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Every land, every road, every destination in Northern loop Vietnam can give us indescribable emotions. Mu Cang Chai, Khau Pha Pass, O Quy Ho Pass, and many others are all irresistibly attractive. However, those who have a passion for motorbike tours and want to explore new lands, new cultures, the most majestic natural scenery of mountains and rivers, the route from Ha Giang to Cao Bang is the one that can bring the most intense emotions and unforgettable experiences.
Words are far from enough to say how amazing the route is, but the following summary may help you see how worthwhile the journey is going to be. You are going to explore one of the best routes for trekking and motorbike tours in Northern Vietnam. There are countless incredible landmarks to admire, numerous Vietnam off the beaten track destinations to conquer. As we say, this is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for adventurous travelers.
People are now getting more and more rational. We are smart enough not to do something just because someone says it is advisable. So why does this route keep attracting so many tourists? why do adventurous travelers give more love to Ha Giang to Cao Bang than Hanoi to Cao Bang? Actually, this route is perfect for a Ha Giang motorbike tour (especially with dirt bikes) for the following reasons:
First of all, this is the only route crossing the two largest global geoparks in Vietnam – Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark and Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark.
It is also the only route that allows tourists to experience two of the most famous passes in the Northeast of Vietnam – Ma Pi Leng Pass and Me Pia Pass in Cao Bang.
The Ha Giang to Cao Bang route is the only place where two enduro racing events in Vietnam are organized (in Hoang Su Phi and Yen Minh).
Using a dirt bike, you can explore every single corner of the Ha Giang loop route. We are talking about Hoang Su Phi, Phung Village, Chieu Lau Thi Peak, Tay Con Linh Peak, and more. They are the renowned destinations that most people travel to Vietnam desire to conquer. With plenty of rough roads and single off-road tracks, these sites are a real challenge for even the experienced motorcyclists.
The mind-blowing beauty of Nho Que River can fully be exposed only from the Ma Pi Leng Peak, and guess what, that will be included in the route. We swear that the river will capture your attention. Slowly floating on the river by a raft is another excellent experience that many tourists love to have again in their life.
Another reason why dirt bikes are the right choice is that you will be able to go deep to the secluded areas where the untouched villages with unique cultures are still unchanged. In other words, it’s a precious opportunity for you to witness everything about ethnic minorities in Vietnam in the most authentic way. There will be no faking, just valuable real experiences.
The Ha Giang to Cao Bang route is full of spectacular landscapes that can easily arouse the excitement of any traveler. You will be overwhelmed with sublime endless-like mountain ranges, the vast picturesque terraced-field, the evergreen meandering rivers, the hazardous yet majestic passes, the remote villages with thousand-year-old custom. Notably, the sections from Meo Vac to Bao Lac, from Bao Lac to Thong Nong, and from Thong Nong to Tra Linh are amazing off-road tracks that you may never forget in your whole life.
Of course, the route is not only for dirt bikes but also for many different vehicles. For example, four-wheel drive (4x4 or 4WD) can also bring you priceless experiences that any off-road tour fan desires to have. Sloped passes and single off-road tracks are everywhere like daring people to venture. Driving a 4x4, you can conquer all the destinations in Ha Giang loop including Bac Sum Slope, Quan Ba Heaven Gate, Co Tien Twin Mountains, Yen Minh Pine Forest, Lim Mong Valley, Nine Ramp Slope, Vuong Family’s Palace, Lung Cu Flagpole, Pho Cao Valley, Dong Van Old Quarter, Ma Pi Leng Pass, the Happy Road, Khau Vai Love Market, and Me Pia Pass. Just mentioning only the Ha Giang loop can show you how awesome the trip is going to be with a 4x4wd.
Moving between Ha Giang and Cao Bang, you will feel encouraged to push yourself to new challenges like mountain biking or trekking. For people who want the trip more “peaceful”, joining a tour or renting a scooter is not a bad idea. You can still feast your eyes on a multitude of scenic landscapes in such a way.
As an adventurous traveler, certainly, you are also excited about the discovery of the route from Ha Giang to Sapa and the one from Ha Giang to Ninh Binh as well.
Depending on your own traveling plan in Vietnam, you can have different itineraries for the Ha Giang to Cao Bang route. However, we suggest the following one since it covers most of the significant destinations.
