Memorable Ride On The Tortuous Route From Ha Giang to Ba Be National Park

BM Travel Adventure has been a home gathering of leading experts in motorbike tourism in Indochina. The North of Vietnam is full of “golden” routes for discovery enthusiasts - this is an undeniable fact. Of all the routes from the Northeast to the Northwest of Vietnam, Ha Giang loop is considered the one with a lot of majestic scenery and intriguing things to explore. 

There have been many articles on this topic, but there are very few ones about the roads connecting the best attractions of the Northeast-Northwest loop. So I, with my personal experience on such trips, will share the route from Ha Giang to Ba Be National Park with you. Before you set off, remember to prepare yourself well because it is going to take you at least two days to go from Ha Giang city to Ba Be, including the Ha Giang motorbike loop.

Why should you try Ha Giang - Ba Be route?

Ha Giang is home to up to 16 ethnic minority groups. Mother Nature blesses this area with a lot of spectacular and unique landscapes. In particular, Dong Van Rock Plateau is an imposing natural wonder with many cultural and natural heritages such as Lung Cu Peak - “the Pride of the Motherland”, poetic Nho Que River, sublime Ma Pi Leng Pass, and ancient mountain towns scattered everywhere. And Ba Be National Park is mysterious yet charming and unspeakably stunning with hundreds of plant and animal species.

Ha Giang - Ba Be National Park is one of the most amazing routes in the Northeast since you can immerse yourself in countless majestic natural landscapes and impressive cultures of local ethnic groups in Vietnam. The route is also where a lot of enduro tours and dirt bike tours take place. Not only can you explore the captivating global geological park Ba Be but also experience the daily life of many ethnic minorities such as white Hmong, Dzao, Tay, Nung, and more. This also means that you can enjoy their incredible cuisine. Having dinner in Pac Ngoi hidden deep inside Ba Be National Park with an astonishing view in the lake and sipping handmade alcohol, your soul is going to be healed. The trip from Ha Giang to Ba Be National Park is indeed what you should put on your bucket list. vietnam motorbike tours

Ha Giang to Ba Be National Park - The Trip Details

You depart from Hanoi and start the journey to conquer Ha Giang - Ba Be National Park route. But sometimes, we set off without a detailed plan, and this may lead to some hidden risks. That is why you should consider the following schedule. With this plan, you probably have more exciting experiences and fully enjoy the trip from Ha Giang to Ba Be National Park.

You may be interested in Sapa to Ha Giang Motorbike Tour - Challenging yet Rewarding!

Day 1: Ha Giang city - Quan Ba Heaven Gate - Lim Mong village - Lung Tam Textile Village

On the first day, we commence our trip from Ha Giang city to Quan Ba Heaven Gate. On the way, we have the chance to go along the Bac Sum Slope, which is compared to Pha Din Pass - one of the four greatest passes in the North. On the road which snakes itself through the mountain ranges, we will admire the beauty of various colorful wildflowers.

Reaching Quan Ba Heaven Gate, you will instantly understand why the attraction has such an odd name. At the height of 1500 meters, Quan Ba is located between two gigantic mountains. Here is also where the Road of Happiness, which leads to Ha Giang, begins. Standing on the mountain peak, you can contemplate the splendid panorama of the Northwest.

At the Heaven Gate, you might feel like you have just come to, well, Heaven since everything you see there is lurking on the silver veil of mist. Amid an immense mixture of clouds and mist, Co Tien Twin Mountain emerges just like two graceful angels warmly greeting us.

Leaving Quan Ba, we come to Lim Mong village at the foot of the Khau Pha Pass. What we are looking for in Lim Mong is the unique beauty of terraced fields - the result of the hard work of the H’mong people. The fields may be verdant or golden, but one thing never changes is that those fields are always magnificent.

As we have said, on the trip from Ha Giang to Ba Be National Park, we will not only admire the scenery but also explore the interesting culture of local people in the Northwest. That’s why we need to visit Lung Tam Textile Village. The village nestles itself between misty peaks. Here is the residence of the Mong people, who are well-known for flax weaving, indigo dyeing, and beeswax painting. The locals make and supply the traditional products not just for Vietnam but for international markets. These products are highly appreciated because they are nice and durable. Here we are going to witness how meticulously and skilfully Mong people make masterpieces.

Our next destination is nothing else but the Yen Minh pine forest. If you have been to Da Lat, you will quickly realize that there is something similar here. Alongside the road is a peaceful green pine forest with green grass. The tranquil scenery and fresh air here will help relieve your stress. After having lunch in Yen Minh town, we continue to go to Tham Ma Slope (also known as Nine-twists Slope). Tham Ma Slope is a winding road on Highway 4C from Ha Giang to the Meo Vac district.

Pho Cao valley and House of Pao are also renowned places that we should not miss. The valley is characterized by small yellow houses with unique architecture. Some of the houses are hundreds of years old, yet they are still solid and lovely. House of Pao is in Sung La commune, Dong Van district, Ha Giang province. The house is where the famous film “Story of Pao” was shot. It is rustic and mysterious - a typical home in the culture of the H’mong people at the Stone Plateau. The wooden gate, the stone walls, the yin-yang roof, the peach trees, and so on together make the house itself a vivid ancient painting.

