Western tourists are fascinated by the 'golden road' in Ha Giang

Many tourists say the " Ha Giang loop" route exceeds expectations, with "surreal" natural scenery.

Alina B., a German tourist, came to Ha Giang in October after being introduced to the "Ha Giang loop" by many foreign backpackers. The images online were enough to overwhelm her. However, when she experienced this route herself, everything was "beyond imagination".

The "Ha Giang loop" starts from Quan Ba, passes through Yen Minh, up to Dong Van, to Meo Vac and then returns to the starting point. The "golden route" is about 350 km long, crossing high passes and deep ravines, requiring skilled drivers to face the endless loop-like curves.

Alina conquered the route with a group of about 20 people, following a tour organized by a local company. Because she could not drive a motorbike herself, she was driven by a Vietnamese driver throughout the journey, but this did not affect the experience because she could not take her eyes off the majestic natural landscape of the mountains and forests of Ha Giang.

"The landscape is surreal, I couldn't take my eyes off it for a minute. This is the most beautiful place I've ever been to in Southeast Asia," she said.

Photo of Alina taking a photo of the group of guests on the "Ha Giang loop" tour in October. Photo: Lina.btnr

During her four days in Ha Giang, the female tourist interacted with and understood more about the lives of the local people. Meo Vac and Pai Lung were the two places with the most impressive natural features, with "mountains in the distance, hidden behind floating clouds and a blue sky".

Éadaoin Fitzmaurice, living in Ireland, also learned about the "Ha Giang loop" through a recommendation from friends that she thought was "a bit exaggerated".

"I've been to more than 30 countries and this is definitely the best," she said after finishing her three-day trip in September.

Fitzmaurice commented that the route was dramatic, making her heart beat faster. Occasionally, the Irish tourist had to pinch herself because she couldn't believe the natural beauty she was witnessing.

A local guide named Huey drove Fitzmaurice, making her feel safe and comfortable throughout the journey. The group members were mostly young people, so it was easy to get to know each other and strike up a conversation. Because Huey brought a loudspeaker, the group could sing and dance in the middle of the majestic mountains and forests. Fitzmaurice cried when the journey ended, regretting the lost moments.

Charlotte and Natalie, a British couple aiming to travel around the world on a budget, traveled to Ha Giang to experience the Golden Road earlier this year. They kept a moderate speed throughout the journey to soak in the overwhelming beauty of nature.

To them, Heaven's Gate (Quan Ba) was as beautiful as heaven, where the sunset cast a golden hue over everything it touched. The Yen Minh pine forest was a "source of pure natural energy", making them forget the time. The two had to change their plans and find a place to stay in Yen Minh because they couldn't reach the next town before dark.

"Not only is the scenery beautiful, we also feel the warmth from the local people. They have created a harmonious and happy community," said Charlotte.

According to Linh Huu Khuong, co-founder of a company specializing in Ha Giang routes, most foreign visitors coming here want to experience the "Ha Giang loop". The price of a three-day tour is about 150-300 USD per person, depending on the needs of the guests.

A group of tourists from Israel drove through Duong Thuong commune. Photo: BiBi Ha Giang Tour

He said that most of the guests participating in this tour are "backpackers". Despite its great potential for development, "Ha Giang loop" has not yet attracted high-end, high-spending guests. Besides the infrastructure problem , human resources are also a big problem because very few tour guides can use English, let alone other languages.

A group of 15 guests usually has 2 tour guides (if the guests drive themselves). However, usually only the tour leader can communicate in English, making it difficult for companies to arrange staff to serve tourists well.

Mr. Minh Hoang, who has been working in tourism in Ha Giang for more than 10 years, also commented that this golden route has a lot of potential but has not really developed. Tourists coming to Ha Giang currently mainly come to sightsee, not to spend much.

"If a destination is beautiful and attracts many visitors but the total revenue from tourism is too little, it can sometimes be counterproductive," said Mr. Hoang, expressing concern that too many tourists can have a negative impact on the environment and local culture.

Alina also found that Ha Giang really didn’t have much to spend money on. She went on a tour, so she spent most of her money on coffee and snacks.

But the German female tourist commented that the "Ha Giang loop" is becoming more and more popular thanks to backpackers. However, it is difficult to turn this place into a destination for older groups and families because the route is highly adventurous.

Tu Nguyen

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/khach-tay-me-man-cung-duong-vang-o-ha-giang-4671695.html