Get ready for an unforgettable Ha Giang tour adventure to the magnificent landscapes of Dong Van Karst Plateau on Ha Giang Tour! This UNESCO Global Geopark is set in the far north of Vietnam and offers stunning scenery from towering limestone peaks to deep valleys. Along the way, get a glimpse of the rich local culture with many ethnic groups of Ha Giang with visits to historic perspectives like the Vuong Family Mansion and breathtaking views from Ma Pi Leng Pass. Ideal for nature lovers, photographers, and thrill-seekers alike, this tour promises the best of Ha Giang’s unique beauty and rich heritage.
Welcome to the Dong Van Karst Plateau on a Ha Giang Tour, where the earth’s ancient secrets lie beneath your feet! Located in this northernmost area, there is an extraordinary plateau that extends through four districts: Dong Van, Meo Vac, Yen Minh, and Quan Ba. What is so special about this plateau? This is no chunk of land but a UNESCO Global Geopark! This designation recognizes the Dong Van Karst Plateau’s geological value besides being outstandingly universally aesthetically appealing because of rock formations that are as far-reaching in age as 400 to 600 million years. Imagine walking through landscapes where the chronicles of Earth’s evolution have been told, with the limestone karsts and ancient fossils silently telling stories about prehistoric seas and primeval forests.
Welcome to the beauty of the landscape in the Dong Van Karst Plateau on a Ha Giang Tour! Picture, if you will, rugged mountains springing abruptly from the earth, fields in cascading galleries down the slopes, and picture postcard landscape views extending well beyond the horizon. Among them, one main attraction is the Quan Ba Heaven Gate serving as an entrance into this world of fantasy in the way that you are afforded a striking view of the iconic Twin Mountains; feel the thrill as you navigate down the winding paths of the legendary Ma Pi Leng Pass, an area often touted as “king" among mountain passes for its heart-stopping beauty. Here are the charming villages of the H’mong, Dao, and Tay people where their brightly colored homes dot the landscape and splatter color onto the majestic grey karsts.
But that is not all! The Dong Van Karst Plateau on a Ha Giang Tour almost introduces one to the heart of a rich cultural tapestry interwoven by H’mong, Dao, and Tay. Join in their traditional way of life: elaborately embroidered costumes, and ancient farming traditions. And it would be a shame to miss the local markets, so vibrant in color with the smell of traditional cuisine. You will happen to bump into friendly people ready to share stories, explain their crafts, and even invite you to the vibrant festivals. These are communities not of inhabitants, but of true caretakers of the plateau, keeping it natural and preserving the culture for generations to come.
21:00: Be met at the meeting point in Hanoi and board a comfortable sleeper bus. The journey to Ha Giang begins as the bus departs. You will feel cozy in your seat, relax, and prepare for an overnight rest. In case you arrive from Ho Chi Minh City, the expected time will probably be earlier than 18:00 at Noi Bai Airport. In case of a later arrival time, then we can still pick up at the Kim Anh Junction, only 2.3 km away from the airport, up until 22:00.
04:00: Arrive in Ha Giang City, meet with our friendly guide, and then transfer to a local homestay, where you can quickly freshen up and have refreshments in the morning.
07:00: Have breakfast at a local restaurant- now, the real fun begins! Commence our tour with a drive-to start by Bac Sum Pass, which is 8 km in length having curving roads and impressive scenery, towards the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark core zone.
08:30: Arrive in Quan Ba Heaven Gate, the first entrance of Lustful Land Ha Giang. Catch the panoramic view, take some amazing views of the Twin Mountains (Núi Đôi Cô Tiên), and see Tam Son town from above.
Quan Ba Heaven Gate
10:00: Stop briefly in Can Ty – Lonely Nghien Tree for a weird snapshot in the middle of a beautiful landscape.
11:00: Continue to Tham Ma Pass, aka “Horse Testing Slope," which is well known for its thrilling hairpin bends and its beautiful landscape. Stop en route for some fantastic pictures.
Tham Ma Pass
12:30: Take your tasty lunch at a local restaurant in Yen Minh to regain your energy with regional delicacies.
13:30: Lunch; then go to the famous Nine-Bend Slope for further stunning views.
14:30: Visiting Lung Cam Cultural Village a poetic village, that has beautiful landscapes, appeared in many famous Vietnamese movies, “The Story of Pao." Stop by the traditional H’mong dwelling house, which played the role of “Pao’s House" in the movie, and take photos of flowers blooming in season in the most beautiful area of the plateau.
