Ha Giang, the northernmost land of Vietnam, always evokes special emotions in travelers. This place is not only famous for its majestic landscapes, winding mountain passes, and the sacred Lung Cu flagpole but also captivates people with the gentle and pure beauty of the buckwheat flower season. Every autumn, Ha Giang puts on a brilliant pink-purple cloak of this flower, attracting tens of thousands of tourists to admire and explore.
If you are planning a trip to Ha Giang during buckwheat flower season, let “Du lịch khắp thế gian” (Travel Around the World) be your companion with a detailed A-to-Z travel guide below. We will share all the essential experiences, from the ideal time, transportation, best flower viewing spots, suggested itineraries to must-try specialties, helping you have a complete and memorable trip.
When is Buckwheat Flower Season in Ha Giang in Full Bloom?
The most frequently asked question when planning a trip to Ha Giang during buckwheat flower season is when the flowers are in full bloom. According to the experience of those who have been to Ha Giang, the most beautiful buckwheat flower season usually falls from late September to the end of November. This is when the flowers bloom most vibrantly, creating endless flower carpets stretching across hillsides and valleys.
Vibrant pink buckwheat flower field in Ha Giang
However, the flowering time may vary depending on the weather conditions each year. To be most certain, you should follow updated information about the Ha Giang buckwheat flower season on social media, travel websites, or contact local people directly to get the most accurate situation.
In addition, some areas in Ha Giang also grow off-season buckwheat flowers, which usually bloom around April – May. This flower season has a pure white color, bringing a different beauty compared to the main season. If you cannot come to Ha Giang in the fall, the white buckwheat flower season is also an interesting option.
How to Get to Ha Giang During Buckwheat Flower Season?
To get to Ha Giang, you can choose from various means of transportation depending on your preferences, budget, and starting point.
Bus
Bus is the most popular and convenient means of transportation from Hanoi to Ha Giang. You can easily find high-quality bus companies, sleeper buses running the Hanoi – Ha Giang route at bus stations such as My Dinh, Giap Bat. Travel time by bus is about 6-8 hours. Ticket prices range from 250,000 – 350,000 VND/person/one way. Some reputable bus companies you can refer to:
| Bus Company | Departure Time (Hanoi) | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Hung Thanh Bus | 8:30 AM – 10:05 AM – 10:15 AM – 2:30 PM – 7:30 PM | 0988 287741 |
| Hai Van Bus | 9:00 PM | 0944 962323 |
| Bang Phan Bus | 9:00 PM | 0219 3887867 |
| Cau Me Bus | 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM – 9:00 PM | 0946 445099 (My Dinh) |
When you arrive in Ha Giang city, you can rent a motorbike or car to travel to buckwheat flower viewing spots. Motorbike rental services are very popular in Ha Giang, with rental prices ranging from 150,000 – 250,000 VND/day.
Motorbike
For young people who are passionate about backpacking and want to experience the feeling of conquering treacherous mountain passes, a motorbike is a great choice. Traveling to Ha Giang by motorbike allows you to be proactive about time, itinerary, and stop anywhere to admire the scenery and take photos.
Motorbike travel in Ha Giang offers a complete exploration experience
However, the road to Ha Giang is quite far and has many steep passes, you need to be in good health, have a steady driving skill and experience in long-distance motorbike travel. Travel time by motorbike from Hanoi to Ha Giang is about 7-9 hours, depending on speed and number of stops.
Suggested motorbike routes:
- Route 1: Hanoi – National Highway 32 – Son Tay – Trung Ha Bridge – Co Tiet – Phong Chau Bridge – Phu Tho Town – Doan Hung – Tuyen Quang – National Highway 2 – Ha Giang.
- Route 2: Hanoi – Vinh Phuc – Viet Tri – Phu Tho – Tuyen Quang – National Highway 2C – National Highway 2 – Ha Giang.
What to Pack for Your Buckwheat Flower Season Trip?
The weather in Ha Giang during buckwheat flower season (October, November) is usually chilly, especially in the morning and evening. Therefore, you need to prepare appropriate luggage to ensure health and have a comfortable trip.
