4 Days Wandering Through Hà Giang
Some roads are beautiful because of the places they lead to.
Hà Giang felt different — the road itself was the experience.
Sharp mountain passes, endless limestone peaks, clouds drifting across valleys, and small villages hidden deep within the northern mountains of Vietnam. Every turn felt cinematic in its own way.
This trip happened about half a year ago, but certain moments still stay vividly in my mind: riding through Mã Pí Lèng Pass at golden hour, watching the mountains fade into layers of blue, the silence of early mornings in Đồng Văn, and the feeling of being completely disconnected from the rest of the world.
It wasn’t a rushed journey.
Just four slow days driving through one of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen.
Day 1 — Hà Nội → Hà Giang → Du Già
The trip began with the long drive from Hanoi toward Hà Giang Province.
The scenery slowly changed from crowded streets and flat roads into winding mountain passes and quiet villages. By the time we reached the Hà Giang region, everything already felt slower and more peaceful.
Instead of staying in the city, we continued deeper into the mountains toward Du Già — a small village surrounded by rice fields, rivers, and limestone peaks.
The roads became narrower, rougher, and far more beautiful.
Du Già had a completely different atmosphere compared to the more touristy areas later in the loop. Quiet homestays, cold mountain air, simple dinners, and the sound of nature at night.
A perfect first stop before entering the dramatic landscapes of the northern loop.
Day 2 — Du Già → Nho Quế River → Đồng Văn
This was probably one of the most beautiful driving days of the entire trip.
Leaving Du Già early in the morning, the road slowly climbed higher into the mountains. Clouds drifted through valleys while sunlight touched the peaks in the distance.
Somewhere along the route, we passed through places like Dốc Thẩm Mã and Phố Cáo — roads and villages that felt untouched by time.
The highlight of the day was definitely the Nho Quế River and Mã Pí Lèng Pass.
Driving along Mã Pí Lèng felt unreal. Massive cliffs dropping into deep green rivers below, endless mountain layers stretching into the horizon, and roads carved directly into the side of the mountains.
It’s one of those places that photos never fully capture.
By evening, we arrived in Đồng Văn — a small mountain town surrounded by stone mountains and cool northern air.
The old streets, warm lights, and quiet cafés made it one of the most memorable nights of the trip.
Day 3 — Đồng Văn → Mèo Vạc → Yên Minh
Another slow morning in the mountains.
Leaving Đồng Văn, the road toward Mèo Vạc continued through some of the most dramatic scenery in Hà Giang. Endless winding roads, sharp cliffs, and viewpoints appearing almost every few kilometers.
The landscapes here felt wild and raw in a way that’s hard to describe.
Some sections of the road were completely silent except for the sound of wind and motorbikes echoing through the valleys.
After passing through Mèo Vạc, we slowly made our way toward Yên Minh.
Compared to the dramatic cliffs of Mã Pí Lèng, Yên Minh felt softer and calmer — rolling hills, pine forests, and quiet mountain roads perfect for simply driving without rushing anywhere.
That night felt slower, quieter, and a little bittersweet knowing the trip was slowly coming to an end.
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Day 4 — Yên Minh → Hà Giang → Hà Nội
The final day was mostly about the road back.
Leaving the mountains behind felt strange after spending several days surrounded by valleys, cliffs, and endless curves.
The closer we got back to Hanoi, the more the world slowly became noisy again.
But somehow, Hà Giang leaves a different kind of memory behind.
Not just the landscapes — but the feeling of freedom that comes from long mountain roads, cold air, and the realization that sometimes the best journeys happen when there’s no reason to rush.
Bonus Escape — Hunting Clouds in Tà Xùa
After returning to Hanoi and resting for a day, the journey still didn’t quite feel finished yet.
So once again, I packed the camera, left the city behind, and headed north — this time toward Tà Xùa.
Compared to the dramatic stone mountains of Hà Giang, Tà Xùa felt softer, quieter, and more dreamlike. The roads were smaller, covered in fog, winding through tea hills and mountain villages hidden above the clouds.
