700km motorbike journey through Ha Giang - Cao Bang

Taking advantage of her free time, Minh Phung booked a flight ticket from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi at the end of March, ready for a trip to Ha Giang - Cao Bang that had been planned for a long time but had been postponed many times due to the epidemic.

Phung said the distance between Ha Giang and Cao Bang is about 220 km, not too far, so he chose to travel the whole trip by motorbike to be proactive with his schedule and to see the majestic mountains.

Trip weather

The male tourist said that late March and April are not the best seasons to visit these two tourist destinations. However, due to his work schedule, Phung still decided to return to Ha Giang this season.

"The weather during the trip was quite bad, low temperature with light drizzle. In return, I went right in the season when the cotton flowers in Ha Giang were in full bloom," Phung recounted.

According to the male tourist's experience, the weather in the two localities is similar. The most suitable time to explore Ha Giang and Cao Bang is around September-October. At this time, the weather is neither too cold nor too hot. The entire road is a brilliant yellow color of ripe rice, and Ban Gioc waterfall (Cao Bang) is also in its beautiful water season.

Schedule

Minh Phung flew Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi. From Noi Bai airport, Phung took a bus straight to Ha Giang city.

"Even though I booked the bus early, I still had to sleep on the last bed, the ceiling was low, not very comfortable," Phung shared.

Getting off the bus in the center of Ha Giang city, Phung rented a motorbike to travel the whole way. The rental price was 180,000 VND/day. The male tourist returned the motorbike in Cao Bang and paid an additional fee of 500,000 VND, handing it over at the inter-provincial bus station. From Cao Bang, Phung booked a limousine back to Noi Bai, the price was 350,000 VND/person.

Day 1: Ha Giang City - Dong Van (120 km), stay at Men Men homestay

Day 2: Dong Van - Bao Lac (80 km), stay at Bao Lac homestay

Day 3: Bao Lac - Lenin Stream - Cao Bang City (140 km), stay at Jodevi homestay

Day 4: Cao Bang City - Than Hen Lake - Ban Gioc Waterfall - Return to Cao Bang City (160 km), stay at Jodevi homestay

Day 5:

- Morning: Cao Bang City - Thung Mountain (60 km)

- Afternoon: Return motorbike, return to Noi Bai.

Back to Ha Giang

Talking about the land of Ha Giang with many memories, Minh Phung shared that it is a place he always wants to return to without thinking.

"The first time I came to Ha Giang 2 years ago, it was one of the most beautiful trips of my life. I crossed many passes, roamed the rocky plateau but always wanted to come back. This time, I want to feel a true Ha Giang, enjoy the different beauty of the rocky plateau land and sky", Minh Phung expressed.

On his second visit to Ha Giang, Phung did not visit familiar places like Lung Cu, Nho Que River or Quan Ba ​​Heaven Gate. Instead, the male tourist drove to explore strange destinations that few tourists pay attention to.

The first location is the white cliff, hidden behind the green grass mountains. Phung shared that to reach the cliff, you need to go through a trail nearly 20 km from the center of Dong Van. This location is located on the mountain slopes facing the Nho Que River, below is Ma Pi Leng Pass.

To get to the white cliffs, there is only one way: by motorbike to A Pao cafe, passing through the dangerous Gio pass. "From here, if you are a good driver, you can continue by motorbike, otherwise you have to walk 7-8 km to get there," Phung shared.

The next place was Pho Bang town. Phung arrived here when it was already dark so he could not feel much of the scenery here. In Phung's imagination, this place is a town that retains the pristine features of the Northeast mountains, beautiful in spring.

"Nowadays, this place is still beautiful but it is no longer as pristine as before. There are now tall buildings and more vehicles," Phung said.

Near Pho Bang, there is also Lao Xa village and Thien Huong ancient village, but because the schedule is quite tight, Minh Phung had to skip these two places.

3 days driving in Cao Bang

On the morning of the third day of the trip, Phung drove from Bao Lac town (Ha Giang) to Cao Bang. The first place the male tourist set foot on this route was Me Pia Pass. To see the 14-storey arc, Phung said it was a bit difficult to move. From the top of the pass, tourists have to walk 30-45 minutes to reach the panoramic view point, Phung shared his experience.

The path to climb is not easy, full of slippery rocks. "If you want to experience this place, you should wear climbing shoes, it will be less tiring to walk. You should not go when it rains," said the male tourist.

On the same day, Phung went to another famous place in Cao Bang, Lenin stream, 50 km north of the city center. "The water here is crystal clear, perhaps no beautiful words can describe its cleanliness and clarity," Phung said.

On the fourth day of the trip, Phung continued to ride his motorbike to Ban Gioc waterfall, a familiar place in the Northeast mountains. The entrance fee is 45,000 VND/person, the boat ticket to the foot of the waterfall is 50,000 VND/person. "The day I went, there was no boat, so it was a bit of a pity," the male tourist recalled.

Minh Phung skipped Nguom Ngao Cave because of the time difference. Nguom Ngao Cave and Ban Gioc Waterfall are close to each other but the time difference is nearly 1 hour.

"When I was at Ban Gioc waterfall, I saw on my phone that it was 4 p.m., so I decided to go home because I was afraid it would get dark and not go to Nguom Ngao cave. After driving a bit, I looked back and saw that it was 3 p.m. The time difference between these two locations is so everyone should pay attention," Phung shared.

On the last morning of the trip, Phung stopped at Mat Than Mountain. This place is also known as Thung Mountain. Phung rated this as the most beautiful place in Cao Bang. It takes about 30 minutes to get here from the city center, but the road is not very easy to travel.

"At first I thought the road was nice, but the road was like wading through rice fields. When I arrived, it was drizzling and the road was slippery. Getting to Mat Than mountain that day was no less of a challenge for me," Phung expressed.

The trip requires physical strength.

Minh Phung said he is not the type of person who likes to travel for relaxation. Instead, he often chooses trips where he can immerse himself in nature, climb mountains, and drive to see the scenery along the way.

According to the male tourist's experience, to have long-distance trips, health and physical strength are indispensable conditions.

During the trip, Phung often returns to her accommodation early after hours of sightseeing. This helps avoid risks when driving at night on steep, difficult roads. "In many places, I have to drive 4-5 km before I see a house. If I'm unlucky, my car could break down on the road," Phung said.

When driving, you should ask local people for directions, because many places you pass through do not have signal, not to mention many roads that the map may give wrong directions.

The next thing to note is the issue of choosing a motorbike to rent. Phung shared that you need to choose a motorbike with new tires, good front and rear brakes, check the lights and rearview mirrors before setting off. It is best to test drive the motorbike a few times to see if it is suitable so that you can easily negotiate with the rental company, the male tourist instructed.

During the 5-day journey, Phung woke up very early every morning so as not to miss any beautiful moments along the way. In return for the 700 km of driving through difficult roads, it was a youthful experience to admire the majestic nature with a free and adventurous soul.

According to Zing