Clothing
- Warm clothes: Windbreakers, sweaters, thin down jackets are essential items to keep your body warm.
- Long-sleeved clothes: You should bring long pants and long-sleeved shirts to wear in the evening or when traveling on mountain passes.
- Scarves, hats, gloves: Keep your head, neck and hands warm in cold weather.
- Sports shoes: Prioritize sports shoes or hiking shoes for easy movement and sightseeing.
Personal Items
- Sunscreen: Although the weather is chilly, the sun in the highlands is still quite strong, you should use sunscreen to protect your skin.
- Medications: Bring flu medicine, headache medicine, stomachache medicine, motion sickness medicine (if needed) and other personal medications.
- Personal toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, face towel…
Identification and Cash
- ID card/Citizen ID, driver’s license: Necessary personal documents when renting a motorbike, booking a hotel room and when traveling on the road.
- Cash: You should bring enough cash to spend on eating, shopping and entrance fees.
Electronic Devices
- Phone, camera: To capture beautiful moments during the trip.
- Power bank: Make sure your devices are always fully charged so you don’t miss any moments.
Where to Stay During Buckwheat Flower Season in Ha Giang?
Ha Giang has many diverse accommodation options, from budget hotels and guesthouses to homestays and luxury resorts. Depending on your budget and preferences, you can choose suitable accommodation.
Hotels, Guesthouses
Hotels and guesthouses are mainly concentrated in Ha Giang city, Dong Van town, Meo Vac. Room rates range from 200,000 – 500,000 VND/night. Some well-rated hotels:
- Cao Nguyen Da Hotel (Dong Van): Central location, fully equipped.
- Phoenix Hotel Ha Giang: New, modern hotel, good service.
Homestays
Homestays are a popular choice for many tourists when coming to Ha Giang, especially young people who want to experience local culture and be close to nature. Homestays are usually located in villages, rural areas, with quiet, airy spaces and designed in a traditional style. Homestay room rates range from 150,000 – 300,000 VND/night. Some famous homestays:
- Nha Chung Pua (Meo Vac): Homestay imbued with H’Mong culture.
- Dao Lodge (Quan Ba): Ecological homestay, green space.
- Ban Tha Homestay (Lung Cu): Traditional homestay of the Lo Lo people.
- Homie Homestay (Lo Lo Chai): Cozy homestay, beautiful view.
Cozy homestay in Ha Giang offering a close-to-nature experience
Must-Visit Beautiful Buckwheat Flower Viewing Spots in Ha Giang
Ha Giang has many beautiful buckwheat flower viewing spots, each with its own unique beauty. Here are some prominent destinations that you should not miss:
Sung La
Sung La is known as the “buckwheat flower paradise” of Ha Giang. It is famous for its endless flower fields, surrounded by ancient trình tường houses. Sung La is also the setting for the famous movie “Pao’s Story”.
Sung La valley, buckwheat flower paradise in Ha Giang
Lung Cu
Lung Cu is not only the sacred northernmost point of Vietnam but also a place with beautiful buckwheat flower fields. You can both admire the flowers, visit the Lung Cu flagpole and admire the panoramic view of majestic mountains.
Pho Bang
Pho Bang has an ancient, peaceful beauty with ancient wooden houses hundreds of years old. This place also has buckwheat flower fields interspersed with vibrant rose gardens, creating a poetic and romantic scene.
Lung Tao
Buckwheat flowers in Lung Tao grow scattered on hillsides, not in large fields like Sung La or Lung Cu. However, to see flowers in Lung Tao, you will have the opportunity to conquer high slopes, overlooking the entire mountain scenery and long stretches of pink-purple flowers.
Other Spots
In addition, you can also see buckwheat flowers in many other locations along the way such as:
- Dong Van: The central area of Dong Van district also has many small and beautiful flower fields.
- Yen Minh: The road to Yen Minh also has patches of buckwheat flowers along the roadside.
- Ma Pi Leng Pass: On the way to conquer Ma Pi Leng Pass, you can also encounter buckwheat flowers blooming on the mountainsides.
