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Ha Giang Map
Ha Giang is a province in northeastern Vietnam, bordering Cao Bang province in the east, Yen Bai and Lao Cai province in the west and Tuyen Quang in the south. Northern Ha Giang province share the border with China (border length 274 kilometers)
The topography of Ha Giang province is complex; it can be divided into three regions: upland mountain in the north, valley and rivers. Its climate is moderate, divided into 2 seasons: rainy and dry seasons. Western upland of massif upstream of Chay River, steep slopes, narrow valleys and streams, which was divided into two seasons: rainy and dry seasons. Lowland in the province includes hills, Lo River and Ha Giang town. The average temperature is about 240C-280C, in the winter, temperature can go down to -50C.
According to census on April 1st 2009 Ha Giang population is 724.537 people in which H’Mong accounts for 32% total population, Tay (23.3%), Dao (15.1%), Viet (13.3%) and Nung (9.9%)
Ha Giang has many mountains such as Tay Con Linh with 2.419 meters height, there has many old growth forests, precious wood, and 1.000 kinds of rare herbs. The animal includes tiger, hemorrhoids, phoenix, pangolin… and hundreds of other birds. Ha Giang has poetic and grandeur upland: Dong Van, Khau Vai love market which attracts a numbers of tourists. Coming to Ha Giang, tourists have opportunity to access the unique culture and traditional products such as: bags, dresses with brilliant pattern. Moreover, tourists can enjoy the fair of uplands and explore exciting experience.
The newly-built house ceremony of the Lo Lo is a highlight of Ha Giang. It lasts about 2 days 2 nights at the new home of the Lo Lo. All people in village pull to celebrate the new house. Spring festival is the festival of H’Mong and Dao, it usually held on the day after lunar New Year and lasts from 3 to 7 days. The festivals include crossbow, throwing pa pao’, and drinking wine… .
The climate is divided in two distinct seasons (rainy and dry), although it tends to vary greatly depending on altitude. Ha Giang is the ideal location to organize activities such as hiking and camping, trekking, motorcyle and 4WD adventures.
Ha Giang Attractions
Dong Van Highland
Dong Van Highland is situated at 1,025 m above sea level and is inhabited by the Tay and H’Mong ethnic groups. The temperature is approximately 1oC in winter and reaches 24oC on the hottest days. The plateau provides for fruit orchards such as Hau plums, peaches, and persimmons without seeds. Dong Van apples are as big as pears. In Dong Van, numerous valuable plants used for their medicinal value are also found, including ginseng, anise, and cinnamon.
Visiting Dong Van, one can see Pho Bang, also called Pho Bang Street, which was built a long time ago and features multi-storey houses made of clay bricks and tile roofs. Visiting Dong Van on Sundays, one can shop in a traditional mountain market where all kinds of goods and multi-coloured clothes can be purchased.
Khau Vai love market
Khau Vai love market happens once a year – often in May. Colourful ethnic minorities gather and celebrate with songs, and courting rituals. It is also the time when the local tribes meet and sell many local products.
Palace in Dong Van
The Palace of King Hmong located in the Sa Pin town on Dong Van the plateau. In the early nineteenth century, the Vuong family controlled the entire region and Vuong Duc Chinh, head of the family, proclaimed himself “king of the Meo”. To reinforce his power, King Meo built a palace-fortress. The construction began in 1920 and lasted eight years. This residence is now the cultural and historical heritage of the country since 1993 and is registered in the National Heritage Country.
Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate
Quan Ba valley, located at 45 km from Ha Giang, at 7,945.8 m, is the culmination of the road to Meo Vac, called as Heaven’s Gate. On nice day, visitors could take a look down to the valley, home of forested hills, secret grottoes and caves, colorful orchids, plum and peach trees, persimmon orchards, medicinal plants … a landscape of great beauty!
Dong Van Old Quarter
Dong Van old quarter-100 years old located in Dong Van District, Dong Van, Ha Giang. With the ancient architecture, it still keeps intact contour. Dong Van old quarter is the pride of people here. The lifestyle and daily life of ethnic people such as: Kinh, Tay, Mong, Hoa… is very impressive.
Dong Van Town is located in the middle of valley surrounded by rocks. In the morning, picture of old quarter is blended two colors: bright yellow of the sunshine and gray of ancient houses. The quarter is formed form the early 20th century, only has a few families of the H’mong, Tay and Chinese, gradually, more and more other local residents find it. Overall, old quarter has Chinese’s architecture with two-story houses of yin and yang roofs, red lantem…
The common architecture here is the two-story house and yin and yang roofs. Besides, Dong Van market area has tubular ancient houses to use advantages as Ha Noi old quarter. From 2006, Dong Van district held “night in old quater” in March on 14, 15, 16 lunar calendar. All households in the old quarter hang red lanterns, display ethnic brocade, and sell traditional food. “Night in old quarter” in Dong Van karst plateau is also working for propagation to attract tourists. Tourists can learn more about culture of ethnic people through local people and soak into dance of the Lo Lo, enjoy traditional dishes such as: Thang Co, Men Men, Ta Chua, of the H’Mong and visit the area display local produce.
