 145 steps, located behind the visitor center. From this viewpoint, you can get a bird’s eye view of the Tam Son village. A cafe, a souvenir store, and a vast parking space are available at the base.
2. Lung Tam Linen Village
Lung Tam Linen Cooperative is a non-profit organization run by Mrs. Van Thi Mai, whose aim is to preserve the traditions of the Hmong minority while simultaneously improving the region’s economy and empowering women.
Mrs. Mai or any of the ladies working there will show you around and explain the process of making linen fabric from plants. They will walk you through the 41 individual steps in creating linen from plants and the subsequent creation of the traditional costumes of the Hmong tribes. Each hand-crafted pattern has a unique story behind it that captivates your attention. A quick heads up: Your contributions, purchases, and support will go directly to the community.
3. Hang Lùng Khúy (Lung Khuy Cave)
A short uphill hike of about 1.2 Km from the parking lot through a scenic landscape will lead you to the Lung Khuy Cave. There are stairs near the cave entrance where the ticket counter is located. A cement pathway and railings will help you navigate and explore the cave. The cave is home to many impressive stalactites and stalagmite rock formations. Most parts of the caves are lit with lights. However, we would advise you to carry the headlamps given to you at the entrance, as the lights go off frequently, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
- Entry Fee: 30,000 VND (includes a headlamp) for adults, 15,000 VND for children
4. Dốc Thẩm Mã (Tham Ma Pass)
Tham Ma Pass is the most popular and stunning viewpoint along the Ha Giang loop and is often photographed by numerous tourists. Known for its stunning views of the hairpin bends and the gently snaking roads, this place is for the aesthete in you. Do take a pause here to soak in the breathtaking views before continuing your ride. However, note that the roads may be covered by mist or invisible during the monsoon, so be cautious.
At the viewpoint, you can find kids wearing traditional dresses and selling flowers or playing music to make a living. If you want to capture your memories and the culture and click a picture with the kids, you’ll need to pay them.
5. Lung Cam Cultural & Travel Village
Thôn Lũng Cẩm Trên is a place where traditional Hmong houses are located. The place became very popular after it was featured in the film Chuyện của Pao (the story of Pao) in 2006. The people here are very friendly, and the kids make the place more lively – roaming around, playing music, and selling flowers. If you want to enter the buckwheat flower lawn, where frames for photography are set up, you’ll have to pay 10000 VND. If you are staying in a homestay, this might not fascinate you.
- Entry Fee for the Hmong house: 10,000 VND
- Renting traditional dresses: 30,000 – 50,000 VND
6. Dinh Vua Mèo
Also known as Vuong’s Palace or Vuong House, Dinh Vua Meo is a two-story building built by the French for the Hmong king, Vuong Chinh Duc, in 1921. Today, it remains an architectural and cultural relic of the Hmong dynasty. The tall mountains surrounding the palace form a natural defense system in addition to the stone wall. Built in a harmonious fusion of Mongol, Chinese, and French architectural styles, the entire mansion consists of 10 houses comprising about 64 rooms that accommodate up to 100 people.
It is a prime tourist attraction located along the Ha Giang Loop. You can see a vast parking space with shops selling food, snacks, and local crafts. You can hire a guide at the entrance to learn about the architecture and its detailed features.
- Entry Fee: 30,000 VND for adults, 10,000 VND for children
7. Cột Cờ Lũng Cú (Lung Cu Flag Point)
The Lung Cu Flag Point is the northernmost attraction in Vietnam. A Vietnamese flag is placed on a 30m tower on the top of Nui Rong (The Dragon Mountain). It is one of the main spots you must not miss while doing the Ha Giang loop.
There are two ways to reach the ticket counter: the stairs and the road. The motorable road exists until here (close to the ticket counter). You can also start climbing the stairs from the base to reach the summit. Electric shuttle buses also ply frequently from the base.
From the flagpole point, you can see 360° panoramic views of the surroundings, including the Vietnam-China border. To the North-East and South-West, you can find two lakes, called “Dragon Eyes” by the local people.
- Entry Fee: 40,000 VND for adults, 15,000 VND for children
- Parking Fee: 5,000 VND for motorcycles.
