Top 25 Things to Do in Ha Giang: Places, Passes & Villages

What comes to mind when you think of Ha Giang? Is it the majestic Ma Pi Leng Pass, the Lung Cu Flag Tower at Vietnam’s northernmost point, or the purple buckwheat flower fields blanketing the rocky plateau? In reality, Ha Giang offers so much more. This remarkable province boasts 25 famous attractions, each presenting visitors with unique beauty and stories.

This article by Phieu Travel is your complete guide to the best things to do in Ha Giang. These are places that anyone who falls in love with the rocky highlands simply cannot miss. So, what are the top things to do in Ha Giang? Let’s dive into the 25 must-see spots.

1. Hoang Su Phi

Hoang Su Phi is famous for its golden terraced rice fields during harvest season. From September to October, viewing from Ban Luoc or Ban Phung, the landscape appears draped in a golden coat extending along the mountainsides, resembling golden staircases leading straight to heaven. Since 2012, Hoang Su Phi’s terraced fields have been recognized as a National Heritage Site.

Not only captivating with its scenery, Hoang Su Phi also preserves the traditional lifestyle of the Dao, Nung, and La Chi ethnic groups. You can visit villages like Nam Ty, Thong Nguyen, or San Sa Ho to experience the simple highland rhythm of life and the genuine hospitality of local people amid the morning and evening cooking smoke.

2. Ma Pi Leng Pass

Ma Pi Leng is one of Vietnam’s “four great passes,” standing at about 1,500m above sea level, connecting Dong Van and Meo Vac via National Highway 4C. The winding pass curves around steep rock faces, with the emerald Nho Que River flowing below like a soft silk ribbon across the wilderness. This is an ideal stopping point to admire the majestic beauty of the rocky plateau beneath drifting clouds.

At the summit, a memorial to Youth Volunteers silently tells the story of opening the Happiness Road – the historic route connecting highland districts. Carved entirely by hand over many years, this road represents the sweat, blood, and enduring will of thousands of people. The scenery is magnificent, but it’s the human element that makes it sacred.

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3. Dong Van Karst Plateau

The Dong Van Karst Plateau, recognized by UNESCO as a Global Geopark since 2010, is one of Ha Giang’s most iconic and proud attractions. The area stretches across hundreds-of-millions-year-old limestone ranges, interwoven with deep gorges and winding mountain passes, creating a uniquely magnificent landscape.

The plateau is home to 14 ethnic minority groups including the Hmong, Dao, Lo Lo, and Pu Peo. Each village here serves as a living museum of highland culture, with vibrant traditional costumes, distinctive folk festivals, and lifestyles closely connected to the mountains and forests.

When visiting Dong Van, you can immerse yourself in festivals such as fire dancing, forest worship, or the buckwheat flower festival to deeply experience the essence of this rocky mountain region.

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4. Tham Ma Slope

Tham Ma Slope is located on National Highway 4C, a 5km-long mountain pass with 9 hairpin turns connecting Ha Giang City with Meo Vac. In the past, locals used this slope to test pack horses. Only horses that could overcome this pass were used for long-distance goods transportation. The name “Tham Ma” (Horse Testing) originated from this practice.

Today, Tham Ma Slope has become a favorite challenge for adventure travelers and explorers. The feeling of navigating curves between vertical rock faces and deep abysses creates both thrilling and awe-inspiring emotions. From the winding turns, you can gaze across the Dong Van Karst Plateau, admiring lush terraced fields, towering rocks, and villages nestled in the mist.

5. Pho Bang

Nestled in a valley in Yen Minh region, Pho Bang is an ancient town bearing deep imprints of time. The brown-yellow rammed earth houses with moss-covered yin-yang tiled roofs, along with the slow-paced lifestyle of Chinese and Hmong residents, make this place feel like a separate, peaceful, and nostalgic world amid the rocky plateau.

During buckwheat flower season, light purple colors filter through narrow paths, highlighting house eaves and hillsides. Some valleys burst with vibrant roses amid the clouds, making visitors want to linger a little longer to admire the view. To reach Pho Bang, travel through Tham Ma Slope, to Pho Cao, then turn left for about 8km.

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6. Sung La Valley

Nestled within the rocky plateau, Sung La Valley has its own peaceful beauty. Buckwheat fields stretch across mountainsides, lush corn fields extend through villages, and misty mornings and evenings create a living memory-like atmosphere. Each spring, the valley brightens with pink peach blossoms, white plum flowers, and deep red roses amid the cool border climate.

