Buzz
With the theme “Love Ballads from Stone,” the 2017 Buckwheat Flower Festival in Hà Giang is expected to take place from October 4, 2017, to December 31, 2017, featuring exciting paragliding activities over the flower fields.
Planning a collective journey to Hà Giang to participate in the 2017 Buckwheat Flower Festival
Immediately after the terraced fields are harvested, the golden hue is replaced by the pink color of the buckwheat flower fields. Buckwheat flowers are a distinctive feature of northern mountainous provinces such as Lào Cai, Cao Bằng, and Hà Giang. However, in Hà Giang, buckwheat flowers are grown abundantly and beautifully. The flowers bloom most vibrantly in late autumn, around October and November each year.
No one could imagine that the barren highland soil, full of rocky outcrops and jagged stones, could give rise to such delicate flowers. Buckwheat flowers sometimes cover the plains like a carpet, sometimes grow in clusters like bunches of grapes, and sometimes nestle among the rocks, occasionally shyly peeking out beside rustic wooden-walled houses. Buckwheat flowers are fragile yet possess a wild beauty, an endless source of inspiration for photographers.
When will the 2017 Buckwheat Flower Festival take place?
Timeframe: Expected to commence from October 4, 2017, to December 31, 2017.
Venue: The main activities will take place in Dong Van district, with supporting activities in stopping points in Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Meo Vac districts, and Hà Giang City.
What's fascinating about the 2017 Buckwheat Flower Festival?
The Buckwheat Flower Festival will feature various exciting activities such as paragliding over the buckwheat flower season, a concert at the foot of the Lung Cu flagpole themed 'Echoes of Lung Cu,' an International Geological Park fair, the 2017 Ha Giang Buckwheat Honey Product Competition, a scientific seminar on the application of technology and solutions for improving the quality of Ha Giang buckwheat honey, a highland beef steak culinary program, along with experiential tourism activities such as performances, cultural exchanges, and traditional folk games of ethnic minorities.
Transportation options to Hà Giang for attending the Buckwheat Flower Festival
By car: From Hanoi, it is advisable to take the night coach from Hanoi to Ha Giang departing from My Dinh bus station at 9 p.m. and arriving at 5 a.m. in Ha Giang (luxury sleeper buses are available, reservations can be made by phone. Some reputable bus companies include Bang Phan, Hung Thanh, Hai Van, etc.). Prices range from 260,000 to 300,000 VND per person. Upon arrival in Ha Giang, take an inter-provincial bus to travel between landmarks or rent a motorbike for transportation.
Traveling by motorcycle: Depending on your trip's timing, you can choose a suitable route from the following suggestions:
Option 1: Departure from Hanoi - Son Tay (take route 21 at Co Nhue) - Trung Ha Bridge - Co Tiet - Phong Chau Bridge (turn left after Phong Chau Bridge) - follow the Thao River to Phu Tho town - Doan Hung then turn towards Tuyen Quang - take National Highway 2 to Ha Giang (approximately 300 km long).
Option 2: Departure from Hanoi - Vinh Phuc - Viet Tri - Phu Tho - Tuyen Quang - Ha Giang (or take National Highway 2C and National Highway 2, approximately 280 km long).
Suggested itinerary for exploring Ha Giang
Day 1: Depart from Hanoi in the morning. Arrive in Ha Giang in the evening. You can either stay overnight in the city or choose to continue to Quan Ba (about 40 km from the city) or Yen Minh for the night. However, staying in Ha Giang is the most reasonable option to ensure health after the 300 km journey. In the evening, you have time to take a stroll around the city, dine, and rest for tomorrow's journey.
Day 2: Have breakfast. Leave Ha Giang for Quan Ba, Yen Minh, and then to the Dong Van Karst Plateau (you can have lunch in Yen Minh or Quan Ba). On the way to Dong Van, you can turn to Pho Bang (5 km) to visit the sleepy town. Here, there are ancient houses with unique architecture. On the way to Pho Bang, you also have the opportunity to pass through a valley of roses and a large buckwheat field along the road (about 500 m from the town).
Leaving Pho Bang, the next stop right at the foot of the hill is Sủng Là Valley. Here lies the famous Lùng Cẩm village with houses featured in the movie “The Story of Pao” and beautiful mesmerizing white buckwheat fields. Lùng Cẩm is very peaceful, where you can explore ancient H'Mong houses, a road lined with pine trees, and stunning temperate conifers.
Leaving Lùng Cẩm, the next destination is Sà Phìn. Along the way, you'll encounter triangular buckwheat fields nestled on the bends leading to the lunar rock beach.
Arriving at Sà Phìn, visit the mansion of the Vuong family (also known as the Meo King's mansion). This is one of the few remaining ancient mansions of wealthy families involved in opium trade in Ha Giang.
From the Vuong family mansion, return to the intersection and head towards the Lung Cu flagpole. Passing through Pho La, Ma Le to reach the Lung Cu flagpole – the place where the first stroke of the letter S was drawn on the map. Along the way from Ma Le to Lung Cu, you will see a large triangular buckwheat field on the hillside. This is where the most buckwheat is grown to date. The journey continues to the Lung Cu flagpole.
After the Lung Cu flagpole, you can choose to check out milestone 428 and then head to Đồng Văn or return directly to the ancient town of Đồng Văn (note the time as reaching milestone 428 requires a nearly 3-hour walk). Have dinner and stay overnight in Đồng Văn, ending the second day.
Day 3: Have breakfast in Đồng Văn and set off to conquer Mã Pì Lèng, visit Mèo Vạc, Bắc Mê, and then return to Hà Giang for lunch. Return to Hanoi late in the evening. This stretch of road is over 400 km long so you need to prepare your health, meals, and rest properly to ensure a healthy and safe journey.
Compiled by Thao Nguyen
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
MytourAugust 25, 2017
