Tourists flock to Ha Giang, sparking traffic jams on November 14.
On the afternoon of November 14, the famous Tham Ma slope on National Highway 4C, linking Yen Minh and Dong Van, was packed with tourists, cars and motorbikes for kilometres.
Most visitors stop at the Tham Ma slope to enjoy the view, narrowing the road and causing gridlock. Motorists in cars had to inch forward, at times barely moving.
Tham Ma slope sees serious congestion on November 14.
One driver ferrying tourists, Nguyen Thien, said he waited 30 minutes to get through the congestion at Tham Ma slope.
“I drove from Dong Van to Quan Ba and got stuck twice, at Can Ty slope and at Tham Ma. These are scenic spots, so many people stop to take photos or rest, which slows traffic,” he said.
Having worked in tourism in Ha Giang for many years, Thien said November is always a peak month, as the buckwheat blossoms are in full bloom and the weather is stable, without the heavy rain that causes landslides. As a result, many tourists come, and local roads often suffer localised congestion.
For travellers by car, waiting times through the clogged sections range from 30 minutes to an hour, disrupting their itineraries.
A tourist, Ha Nhung, and her group of ten friends arrived in Ha Giang on Friday afternoon. Although she had anticipated crowds, she did not expect to face traffic jams at the Quan Ba Heaven Gate.
“At Quan Ba Heaven Gate, workers are dumping rock to repair the road after recent rain-induced landslides, so vehicles have to move slowly. At Tham Ma slope, too many tourist vehicles stop, making movement difficult for everyone,” she said.
At around 1 pm, her party drove from Yen Minh commune to the Meo King’s mansion in Sa Phin Commune. Because of the delays, they only arrived at about 4.15 pm, an hour later than usual.
In discussion with a Dantri/Dtinews reporter, a representative from the Tuyen Quang Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that tourist numbers in Ha Giang are surging at this time.
“This is the most beautiful season in Ha Giang, Yen Minh and Dong Van," the official explained. "Besides, Lo Lo Chai Village was just honoured by UN Tourism as the ‘best village destination in the world in 2025’, and the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark was named Asia’s leading cultural destination by the World Travel Awards. With the buckwheat flowers in full bloom and festival season underway, the region is very attractive to visitors.”
The representative added that local authorities are aware of the congestion on certain road segments due to the high influx of visitors.
“The traffic jams are only localised. Authorities have intervened in a timely manner,” they explained.
To ensure a smoother journey, tourists are advised to monitor the weather, plan their route carefully and book accommodation and meals in advance.