Lung Cam Cultural Village
15:30: Visit the ancient Vuong Family Mansion (H’mong King’s Palace), to learn about its unique architectural style, its history, and culture of the H’mong ethnic people.
16:30: Arrival at the Lung Cu Flag Tower, an important landmark considered the northernmost point of Vietnam. Go upstairs for a panoramic view of the borderlands in the north of Vietnam.
Evening: Arrive in Dong Van Ancient Town. Enjoy dinner with the locals and, in the evening, take a night walk around the ancient streets, watch traditional folk dances, or try the five-color Thang Den cake specialty of the place.
19:00: Enjoy Black Chicken Hotpot for dinner in a restaurant in town. At nighttime take a night walk on the old streets of Dong Van, and sip coffee at a local café. Overnight at the hotel in Dong Van.
07:00: Begin the day with a breakfast of the renowned Dong Van Steamed Rice Rolls. Later on, continue exploring more of the area’s highlights in the Dong Van Plateau.
08:30: Visit Dong Van Sunday Market – a traditional market with hundreds of years of history to explore in detail the peculiar culture of local highlanders.
Dong Van Sunday Market
10:00: Drive to Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of the most beautiful passes in Vietnam, famous for its panoramic views over the Nho Que River and the rocky mountains. Do not miss taking great shots from this viewpoint.
11:30: Take the boat trip on the Nho Que River through the dramatic Tu San Canyon – the deepest canyon in Southeast Asia- with amazing views.
13:00: Lunch in Meo Vac is a small town situated between the rocky mountains. Afternoon: Start our way back to the city of Ha Giang.
14:30: Back to Ha Giang City via the scenic roads. On the way, stop shooting more breathtaking scenery.
18:00: Arrive back in Ha Giang City to relax in the evening; overnight in a local homestay.
07:00: After an irreproachable breakfast, start the road back to Hanoi. Some stops at cultural sites or panoramic viewpoints are possible to make the most of this last day.
13:00: Lunch at a local restaurant in Ha Giang or on the way. Once again, you will be able to enjoy the flavors of the local cuisine.
Evening: back to Hanoi, but with unforgettable memories in your heart after the Dong Van Karst Plateau tour, Ha Giang!
Timing is of the essence: For a perfect Dong Van Karst Plateau in Ha Giang Tour, the time has to be proper. September to November and March to May are considered to be perfect months. These seasons are furthermore characterized by crystal-clear skies, pleasant temperatures, and sensational sceneries since flowers bloom and terracing fields turn golden. Avoid the rainy season between June to August because heavy rains may make traveling very difficult due to slippery roads and even flight delays.
Smart packing is all about having a great experience at the Dong Van Karst Plateau on a Ha Giang Tour. These must include layered clothing to put on and take off with the changing temperatures, strong trekking shoes or boots for rugged walks, sunscreen, and a hat for protection against fierce sunshine. Do not forget personal medications and your camera or smartphone for capturing the landscapes. Bringing small presents for locals will also enrich your cultural interactions, such as notebooks or pens.
It is very important to keep in mind health and safety during the Dong Van Karst Plateau on a Ha Giang Tour. Acclimatize to high altitude by taking your time, and never forget about the signals of altitude sickness, such as headaches or dizziness. Always possess travel insurance that will protect you in case a medical emergency takes the eventuality of an adventure activity like trekking. Be sure to stay hydrated during your time in the mountainous environment, following local health recommendations, including keeping hydrated with only purified water and considering current vaccination needs.
No Dong Van Karst Plateau on a Ha Giang Tour without taking home some unique local specialties and souvenirs that capture the spirit of this stunning region. Some must-buy things are listed below, together with the estimated price and search location.
In this plateau, few bees feed on the nectars of buckwheat flowers that bloom across the plateau and produce this rare honey. It has an acquired taste with a strong fragrance of floral, sweet with a slight tanginess. This is famous for its medicinal properties and is hence considered an ideal gift item.
Price Estimate: 500,000 – 800,000 VND/liter.
Where to buy: You can come to the Dong Van Sunday Market or Meo Vac Market to buy authentic buckwheat flower honey. Going further, a more selective purchase can be made by visiting some local stores – specialty stores such as Ha Giang Honey Shop in Dong Van Town and Traditional Medicine Shop at Dong Van Old Quarter.
Prepared by the H’mong people, this delicacy is made from pork or buffalo meat, marinated with special spices, and smoked over a wood fire. It’s a savory delight, perfect as a snack or a unique gift.
