Lao Cai and Ha Giang are two provinces close to each other, so many tourists choose to take a Lao Cai to Ha Giang trip when visiting the mountainous region of Northern Vietnam. Below is the necessary information about the schedule, means and time to travel to Lao Cai to Ha Giang.
How far is it from Lao Cai to Ha Giang
The distance from Lao Cai to Ha Giang is about 206 km long. It will take you about 4 hours to finish the Lao Cai – Ha Giang route. As you know, Ha Giang and Lao Cai are two provinces located close to each other, so many tourists choose to travel in combination with both provinces.
However, the duration of the whole trip depends on your schedule during the trip and traffic conditions on the road. If you go during the peak tourist season, the travel time will be longer because of traffic conditions on the road.
You can follow the route from Lao Cai to Ha Giang according to the map below.
How to go from Lao Cai to Ha Giang
With a distance of about 200 km, there are the following means of transportation for you to swing from Lao Cai to Ha Giang.
Driving motorbike from Lao Cai to Ha Giang
Motorbikes are the most popular means of transportation to go from Lao Cai to Ha Giang. Because they are all mountainous provinces, the terrain will certainly have many steep passes and winding roads, so riding a motorbike will help you easily control your speed and go through smaller and narrower roads.
Moreover, when riding a motorbike, you will directly experience the beautiful natural scenery along the way of both Lao Cai and Ha Giang. Moreover, when riding a motorbike, you will easily stop at random destinations along the way to admire the scenery or take photos.
If you like to drive a motorbike on your own to explore interesting roads from Lao Cai to Ha Giang, you can choose Ha Giang motorbike rental service to rent a motorbike and travel on your own schedule. Motorbike rental prices are usually calculated per day with 180k per day ($7.66) for semi-automatic and 550k per day ($23.4) for manual ones.
If you are not confident with your driving ability, you can choose the Ha Giang motorbike tour to be provided with a pre-scheduled schedule and a driver as well as a tour guide to guide you throughout the trip from Lao Cai to Lao Cai. Ha Giang.
Taking travel bus from Lao Cai to Ha Giang
Taking a Lao Cai Ha Giang bus will be one of the suitable options for those who prioritize more comfort while traveling. Moreover, with a travel bus, you will not worry too much about the weather such as whether it is rainy or sunny. When taking bus from Lao Cai to Ha Giang, you will have many options for the type of vehicle that suits your needs as follows:
- Regular bus
- Sleeper bus
- VIP bus
- Limousine
However, with a bus, you will have to book a ticket in advance and go to the meeting point or bus station to catch the bus. So you will be more passive about schedule and time. Besides, because you take public transportation, you will not be as comfortable as using personal vehicles or riding a motorbike. Below are some reputable travel bus service providers you can book tickets for.
Bus service provider | Price | Hotline |
Cuong Thinh Limousine | 250,000 VND – 300,000 VND | 1900 6772 |
Quang Tuyen | 250,000 VND – 300,000 VND | 0983 137 483 |
Ha Giang VIP Limousine | 350,000 VND | 0965 031 999 |
Quang Giang | 250,000 VND – 500,000 VND | 084 963 3222 |
Quang Nghi | 250,000 VND | 0915 744 733 |
Suggested itinerary for the trip from Lao Cai to Ha Giang
Here is a suggested itinerary for the trip from Lao Cai to Ha Giang that you can refer to. With thí itinerary, you can also take the Ha Giang loop, a must-try route if you travel to Ha Giang.
Day 1: Hanoi – Lao Cai – Bac Ha
Morning: Tourists take the train from Hanoi to Lao Cai. After leaving Lao Cai railway station, everyone will rest and go have breakfast. Then the team will depart for Bac Ha, where you can immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere of a highland market or the colorful colors from the costumes to the goods of the people here.
Afternoon: Everyone visits Hoang A Tuong’s Palace, which attracts tourists by the ancient architecture of the H’Mong ethnic people. After the tour, the group went to Ban Pho to rest in the evening.
