Ha Giang is an enticing tourist destination, attracting a multitude of travelers with its stunning and picturesque natural landscapes, as well as its cool weather, peacefulness, and the simplicity of its local residents. So, when is the best time to visit Ha Giang? Let’s explore with Jackfruit Adventure right away!
Traveling to Ha Giang in Spring (January – March)
As people across the villages are bustling and lively in the approaching Tet atmosphere, it’s also the time when Ha Giang starts to adorn itself with colorful and youthful attire, blooming with flowers.
When visiting Ha Giang during this time, you can admire the vibrant pink, cherry blossoms, or the pristine white plum blossoms, pure and fresh against the early spring sunlight. All of these create a vibrant and youthful Ha Giang. Some ideal and famous check-in spots where you can admire the cherry blossoms in the Dong Van Karst Plateau are Pho Bang, Lung Cu, and Sung La.
Moreover, spring is also the suitable time for traditional festivals of the ethnic communities living in Ha Giang such as:
The Long Tong Festival of the Tay people:
- Location: Dao Duc Commune, Vi Xuyen District, Ha Giang Province
- Time: From the 6th to the 15th day of the 1st Lunar month
The Gau Tao Festival of the Hmong people:
- Location: Ta Su Choong Commune, Hoang Su Phi District, Ha Giang Province
- Time: From the 1st day of Tet to the 15th day of the 1st Lunar month
The Cap Sac Festival of the Dao people:
- Location: Nam Dam Village, Quan Ba District, Ha Giang Province
- Time: In the 11th, 12th, and 1st months of the Lunar calendar each year
Additionally, there are dynamic and lively activities such as dancing, traditional folk games, and singing duets, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Best time to visit Ha Giang in Summer (April – June)
When visiting Ha Giang in the summer, you definitely shouldn’t miss the opportunity to participate in the Khau Vai Love Market – the most famous love market in the northern mountainous region.
The Khau Vai Love Market takes place on the 27th day of the 3rd Lunar month every year in Khau Vai commune, Meo Vac district, Ha Giang province. When attending this lively market, you’ll easily spot charming ethnic girls in colorful Mong costumes standing in front of their beloved boys.
Around May and June, you will witness Ha Giang “changing its skin” with the fresh flood season, attracting every curious and intrigued traveler. To fully experience the novelty and allure of this season, you definitely shouldn’t miss out on Hoang Su Phi – the most beautiful terraced fields in Vietnam.
Best time to visit Ha Giang in Autumn (August – October)
Ha Giang in autumn presents a serene beauty with golden ripe rice fields illuminated by the gentle autumn sunlight across the terraced fields of Hoang Su Phi, creating a stunning golden landscape resembling a heavenly realm.
Visiting Ha Giang in autumn, you’ll experience a relatively mild atmosphere, neither too hot nor too cold. This is the season of golden ripe rice in Ha Giang, with vibrant yellow hues spreading across the terraced fields along with the aroma of ripened rice. If you’re wondering when is the best time to visit Ha Giang, then autumn would be the ideal period to come here and admire the beauty of Hoang Su Phi during the rice ripening season, offering an unforgettable experience.
Best time to visit in Winter (October – December)
Ha Giang knows how to captivate tourists with the blooming season of buckwheat flowers and golden mustard flowers. Buckwheat flowers symbolize a romantic and sentimental Ha Giang. Amidst the arid valleys of the rocky plateau, these flowers still radiate their charm, captivating the sky. Additionally, the beauty of golden mustard flowers also blankets the misty hill slopes of the highland.
Recommendations for “must-visit” destinations and “important notes” when traveling to Ha Giang:
Unmissable Check-in Destinations
- Ma Pi Leng Pass
The ideal time to visit Ma Pi Leng is from January to March to admire the blooming flowers such as plum, peach, mustard, etc. April attracts tourists with the Khau Vai Love Market, September with the ripe rice season in Hoang Su Phi, and November to December with the buckwheat flower season. Despite its challenges, Ma Pi Leng is exceptionally beautiful and worth exploring and conquering during your trip to charming Ha Giang.
- Hoang Su Phi:
Visitors will be enchanted by the picturesque terraced fields during the flood season. Mid-September is the time when the rice ripens in Hoang Su Phi, ideal for sightseeing and capturing photos with the expansive terraced fields stretching across the mountainsides.
- Lung Cu Flagpole:
Known as the symbol marking the northernmost point of Vietnam, situated at an altitude of 1,470 meters above sea level. This is an ideal check-in point and a conquest destination for most tourists visiting Ha Giang.
- Dong Van Karst Plateau:
Dubbed as the “grey paradise” amidst the rugged northern border region of the country, with its pristine, picturesque, and majestic beauty of the H’Mong, Lo Lo, Thai ethnic groups,…
2. Some must-try dishes when visiting Ha Giang
- Five-color Sticky Rice (Xôi Ngũ Sắc):
This dish features five vibrant colors: white, yellow, purple, red, and green, symbolizing the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The harmonious blend of these colors creates a delicious and visually appealing dish.
- Buckwheat Cake (Bánh Tam Giác Mạch):
A special cake made from buckwheat, a type of grain with black seeds. Buckwheat cakes are typically made during festivals or important occasions in H’Mong culture.
- Bac Me Bamboo-tube Rice (Cơm Lam Bắc Mê):
Cooked inside bamboo tubes, also known as “bamboo-tube rice” or “Dao bamboo rice.” Bac Me Bamboo-tube Rice of the Tay people leaves a deep impression on tourists, so many visitors want to bring it back as a gift for their loved ones to enjoy.
- Buffalo Meat Cooked in Fireplace (Thịt Trâu Gác Bếp):
Extremely famous and often bought as a gift by tourists due to its incredibly fragrant and delicious taste. The more you eat, the more addictive it becomes.
- Dennen Cake (Thắng Dền):
A famous cake in Ha Giang that many people may not know about. Eating a piece of cake on cold winter days warms the hearts of tourists, creating unforgettable memories.
- Thang Co:
The main ingredients of this dish are beef or horse meat and organs, stir-fried and stewed continuously with various spices such as herbs, cardamom, and ginger.
- Au Tau Porridge (Cháo Ấu Tẩu):
A traditional dish of the H’Mong ethnic group, made from glutinous rice and pork, usually cooked during festivals, Tet holidays, or other important occasions.
3. Some notes to consider when best time to traveling Ha Giang:
- If you’re traveling to Ha Giang during the winter, make sure to pack thermal clothes or jackets, hand warmers to keep your body warm.
- It’s advisable to bring insect repellent, headache medicine, stomachache medicine, or other types of medication to prevent discomfort due to the unfamiliar temperature.
- Prepare good quality shoes with soft soles and slip-resistant capability to ensure safety during hiking or sightseeing throughout your journey.
Conclusion for best time to visit Ha Giang
I hope that the article from Jackfruit Adventure has helped you answer your questions about the best time to visit Ha Giang. If you want to fully experience the beauty of Ha Giang in each season, what are you waiting for? Let’s hit the road!
As you travel down South Vietnam, in Ho Chi Minh city we are organizing Ho Chi Minh city cycling tour and team building. Let us know if you have plan to try those experiences.