On the first day, you start the discovery of the Ha Giang motorbike loop. On the way from Ha Giang to Dong Van, you will go through the stunning places below:
Bac Sum Slope stretches from Minh Tan commune to Quyet Tien commune. From above, the slope looks like a giant snake crawling among mountain ranges. On the way, you will come across vast flower fields that are perfect for taking some photos. As you reach the section of Can Ty on the Mien riverbank, you will encounter the holes of the orphan rock stabbing down the road. Right when you finish Bac Sum Slope, the imposing Twin Mountains are there awaiting to tease your imagination.
From a distance, the Quan Ba Twin Mountains can be associated with a woman’s breast. It’s quite hard not to stop and marvel at the mountains. If nature were a man, it would be the most ingenious artist ever. Every resident living in the area knows the legend about the mountains. The story is quite touching and somewhat reasonable. The Ministry of Culture, Sport, and Tourism of Vietnam has recognized this site as a national beauty spot. Can we miss such an appealing scenery? No, we can’t.
Heaven Gate – what an exaggerated name, isn’t it? But right when you witness this exceptional attraction, you may renounce such thoughts immediately. Quan Ba Heaven Gate is located between two sublime mountains at an altitude of above 1500 meters. To approach it, you have to climb so many steps first. As you approach, this landmark resembles a gigantic gate opening to a whole new world. This is also a great spot to watch the panorama of the environs – the small houses scattering on green hills in a veil of mist. Such a tranquil scene is enough to purify our minds.
Located on the National Highway 4C, Sung La Valley connects a lot of towns in Ha Giang. The valley is often likened to a colorful painting of nature because this place is covered by several trees and flowers with different colors every season. The specialty of Sung La Valley is flowers. They say that here flowers can bloom even on rocks. Well, you may think this is another kind of magnifying. Once you arrive at the valley, you will change your mind. Small houses with unusual architecture and hospitable people also make a considerable contribution to beautifying the whole area.
Referring to pine forests, tourists often think of Da Lat. But on the route from Ha Giang to Cao Bang, you will go through a marvelous pine forest in Yen Minh. The road to the center of Yen Minh is full of sharp curves and steep slopes, which may discourage even experienced drivers. Yen Minh town attracts travelers due to not only the mysterious pine forest but also the ancient stilt houses of Tay and Giay people. Meandering around Yen Minh town, you will find many remarkable attractions such as Na Luong Cave, Co Cai Cave, Lung Ho citadel, and Tam Giac Manh flower fields. The site is absolutely alluring for those who want to learn more about the unique culture of ethnic minorities since here live up to 16 ethnic groups.
Tham Ma Slope is a favorite road in many tours exploring Northern Vietnam. The journey exploring the Dong Van Karst Plateau won’t be satisfying without conquering Tham Ma Slope. The twisted road wrapping around the towering mountains will light up your fire of passion, while the scenic landscapes keep capturing your attention.
Presumably, Vuong Family’s Palace in Dong Van district will never lose its attraction. This is undoubtedly the top highlighted place on the whole trip. This 100-year-old building will thrust plenty of surprises into your mind. Right from the first time beholding the palace, you can realize that it is something phenomenal. The structure belongs to Vuong Chinh Duc, also known as the Cat King – one of the wealthiest and most influential people in the whole region at that time. He paid about 7.5 million dollars to complete the construction. The area of the palace is nearly 3000m2, which is enough for up to 100 people to reside. It is built with the construction method of H’mong people in French and Chinese architecture. The entire mansion is located on a high block of land, surrounded by arcs mountain ranges. The best thing is that the building completely harmonizes with the beauty of nature. We can assure you that this spot won’t let you down.
We don’t want you to have a regular trip sightseeing the landscapes, but also see more significant sites of Vietnam. Lung Cu Flagpole is such a place. The flagpole is located on the Lung Cu Mountain (Lung Cu in the H’mong language means where the dragon stays) at an altitude of 1470 meters above sea level. To reach the Lung Cu Flagpole, you have to overcome 839 steps. As you climb up, you will hear the historical stories about the site. Then you will figure out the critical meaning of this flagpole, as well as how Vietnamese people are proud of it. This spot is also perfect to see the Dong Van Karst Plateau, exquisite flower fields, and the broad expanse of sky.