8. Ma Pi Leng Heritage Complex
Ma Phi Leng Pass offers amazing views overlooking the Nho Que River. The Ma Pi Leng Heritage Complex consists of four attractions close to each other, which we’ll get to in a second. Note that there is a parking space near the youth monument.
8.1 Tu San Canyon & Ma Pi Leng Viewpoint
Let’s start the list with the Tu San Canyon on the Nho Que River at the Ma Phi Leng Pass. It is about 1.7 km long, 700-800m deep, and falls sharply at a 70-80° angle. It is the deepest canyon in Southeast Asia and thus has been dubbed the “first pass” of Vietnam. The viewpoints mentioned below can show Tu San Canyon from different angles.
- Ma Pi Leng Viewpoint is a horseshoe bend viewpoint from where the Sông Nho Quế River can be seen.
- To see the panoramic view, check out this cafe (paid – 30,000 VND for entry)
- The free viewpoint is close to the cafe.
8.2 The Youth Monument
This monument was raised in commemoration and appreciation for the youth volunteers who participated in the Happiness Road opening. Also known as the Bảo Tàng Con Đường Hạnh Phúc (Youth Monument), the tower was made in 2017. What’s fascinating is how it is made of carved natural stone, 12m in height or 16m, including a base representing the youth volunteers of the eight provinces who died while working on the Road to Happiness. The three carved embossments express three emotions: farewell to the loved ones for work in the frontier North, the hard work, and the victory. It is regarded as a national monument.
You can also visit the Happiness Road Museum (Free entry), which is located very close to the monument. Here, you can see the old belongings of the people and the construction tools used during that time.
- Parking charges: 5000 VND
8.3 Sky Path
Skypath, or the Ma Pi Leng Skywalk, is named so because the hiking experience makes you feel like you’re walking in the sky. There are two routes to explore the sky path.
One is a motorable road, while the other one is a hike. Choose the motorable road if you’re short of time. The motorable road exists through the Mỏm Đá Tử Thần (Death Rock) and joins the main road here, from where you can continue the loop. You can take a leisurely walk or drive along this motorable road.
The 2-3 hour hike is shaped like a loop starting from the Sky Path Road and joining the main road here. While hiking, you will pass through some very scenic viewpoints, including the Great White Cliff Viewpoint, Sky Path Grotto, and Tu Sản viewpoint. The hike is fairly easy, and the area is known for its unique red-blue veined limestone, which makes the venture pleasing to the eye. The numerous Karst cones look like ancient pyramids. You can also take a guide from the hike starting point (Sky Path Road) to explore this area.
8.4 Ma Phi Leng Visitor Center
Điểm bán hàng trên đèo Mã Pí Lèng, or the visitor center at the Ma Phi Leng Pass, is just a single room that showcases some gemstones, minerals, and very few belongings of the tribes. However, do check out the view from the visitor center and eateries outside. The meat sold here by the locals is worth trying.
9. Nho Que River/ Tu San Alley
Du lịch Hẻm Tu Sản or Tu San Alley is a place where you can go boating on the Sông Nho Quế, the Nho Que River. The boat ride along the emerald-green water surrounded by mountains on either side is quite a view to behold. The boat goes a certain distance, stops for the passengers to take pictures, and returns the same way. The road to the Tu San Alley is bumpy in a few places, but the views are stunning.
- Boat ride charges: 120,000 VND per person for adults and 60,000 VND for children below 1.2m in height. The price also includes the shuttle bus to and from the marina.
- Timings: 7 AM – 6:30 PM
- Parking Fee: 5000 VND for motorcycles
- Boat ride duration: 1 hour for a round-trip from parking
10. Du Gia Waterfall (Tham Luang Waterfall)
Known as the Thâm Luông Waterfall or Thác Du Già, Du Gia Waterfall is a refreshing, much-needed stop after a long ride. The multi-step waterfalls create a small pool perfect for swimming and cliff jumping. You can spend some time admiring the natural beauty.
Google Maps doesn’t have a proper route to the waterfall. If you have difficulties finding it, you can ask the kids or locals, who will be happy to help you. You can avoid the group tour crowds if you go before 8 AM or much later after noon.
