Where is the most imposing region in Vietnam? The answer is just the mountainous northern area. With abrupt topography along with majestic landscape, this region is really appropriate for Vietnam adventure tours. It will be so fantastic if carrying out a motorcycling or biking tour northern Vietnam.
The further north you go, the more majestic the scenery are. Today, I will recommend you a great destination, Ha Giang, which is the Vietnam’s northernmost point. Enjoying fresh air in early morning or standing silently in the top of the holy Lung Cu flag tower are just unforgettable things when coming to Ha Giang.
As a northern Vietnam’s mountainous province, 300 km from Hanoi, Ha Giang is really attractive by not only charming natural scenery, but also righteous people and great dishes.
Roads
Ha Giang’s roads are hairpin bends among precipitous rugged mountains, and routes full of bland golden rice fields. Some embrace pine tree hills like in Da Lat. It can list several roads enchanting travelers like Bac Sum pass, the steep section up to Pho Bang and particularly, Happiness Road – the Ha Giang’s historical mark.
Happiness Road started its construction in 1959, is 200km in length. After eight years, undergoing hardship and difficulty, the road accomplished. This was the 2500 people‘s relentless efforts with manual labor tools like hammers, shovels and crowbars. 14 youth volunteers sacrificed in the construction process. So far, Happiness Road is an important route and also a Ha Giang’s attractive destination. Specially, Ma Pi Leng, one of Vietnam’s four wonder pass, is located in this road.
Mount Twin
Situated in highway 4C of Tam Son town (Quan Ba district, Ha Giang province), the attraction seems as a masterpiece that natural creator bestowed for this land. Among rolling rock-mountains, Mount Twin has the shape like round breasts of a young woman.
There are several legends related in Mount Twin, passed by tradition from one generation to another. One of which is a touching love story between Hoa Dao (Peach Blossom) fairy and a handsome and intelligent H’mong man. They fell in love, got married and gave birth a pretty boy baby. But due to Ngoc Hoang (King of Heaven)’s prevention, Hoa Dao had to return the Heaven. She left her breasts at this world. According to the legend, thanks to this sweet milk stream, climate here is extremely cool, vegetables are always green and fresh.
Hoang Su Phi terrace field
Annually, as autumn comes, rice fields become golden. In defiance of the abrupt and difficult roads, travelers indulging in travel, nature or photography still gather here. With thousands of hectares of spectacular fields stretching all over the valley, Hoang Phi Si was recognized as a National Heritage in 2012.
Meo (H’mong) King’s Mansion
Located in Sa Phin valley, the mansion was formerly the most powerful building in Ha Giang. This palatial and sizeable building belonged to the elite Vuong family, taking 8 years to complete. The palace is also located in a prime location, which has the shape like Kim Quy (Golden Tortoise). A whole property leans on a high mountain behind. The mansion’s front land is the Kim Tu Thap (Pyramid) or the Mam Xoi mountain. As a result, the building did not have adverse impacts in war time and has still retained almost intact to this day.
The construction was based on ancient Chinese architecture, also had architectural combination between H’mong and French. This mansion has three courts, namely front court, central court and back court, consisting of 4 horizontally and 6 vertically blocks. Totally, the edifice has 64 roomd and can contain approximately 100 people for dwelling.
In 1993, Meo King’s Mansion was acknowledged as a National Historic Monument. The entrance ticket seller is a Meo King’s distant relative niece.
Lung Cu flag tower
Lung Cu flag tower marks the Vietnam’s northernmost point, located in Lung Cu peak (or called that “Long Son” – Mount Dragon). Although the true northernmost point is 2 km from this tower, it is still regarded as the national sovereignty’s sacred representation.
At an altitude of 1,700 m, the present Lung Cu flag tower is the result of repair and reconstruction in many times. Regarding to the new design, the tower has a octagonal shape, similar to Hanoi flag tower, with 8 column feet imitate designs on Dong Son bronze drum and illustrate the country’s historical periods.
To reach the flag tower’s peak, 389 stone steps and 140 spiral stairs inside the tower need to be passed. By this way, travelers can tough the National Flag measuring 54 m2, admiring vast and peaceful scenery surrounding.
Dong Van ancient street
Located in central Dong Van town, although it does not has a big size like Hanoi or Hoi An, the street still exist special and fascinating identities.
Dong Van ancient street just remains 40 roofs under 100 years old, located adjacent in a foot stone mountain. Initially, there were several H’mong, Tay and Chinese families living here. The ancient houses has two stories, roofed ying-yang tiles, and hung red lanterns at porches.
Dong Van market is the most attractive place. Built in 1925-1928, the construction has a U-shape, imbuing the plateau-stone’s culture.
On lunar 14th, 15th and 16th monthly, these ancient houses will hang red lanterns and organize art activities like brocade exhibit or art performance.
Khau Vai love-market is held annually on just one day – lunar 27th March. This market is where people meet each other after one year separation.
Tam giac mach flowers
Tam giac mach flower fields are the Ha Giang’s characteristic feature. This land put on a new violet coat whenever the tam giac mach flower season comes.
New blooming, the flowers are white, after that turning into light pink, then violet, then red as withering. Tam giac mạch is small, has petals bunching up into a pyramid shape. With three sides of a triangle, this flower contains a seed inside. Ha Giang people usually use flour of tam giac mach fruit to make cake or mix with corn to make wine. It is possible to contemplate tam giac mach flowers at Lung Cu, Sung La, Dong Van, Pho Cao or Ma Le.
Au Tau gruel
The cold of the high area makes local residents create a kind of gruel can keep the body temperature – Au Tau gruel. This gruel has strong bitter taste, making many people have to shake their head in the first time. But more eating, more delicious this bitter taste brings, making people want to eat more and more.
Au Tau gruel is made of “nuong” sticky rice, pork legs and “au tau” bulb. Au tau is soaked in rice water during a night, then simmered 4 hours to be tender and friable. Subsequently, au tau is mixed with rice and cooked in pork leg simmered water. At several places, au tau and pork legs are cooked privately. When guests come, the bartender just mixed white gruel with pork leg and au tau.
Au tau is cultivated a lot in mountains by H’mong people. This tuber is usually used for wine making to rub into skin for back or bone pain treatment. Formerly, au tau gruel is used to treat cold. Later, it become a specialty of Ha Giang.