Located in the Ha Giang tourism complex, Dong Van Old Quarter was formed and built in the early twentieth century. In the beginning, there were only a few Tay, Chinese, and H’mong families living here. The small old houses nestled in the middle of the valley with rocky mountains surrounding are strangely charming. They are all about one hundred years old (some of them are even approximately two hundred years old). Overall, the old town bears a strong impression of Chinese architecture with two-storey houses and yin-yang tile roofs, red lanterns. The Old Quarter Café and Dong Van Market are two highlights that you should not ignore.
The road from Dong Van to Bao Lac is only 80 kilometers long, yet it is the road we are all waiting for. Even for tough, skilled riders, this section is still challenging. You are going to face a lot of obstacles: steep slopes, long passes, countless single tracks, off-road terrain, severe weather, and more. Nevertheless, this is what makes the journey memorable, and also what we are thirsting for. Emerging among all the challenges is the Ma Pi Leng Pass.
We can ascertain that Ma Pi Leng Pass is not just one of the most famous attractions on the Ha Giang to Cao Bang route, but on the whole Northern Vietnam. Ma Pi Leng is considered the most dangerous one amongst the four greatest passes of the North. This rugged mountain pass is 20 kilometers long, crossing three communes of Meo Vac district. The Ma Pi Leng peak is located at an altitude of 1200 meters on Dong Van Plateau. It is a part of the Happy Road connecting Ha Giang City with Dong Van and Meo Vac. The road was made by thousands of volunteers from 16 ethnic groups in 8 provinces of Northern Vietnam in 6 years (1959-1965). From the top of Ma Pi Leng, you will see the majestic scenery with a cliff on one side, and a gorge on the other. The pass is the best place to witness the poetic Nho Que River.
Nho Que River is started from the mountain region of Nghiem Son – Yunnan of China. It flows in the Northwest – Southeast direction to Vietnam. The part of the river flowing from Seo Lung hamlet of Lung Cu commune passing Tu San Alley is a breathtaking scenery that no one can resist. Many people can’t abide by looking at the river from afar, so they decide to experience the river by sailing a raft. And that is the decision that they will never regret. This evergreen river and Tu San alley – the deepest alleys in Southeast Asia – are two masterpieces of nature that we must visit at least once.
Every year, on the 27th of the third lunar month, there is a strange fair on the peak of Khau Vai Mountain in Meo Vac, Ha Giang. It’s Khau Vai Love Fair, where young men and women from everywhere come to make friends with each other. Here you will witness cheerful people of different ethnic groups, colorful clothes, strange instruments, jars of luscious local alcohol, and unique customs that you may never see anywhere else.
From Bao Lac, you continue to explore a host of attractive destinations before reaching the final one - Cao Bang.
Me Pia Pass is clearly a destination that we cannot skip on the route from Ha Giang to Cao Bang. It’s simply gorgeous. However, if you are not a skillful, experienced rider, conquering the pass on your own is a real danger. Terrifying slope, twisted road with 14 continuous sharp curves are not a dare that all of us should take. But if you are confident with your riding skills, Me Pia Pass is there waiting.
After overcoming all the difficulties, it would not be a waste of time to stop at glamorous Thong Cong town and take a look at some attractions here. Like many places in the Northeast of Vietnam, the town possesses splendor landscapes of towering mountains touching the clouds. But that’s not all about Thong Nong town. A verdant prairie spreads out before your eyes – it’s Bai Tinh. The vast green meadow with buffaloes leisurely moving is a peaceful spectacle that has the power to erase your stress. We’d better visit Nam Ngua Waterfall as well. The waterfall is majestic, and the area is still pristine, wild, and fresh. When you see the grandeur of Nam Ngua Waterfall with your own eyes, you’ll know that we are not lavishly praising it.
Besides, there are many other breathtaking landscapes for you to explore in Cao Bang. If you want more riding experiences, you should ride through Pac Bo cave, Nguom Ngao cave, and especially Ban Gioc waterfall, which can be seen as a masterpiece of nature.
At the end of the trip, we will come to the beautiful city of Cao Bang, where many delicious dishes are waiting for us like roasted duck, ant egg pie, Chinese sausage, and so on.
For awesome off-road experiences, besides Ha Giang to Cao Bang, you also should try Memorable Ride On The Tortuous Route From Ha Giang to Ba Be National Park.
If you are an adventurer having an endless passion for conquering challenging roads of mountainous areas in Northern Vietnam, the route from Ha Giang to Cao Bang is the trip that you should not miss in your life. The following motorbike tour operated by BM Travel Adventure is a feasible solution for you to have the best experiences on this route.
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