This part of the trip was short — only 2 days and 1 night — but somehow it became one of the most memorable moments of the entire Northwest Vietnam journey.
The main reason for coming here was simple: to “hunt clouds.”
And somehow, the mountains delivered.
Early the next morning, we headed toward the famous Dinosaur Spine Ridge — a narrow mountain ridge floating above a sea of clouds. Standing there at sunrise, surrounded by endless white clouds drifting through the valleys below, genuinely felt like standing above the sky itself.
The weather changed every few minutes. Fog rolling in, sunlight breaking through, mountain layers appearing and disappearing like scenes from a fantasy film.
Even with only a short amount of time in Tà Xùa, I still came home with some of my favorite photographs from the entire trip.
Sometimes, the most unforgettable places are the ones you almost didn’t plan for.
4 Chill Driving Days in the Canadian Rockies
There’s something special about road trips through the Canadian Rockies in early May.
The lakes are still half frozen, the mountains remain covered in snow, and the roads are quiet enough that sometimes it feels like you have the entire landscape to yourself.
This wasn’t a fast-paced “checklist” trip.
It was four slow days of driving, stopping whenever the light looked beautiful, drinking coffee beside mountain lakes, and chasing sunrise and sunset through Banff and Jasper.
Day 1 — Calgary → Canmore
After arriving in Calgary, I picked up the rental car and immediately started driving west toward the mountains.
The closer you get to Canmore, the more the landscape slowly changes — flat highways giving way to dramatic snow-covered peaks.
Before reaching town, I made a few stops around the Lake Minnewanka area and Two Jack Lake. Early May meant the lakes were still partially frozen, giving everything a quiet, almost cinematic atmosphere.
By evening, I arrived in Canmore just in time for soft sunset light over the mountains.
No big plans for the night — just a slow walk around town, dinner, and resting before the long drive north the next morning.
Day 2 — Canmore → Jasper via Icefields Parkway
This was the day I had been waiting for the most.
I left Canmore around 5 AM while it was still dark. Driving the Icefields Parkway at sunrise felt unreal — empty roads, cold mountain air, and golden light slowly touching the peaks.
First stop was Bow Lake, one of the calmest and most beautiful spots along the drive.
After that, I did the short hike to Peyto Lake viewpoint. Even though the lake was still frozen, the scale of the landscape was incredible.
The best part of the Icefields Parkway is honestly the drive itself.
There are countless scenic pull-offs where you can simply stop for a few minutes and take everything in.
I also stopped by the Columbia Icefield before continuing north toward Jasper.
By late afternoon, I arrived in Jasper and took the Jasper SkyTram for panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
That night was slow and peaceful — dinner in town, editing photos, and enjoying the quiet atmosphere of Jasper.
Day 3 — Jasper Lakes & Sunset in Canmore
Another early morning.
I left around 6 AM to catch sunrise around Pyramid Lake, Lake Edith, and Lake Annette. These lakes were among the few that had already thawed, and the reflections in the early morning light were absolutely worth waking up for.
After sunrise, I continued toward Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake.
The drive itself was beautiful — long empty roads cutting through forests and mountain valleys.
By afternoon, I slowly drove all the way back to Canmore.
And somehow, Canmore saved one of the best moments for last.
That evening, the sky exploded into deep purple and orange colors during sunset, creating one of the most dramatic skies I’ve seen in the Rockies.
Day 4 — Emerald Lake → Calgary
For the final day, I drove west again toward Emerald Lake before returning to Calgary.
Even though the lake was still partially frozen, the color of the water and the surrounding mountains still felt surreal.
There’s always a strange feeling on the last day of a road trip — tired, but not wanting it to end yet.
After spending a quiet morning around Emerald Lake, I slowly drove back toward Calgary for the flight home.
Four days.
Hundreds of kilometers.
Countless scenic stops.
And somehow, it still felt too short.
