Ha Giang in may: Weather, best things to do and more

Traveling to Ha Giang in May falls at the beginning of summer with the mild golden sunshine and the occasional showers which create a clear and vibrant Ha Giang. Thanks to them, the corn fields on the roadside are lush and verdant, and terraced fields start the watering season to prepare for the yearly rice crop. And especially, you can’t miss “the only one in the universe” market – Khau Vai love market. Let’s find out with LOKA Ha Giang!

This year, there is a leap month after the second lunar month, so it is currently mid-May in the solar calendar, but March in the lunar calendar. Therefore, this is the time to change from spring to summer, so the climate is still mild, especially in the villages in the mountainous areas. The average temperature is about 23-28 degrees Celsius in the daytime in the highlands, and in the evening it falls about 16-23 degrees Celsius. Thus you should bring a light jacket, sunscreen,…

It is said that Rome cannot come, but “Khau Vai must definitely visit”. And what is this day that makes “men and women desire” like that?

The market dates back 100 years, but “there are no sellers nor buyers”, they just came to express their love to each other. A place for ex-partners to come together, after a year (or many years) apart, mostly those who have a sad ending relationship. They really loved each other, but for some reason, they couldn’t get along and now each other has found their own destiny.

Khau Vai love market is held once a year (on March 27, lunar calendar) and this year falls on May 15 and 16. The market was inspired by the truly sad story of the love of Ba and Ut.

Coming to the rocky highlands of Ha Giang at this time, you no longer see an arid rocky plateau full of rocks and stones, alternatively, the lush green corn fields. The most vitality on the rocky plateau begins, the corn plants stretched out on the rock with just a little soil covering their root. This is a perfect time for you to escape the scorching days of summer. Because in the highlands there seems to be no summer. The clear and cool streams and beautiful small waterfalls will help you immerse yourself in them and forget about worries and troubles in life. That’s why, when traveling to mountainous highlands, don’t forget to bring bikinis and swimsuits!

Coming to the highlands at this time, it’s like you are enjoying the result of a crop from trees developing to the moment of deciduous, budding, and fruiting. And this is the time when the plums, peaches, and pears are starting to ripen.

The end of May is the watering season in western Ha Giang. At this time, in the western area of Ha Giang, villagers are starting to pour water on the terraced fields, to prepare for a new crop in the year.

The watering season, also known as the pouring season, is the season when the highland people take water to the terraced fields to prepare for rice planting. This is a very important stage to make the golden terraced fields. The time to water falls from the beginning of May to the end of June.

The golden rice season in Tay villages is at the end of May in Thon Tha. When you hear about the golden season at this time, you must be surprised, because this is the time when the terraced fields (the low-lying terraces) of the Tay people are ripe. Similar to the plain area, the Tay people have crops twice a year. This is the time when the rice is turning yellow (the end of May) and is surprisingly beautiful.

Hempt plants in Ha Giang look like cannabis. Traveling to the highlands this season you will easily see vast fields of hempt on the rocky side. After harvesting, the H’mong people there will strip the bark for fibers to make linen.

What linen is and how it is attached to the spiritual life of the Hmong people, please read the next article. How beautiful Ha Giang is!  But don’t forget the most beautiful thing in Ha Giang is still the local people who are gentle and hospitable. Please don’t be so absorbed in the scenery then forget about the life experiences and colorful culture here. See you in Ha Giang in May!