It was with reluctance that we got back on our motorbikes, and put Du Gìa in our rear view mirrors. Our next stop would return us to Ha Giang, and complete our tour with Chu Chu. This trip had been incredible, and it was to be our final adventure in Vietnam. Not just four days, but six months were coming to an end, and it was hard to stomach.
After a long, rainy day on the road, we arrived at the Du Gìa Homestay as dusk was settling in. This town is a popular stop during tours of Ha Giang, and we met a few other travelers, and heard their tales of woe. The next morning, we arose early for a walk through the sleepy town.
Our third day on the road in Ha Giang was spent in a battle with frequent cloud bursts. Up until now, we'd been having great weather, so it didn't feel right to complain, especially since the slower pace gave us more time to appreciate the province's unbelievable scenery.
Halfway between the Thấm Mã Pass and the Lũng Cú Flagpole, we made a stop at the Opium Palace of the H'mong. We were pretty excited about this. Of all the places which we've visited in our years of travel, almost none of them have had a name as intriguing as the "Opium Palace of the H'mong".
After having visited the Tam Sơn market on Sunday morning, we got back on our motorbikes and set off toward the north... to the very north. Today, Chu Chu would be taking us to Vietnam's border with China, marked by the Lũng Cú Flagpole. Along the way, we'd see some incredible scenery, especially at the Thấm Mã Pass.
We woke up early on Sunday morning, but probably later than every other person within a fifty-mile radius of Tam Sơn. Today, you see, was market day. And groups from all around Ha Giang would be pouring into town to sell, buy, eat, and socialize.
After having visited the Twin Mountains, our tour continued into Lùng Tám, one of the bigger towns in picturesque Quản Bạ valley region. This village of colorfully-attired H'mong people is dedicated to weaving and the fabrication of linen products.
As soon as our four-day tour of the Ha Giang province began, we knew that the trip was going to be special. From far-flung villages and colorful local markets, to rice workers and buffalo boys, we saw so many amazing sights just on the first day, that it was almost overwhelming. The bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang took eight hours, and we arrived in the evening. Our tour would be starting in the morning, and we…
Our final adventure in Vietnam would be a four-day loop around the northern province of Ha Giang. This is one of the least-populated and least-visited areas in the country, so we thought it would be best to hire a guide. After doing a ton of research, we decided upon a Ha Giang local named Chu Chu ... and we couldn't have made a better choice.
