Top News

Austrian Ralf Mayrhofer, his girlfriend and six others traveled along the Ha Giang Loop from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, but their trip was disrupted by severe landslides on major roads.

“We were worried about what we saw but were lucky to be safe throughout the journey,” Mayrhofer said.

The group only managed to reach Du Gia and Dong Van, and spent most of the time walking around as conditions made it unsafe to travel further.

After trying a massage and herbal bath on the evening of Oct. 1, the group also got spa tickets for its drivers as a gesture of thanks.

Mayrhofer said: “The drivers looked really happy. We didn’t do it as compensation — it felt like something between friends.”

Hoang Hiep, a driver with self-driving tour service provider BiBi Ha Giang, said the gesture surprised everyone.

In turn the drivers also bought a cake to celebrate a guest’s birthday that evening.

Many visitors stranded by the bad weather in Ha Giang remained optimistic.

Canadian Erin Forbes, who was also stuck in Dong Van on Oct. 1 with her boyfriend, said they enjoyed walking around the town and viewing rice fields in the rain.

Erin Forbes and her boyfriend Martin Prchal in Ha Giang. Photo courtesy of Erin Forbes

“I felt a little happy and enjoyed the wild beauty of the mountains and forests. I was lucky not to encounter any landslides on the way.”

Typhoon Bualoi made landfall in Vietnam on Sept. 29 and caused heavy rains, flash floods and landslides in many parts of the country’s north.

October is the peak travel season in the northern mountainous region when its terraced rice paddies turn golden.