Lung Cam Village is a must-visit when exploring Sung La. This is home to many traditional Hmong and Lo Lo cultural practices. The rammed earth house that appeared in the film “Pao’s Story” remains intact, quietly situated among flowers and rocks, welcoming visitors from afar.

7. Vuong Family Mansion

Located on a small hill in Sa Phin Commune, the Vuong Family Mansion was once home to Vuong Chinh Duc – the wealthiest and most powerful Hmong leader in the Dong Van region during the early 20th century. The structure was built in the early 1900s, elegantly combining three architectural styles: Hmong, Chinese, and French – evident in its yin-yang roof tiles, carved stone columns, and symmetrical, imposing structure.

In 1993, the mansion was recognized as a National Heritage Site. This place preserves not only architectural value but also reflects the highland history during a transitional period. Standing in the courtyard, visitors can gaze across the Sa Phin Valley, experiencing the genuine power of a family that once ruled the remote border region of Ha Giang.

8. Lung Cu Flag Tower

The Lung Cu Flag Tower stands on Dragon Mountain (2,000m above sea level), marking Vietnam’s sacred northernmost point and one of Ha Giang’s most visited attractions. From the flagpole, the panoramic view reveals layer upon layer of mountains and mist-shrouded villages, creating both a majestic and serene landscape.

The current structure was built in 1995, standing 17 meters tall, topped with a 54m² red flag with a yellow star – symbolizing Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. At the foot of the flagpole lies Lo Lo Chai Village, home to the Lo Lo community. Here, you’ll experience traditional cultural lifestyles and the genuine hospitality of local people.

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9. Yen Minh Pine Forest

About 40km from Quan Ba Twin Mountains, Yen Minh Pine Forest is one of Ha Giang’s attractions with a distinctive character. Hills covered with tall green pines stretch endlessly along winding roads, creating a landscape that is both serene and pure amid the gray rocky terrain.

The fresh air and light filtering through the thin pine needles make this an ideal stopping point for those seeking relaxation, hiking, or camping in nature. The wild, poetic beauty of Yen Minh Pine Forest causes many visitors to compare it to “Dalat in the mountains of Ha Giang.”

10. Quan Ba Twin Mountains

Quan Ba Twin Mountains rest peacefully in Na Khoang Village, in the Tam Son Valley, about 40km from Ha Giang center. The two symmetrical, round mountains resemble a mother embracing her child, connected to sacred legends about maternal love and protection. This unique formation was created over 1.6 million years ago, a remnant of ancient geological movements on the rocky plateau.

During harvest season, the rice fields at the foot of the mountains turn golden, creating a gentle contrast with the deep-toned rocks. Looking down from Quan Ba Pass, the entire scene appears like a vibrant, peaceful painting amid the northeastern mountains.

11. Cam Son Mountain

Located in Ha Giang City, Cam Son Mountain stands out with its solid, imposing form, like a rock screen protecting the mountain town. The path up the mountain once had only one steep, winding trail, but is now easier to traverse thanks to the route leading to the television tower on the summit. Following the stone steps, visitors will encounter a deep cave called “heaven’s well” – a site linked to battles between yellow and white flag armies from the 19th century.

From Cam Son Mountain’s peak, Ha Giang City appears miniaturized against the green forest background. One side features steep rock slopes connecting to city streets, while the other side gradually slopes down with dense vegetation, opening toward the Lo River area. Nearby stands an ancient Mother Goddess Temple, where locals offer incense and prayers in the tranquil mountain town atmosphere.

12. Lung Khuy Cave

Hidden on a mountainside in Quan Ba District, Lung Khuy Cave is known as “Ha Giang’s premier cave,” opened for tourism in 2015. The cave stretches nearly 1000m, with a small entrance that opens into a vast interior space with high domes and dense stalactite systems featuring unique formations like jasper forests, stone columns, and stone towers.

According to Hmong legend, this was where the Dragon God transformed into human form to save villagers from drought and lived forever in the cave with the girl he loved. The name “Lung Khuy” – meaning “Dragon in the Rock Crevice” – originated from this story.

