Many tourists say the “Ha Giang loop” (Ha Giang loop) exceeds expectations, with “surreal” natural landscapes.
Alina B., a German tourist, came to Ha Giang in October after being introduced to the “Ha Giang loop” by many foreign backpackers. The images online were enough to overwhelm her. However, when experiencing this route yourself, everything is “far beyond imagination”.
“Ha Giang loop” starts from Quan Ba, through Yen Minh, up to Dong Van, to Meo Vac and then back to the starting point. The “Golden Road” is about 350 km long, crossing high passes and deep abysses, requiring hard steering to face endless loop-like curves.
Alina conquered the road with a group of about 20 people, following a tour from a local company. Because she could not drive a motorbike herself, she was driven by a Vietnamese driver throughout the journey, but this did not affect the experience because she could not take her eyes off the majestic natural landscape of Ha Giang mountains and forests.
“The landscape is surreal, I couldn’t take my eyes off it for a minute. This is the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to in Southeast Asia,” she affirmed.
During four days in Ha Giang, female tourists interacted and understood more about the lives of indigenous people. Meo Vac and Pai Lung are the two most impressive natural spots with “mountains in the distance, hidden behind floating clouds and a blue sky”.
Éadaoin Fitzmaurice, living in Ireland, also knew about the “Ha Giang loop” through a friend’s introduction that she thought was “a bit overhyped”.
“I have been to more than 30 countries and this is definitely the best,” she said after finishing a three-day trip in September.
Fitzmaurice commented that this route was dramatic, making her heart beat rapidly. Occasionally, Irish female tourists have to pinch themselves because they cannot believe the natural beauty they are witnessing.
A local male guide named Huey drove Fitzmaurice, making her feel safe and comfortable throughout the journey. Most members of the delegation are young people so it’s easy to get acquainted and start a conversation. Because Huey brought a speaker, the group could sing and dance among the majestic mountains and forests. Fitzmaurice cried when the journey ended because he regretted the past moments.
Charlotte and Natalie, a British couple who set the goal of traveling around the world on a budget, went to Ha Giang to experience the golden road earlier this year. They kept a moderate speed throughout the journey to immerse themselves in the overwhelming beauty of nature.
To them, Heaven’s Gate (Quan Ba) is as beautiful as paradise, where the sunset covers everything it touches with golden color. Yen Minh pine forest is “a source of fresh energy from nature”, making them forget time. The two had to change their plans and find accommodation in Yen Minh because they could not reach the next town before dark.
“Not only the beautiful scenery, we also feel the warmth of the local people. They have created a harmonious and happy community,” said Charlotte.
According to Linh Huu Khuong, co-founder of a company specializing in the Ha Giang loop, most foreign visitors coming here want to experience the “Ha Giang loop”. The price of a three-day tour is about 150-300 USD per person, depending on the guest’s needs.
He said that the majority of guests participating in this tour are “backpacker” groups (backpackers, backpackers). Despite having a lot of development potential, “Ha Giang loop” has not yet attracted a group of high-end, high-paying customers. Besides infrastructure problems, human resources is also a big problem because very few tour guides can use English, let alone other languages.
A group of 15 guests usually has 2 tour guides accompanying them (if guests drive themselves). However, often only the tour leader can communicate in English, making it difficult for companies to arrange personnel to serve tourists well.
Mr. Minh Hoang, who has been working in tourism in Ha Giang for more than 10 years, also commented that this golden road has a lot of potential but has not really developed. Visitors to Ha Giang currently mainly sightsee and do not have much to spend.
“If a destination is beautiful and attracts many tourists but the total revenue from tourism is too little, sometimes it is counterproductive,” Mr. Hoang said, expressing concern that too many tourists could have a negative impact on the environment. school, local culture.
Alina also realized that Ha Giang really doesn’t have too many things to spend money on. She went on a tour, so she spent mainly on coffee and snacks.
But the German female tourist commented that “Ha Giang loop” is becoming more and more famous thanks to backpackers. However, it is difficult to turn this place into a destination for elderly tourists and families because the route is highly adventurous.