How to get to Bac Ha?
Travel by private car
From Hanoi to Bac Ha is about more than 300km. If you run straight from early in the morning, you can arrive around late in the evening. However, few people run straight like that and usually choose one of two options:
Accommodation
In Bac Ha district, there are currently about 50 tourist accommodation establishments, including 23 hotels and motels with nearly 350 rooms and 26 homestay businesses in communes and towns (each household Receiving a maximum of 10 - 20 guests/day). Besides, in Bac Ha town there are also 24 restaurants, which can basically meet the accommodation and dining needs of about 2,000 guests.
Homestay
Homestay is one of the strongly developed forms of tourism in Bac Ha with nearly 30 homestays, concentrated mainly in Ban Pho village (Ban Pho), Na Lo village (Ta Chai), Trung Do village (Bao Nhai), Na Hoi Tay village and Na Hoi Nung village (Na Hoi), Sa House. Homestay in Bac Ha now carries the true meaning of this type of service, staying with people and experiencing activities and living with them.
Sleep in a tent
For those who love nature, many places in Bac Ha can be ideal places to camp or set up tents to sleep overnight. However, the night temperature in Bac Ha is quite low, so you should prepare things carefully if you want to sleep in a tent
Places to visit when you come to Bac Ha
Bac Ha market
Bac Ha market is located in the center of Bac Ha district, held every Sunday, and was voted by international tourists as one of the 10 famous markets in Southeast Asia. Coming to the market, you will feel like you are lost in a forest of colorful flowers because of the colorful costumes of the Mong, Dao, Phu La, Tay, Nung, La Chi people... going to the market. The special feature of the market is that goods are sold right on the ground and the sellers do not bargain on prices. If you come to Bac Ha, don't miss the opportunity to explore the market to better understand highland culture.
The goods are mostly agricultural products and livestock produced by people themselves, divided into five main areas: Livestock market area. There is a very special corner, the dog market and the bird market. If you love Hmong dogs with short tails or Bac Ha poodles, you can come to this dog market. The grocery area displays all the necessary items for local people: plows, hoes, shovels, knives... The area sells brocade, clothes, jewelry, fabrics, wool, colored threads, the sales area The restaurant with steaming pots of Thang Co, spreading fragrance, mixed with the warm flavor of Ban Pho corn wine, the wine selling area.
Hoang A Tuong Palace
The second destination that you must definitely go to is Hoang A Tuong mansion. The palace is located in the middle of Bac Ha town, 1km from the market, built in 1914 and completed in 1921. The former owner of the house is Hoang Yen Chao. The main attraction of this house is its unique architecture, a harmonious combination of European and Asian styles. Besides, there are fascinating and mysterious historical stories of the former owner's family. It can be said that this house is a testament, associated with a historical period of Bac Ha.
16/08/2024: Currently August 2024, the palace is under renovation and closed to visitors.
Hang Tien
From Bac Ha town to Hang Tien is about 6km. This is a natural cave with a deep river, large and small caves like a majestic maze. Coming to Hang Tien, you will be able to see the cool waterfalls, the splashing fish, amidst the fresh and pleasant natural air.
Enjoy the cuisine of Bac Ha market
Bac Ha market is a colorful picture showing the lives of indigenous people, including culinary culture. During a bustling market, the busiest place is usually the food court... The food court is divided into sections for women and children with delicious dishes such as meat pho, men men, banh day, banh duc . The area reserved for men and the elderly will be thang co and typical dishes such as pig intestines, goat meat, and buffalo meat for drinking wine.
Thang Co - A specialty dish that cannot be missed
Bac Ha is the cradle of thang co dish, so no other region can make thang co dish with the same traditional taste and flavor as in Bac Ha. It is made from horse meat and organs, adding some spices and forest leaves. Thang Co Bac Ha is often best eaten on cold days. There is nothing better than eating it while sipping some corn wine.
Bac Ha is still quite unfamiliar to many tourists. Bac Ha is blessed by nature with high, majestic mountain ranges, unique cave systems, rivers and streams, and unique regional cultures. This place is not only a place where many ethnic groups of Vietnam live and preserve their identities, but Bac Ha also attracts tourists with its beautiful scenery and typical dishes of the Northwest mountains.