Ha Giang, Vietnam
Area: 7,884.3 sq. km.
Population: 660,700 habitants (2004)
Capital: Ha Giang Town.
Districts: Dong Van, Meo Vac, Yen Minh, Quan Ba, Bac Me, Hoang Su Phi, Vi Xuyen, Xin Man, Bac Quang, Quang Binh.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Tay, Dao, H’Mong, San Diu...
Location
 Ha Giang Town is 320km from Hanoi. Ha Giang is on National Highway No.2, 34, 279 linking to Yen Bai, Cao Bang, Lao Cai provinces in turn.
Geography
Located at the highest latitude in Vietnam, Ha Giang is surrounded by Cao Bang on the east, Tuyen Quang on the south, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai on the west. It shares a border with China in the north (274km boundary).
Ha Giang's complicated topography is divided into 3 areas. The area on the south has rocky mountain, separated rivers. The west area has sloping mountain side, high pass, valleys, and narrow springs. The low land area includes hills, valley of Lo River, and Ha Giang Town.
The climate is divided in two distinct seasons, rainy and dry, although it tends to vary depending on altitude. The annual average temperature varies between 24 and 28ºC. In winter, the temperature is sometimes down to -5°C.
About this area
Ha Giang province is centered on the town of Ha Giang itself. It is divided into nine districts: Dong Van, Meo Vac, Yen Minh, Quan Ba, Bac Me, Hoang Su Phi, Vi Xuyen, Xin Man, and Bac Quang.
Ha Giang is a highly mountainous region, and travel around the province can be difficult. Much of the province is too mountainous for agriculture, leaving much of the land covered by forests. Ha Giang's central plateau is good for growing plums, peaches, and persimmons, which the province exports.
Local Economy
Ha Giang is one of the poorest provinces of Vietnam. Traditionally, the vast majority of its economic activity revolved around agriculture and forestry, but in recent years, there have been attempts to establish a manufacturing industry. Infrastructure in Ha Giang has seen improvement, but remains poor - roading, schools, and health services are less developed than in many other parts of Vietnam.
Tourism
Mountains in Ha Giang are quite high, in which the highest Tay Con Linh point with 2,419m in height. There are good woods, over 1000 kinds of valuable drug trees, animals (tigers, peacocks, phoenix, pangolin…) in primitive forests.
Coming to Ha Giang, tourists are attracted by poetic Dong Van Highland, Love Market of Khau Vai. They can buy embroidery such as handkerchief, haversack, and dress with colorful, fine pattern. They also take part in enjoyable market-day of local ethnics. The people and natural scenes here are unlike anywhere in Vietnam.
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