Also, on National Highway 4C, we can drop into Vuong’s Mansion (or Mansion of the H'mong King). This 100-year-old mansion belongs to Vuong Chinh Duc - elevated by local people to the status of H'mong King. He was the ruler of up to four districts and had the 3000m2 mansion built in 9 years, from 1919 to 1928. According to a crude calculation, this imposing mansion could cost about 6,5 million dollars to complete.

Of all the attractions on the route from Ha Giang to Ba Be National Park, Lung Cu Flag Tower is obviously a site that we must see. This monument is to mark the northernmost point of Vietnam. It has a great meaning in your trip to explore the S-shape country.

We are going to have dinner and take a rest at Dong Van Old Town. A delicious hot meal and homemade alcohol will be served. It’s going to be a burst of flavors in our mouths. With professional and experienced tour makers of BM Travel Adventure, the traditional Ha Giang loop becomes an unforgettable experience. Since there are only dirt bikes and enduro motorbikes on the trip, we can go deep into the forests and visit off-the-beaten-track villages. These motorbikes also allow us to experience super enduro tracks, single tracks, and off-road tracks. Buying or renting an enduro motorbike such as Honda CRF250l or DRZ 400 from BM Travel would be a choice that you will never regret.

Day 2: Dong Van - Ma Pi Leng Pass - Tu San Abyss Valley - Ba Be National Park

After breakfast, we will start the second day of the trip from Ha Giang to Ba Be National Park by heading to Ma Pi Leng Pass. Along with O Quy Ho, Pha Din, Khau Pha, Ma Pi Leng is one of the four greatest passes in Northwest Vietnam. In the H'mong language, Ma Pi Leng means the nasal bridge of the horse. The name reminds people how dangerous Ma Pi Leng might be as it implies that the horses die of exhaustion running on the pass. The pass is hazardous yet incredibly beautiful; therefore, some people consider it The Great Wall of Vietnam. With a height of 1200 meters, this 20-kilometer pass possesses an irresistible attraction for traveling enthusiasts. It looks like a thread lying in the middle of the mountain, and this creates the majestic scenery of the rocky plateau. Stopping on the pass, we can admire the dreamlike Nho Que river and its most beautiful section - Tu San Abyss Valley.

Next, from tranquil Bao Lac town, we have two ways to reach Ba Be National Park. The first option is to go across Tinh Tuc town. The road is quite long but safe and easy to go. If we choose this way, we can visit the Phia Oac mountain range, which is 1600 meters high. This area is cool all year round, and there may even be snow here in winter. On this road, you can go by any type of motorbike, or even by car.

The second option requires using dirt bikes, enduro motorbikes, or 4x4. Right when we leave Bao Lac town, about 15 kilometers, we begin to turn to the dirt road. The superb pristine scenery and risky single tracks will evoke your desire to conquer the world. We also have to pass three big streams before reaching the town of Cho Ra and Ba Be Lake. This North Vietnam motorbike route is more suitable for people who have experience in riding enduro motorbikes and dirt bikes. XR 150l, Honda CRF150l, Honda CRF250l, or DRZ400S are perfect choices if you choose this way.

Finally, when you come to Ba Be National Park, you will surely find the trip worth trying. This is an ideal destination for people who are passionate about the wild and poetic beauty of nature. Here we can take a Ba Be National Park day trip to admire and immerse ourselves in nature. From above, the park is just like an outstanding picture that gives us a feeling of indescribable comfort. Besides, it is also famous for its diversity and abundance of flora and fauna ecosystems.

Ba Be National Park was established on November 10, 1992, with an area of 7610 hectares. The center of it is Ba Be Lake - one of the biggest lakes in Vietnam. Ba Be Lake is the natural lake on a mountain that has particular significance in the ecosystem of the area. In 2004, Ba Be was recognized as a natural heritage of ASEAN. There are over 1000 species of plants, and about 80 rare and precious animal species preserved and nurtured carefully here. Ba Be Lake deserves to be “the emerald of the North”. The wild, romantic beauty and natural biodiversity of Ba Be attract visitors from everywhere.

In conclusion,

Ha Giang - Ba Be National Park Route is an undeniably impressive route that we all should experience at least once. As one of very few companies organizing off-road tours on this route, BM Travel Adventure is willing to accompany you on the journey. It is going to be an unforgettable memory that can bring you happy smiles anytime you recall it.

Check our motorbike tours via this route: 

• Northeast Vietnam Motorbike Tour from Hanoi to Ba Be via Ha Giang - 6 days

• Northeast Vietnam Motorbike Tour from Hanoi to Sapa - 6 days

• Northwest Vietnam Motorbike Tour from Hanoi to Ba Be - 9 days

• North Vietnam Motorbike Tour from Hanoi to Ba Be - 15 days

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