How to go to Hagiang and Cao Bang from Hanoi. Where is Ma Pi Leng and Ban Gioc waterfall? How long and how far does it get from Hanoi capital, Vietnam?
We arrived in Hanoi on Sunday night, coincidentally also the inauguration day of the new international terminal at Noi Bai Airport and the new Nhat Tan bridge across the Red River. The road trip was tough but was really exciting as well.
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| Distance - transports, bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang and Cao Bang (trivago & tripadvisor) |
And no doubt, Ha Giang has become one of my favorite destinations in the whole country for now. Finally, I’d like to end my road trip blog with a video trailer from a filmmaker friend who has just finished his narrative documentary about Ha Giang. Hopefully, we’ll see his film premiered in an international film festival somewhere soon.
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My first motorbike road trip of this year was to Ha Giang, a place claimed by many as “the most beautiful part of Vietnam”, which I totally endorse. The trip was friggin cold though.. Before setting off I recalled the cold we went through 2 years ago in another new year road trip and equipped myself carefully with multiple layers of clothes, 2 pairs of socks and 2 pairs of gloves. However, they didn’t help much when the mist came down at night. Honestly, the -20 degree Celsius in Poland that I experienced wasn’t as fearful as that mountainous chilly mist.
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| Distance - transports, bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang and Cao Bang (trivago & tripadvisor) |
We drove our bikes for a total of 1,100 km (~684 miles) during 5 days across Ha Giang city, Meo Vac town, Dong Van rock plateau, and then straight to Ban Gioc waterfalls in Cao Bang (my second time here) before heading back to Hanoi. This is personally my longest road trip and the nature was also one of the most spectacular.
Hanoi to Hagiang = 300km
The first day was tough, it was 300 km (186 miles) from Hanoi to Ha Giang and took us almost 10 hours. We started in Hanoi from 2.30 pm and arrived in Ha Giang just in time to celebrate new year at the farthest Northern point of Vietnam (km 0). This long drive was brutal, mostly because of the thick fog and the freezing weather. We also couldn’t enjoy much of the scenery since it was already dark when we approached the mountain part of the route. Thus, next time going to Ha Giang I think I’ll skip this drive, take a night bus instead and rent a motorbike from there.
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| Distance - transports, bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang and Cao Bang (trivago & tripadvisor) |
The next day was beautiful. It was sunny all the way. We drove past Yen Minh, which is said to be the longest pine forest in Vietnam, the H’Mong King’s residence, numerous breath-taking rocky mountains and magnificent valleys and ended at Lung Cu flag tower, where we had a wonderful panoramic view of Vietnam’s farthest north natural beauty.
Wonderful Ma Pi Leng
Highlight of the third day was Ma Pi Leng, one of the “fantastic four” mountain passes in Vietnam. I have been to the other three (O Quy Ho, Khau Pha and Pha Din) and before Ma Pi Leng, I never thought I could see anything more gorgeous than O Quy Ho. But now, I’m totally uncertain and will need to go back to O Quy Ho, look at it again to make the final judgement. This is just to say: you seriously HAVE TO see Ma Pi Leng. No photos can ever describe its splendor.
From Hagiang to Ban Gioc waterfalls in Cao Bang
On day four we left Ha Giang for Ban Gioc waterfalls in Cao Bang. Honestly speaking I was amazed by how poor the services were. When I came here 2 years ago there was no road from Cao Bang to Ban Gioc (100km) but only scattered paths. Nowadays the road has been finished, turning Ban Gioc into an important destination for tourists to Cao Bang, but the administrators still didn’t bother building a proper toilet, among many other inconvenience. Anyway, we did enjoy our do-it-yourself lunch and I could also capture the beauty of the waterfalls at their best.
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| Distance - transports, bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang and Cao Bang (trivago & tripadvisor). Photo: Hoang Mien |
One important note: the last 30 km to Ban Gioc was beautiful and sometimes looked like European autumn with green and yellow forest, blue streams and numerous small hills.
Click here to read more about this trip
Hanoi to Hagiang by motobike
How to get from Hanoi to Hagiang
Du lich Ha Giang
From Hanoi to Mai Chau valley
Best time to travel Hanoi
From my friend: https://www.phamhoangmien.com