Meo Vac in Ha Giang, Vietnam, is a breathtaking destination known for its majestic landscapes, towering limestone cliffs, and rich ethnic cultures. Nestled in the rugged mountains of northern Vietnam. Meo Vac offers adventurous travelers a chance to explore its scenic beauty and immerse themselves in the vibrant local way of life.
1. Overview of Meo Vac
A dreamy corner of Meo Vac town, Ha Giang with bright red roofs
Meo Vac Town is located 164km from Ha Giang city center. This place belongs to the rocky plateau in the north of Ha Giang province, the area of Dong Van Rock Plateau Global Geopark. Therefore, the terrain of Meo Vac is also mostly limestone mountains, and the agricultural land accounts for about 12,100 hectares. Most of this land will be used for the cultivation and exploitation of medicinal plants.
The natural scenery of Meo Vac is unique with rocky mountains shaped like cat ears. Most especially, the adventurous Ma Pi Leng passes, are challenging with U-shaped bends. Traditional dances of the Lo Lo people, the Mong people, or lyrical and cheerful folk songs.
2. The best time to travel to Meo Vac
People can visit this place at any time of the year
According to the experience of traveling to Meo Vac, Ha Giang of Karst Plateau, people can visit this place at any time of the year. Each time has its own unique beauty, wearing a colorful shirt. This place is constantly changing, unlike any season, so you also need to pay attention to the characteristics of the seasons to have the necessary furniture preparation.
Normally, the winter will last from October to April next year, the rainy season will start from April to September, and the rest is the dry season.
However, if you want to immerse yourself in the poetic scenery of buckwheat fields, it is possible to come between October and December of the lunar calendar. This is the time when the buckwheat flowers bloom in full color.
3. Move to Meo Vac
The terrain in the rocky plateau is difficult to navigate, dangerous, with many mountain passes, so visitors must be more careful when driving
Meo Vac is more than 150 km from Ha Giang City, and about 30 km from Dong Van town. You follow the route Quan Ba – Yen Minh – Dong Van – Meo Vac through National Highway 4C.
However, the terrain in the rocky highlands is difficult to move and rugged, and many passes always challenge backpackers. Therefore, the vehicle must operate well, your steering wheel must be firm, and calmly handle any case that occurs!
4. The most outstanding destinations in Meo Vac, Ha Giang
4.1 Nho Que River
The Nho Que river with its emerald green color is extremely poetic
Nho Que River is one of the symbols of the Meo Vac district. The river flows calmly through the cliffs, which can be clearly seen from Ma Pi Leng Pass or Ha Giang Death Cliff. It is winding, and it is jade green like an extremely beautiful and poetic silk strip. The best time to go to Nho Que River is around the last months of the year.
The road to the Nho Que River is also quite difficult when you will have to conquer all the Ma Pi Leng Pass and then follow the trail of the locals on the mountainside to be able to reach the lower reaches of the river. If you want to fully explore the beauty of Nho Que River, you can take a comprehensive view from Ma Pi Leng Pass or take a boat directly on the river. At this time, take advantage of more beautiful photos with the majestic natural scenery behind.
Experiencing kayaking on Nho Que River is also a favorite choice of many tourists
Besides, you can also walk along the riverbank to fully admire the natural scenery and breathe in the fresh air. Besides, the Kayaking experience here is also an option that many tourists love to experience.
4.2 Conquer Ma Pi Leng Pass
The winding road of Ma Pi Leng
Ma Pi Leng Pass is in the top 4 most beautiful passes in the North. This steep and rugged road is located at an altitude of 1200m, about 20km long, built in 6 years (1959 – 1965) by tens of thousands of young volunteers from 16 ethnic groups of 8 provinces in Northern Vietnam. You will have the opportunity to conquer 9 bends embracing towering cliffs, or admire a majestic, mesmerizingly beautiful mountain natural scenery.
At the top of the pass, there is also a stop for you to admire the scenery, panoramic views of the Dong Van rock plateau, or the Nho Que River.
In addition, the craggy cliff in the middle of the cliff is a favorite check-in place for young backpackers!
4.3 Tu San Canyon
The very close distance of the two ravines combined with the green color of the river creates a majestic and poetic scene
Tu San Canyon is located between Dong Van ancient town and Meo Vac town. This is a place you should not miss when coming to Meo Vac town, Ha Giang. The canyon is formed by two sides of a 1500m high cliff, with a depth of 700 – 900 m. Therefore, this place possesses a unique geological formation, towering and strong, combined with the softness and winding of the Nho Que River.
The water is blue like a pearl, in harmony with the soaring blue-gray mountains on both sides. The place to see the beauty of Tu San Canyon in its entirety is from Ma Pi Leng Pass. In addition, when taking a boat to explore the Nho Que River, you will also be taken to explore Tu San Canyon within 45 minutes with a ticket price of 100,000 VND/way.
4.4 Khau Vai love market
Khau Vai love market, also known as “Phong Luu market”, is more than 100 years old
Khau Vai love market is usually held on the 4th and 3rd lunar months. Therefore, tourists will also look forward to coming to Ha Giang this season. This is a unique festival where couples of middle age go looking for their other half. The colorful brocade costumes of the highland people, combined with unique local art performances, have fascinated tourists for many years. In addition, here you can also buy many gifts as souvenirs.
4.5 Discover the local culture at Lo Lo ethnic village
Lo Lo is inhabited by ethnic minorities of the Mong and Tay people.
Lo Lo ethnic village is built on a high hill, with classical architecture and traditional living models of the Lo Lo ethnic group. The village is surrounded by rice fields, fruit trees, and flower gardens, creating a beautiful natural landscape.
This destination attracts tourists because of the uniqueness of the culture, customs, and practices of the Lo Lo ethnic group. The Lo Lo ethnic group lives here with long-standing traditions, such as farming, raising cattle, producing traditional handicraft products, etc.
The houses in Lo Lo village are built mainly with tile roofs
Visitors to Lo Lo Ethnic Village can visit beautiful wooden houses, enjoy the specialties of the Northern mountains of Vietnam, chat and learn about the culture, customs, and practices of the Lo Lo ethnic group. In addition, there are also some cultural activities regularly taking place here, and community cultural exchanges such as the Mung Ngo ceremony in September, and the Cau Mua festival held in March, etc.
It can be seen that this place knows how to hold many tourists because of its majestic scenery and unique cultural beauty. What are you waiting for, let’s plan a trip to Meo Vac to enjoy the peaceful scenery here. Karst Plateau wishes you a happy and fulfilling trip.