Dong Van old quarter is an ideal destination in the North of Vietnam, which preserves the tradition and cultural intangible values of ethnic people.
Lung Cu
Lung Cu belongs to Dong Van district, Ha Giang. It is far about 200 kilometer from Ha Giang town. Here, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy fresh air, learn more about cultural traditional of a unique ethnic. Along highway 4C, tourists will arrive in Dong Van commune, Dong Van District. From here, continuing follow the paved road linking the Lung Cu commune-Dong Van about 40 kilometers, visitors will come to the top of Lung Cu.
Lung Cu has a total area of 3460 hectares with 9 villages, there are: Lo Lo Chai, Seo Lung, Ta Gia Khau, Can Tang, Then Van, Then Pa, Si Man Khan, San Cho, San Sa Phin and borders with China more than 16 kilometers. Here, in the winter, it is very cold and has snow. Among 9 villages, Lung Cu Thi Seo Lung village located in uppermost land with Then Phan valley on the left and Nho Que River on the right.
Ethnic people in Lung Cu mainly cultivate. The H’Mong and Lo Lo still preserve the traditional weaving. Specially, Lung Cu also reserves historical artifacts, precious cultural artifacts of the reign of Hung Vuong. According to historical records, on the Tay Son dynasty, Emperor Quang Trung putted in place a large drum and the position of the drum is Lung Cu. Therefore, the Lo Lo in Lung Cu is proficient in using bronze drum.
Ma Pi Leng Pass
Ma Pi Leng Pass belongs to Ha Giang province; it is dangerous road with 20 kilometers length. Over the Ma Pi Leng, there has a mountain with 2.000 meters height located on the ‘Happiness’ road connecting Ha Giang, Dong Van and Meo Vac town. Ma Pi Leng began building from the 60s of the 20th century by workers who almost are the H’mong.
The path length is approximately 200 kilometers. Ma Pi Leng Pass is located in the Dong Van Geoparks which is recognized as the global geoparks. The road along the mountainside has romantic, spectacular scenery that is ideal destination for tourists.
November 16th 2009, Ministry of Culture, Sport and tourism of Vietnam has decided to classify Ma Pi Leng area as scenic relic of country. It includes: Ma Pi Leng pass is considered the unique regional heritage about landscape and geomorphology; pass peak area is considered as one of the most beautiful viewpoint to enjoy the panoramic in Vietnam; alley Nho Que River is one of the most unique tectonic valley in Vietnam. There have many writers, poets visiting the grandeur pass such as Xuan Dieu, Nguyen Ngoc… and the impression inspires in their compositions.
Nam Dan Ancient Rock Field
The whole populations of Nam Dan ancient rock is located between Tay Dan Mountain and Nam Dan hill, close to the Nam Khoong stream at 1400 meters height compared to sea level. The Nam Dan ancient rock was discovered in 2004 by researchers at the Institute of Archaeology and museum of Ha Giang.
Nam Dan ancient rock situated in an area of nearly 15 hectares, it is far Xin Man, Ha Giang about 16 kilometers. This place has 8 ancient carved relics, 2 ancient stone relics and a number of boulders with strange shapes. The patterns in the Nam Dan ancient rock include circle, triangular, rectangular or trapezoidal, the pattern of hand or leg with real size.
According to scientists, Nam Dan megalithic relic is the type of archaeological relics dating about 2,000 years and very rare in Vietnam. The boulders are maybe the grave of leaders or spiritual area, worship of gods, ancestors. In addition, the scientists think that Nam Dan megalithic relic related to the worship gods of prehistoric people.
Take along the trail of the mountainside through the megalithic relic about 500meters is the rock area which has ancient carved in the middle of the H’Mong. In the whole of Nam Dan commune, there have 4 ancient carved boulders but the rock in Nam Dan village has many carved figures with 79 figure includes: 40 circles, 2 rectangle, 1 square… The drawing in the Nam Dan ancient cultural population describe human activities, terraces, streams, moon, many circles, hands, legs… In order to create the drawing on stone, people use the direct carved technique in the surface of rock.
Nho Que River
Nho Que River flows from the area of Nghiem Son Mountain that is 1500 meters height. This river is not too long, about 46 kilometers, in which the upper area accounts for more than 5 kilometers is the border of two countries Vietnam – China, the rest part flows through Ha Giang and Cao Bang province.
Trails from Dong Van to the Tu San western ravine are vey deserted and winding. With narrow path, a lot of ruggered rock, it makes people scare when contemplating abyss. However, visitors can enjoy red bombax throughout the rice terraces in the mountainside, back pass and the image of Nho Que River.
The catchment has an area of 6052 km ² (2010 km² in Vietnam). Nho Que is a major tributary on the right bank of the Nhiem River. This is the river brings economic value to locals: serving plentiful water to agricultural activities in the dry season.
Ha Giang hill tribe villages
Ha Giang is perfect for those who enjoy trekking through village in hilly terrain. This region is mostly occupied by many ethnic minorities living in the mountains that why these populations are generally called “the mountain”. You will take the opportunity to stroll around the Pho Bang village. The peculiarity of this village is having old mud houses, some built in colonial style. Three times a month at night, all the houses around the market light lanterns.
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