Coming to Suoi Thau, the fairy land in the heart of Ha Giang, Vietnam

If it is no longer strange the majestic beauty of the Dong Van stone plateau or the Nho Que River in the northeast of Ha Giang, then Suoi Thau, the clear green land like a fairy, will be a discovery in the West, compared to "Swiss steppe in the heart of Ha Giang".

Beautiful steppe region from nature, climate to culture and community

Suoi Thau steppe belongs to Suoi Thau village, Coc Pai town, Xin Man district, Ha Giang province. This steppe is about 5 km from the center of Coc Pai town and is an attractive destination in the western region of Ha Giang province with wild and rustic beauty. This area is adjacent to the Bac Ha Plateau and is located at an altitude of more than 1,200 m above sea level. Stretching over a large area of more than 90 hectares, Suoi Thau has a part within the Nan Ma commune of Xin Man district, the gateway connecting Xin Man with Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province.

It can be said that Suoi Thau is an emerging destination of Ha Giang province after being checked in by many backpackers with a "virtual living background" like the West. Many netizens have compared this place to the "Swiss steppe in the heart of Ha Giang". Suoi Thau offers visitors a peaceful natural landscape and fresh air. When coming here for the first time, visitors will be impressed by nature's immense landscape and nuances, like in the temperate zone combined with the overlapping mountains and verdant rice and corn fields.
Each season, Suoi Thau brings different experiences to visitors. In spring, canola flowers bloom, creating a warm and delightful scene. In the summer, visitors can see the verdant corn and rice fields. In autumn, the steppe becomes soft with rustic colors. And in winter, the cold will melt because of the deep color of buckwheat flowers mixed with rows of sapodilla trees rising high in the vast space of the steppe.

Suoi Thau steppe is a land chosen by the Mong people as a place to live for many generations. Currently, this area is estimated to have only a few dozen households. The feature of this village is the display houses and the women wearing colorful national costumes. With high terrain, the steppe has many small geysers, providing water for the community. The trails and small paths running throughout the steppe create a strangely beautiful scene, which is the path leading the Mong people to work in the fields.

The Hmong on the Suoi Thau steppe often grows food crops such as upland rice, maize and medicinal plants. After the harvest season, there will be many wildflowers growing on the vacant fields to create a colorful scene. In addition, people also plant fruit trees, pine trees, sandalwood trees and many other trees to create a peaceful natural space, immense green spaces hidden in the clouds.

The temperature in winter here is quite cold, sometimes down to 1-2 degrees Celsius and often cloudy. During the summer, the highest temperature is only about 30 degrees Celsius. And usually, by noon, the clouds have not disappeared in the fall. In October and November, the scenery here will become covered with pale pink from the buckwheat fields, losing some of the rugged scenery of the majestic mountains.

Suoi Thau is a beautiful picture with harmoniously alternating color bands, from corn fields and rice fields to green sapodilla trees spread across the fields along with the tiny Lo River winding at the foot of the mountain. All blend to create a vivid, dreamy picture of nature against the still blue sky.

Coming to the Suoi Thau steppe, you can also visit some other beautiful places in Xin Man district, such as Pa Vay Su, Thu Ta, Coc Re, Ta Nhiu, etc. If the weather is clear, you can observe a part of the Bac Ha district (Lao Cai) while standing on the steppe, and of course, it is possible to make a trip there if there is plenty of time.

A lightning trip to hunt clouds and buckwheat

Journey to conquer Suoi Thau steppe

If starting from Hanoi, your journey to Suoi Thau will be divided into two parts; the first is from Hanoi to Ha Giang City (Ha Giang province). According to the experience of some recently updated travel followers, the price of a sleeper bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang is about 250,000 VND/per person. For the journey from Ha Giang City to Suoi Thau steppe, you can rent a motorbike, and also, according to newly updated information from travel enthusiasts, the price is about 200,000 - 250,000 VND/car.

The road to Suoi Thau steppe will generally cross a rather difficult route, so choosing a motorbike is the most appropriate. From Ha Giang, you will go to Coc Pai town (Xin Man), then through winding roads to Suoi Thau village. Make sure to bring equipment such as helmets, protective gear, raincoats, and luggage covers to prevent it from raining and rain in the highlands is usually heavy rain. If you want to travel by car to Suoi Thau, high-ground vehicles and strong engines will be suitable. And, of course, it's a good idea to find someone who knows the way to the savannah or at least has experience driving in similar terrain.

Accommodation and food

Most visitors to Suoi Thau often choose hotels near the bus station or Coc Pai town because the areas near Suoi Thau steppe are still undeveloped. After all, this is still an emerging destination. Shortly, there will be some planning for the system of homestays, motels or hotels so that visitors can experience the beauty of this place more fully.

Ha Giang cuisine in Suoi Thau has many unique flavors and the opportunity to enjoy many delicious dishes in Ha Giang city on the journey to the steppe. Some delicious dishes should be noticed: Au Tau porridge, Ha Giang rolls, Ha Giang sour noodle soup, fried rice with beef melon with egg soup, grilled chicken with mac khen, beef hot pot, etc.

Another note is that this area has cold weather all year round, so you must prepare warm clothes even if you come here at any time. According to experience from backpackers, motorbikes or cars need to be filled with fuel; bring spare gasoline if the vehicle has a small fuel tank because, along with the wild beauty, the grassland area does not have a gas station.