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A Thai tourist’s emotional trip to Ha Giang

A Thai tourist’s emotional trip to Ha Giang

A spectacular view in Ha Giang - PHOTOS: Mananya Techalertkamol

A tour of Ha Giang Province on New Year’s Eve replete with emotional feelings as well as interesting experiences recounted by a Thai tourist to Vietnam.

The mountainous province of Ha Giang with its beautiful landscapes and rugged routes is one of the destinations most coveted by many Vietnamese for a visit in their lifetime.

For me, a foreigner, when I was asked to join a trip to Dong Van karst plateau in the province and saw a photo of Ha Giang for the first time, I only shuddered at what kind of roads I would have to travel and how a vehicle could run on such zigzag roads with one side being cliff and the other abyss.

Yet my friends kept persuading me. They sent me many invitations, compliments to the beauty of the destination and information about the leader who is called “King of Travels.” Finally, I couldn’t resist the growing temptation to have a try. I agreed to their suggestion and prepared warm clothes for a trip to the region believed to have the lowest temperature in Vietnam at that time.

I’ve made the right decision! The trip to Ha Giang on the first days of a new year helped me enjoy many best things and many first times.

That was the first time I took part in the longest motorbike trip and traveled on the longest and most rugged road. That was also the first time I celebrated the New Year in the coldest weather in my life (minus one degree Celsius). That was the first time I stayed overnight in a tent that was set up near an ancient stilt house.

I was surprised to find that to be able to travel to Ha Giang, a foreigner like me had to have a certificate because this is a border area. Luckily, my team leader helped me with it successfully.

At the first night staying in a village of Dao ethnic people, I was fortunate to attend their ritual called “cap sac” in Vietnamese, which chronicles a man’s maturity. Despite the cold winds blowing at night, Dao ethnic ladies in traditional costumes danced by fire.

From Quan Ba District, I visited Can Ty Village, Yen Minh pine hill, Tham Ma and Chin Khoanh slopes. The winding paths made me feel very nervous, yet I was enchanted by spectacular landscapes of mountain ranges up above and villages down under. Those scenes reminded me of European landscapes in the fairyland.



A zigzag path seen in Ha Giang Province

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