Most people travel to Hoang Su Phi in the golden rice season between August and September. From mid-April to June, the fields are plowed for the new crops. You will have a chance to enjoy the beauty of terraces in falling-water time to start a new crop.
About 80km from the center of Ha Giang City, you probably get to Hoang Su Phi by personal transfer, public transport or a combination of both. Sending motorbike to Ha Giang City and from here take it to Hoang Su Phi.
2.1 Public transportation
From Hanoi to Ha Giang
From My Dinh bus station, there are many sleeping buses, leave to Ha Giang every day, the departure time is usually around 8-9 pm until around 5 am you will arrive at Ha Giang bus station.
From Ha Giang to Hoang Su Phi
You can choose to rent a motorbike in Ha Giang, after the coach takes you to the bus station, then take the motorbike and from here move back to Highway 2 to Tan Quang, then turn on DT177 to reach Hoang Su Phi.
There is another route for motorbike through Thanh Thuy border gate and then pass Tay Con Linh to Hoang Su Phi.
2.2. Personal transfer
For those who use personal transfer, there are many options to explore Hoang Su Phi. From Hanoi, you can choose the direction of NH2 to Hoang Su Phi normally, after going to Hoang Su Phi, turn to Xin Man, Bac Ha and back to Hanoi along Yen Bai road. Going this schedule will be a circle, without returning to the initial route.
Ecolodge Panhou Village
Address: Thong Nguyen, Ha Giang
Phone: 096 661 50 50
Hoang Su Phi Lodge
Address: Nam Hong Hamlet, Commune, Thong Nguyen, Ha Giang
Phone: 0866 196 878
Hoang Su Phi is the uttermost famous for its terraced fields, a majestic natural landscape like Mu Cang Chai. Tourists who approach to Hoang Su Phi, have a desire to witness the golden rice terrace field
Ban Phung is a commune located near the border with China. From the center of Vinh Quang town, you are required to follow such a tiny mountain pass about 30 km to cross the mountain to reach the commune center. Without wide valleys such as Cao Pha or Muong Hoa, terraced fields in Ban Phung are crouched on steep slopes. Along with Ban Luoc, this is the place with the highest terraced fields in Vietnam.
Ho Thau is a commune of Hoang Su Phi, about 16km from Nam Dich intersection. Terraced fields in Ho Thau own by the Red Dao ethnic people. The people here have a custom, each field will have several tiny trees to keep the land from landslides. Starting a new crop is carried out from high to low with simple labor tools such as pickaxes, harrows, shovels, and knives. Ho Thau terraced fields are immense, extremely high with hills that have a large width, regularity, and very few slopes.
Located on the left bank, three large streams including Phin Ho fall down, Nam Ong flows back and Nam Khoa bounces together to form a plateau in the middle of the mountain. Many people said that Thong Nguyen was the place of “Quan Son – Tu Thuy”. Thong Nguyen is one of the most stunning places to see terraced fields in Hoang Su Phi.You can stop taking photos is about km24 road, the most beautiful part from Bac Quang to Hoang Su Phi
Ban Luoc and San Sa Ho communes are mountainous terrains with a moderate slope, thus there are many terraced fields. You can easily get access to terraced fields in the wavy shape and bow here. Those terraced fields belong to the Dao people in Ao Dai and Nung people.
Located on km 24 of Bac Quang road, Nam Ty terraced fields belong to the Red Dao people and recognize as one of the Hoang Su Phi’s National Monument of terraced fields.
5.1. Day 0: Hanoi - Ha Giang
You take a night sleeping bus to Ha Giang. Around 5 am in the next morning, you will be at Ha Giang bus station. Before the trip, remember to rent a motorbike in Ha Giang in advance
5.2. Day 1: Ha Giang City - Hoang Su Phi
From Hà Giang City, opposite QL2 to Viet Quang, you will turn right and follow the road to Hoang Su Phi. Google maps have 2 ways, yet you should follow DT177 because there are 2 places that are in the relics of terraces on this road. It takes you 24km to come to Nam Ty and Thong Nguyen where are considered to get the best photos of terraced fields. On that day, it is likely to choose another place to visit like Ho Thau, Ban Phung, Ban Luoc or San Xa Ho. You are able to overnight homestay at the most remote village of Ban Phung and leisurely take great photos of terraced fields in the next morning.
5.3. Day 2: Hoang Su Phi - Ha Giang City
If you still spend plenty of time taking pictures of terraced fields on the second day, you can only move back to Ha Giang City to have a rest. In the evening, you can hang around the city and enjoy exotic dishes in Ha Giang.
5.4. Day 3: Ha Giang City - Quan Ba - Yen Minh - Dong Van
After having breakfast and refuel then following the route Ha Giang – Quan Ba - Yen Minh (50km), you should ignore Cong Troi and Quan Ba Mountain for the way back, you definitely will come again. On the way to Yen Minh, you will witness the Yen Minh pine forest right along the highway. Having lunch at Yen Minh. From Yen Minh to Pho Bang (40km) starting from here you will see the wonderful and extremely majestic beauty of Dong Van rock plateau. Pho Bang town, a so-called oversleeping town is the next stop. Leaving Pho Bang and going back to Dong Van intersection, you will visit Sung La where is famous for being the filming location of Pao’s story. In the evening, you will enjoy dinner at Dong Van and visit the Old Quarter cafe.
5.5. Day 4: Dong Van - Lung Cu - Dinh Vuong - Dong Van - Ma Pi Leng - Meo Vac
Walking to Dong Van market, if it is on the right day of the market, visit Dong Van ancient town with a hundreds-year-old beauty. From Dong Van to Lung Cu (26km) – Dinh Vuong (26km) up to the northernmost point of Vietnam, then leave Lung Cu to the King Meo Vuong Chi Sinh. Then you can have lunch and take a rest at Dong Van. After lunch, from Dong Van – Ma Pi Leng – Meo Vac – admiring Nho Que river from the top of Ma Pi Leng pass is a must, one of the four great mountain pass peaks in the North. Besides, you also can travel to some places in Meo Vac. From Meo Vac, we go straight to Yen Minh to rest.
5.6. Day 5: Yen Minh - Quan Ba - Ha Giang
From Yen Minh, return to Quan Ba, it is time to roam Quan Troi and Doi Quan Mountain. In addition, you probably explore Quan Ba or go home earlier. Coming back to Ha Giang to return motorbikes. In the evening, you will take a sleeping bus back to Hanoi.Another option is after running from Bac Ha to Si Ma Cai, you can return to Bac Ha and from here take the sleeping bus to go back to Hanoi, motorbike on the car (need to contact the transfer in advance).