13. The Lonely Tree

On the road from Quan Ba to Yen Minh, you’ll encounter a solitary Parapentace tonkinensis tree standing alone beside National Highway 4C, near Can Ty Commune in Quan Ba District. The tree is enormous, nearly 40m tall with dense foliage and a trunk so large it would take five people to encircle it. Along the wind-swept road, the tree stands alone on a mountainside, with a rock face on one side and a deep abyss on the other – hence its name, the “Lonely Tree.”

On clear days, the tree’s silhouette stands out against the border sky, creating a serene, peaceful image. Many visitors come not just to take photos but to quietly admire the solitary, enduring beauty of the lonely tree amid Ha Giang’s rocky, windy terrain.

14. Pho Cao

Pho Cao is a peaceful valley on the Dong Van Karst Plateau in Dong Van District, Ha Giang Province. Over 90% of residents are Hmong, living in earth-walled houses with yin-yang roof tiles, surrounded by hand-stacked stone fences, creating characteristic highland architecture.

During buckwheat flower season, the rocky hillsides here don soft pink-purple colors. Flowers grow between stone paths and roof tiles, creating a gentle, simple landscape. Visitors to Pho Cao often stop at the local market, chat with locals beside wood stoves, and enjoy rice porridge, fresh rice rolls, or steaming bowls of thang co.

15. Pao’s House

Located in Sung La Village, Dong Van District, Pao’s House is one of Ha Giang’s attractions deeply imbued with Hmong cultural imprints. This over 80-year-old traditional house appeared in the film “Pao’s Story” and quickly became a favorite stopping point for travelers exploring the rocky plateau.

The house entrance is covered in time-worn moss with wooden gates, stone fences, and yin-yang roof tiles. In spring, peach trees bloom in the front yard, brightening the quiet space. Each smoke-stained kitchen area and household item preserves an old highland rhythm of life – simple yet familiar.

16. Lung Tao Buckwheat Fields

Lung Tao is a small village along the route from Sung La to Pho Bang, where buckwheat flower fields grow scattered across the hillside terrain. The flowers aren’t planted in large fields but instead grow among cat’s ear rocks, creating a natural beauty characteristic of Ha Giang highlands.

In early morning, mist hangs across the hillsides, with small flowers peeking through as if floating in clouds. From a small path behind the village, you can climb up a high rock slope to view the entire flower valley and distant mountain ranges. The feeling of standing amid clouds and gazing at the flowers makes every climbing step worthwhile.

17. Border Marker 428

You might not know that Lung Cu Flag Tower isn’t actually Vietnam’s true northernmost point. In fact, this sacred coordinate between Vietnam and China is marked by Border Marker 428, located in Xeo Lung Village, Lung Cu Commune. The marker stands at over 1430m above sea level, silent amid mountains, carrying a special solemnity and tranquility.

The path to the marker involves trekking through small slopes and trails along mountainsides. The deeper you go, the more magnificent the scenery becomes. From here, you can see the Nho Que River winding away from Vietnamese territory, blending into the distant border landscape.

18. The Divine Rock Wall

The Divine Rock Wall (also called the White Rock Wall) is located on Ma Pi Leng Pass, at nearly 1700m elevation, about 2km from Meo Vac town center. This is a popular trekking spot for adventurers due to its magnificent scenery and challenging conquest. The path to the rock wall is narrow and steep, with only motorcycles able to navigate part of the way, while the rest must be traversed on foot along narrow paths with mountain on one side and abyss on the other.

From the precipitous rock edge, visitors can gaze across the deep gorge alongside the emerald Nho Que River. Rock formations jutting out like beckoning fingers attract many young people for photos. If you visit in early morning, you might catch clouds floating across the rock face, creating a scene both majestic and dreamlike.

19. Tu San Gorge

Located at the foot of Ma Pi Leng Pass, Tu San Gorge is one of Ha Giang’s most magnificent attractions. The gorge was formed by two vertical rock walls rising up to 800m, stretching 1.7km in length and nearly 1km in depth, formed through millions of years of geological creation. Between the rock crevice flows the jade-colored Nho Que River, creating one of the most imposing and pristine landscapes in the rocky plateau region.

Taking a boat ride along the Nho Que River is the best way to experience this place’s grandeur. Floating between towering rock walls, one feels engulfed by mountains, hearing only wind and seeing light streaming down from the blue sky above. The best time to visit Tu San Gorge is late autumn to early winter. During this period, thin mist hangs across mountain slopes and buckwheat flowers bloom across rocky slopes, making the space even more enchanting.