Evening: Have dinner and rest in Bac Ha town and enjoy the famous corn wine here. After that, the whole group was free to explore Ban Pho.
Day 2: Bac Ha – Ha Giang – Dong Van
Morning: Have breakfast at the hotel and check out procedures. The next activity is to visit the village of the Pa Then ethnic group to learn about brocade weaving and traditional festivals.
Afternoon: The group continues to move to Dong Van Karst Plateau. Along the way, you will discover villages of the Lo Lo and H’Mong people. Then the whole group moved to Lung Cu Flagpole to visit and take photos.
Evening: The whole group moved to Lung Cu homestay to have dinner and rest here.
Day 3: Dong Van – Meo Vac – Ha Giang
Morning: Guests have breakfast at the homestay. You will start departing for Dong Van market and visit Dong Van Old Quarter. You should stop at a cafe and enjoy your morning cup of coffee.
Afternoon: After finishing lunch, the group departed to Meo Vac. Don’t forget to go to Sung La Valley to see the pristine, lyrical beauty of buckwheat flower in Ha Giang. Besides, don’t forget to conquer Ma Pi Leng pass and Nho Que river.
Evening: The whole group returned to Meo Vac homestay to rest and have dinner. You can also walk around the homestay to roam around.
Day 4: Ha Giang – Hanoi
Morning: You have breakfast at the homestay, then pack your luggage and start returning to Hanoi. After returning to Ha Giang city, the whole group returned the motorbike and then took a bus to Hanoi.
Afternoon: The whole group arrived in Hanoi and ended the trip from Lao Cai to Ha Giang.
Best time for the trip from Lao Cai to Ha Giang
Weather is one of the extremely important factors that determine the experience of your trip. Here are the best times for a trip from Lao Cai to Ha Giang.
September to November
From September to November is autumn, moreover, Lao Cai and Ha Giang are two provinces located close to each other so the weather and climate are quite similar. In the fall, the temperature falls around 20 degrees Celsius to 25 degrees Celsius so it is quite cool, suitable for tourist activities in Ha Giang and Lao Cai.
Furthermore, at this time both provinces are entering the dry season so there is very little rain. So the road is always dry to avoid slipping and causing danger when traveling and other tourist activities.
Lao Cai in October will welcome you with golden terraced fields stretching far and wide in Sapa. And Ha Giang in November will hold you back with buckwheat flower fields.
December to February
If you enjoy cooler weather, you might consider visiting in the winter months. While it can get quite cold, especially at higher altitudes, it offers a different perspective of the region. The rice terraces may not be as green, but the misty landscapes have their own unique charm.
Don’t forget to trek to the mountain peaks to hunt clouds in December. You will also experience extremely interesting New Year festivals in both Lao Cai and Ha Giang.
What to expend during the trip from Lao Cai to Ha Giang
Before each trip, you need to establish the necessary expenses for the Lao Cai to Ha Giang trip.
- Accommodation: Ha Giang homestay prices range from about 100,000 VND to 300,000 VND/room/night. Depending on the type of room and service, prices will vary.
- Meal: For popular dishes, prices range from 30,000 VND to 50,000 VND. If you eat at the restaurant, it will cost from 300,000 VND to 700,000 VND depending on the dish you order.
- Motorbike renting fee: Motorbike rental price will be calculated by day. The motorcycle rental price is only 180k per day ($7.66) for semi-automatic and 550k per day ($23.4) for manual ones
- Travel bus fee: The price of each bus ticket from Lao Cai to Ha Giang ranges from 250,000 VND to 300,000 VND.
- Sightseeing ticket: Depending on each location, sightseeing ticket prices will vary, but the average price ranges from 20,000 VND to 50,000 VND per person. These locations will often offer free tickets for children.
- Utilities expense: You should also include unexpected expenses or emergencies.
Above is all the information about the trip from Lao Cai to Ha Giang that you can refer to. Hopefully with the above information, you will have a convenient and enjoyable trip from Lao Cai to Ha Giang.