Bac Quang
Introduction
Bắc Quang is a former rural district of Hà Giang province in Vietnam's Northeast region, with its district capital at Vĩnh Tuy. The area is largely rural and spread across a wide stretch of countryside, so expect a quiet, unhurried setting rather than a built-up town centre.
Getting around
Bắc Quang is a rural district rather than a city with an urban transit system, so getting around means road travel between its two towns — Vĩnh Tuy, the district capital, and Việt Quang — and the many communes spread across the countryside. There is no metro, tram or documented rail service to plan around. The main documented way in is the long-distance coach from Hanoi, run by Vũ Hán Group, Bằng Phấn, G8 SAPA Open Tour and Royal Limousine, with departures spread through the day and evening and a journey of roughly five to six hours under favourable road conditions. Seater, limousine and sleeper buses are all available, and you can book online through Vexere.com, paying by card, e-wallet, internet banking or cash and carrying your e-ticket on your phone.
- Confirm your Hanoi pick-up point when booking: Vũ Hán Group uses Cao Tốc 1 and a Hanoi office, Bằng Phấn an office at 156 Trần Quang Khải, G8 SAPA Open Tour offices at 01 Lê Lai and 105 Hoàng Quốc Việt, and Royal Limousine Nội Bài Airport's domestic terminal plus a Hanoi office.
- Check your drop-off too, since not all are inside the district: Vũ Hán Group drops at Bắc Quang, Bằng Phấn at Quảng Trường Bắc Quang, G8 SAPA Open Tour at its Ha Giang office, and Royal Limousine at Chân cầu Vĩnh Tuy in Hà Giang.
- Royal Limousine is the only documented airport pick-up, useful if you are coming straight off a flight, but its drop-off lies outside Bắc Quang.
- Once in the district, arrange onward transport in advance — asking your accommodation to help is one option — rather than counting on app-based ride-hailing in the towns and communes.
- Walking works within a town or village, but distances between settlements make it impractical for getting around the district as a whole.
Three days in Bac Quang
Day one: Base yourself in Bắc Quang and get your bearings on foot around Quảng Trường Bắc Quang, the town's central square. From Hà Giang you can reach the town by road, and the surrounding countryside of the Northeast is best taken in slowly, so leave the afternoon open for walking.
Day two: Head out to Vĩnh Tuy and Việt Quang, two communities within the district, to see more of rural Bắc Quang. Arrange your transport in advance: options include SAPA Open Tour, Royal Limousine, and Seater services bookable through Vexere, with Royal Limousine Nội Bài useful if you are connecting from the airport. Confirm your return times before you set out.
Day three: Use the morning for a final walk and a look at Bằng Phấn before leaving. If you are heading back to Hanoi, the Cao Tốc route is the main connection, and streets such as Trần Quang Khải, Lê Lai, and Hoàng Quốc Việt in the capital are handy reference points for the next leg of your trip.