20. Noong Lake

Noong Lake is located in Phu Linh Commune, Vi Xuyen District, about 23km from Ha Giang City center. This is a natural lake spanning over 20 hectares, special for its forest growing within the lake, creating a pristine beauty few places possess. The landscape changes with seasons, presenting both primeval and serene beauty characteristic of the Tay Con Linh mountain foothills.

During rainy season, water rises to submerge tree roots, and local people often use bamboo rafts for transport, harvesting aquatic products, or taking visitors sightseeing. In dry season, the water recedes to reveal fertile mud and exposed tree roots. Locals use the remaining lake area to raise ducks and grow vegetables.

21. Tien Waterfall – Wind Pass Tourist Area

From Xin Man center, following a dirt road through the forest, visitors will encounter Tien Waterfall – cool water cascading from Wind Pass down to a rocky valley. The waterfall flows steadily year-round, streaming through moss and boulders, carrying the characteristic cool air of ancient forests. The peaceful, pristine scenery makes an ideal stopping point to relax after a mountain journey.

Trails around the area take you past a 500-year-old sen tree, wild orchids, medicinal herbs, and many precious mushroom species growing naturally. The space here feels like a fairy-tale forest, both wild yet somehow familiar. Just a few quiet minutes will help you clearly perceive the sounds of flowing water, rustling leaves, and the scent of damp grass wafting on the breeze.

22. Ha Giang Market (Sliding Market)

Ha Giang’s periodic market, also called the sliding market, doesn’t follow a fixed schedule but instead “slides” back one day each week according to the lunar calendar. Each village in Ha Giang has its own market schedule, depending on local lifestyle patterns. The market is where highland people gather, not just for trading but also to meet and chat with acquaintances.

At dawn, groups of people come to the market in colorful costumes. They bring embroidered backpacks, pigs tucked under arms, corn liquor, tobacco, free-range chickens, mountain vegetables… to exchange with each other. The sound of conversation mixed with footsteps on stone paths creates a bustling atmosphere. This is an experience not to miss when visiting Ha Giang!

23. Dong Van Ancient Town

Dong Van Ancient Town stands out with its earth-walled houses featuring yin-yang roof tiles, dark wooden frames, and stone-paved verandas preserved through generations. During full moon nights, the entire town brightens with red lanterns, creating a warm, poetic atmosphere in the heart of the rocky plateau.

When the lights come on, visitors can stroll around the night market, listen to Hmong reed pipe melodies echoing through the ancient streets, shop for handmade embroidery, then sit beside glowing charcoal braziers enjoying hot bowls of thang den. The lifestyle here is slow and familiar, bringing Ha Giang’s unique sense of peace.

24. Dong Van Market

Dong Van market is held every Sunday morning and is one of the largest periodic markets in the rocky plateau region. From early dawn, people from Hmong, Dao, Tay, and Nung villages arrive at the ancient town in colorful clothes, bringing vegetables, free-range chickens, dogs, horses, and pigs. The normally quiet space suddenly comes alive with voices, colors, and highland flavors.

On the 14th-16th days of each lunar month, Dong Van Market also hosts traditional activities such as embroidery demonstrations, bird-throwing competitions, ethnic art exchanges, and many other traditional activities. Don’t miss this if you visit Ha Giang during these times!

25. Where to Buy Ha Giang Specialties

Beyond Ha Giang’s scenic attractions, highland cuisine also leaves many visitors longing to return. Markets like Dong Van, Sa Phin, or Lung Phin are places where you can enjoy steaming thang den, smoked buffalo meat, au tau porridge, corn wine with leaf yeast, or five-color sticky rice.

If you want to buy specialties as gifts, you can visit Ha Giang City central market or Dong Van Ancient Quarter. Here, products like buckwheat cakes, stone cakes, and smoked meat are typically pre-packaged, easy to preserve, and convenient to carry. When exploring Ha Giang with Phieu Travel, our local guides will take you to reputable vendors to choose authentic specialties with peace of mind.

These are the 25 best things to do in Ha Giang for an unforgettable adventure. Depending on your time and season of choice, Phieu Travel’s team will design suitable itineraries to help you fully explore the rocky plateau’s beauty, from natural landscapes to unique local cultures. What are you waiting for? Contact Phieu Travel now!

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