On this trip, we will explore one of the most thrilling motorbike routes you can imagine – the Northern Ha Giang Loop.
There’s nothing “standard” about exploring these roads—no fixed way to combine the routes or choose which sights to dive deeper into. It all depends on your priorities, interests, the season, and your riding skills. On this journey, you can also include shorter trekking segments (half-day) if you wish. For photography enthusiasts, the trip will be organized with more open space and time, allowing you to fully enjoy both the riding days and the afternoons at your final stop.
The trip will ensure that you visit the loop’s key highlights such as Heaven’s Gate, the Dong Van Karst Plateau, Fairy Hills, Dong Van, Ma Pi Leng Pass, and the winding roads of Ha Giang’s majestic mountains. The tour also offers opportunities to explore further without the rush, including the Lung Tam Linen Weaving Cooperative and the Hmong King’s Palace. You may choose to self-drive or ride pillion (with a guide/driver). If self-driving, we recommend prior motorbike riding experience. Accommodation is typically a mix of ethnic minority homestays and hotels (or full homestay stays if preferred).
The itinerary can be done clockwise or counterclockwise around the loop, depending on riding skills, season, and local market days. To include the Sunday markets in Dong Van or Meo Vac, the tour should start on Thursday or Friday morning.
Total travel expenses: 10.500.000₫ ≈ 430.5 USD
Day 1: Ha Giang – Quan Ba – Dong Van (Approx. 150 km ride)
After breakfast, we begin our journey along the “Happiness Road,” heading north out of Ha Giang City. We ride up Quan Ba Pass into the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, reaching Heaven’s Gate and passing the Fairy Hills. Near the small town of Tam Son, we visit a traditional Hmong linen weaving village before riding deeper into the Ha Giang mountains and arriving in Yen Minh for lunch. Afterward, we continue along the winding roads of the Happiness Route to Tham Ma Pass, then visit the Hmong King’s Palace before reaching the picturesque town of Dong Van. Here, we will stay with a local ethnic minority family in their homestay, sharing both dinner and breakfast with them. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)
Day 2: Dong Van – Meo Vac – (Ma Pi Leng) – Du Gia (Approx. 110 km ride)
We bid farewell to our homestay family and head north, crossing some of the most spectacular mountain passes you will ever see. Our first highlight is Ma Pi Leng, considered one of the “Four Great Passes” of Northern Vietnam. We stop at Hèm Tủn Sản to take in the dramatic scenery before descending to the river, boarding a boat, and relaxing while cruising along the stunning Nho Que River. We then continue to Meo Vac Town, a charming settlement home to 19 different ethnic minority groups. From there, we ride to Mau Due for lunch. Afterward, the journey continues toward Du Gia, with stops along the way, including the Ngam La viewpoint for breathtaking views of terraced rice fields, and the ruins of a French fort, offering panoramic vistas of a quaint village and its surroundings. We’ll have the chance to meet local Hmong villagers, whose main livelihood is farming, before reaching Du Gia. Here, you can refresh yourself with a dip in a nearby waterfall after a long day’s ride. Accommodation will be either at a hotel or homestay, depending on the tour arrangement. Dinner will feature a delicious hot pot—perhaps followed by karaoke with new friends at the homestay. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)
Day 3: Du Gia – Lung Ho – Duong Thuong – Thai An – Ha Giang (Approx. 100 km ride)
If our stay in Du Gia falls on a Saturday, you’ll have the chance to visit the vibrant weekly local market either before or after breakfast. This colorful gathering brings together more ethnic minority groups than you can count, as they travel from surrounding villages every Saturday to trade goods and socialize. We then ride to Lung Ho, a charming small village, before continuing to Duong Thuong, where we’ll meet locals whose main livelihood is farming and weaving their own traditional ethnic clothing. You may even get to taste a local specialty made from corn, known as mèn mén. Our next stop is Thai An for lunch, after which we continue our journey back to Ha Giang. Along the way, we can pause to admire the majestic natural waterfalls and the rolling green hills of the surrounding forests. Upon returning to Ha Giang, you’ll have time to freshen up before boarding a bus to your next destination—whether it’s Sapa, Hanoi, or elsewhere. If you are satisfied with the journey, tips for the driver of around 500,000–1,000,000 VND are always appreciated. Thank you very much for joining us—your presence has been a pleasure. We wish you a safe and joyful onward journey! (Breakfast and Lunch included)
