Every thing about trekking in Ha Giang province [NEW UPDATE 2019]

Head to the hills for a challenging, yet rewarding, trekking adventure. In the far northeast of Vietnam discover a land of immense beauty and intriguing hilltribe villages. Spend the days hiking up mountains and through rice paddies and the evenings in homestays, getting a true taste of traditional local life.

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The landscape in Ha Giang is overwhelmingly beautiful. Limestone ridged mountains rise up in pyramidal shapes before sinking to hundred-foot mounds and then climbing once more to 5,000-foot peaks. Rice terraces slice along precariously steep mountainsides, hanging over blue snaking rivers, beneath blood-curdling bends. Although still a poor piece of land, the spectacular beauty of nature has attracted many photographers and adventure travel lovers.

Photo: otofun

The best time to trekking in Ha Giang

The best time to travel to the north-east Vietnam, Ha Giang is the dry season starting from late September, early October to late April, early May. During this time, December and January are the two coldest months.

It is a great time to hike in Ha Giang after the Tet Holidays which happens around late January or in February. At this time, the scenery is quite pleasant and serene. The magnificent mountain tops that are hidden behind the clouds and the fragrance of the wild peach flowers will influence and soothe your senses.

The rainy season (May to September) is not the ideal time for trekking in Ha Giang. During this time June and July are the two hottest months. The temperature can be around 38 – 42 degree C outside. There are sometimes land erosion and landslides.

If the purpose of your trip is to see the terraced fields in Ha Giang, then there are 2 times you should not miss:

Pour water season: May and June are the best time for you to watch Ha Giang canvases with fields are filled with water. Under the sun, the ladder is likely the giant mirror reflecting the sunlight.

The ripening rice season: This is the time that Ha Giang put on the yellow shirt of ripening rice. If you want to enjoy the beautiful fields were lush with ripening rice, then September and October will be about the time you should visit Ha Giang.

Photo: otofun

How to get to Ha Giang from Hanoi?

You can get from Hanoi to Ha Giang by bus, motorbike, or by private transfer.

By Bus: You can catch a bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang at My Dinh station. The trip will take about 7 hours and should cost no more than $10.

By Motorbike: It’s not uncommon for travelers to explore Northern Vietnam by motorbike. If you’re the adventurous type, perhaps there’s no better way to get to Ha Giang. You’ll get some of the world’s most spectacular views along the way, and enjoy more freedom than you would on a bus or an organized tour.

By Private Transfer: If you book a Ha Giang tour that begins in Hanoi, it will usually include minibus transfer. While this is the most expensive option, it is without a doubt the easiest way to get to Ha Giang.

Trekking in Ha Giang province

The mountainous and hilly terrain causes difficulties for travel and transport of goods, but in return it bestows beautiful travel sites with dozens of rivers and streams, fascinating caves and grottos, historic and cultural relics and a treasure of traditional cultures of the ethnic groups, which all enchant the visitors.

With pine forests, granite mountains, quiet farming villages, and heavenly views in every direction, Ha Giang is like an illustration of how nature can flourish when unsullied. The trekking routes in Ha Giang fall far enough from the tourist circuit, so you can wander the mountains of Ha Giang uninterrupted for days at a time.

Make no mistake that traveling Ha Giang is a pretty rugged trip. Sharing a border with China, Ha Giang is the northernmost point in Vietnam, and often referred to as the final frontier. To put it simply: it’s way the hell out there.

Most treks in Ha Giang range from 2-to-5 days. While you can’t trek from Ha Giang itself, there are trails starting from small villages nearby. 

Photo: otofun

Short walks are available in many major towns of Ha Giang including Thong Nguyen, Ha Giang, Quan Ba, Dong Van. These half day hikes take you to different hill tribes villages are located near main towns.

Longer treks (3 day tours, 4 day itineraries, 5 days or even longer) are only available in the area of Hoang Su Phi, Xin Man, Viet Quang. You can either hike around these places or go towards Bac Ha and get picked up, brought back to Hanoi.

If you’re interested in trekking in Ha Giang, you can either arrange a Ha Giang trekking tour at: http://vietnamtypicaltours.com/location/ha-giang-tours/

Homestay or Ha Giang Hotel Stay with Day Treks?

As a poor province, Ha Giang will not have luxury hotels like the city. However, the hotels or homestays here still provide adequate basic amenities.

I would highly recommend trekking to a homestay unless drinking cheap cocktails with hordes of other tourists is your idea of a good time.

At a homestay, everything is taken care of for you. This can be good or bad. You don’t get a choice of food or drink, and you don’t decide who your roommates are, so a go-with-the-flow attitude is a must. But it will bring you many new and interesting experiences.

Photo: Trong Phu Homestay

Tell your tour operator ahead of time if you want a private or quiet stay — they should be able to arrange that for you.

If you do want to stay in a hostel or guesthouse, then contact us at here.

If you are planning a visit to Ha Giang and wondering about tour organizers in Vietnam.

Then here, you can consult Vietnam Typical Tours tour company. is one of the companies that organize travel tours that are loved and trusted by tourists. With 4 consecutive years, you have been awarded with the excellent certificate of the TripAdvisor community.

Whether who you  are, what you do and when you want to join, we have suitable adventure trips for your one a life time holiday in North East Vietnam.