Suggested 3-Day 2-Night Itinerary for Ha Giang Buckwheat Flower Season
To fully explore the beauty of Ha Giang’s buckwheat flower season, you can refer to the suggested 3-day 2-night itinerary below:
Day 1: Hanoi – Ha Giang – Quan Ba – Yen Minh
- Morning: Travel from Hanoi to Ha Giang by bus.
- Noon: Arrive in Ha Giang, have lunch and rent a motorbike.
- Afternoon: Explore Quan Ba with Quan Ba Heaven Gate, Co Tien Twin Mountain. Continue to Yen Minh, admire the Yen Minh pine forest.
- Evening: Have dinner and overnight in Yen Minh.
Day 2: Yen Minh – Pho Bang – Sung La – Dong Van
- Morning: Travel from Yen Minh to Pho Bang, visit Pho Bang town and admire buckwheat flowers, roses.
- Noon: Have lunch in Pho Bang.
- Afternoon: Arrive in Sung La, admire the most beautiful buckwheat flower fields in Ha Giang, visit Pao’s house. Continue to Dong Van.
- Evening: Have dinner and overnight in Dong Van.
Day 3: Dong Van – Lung Cu – Ma Pi Leng – Ha Giang – Hanoi
- Morning: Visit Lung Cu flagpole, admire buckwheat flowers on the way to Lung Cu.
- Noon: Have lunch in Dong Van.
- Afternoon: Conquer Ma Pi Leng Pass, admire Tu San canyon, Nho Que River. Return to Ha Giang, return the motorbike and take a bus back to Hanoi.
Majestic Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of the "four great passes" of Vietnam
Enjoy Ha Giang Specialties During Buckwheat Flower Season
Coming to Ha Giang during buckwheat flower season, you not only get to see flowers but also have the opportunity to enjoy unique specialties, imbued with the flavors of the Northwest mountains.
Buckwheat Cake
Buckwheat cake is a specialty of Ha Giang, made from finely ground buckwheat seeds, shaped into circles and steamed. The cake has a characteristic nutty, fragrant taste, often served with thắng cố (horse meat stew) or other dishes.
Au Tau Porridge
Au Tau porridge is a famous porridge of Ha Giang, cooked from Au Tau tubers (a type of tuber with toxicity), upland sticky rice and pork trotters. The porridge has a slightly bitter taste of Au Tau, the sweetness of meat and a special aroma, very nutritious and loved by many people.
Au Tau porridge, a Ha Giang specialty famous for its unique flavor
Grilled Moss on Stone
Grilled moss on stone is a rustic dish of the Tay people in Ha Giang, made from fresh stone moss, marinated with spices and grilled on hot stones. The dish has a crunchy, delicious and unique taste.
Smoked Buffalo Meat
Smoked buffalo meat is a famous specialty of the Northwest region, including Ha Giang. Buffalo meat is marinated with spices, smoked and hung over the kitchen, with a rich, characteristic flavor.
Important Notes When Traveling to Ha Giang During Buckwheat Flower Season
- Respect local culture: Ha Giang is a multi-ethnic land, you should respect the customs and habits of local people.
- Maintain environmental hygiene: Do not litter indiscriminately, protect the natural landscape.
- Traffic safety: The road to Ha Giang has many mountain passes, you need to drive carefully, obey traffic laws and ensure safety.
- Ask for prices before buying: When buying goods, souvenirs or using services, you should ask for prices first to avoid being overcharged.
- Prepare small change: You should bring small change for convenient spending, buying snacks or paying for restroom fees.
- Do not pick flowers or trample on flowers: Buckwheat flowers are a valuable asset of the people of Ha Giang, you should not pick flowers or trample on flowers to protect the landscape and respect the efforts of flower growers.
Traveling to Ha Giang during buckwheat flower season is a wonderful experience, giving you the opportunity to explore the majestic natural beauty, unique culture and enjoy the unique cuisine of the northernmost land of Vietnam. Hope the experiences shared above will help you have a complete and memorable trip!