The Happiness Road - a legendary path to explore up-north Ha Giang attractions
The road of happiness - the symbol of strong cooperation & great efforts among local ethnics & young volunteers - opening the road on high mountains to connect mountainous districts of Ha Giang province to bring happiness to thousands of people living in the region.Let's explore pristine natures of Ha Giang on this historical road !
Ha Giang province & the Happiness Road
When mentioning of Ha Giang, it is normal for us to think of this land with the country's northernmost point named Lung Cu and many high passes on the road of happiness - the path that has changed the life of many people in the land of Ha Giang with their happiness & better life quality.
Ha Giang is a hilly & mountainous province in the up-northern part of Vienam with many high mountains & deep valley – the land of Dong Van Geological Park.In the past, it was really hard to reach the province’s northern districts such as Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Meo Vac & Dong Van because there was not any proper road connecting those mountainous districts from Ha Giang city.People had to walk or ride on the horse cart many days to reach the lowlands.This inconvenience made it hard for local enthics living there to develop their economy, as a result, most of them were really poor & backward
Pass on the road to Dong Van
The road of happiness & its history.
The Happiness Road was built along Dong Van Rocky Pleataux between 1959 and 1965 with total length of 185km connecting Ha Giang township with islolated mountainous districts of Quan Ba, Yen Minh,Dong Van & Meo Vac; helping local ethnic minorities get access to the plains and better their life.
This history of opening this road is really amazing and can not be told in a single paper page.It was constructed by the hands of more than 1,300 men and women volunteers from 6 mountainous provinces ( Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang) and 2 delta provinces ( Nam Dinh, Hai Duong); and more than 1,000 people of 16 local ethnic groups joining in the building process within 7 years.
In the 1950s &1960s, in Vietnam,there were no modern equipments, volunteers plunged into opening this road with extremely simple working tools of hoes, shovels, hammers, crowbar, wheelbarrow; in really difficult working conditions of food shortages, salt deficiency, lacks of green vegetables & water; under the extreme climates of the highlands – hot summer like roasted, winter cold like cutting meat; and faced up lots of abstacles,dangers & deaths as well.
M letter Pass
To make that road, 14 volunteers & workers sacrified their life and permanently laid down on the road with rocks. Therefore, when completed, the road was named “ Happiness” – happy by the unity & effort of young volunteers & workers to build the road with their health & their blood; and happy that Ha Giang lands & thousands of people here are no more isolated. The road opens more opportunties for people in the regions with better education, heathcare & better life. It is the way to brighten the future of many children now & forever.
Journey on " Happiness Road" to explore Ha Giang attractions
The road of happiness starts from Ha Giang city with its first 20km of flat path, then journey up & down on many winding & high passes along mountain slopes – Quan Ba Pass in Quan Ba district overviewing Quan Ba Heaven Gate, Quan Ba Fairy Tower, then to Yen Minh with impressive view of layers of pine forests, to Dong Van districts with nice stops to visit Lung Cu flag tower, Vuong palaces & weeky markets ; and overcome Ma Pi Leng Pass ( with breathtaking captivation of magnificient mountains,deep valleys & Nho Que river running like a colorful thread through the cliff) to reach Meo Vac town.Touching the milestone of 185km is also when the journey with the path of happiness is completed
Photo on Ma Pi Leng Pass
Nowadays, travelling to these northern districts of Ha Giang province is easier thanks to the old road’s extention to be bigger but still challenges you with sense of adventure when overcoming winding & twistling passes. It is great to know about the history of Happiness Road and conquer different passes (Quan Ba Pass, Tham Ma Pass, Ma Pi Leng Pass.....) on this legendary road for great exploration of beautiful Dong Van Rocky Pleateux & authentic cultures of local ethnics in the region.
Golden Holday Travel & its trips to discover Ha Giang landscapes
Planning your trip to Ha Giang & conquering passes on the road of happiness", in need of local support or travel service of Ha Giang package tour, tourguide or private car rental with driver from Hanoi to Hagiang, please, contact us at goldenholidaytravel.vn@gmail.com or phone us at +84.988 4515030 ( viber, whatsapp), our travel team will be very pleased to support you with useful consultancy & suggestion for your special experience in Ha Giang.
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I hope you havent't forgot us. If you have I have included a photo of us in attach file.I promised to e-mail you when we get back. Sorry for the delay but we had so much shit to sort out when we've got back home.
Thanks very much for giving us a tour of Hanoi. Without you two, we would of missed a hell of a lot of Hanoi which we never had the time to explore.
When we were in the south, we came across a lot of English and Irish backpackers that were heading to Hanoi and we've recomended you and the taxi driver Binh to them. I hope they contact you two when they get to Hanoi and give you business.
So so much had changed since I left Vietnam. Some changes are positive and a lot of negatives but people link yourself and Binh will keep up the traditions.
I hope that you will get this e-mail. If you do please reply.
Since we've came home, I've had so many ideas about starting a business venture in Vietnam and and hoping that you might want to be be part of the it.
Alec (Hung)
Alec Hung & Challote from UK
Dear Ban,
Sorry for being late.
I tried to write you a letter several times, but I couldn't finish the letter. I don't know why.
I am still in winter vacation, so I have been very lazy, frankly speaking. And I miss you and the other good people I met in Vietnam. You cannot imagine how much it is!! As for our meeting, let's put it aside for my next trip, possibly that would be the coming August. At that time, we can have time to talk a lot about Vietnamese school system and other interesting things. Don't you think??
And I am so happy to know that you think my voice is tender in different songs... *^^*
By the way, how's it going with your new business? Is it going well? I'm sure you will be successful because you are quite ambitious and intelligent. You agree, Ban?? ^^
When my school starts, I cannot tell anything about Vietnam without talking about you to my students... I get impressed a lot, surely yu know that. Right?
I will attach the picture you took together in my next mail because my camera battery is out. Sorry about that!!
It's Saturday today. I wonder what you are doing at this moment in Vietnam when I am writing to you. Keep in touch often. OK?? ^^
Take care and be well & happy
Your friend,
Hwayoung Lee from Korea
Ms Hwayoung Lee from Korea
Hello Mr Ban, What a surprise to hear from you and a good one. yes I do remember you quite well....as Black Dan? Is this right? It has been 5 years since I was in your country. a long time, but I remember how bright and funny you were and also how polite!!! So, have you a family to look after now? A wife and some beautiful children? I hope all is well with you and you have plenty of work to do. I am taking a break at my work as it is Christmas time here and everything stops and family get together. I know you have TET around the corner and I wish you much success and good fortune for the next year. Which animal will it be next year for TET, I wonder? And which year you born in? I am still working with flowers. Iam known as a florist and my job keeps me pretty busy. I enjoy it very much as I love to make beautiful things from flowers and stones, dried things from Mother Nature and sometimes with man made stuff as well. It is quite funny that you emailed me at this time as I have been thinking of coming over to Vietnam alot lately and may do next year sometime. I missed out on a few places I would love to go ( Hoi Ann), and re visit some places I have been to last time. Are you still a guide? All the best.