Estimated Price: 700,000 – 1,200,000 VND per kilogram.
Where to Buy: The best places to buy smoked meat are the Dong Van Market and Meo Vac Market. You can also visit the H’Mong House in Lung Cam Cultural Village for a more authentic product directly from the local community.
Description: Handicrafts of the ethnic minority groups such as silver ornaments, hand-woven brocade fabrics, and wood carvings are some of the more meaningful mementos. Every piece is a projection of Ha Giang’s rich culture and unique artistic expression.
Estimated Price:
Where to shop: There are countless handicrafts you can find everywhere in the Dong Van Sunday Market or the Meo Vac Market. Just if you want it a little more unique, additional trips will take you to the H’Mong ethnic house in Dong Van Old Quarter or Quan Ba Brocade Cooperative based in the town of Quan Ba.
Ha Giang region is famous for Shan Tuyet tea harvested from the ancient tea trees on high mountain slopes, and different types of herbal remedies made from plants indigenous to the area. Both products allegedly keep people healthy.
Estimated Price:
Where to Buy: Shan Tuyet tea and other herbal variants are available from the Dong Van Old Quarter Pharmacy or various local tea stalls such as the Cooperative Tra Phin Ho in Hoang Su Phi district.
As we reach the end of this fantastic journey, let’s go through some of these unforgettable memories from this “Explore the Natural Wonder of Dong Van Karst Plateau on a Ha Giang tour! From the picturesque landscape of the Dong Van Karst Plateau to the rich green terrace fields, and ethnic villages nestled in a picturesque area, to the social wealth brought about by the encounters with the communities, the H’mong, Dao, and Tay, every step deserves to be special on this tour. Starting from the magic view of Ma Pi Leng Pass, sailing serenely along the Nho Que River to exploring the historic charms in the Ancient Town of Dong Van, this trip is far beyond traveling but a journey to explore the heart of the most spectacular natural and cultural heritage of Vietnam! Don’t forget to regularly follow our Impress Travel for more interesting information about traveling to Ha Giang and to book Ha Giang tours at the best prices.
Inclusion: Private transfer, tour guide, breakfast, lunch, dinner, entrance fee, hotel
Inclusion: Private transfer, tour guide, breakfast, lunch, dinner, entrance fee, homestay
Inclusion: Private transfer, tour guide, breakfast, lunch, entrance fee
What’s included in this trip:
What’s excluded in this trip:
| Hotels in Ha Giang | Homestays in Ha Giang |
We went on a private trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, the whole trip plan was organized for us by the Impress Travel Company from Vietnam, the company did an amazing job, the whole trip was organized in a wonderful way with an amazing match between the various parties, their choices were correct and the quality of the hotels chosen were very high quality and it is important to note that the price was low in comparison To other agencies, thanks to Impress Travel and especially to Daniel who was tolerant and open to changes and organized the route for us.
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating!
We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC.
The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T".
I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all.
Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team.
Sulaiman Pochee
Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.
This is the second time we travel to Vietnam with IMPRESS Travel. First time, we booked our holiday to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Sapa during Dec 2018 with Impress.
Second time, we travel to Hoi An, Hue & Danang (Central Vietnam) during Jan 2019.
My friends & I are very glad & happy with all the hotels stay in Central Vietnam, the meals provided are delicious. We are greatly appreciated with all the tour arrangement by Tommy & his team (tour guide).
Especially, Mr. NHAT C.V. He is helpful, cheerful, knowledgeable and very professional. He always volunteer to take a nice pictures for six of us (group) .
We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel. We will definitely come back to Vietnam again with Impress
Ha Giang land is located in the far North of Vietnam, Ha Giang is well-known for Dong Van stone plateau which is recognized as one of 77 geological parks in the world and second in the ASEAN region only to Langkawi Geological Park in Malaysia. Here the land is formed by green narrow valleys alternating with the rocky mountain range of the north. This land is famous alongside others such as Yen Minh, Quang Ba, and Meo Vac as a homeland for ethnic minority people/ Here mostly Hmong people live. A special treasure of this trip is visiting the great flag tower and its astonishing view and scene. Supposed to be the northernmost spot of Vietnam, located very close to the border of Vietnam and China. For a great trip to discover Ha Giang Land, you should book with Impress Travel for our trusted service and for making more savings!. Email: hagiangtours@impresstravel.com & call to Mr. Alex Impress Travel Manager at his cell phone (+84) 9123 79 189
