Western tourists are fascinated by the "golden road" in Ha Giang

Alina B., a German tourist, came to Ha Giang in October after being introduced to the "Ha Giang loop" by many foreign backpackers. The images online were enough to overwhelm her. However, when she experienced this route herself, everything was "beyond imagination".

The "Ha Giang loop" starts from Quan Ba, passes through Yen Minh, up to Dong Van, to Meo Vac and then returns to the starting point. The "golden route" is about 350 km long, crossing high passes and deep ravines, requiring skilled drivers to face the endless loop-like curves.

Alina conquered the route with a group of about 20 people, following a tour organized by a local company. Because she could not drive a motorbike herself, she was driven by a Vietnamese driver throughout the journey, but this did not affect the experience because she could not take her eyes off the majestic natural landscape of the mountains and forests of Ha Giang.

"The landscape is surreal, I couldn't take my eyes off it for a minute. This is the most beautiful place I've ever been to in Southeast Asia," she affirmed.

During her four days in Ha Giang, the female tourist interacted with and learned more about the lives of the local people. Meo Vac and Pai Lung were the two most impressive natural spots with "mountains in the distance, hidden behind floating clouds and a blue sky".

Éadaoin Fitzmaurice, living in Ireland, also learned about the "Ha Giang loop" through a recommendation that she thought was "a bit exaggerated" from friends.

"I've been to more than 30 countries and this is definitely the best," she said after finishing a three-day trip in September.

Fitzmaurice commented that this route was dramatic, making her heart beat faster. Occasionally, the Irish female tourist had to pinch herself because she couldn't believe the natural beauty she was witnessing.

A local guide named Huey drove Fitzmaurice, making her feel safe and comfortable throughout the journey. The group was mostly young, so it was easy to get to know and talk to them. Because Huey brought a loudspeaker, the group could sing and dance in the middle of the majestic mountains and forests. Fitzmaurice cried when the journey ended, regretting the moments that had passed.

Charlotte and Natalie, a British couple who set out to travel the world on a budget, traveled to Ha Giang to experience the Golden Road earlier this year. They kept a moderate pace throughout the journey to soak in the stunning beauty of nature.

To them, Heaven's Gate (Quan Ba) was as beautiful as heaven, where the sunset covered everything it touched with a golden hue. Yen Minh pine forest was a "source of pure natural energy", making them forget about time. The two had to change their plans and find a place to stay in Yen Minh because they couldn't reach the next town before dark.

"Not only is the scenery beautiful, we also feel the warmth from the local people. They have created a harmonious and happy community," said Charlotte.

According to Linh Huu Khuong, co-founder of a company specializing in Ha Giang routes, most foreign visitors coming here want to experience the "Ha Giang loop". The price of a three-day tour is about 150-300 USD per person, depending on the needs of the customer.

He said that the majority of the guests participating in this tour are "backpackers". Despite its great potential for development, "Ha Giang loop" has not yet attracted high-end, high-spending guests. Besides infrastructure issues, human resources are also a big problem because very few tour guides can speak English, let alone other languages.

A group of 15 guests usually has 2 tour guides (if the guests drive themselves). However, usually only the tour leader can communicate in English, making it difficult for companies to arrange staff to serve tourists well.

Mr. Minh Hoang, who has been working in tourism in Ha Giang for more than 10 years, also commented that this golden route has a lot of potential but has not really developed. Tourists coming to Ha Giang currently mainly come to sightsee, not to spend much.

"If a destination is beautiful and attracts many visitors but the total revenue from tourism is too little, it can sometimes be counterproductive," said Mr. Hoang, expressing concern that too many tourists can have a negative impact on the environment and local culture.

Alina also found that Ha Giang really didn't have much to spend money on. She went on a tour, so her spending was mainly on coffee and snacks.

But the German female tourist commented that the "Ha Giang loop" is becoming more and more popular thanks to backpackers. However, it is difficult to turn the place into a destination for older groups and families because the route is highly adventurous.