12. Chợ (Market)
Many villages along the Ha Giang loop have local markets where fresh local produce is sold. Meat, ethnic clothing, and jewelry are also sold in these markets. We tried noodle soup at the Meo Vac Market, and it tasted good (but not for people with OCD). The Cho markets are in villages like Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, and Meo Vac. Google “Cho <village name>” to locate the market.
We also visited a buffalo market during our journey, and it’s an experience you shouldn’t miss. It was truly fascinating to see their everyday life. The market was bustling with activity, filled with locals bartering and trading livestock. We got to witness firsthand the vibrant culture and traditions of the area. It gave us a deeper understanding of the community and the importance of livestock in their daily routines, making the trip even more memorable.
13. Me Pja Pass/ Khau Coc Cha Mountain Pass
The most challenging section in the Ha Giang loop is the Me Pja Pass or Kau Coc Cha mountain pass. It connects the Thung lũng Xuân Trường (Xuan Truong Valley) to the Bao Lac district. The construction work, rain, unpaved roads, and muddy paths with stones and boulders along the 15 hairpin bends make the Me Pja Pass more challenging. It is an adventure worth a lifetime. Drive slowly and carefully in the first gear in this area.
A 20-minute hike from the top of the pass will lead you to a viewpoint from where you can see the 14 hairpin bends. You can stop at the only shop at the mountain pass, park your bike, grab water and some snacks, ask for directions to start the hike, and hit the trail. You can follow the red markings on the stones and trees to reach the viewpoint.
- Parking fee: 10,000 VND
- Entry Fee: Free
13. Núi Thủng Phja Piót (Heaven’s Gate)
Also called Núi Mắt Thần (Magic Eye Mountain or God’s Eye Mountain), Núi Thủng Phja Piót is a mountain with a distinctive shape. The landscape is scenic, with majestic mountains framing the horizon, the locals diligently working on the surrounding fields, cattle grazing peacefully, and the joyous sights and sounds of kids playing. Do not miss out on witnessing this one-of-a-kind beautiful mountain in the Cao Bang province.
The location marked on Google Maps is incorrect. Search for Đạt Camping Cao Bằng, and it will lead you to the right place. You can also pitch your tent at the nearby camping spots.
14. Động Ngườm Ngao (Nguom Ngao Cave)
The massive Nguom Ngao Cave, which stretches for about 2 km, is a must-visit attraction in the Cao Bang province. It is one of the most beautiful caves in Vietnam. The short tour takes you on a path that can be explored on your own. The rock formations in the cave are not that impressive compared to the longer tour.
The two-hour tour can only be taken accompanied by a mandatory guide who will lead you to the other end of the large cave. You can see some very impressive rock formations, including columns, stalactites, and stalagmites, that cannot be seen in the shorter tour. Many sections of the cave are lit with artificial lights to enhance the experience.
Most of the guides speak only Vietnamese. However, some guides are kind enough to explain the cave and its history using Google Translate. To explore the full cave, a longer tour is recommended.
- Entry Fee: 195,000 VND for the longer tour (including the guide fees), 45,000 VND for the short tour
- Timings: 7:30 AM – 5 PM
15. Ban Gioc Waterfall
Ban Gioc Waterfall is the fourth largest cross-border waterfall in the world, straddling the borders of Vietnam and China. You must include this majestic waterfall in your Ha Giang loop itinerary. We have published a separate guide highlighting the information that is necessary to visit the Ban Gioc Waterfall, including the network connectivity, how to reach them, the best time to visit, timings, cost, etc that you can refer to for more information.
Additional Stops
If you would like to experience the real Ha Giang much more leisurely, you can take a detour to explore the offbeat places beyond the spots located en route, away from the tourists. Who knows, it could be one of your core memories, too.
Although the above-mentioned places are prime attractions along the Ha Giang loop, ensure you stop at different places along the journey. Here are a few other places to visit while visiting the Ha Giang Loop beyond the places mentioned above.
- Hoa Tam Giác Mạch Buckwheat Flower Fields (mid-October and November)
- Nam Dam Village (Dao ethnic)
- Su Phi Rice Terraces (September – November)
- Sách Đá Vần Chải & Van Chai sea lions
- Bãi đá Mặt Trăng Sà Phìn (Moon’s surface)
- Khe Lia Panorama Viewpoint
If you have any queries, drop them in the comments section below. We will answer them for you.
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