In northern Vietnam, there is a route that anyone seeking a true adventure must experience: Ha Giang.
My journey began in Hanoi. To explore this mysterious region of northern Vietnam, I took an overnight sleeper train to Lao Cai, a journey that lasted around eight hours.
When I arrived early in the morning, the first thing I did was rent a motorbike. It’s the most freeing way to explore the mountains and ethnic villages of northern Vietnam.
As I rode through endless mountain roads, every turn revealed a new breathtaking view. After days of traveling, I finally reached Ha Giang, near the Chinese border, where ethnic communities still preserve their traditional way of life. Surrounded by mountains, this region was as culturally rich as it was visually stunning.
However, the most unforgettable moment of this journey was a dangerous accident on one of the sharpest mountain turns.
While navigating a steep curve, I lost control and began sliding toward the edge of a cliff. At the last second, I slammed on the brakes and threw myself off the bike, but my foot got trapped between the motorcycle and the ground.
The pain was unbearable.
Luckily, a Vietnamese couple passing by rushed to help me. After a short rest, I made the difficult decision to continue the journey despite the pain. I couldn’t put weight on my foot, but my desire to explore was stronger.
After some time, I finally arrived at one of the villages I had been searching for. I learned that a religious ceremony was taking place, and the villagers warmly welcomed me and invited me in.
Suddenly, I found myself part of this unique ritual.
In the courtyard, a large wild boar was being butchered. The meat was carefully prepared with cleavers and knives for the ceremony. Nothing was wasted. Even the intestines were boiled into a jelly-like form to make soup.
During the ceremony, men and women sat separately. The women wore striking red and green coverings. Accompanied by traditional music, the atmosphere felt as if it belonged to another time.
The ritual began with offerings of the village’s traditional drink and tobacco smoked through bamboo pipes. Then the shamanic ceremony started.
Dressed in traditional clothing, the shaman performed ritual dances while prayers were recited from a book written in Chinese characters. Looking into the eyes of the people around me, I saw something powerful: deep faith mixed with an unspoken mystery.
I felt incredibly fortunate to witness such a moment.
This journey showed me not only the natural beauty of northern Vietnam, but also the depth of the human spirit. The dangerous roads of Ha Giang combined with the simple yet profound traditions of ethnic villages made this an unforgettable experience.
But this adventure came at a cost.
After returning, the pain in my foot became unbearable, and I had to go to the hospital. Doctors confirmed there was no fracture, but warned that recovery would take time.