Ha Giang Loop: 6 Day Road Trip

The Ha Giang Loop is a popular motorcycle or scooter journey in the Ha Giang Province of northern Vietnam. This scenic route is known for its stunning landscapes, including rugged mountains, terraced rice paddies, deep valleys, and traditional ethnic minority villages. The loop takes you through some of the most breathtaking scenery in Vietnam, with opportunities to see the Ma Pi Leng Pass, Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, and the Quan Ba Heaven's Gate. Take the less-traveled route - the Ha Giang Loop to admire jaw-dropping views, visit ethnic minority groups and experience their traditional culture.

What to pack for the Ha Giang Loop?

To know what to pack for the Ha Giang Loop, you first need to know which month you are traveling to Ha Giang. Read about the best time to travel to Ha Giang here. 

But whatever month you're going, you always need: 

- Jackets and warm clothes, whether it's winter or summer because it's much colder in the mountains than in the city. Plus, it can rain so make sure to bring raincoats. You're gonna need an extra pair of comfortable shoes, especially if you decide to go trekking, either way the shoes are gonna get dirty so bring the old ones you have at the bottom of the shelf. 

- DRUGS. Okay not that kind of drugs but some Benadryl or Dramamine to beat motion sickness. You might think you don't need them but even people who usually don't get nauseous get motion sickness the first time they travel to Ha Giang (that was certainly the case for me). So bring them just in case, thank me later. You might also want to bring some Aspirin (Paracetamol) for when you have a headache and some bug repellent.

- Your Ha Giang Loop permit (foreigners are required to have Restricted/Border Area Permit to visit certain parts of Ha Giang), your driver's license and IDP ready. For more info on getting a license and IDP in Vietnam, read this.

- If you travel by bike then you might need spare gas and some repairing gears in case your bike breaks down in the middle of the road.

- A phone with mobile data and a sim card, because sometimes you get no reception up there, make sure to download offline maps and google translate (most locals don't speak English) and have some contact details saved on your phone like your hotel or a local in case of emergency.

How to get to Ha Giang

From Hanoi (~300 km)

To get to Ha Giang from Hanoi, we recommend getting on a comfortable sleeper bus and take the night ride to save energy for the Ha Giang Loop. Bus prices ranges from 250.000 - 550.000 VND, depending on the quality of the vehicle. Travel time is about 6-7 hours. Visitors from the Central or the South of Vietnam need to get to Hanoi first and then take a bus to Ha Giang. Read all about bus companies and how to get to Ha Giang from Hanoi here. You can even send your bike on a bus to Ha Giang, but be sure to contact the bus company to make sure there is space for your bike to go with you. 

From Sapa (~235 km)

The West of Ha Giang borders Lao Cai, so it's very common to travel to Ha Giang by bus or motorbike from Sapa. If you do decide to travel by bike, the landscape along the way will be stunning but be careful because there are many dangerous passes, even landslides and extreme weather conditions during rain season. The safer choice would be taking a van or a sleeper bus to Ha Giang, travel time is about 5-6 hours. Techbus VN and Grouptour have several daily buses to Ha Giang from 15 USD (367.000 VND), from 6:30 AM to 7:45 PM.

How to get around Ha Giang

By motorbike

Nothing would be better to experience Ha Giang then driving on a motorbike.

Now that the legal stuff is taken care of, it's time for an adventure. You can find motorbike rental shops almost anywhere in Ha Giang. Prices can range from 180.000 VND/day + 80.000 VND for insurance (optional) to 550.000 VND/day + 250.000 VND for insurance, depending on the model of the bike. For motorbike rental in Ha Giang you can contact this number: 0866 19 6878.

By car

You can also rent a 7-seat car with driver in Ha Giang and explore this land according to your own schedule. You could even get a private car via a local travel agency. With a travel agency you won't be paying just for the vehicle, you will also be accompanied on every step of the way and have a unique trip made just for you. If that sounds like your jam than check out Vietnam Original Travel

By bus

If you can't ride a motorbike and nor afford to rent a car, you could take the bus.

From Hanoi or Sapa, after taking an overnight bus to Ha Giang, you continue the bus routes to the highland districts of Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van and Meo Vac, then get an easy-rider or a Xe Om (motorbike taxi) to drive you around. 

Read more about bus Bus Stations and Motorbike Rental in Ha Giang here.

Itinerary

Day 0: Hanoi - Ha Giang

After a 6-7 hour ride on the bus, dine at a local restaurant in Ha Giang and check in and spend the night in a hotel to get ready for the Ha Giang Loop. 

Where to stay:

• Ha Giang Loop Hostel & Tours: a quiet and affordable hostel right near city center, with free bikes, an outdoor swimming pool, a garden and a shared lounge. A night in the dorm room costs 108.000 VND ($4 USD)/person and a bungalow room with a virew of the garden and the mountains costs 405.000 VND ($16 USD).
   
• Ha Giang Hostel: a sustainable hostel with a built in bar, shared lounge, 24/7 reception and money exchange service, which costs 180.000 VND ($7 USD) /person/night in a dorm room and 495.000 VND ($20 USD) for a double room with a queen sized bed.

Day 1: Ha Giang - Trekking

The first day of exploring Ha Giang will be dedicated to Thon Tha, a beautiful but tiny village with a population of about 550 people, located in Phuong Do commune. Spend a day trekking from the neighborhood filled with traditional stilt houses with thatched roofs, terraced rice fields all the way through rocky mountain passes and back. You will get the opportunity to experience village life in an "off the beaten path" way and get a glimpse of authentic village life and feel the hospitality of local ethnic groups.

Day 2: Ha Giang - Du Gia

After breakfast, continue day 2 of the Ha Giang Loop towards Du Gia village, a relatively new destination on the Ha Giang travel map, but it's getting more and more recognition for its immaculate and peaceful landscapes. Stop by Du Gia Waterfall where you can  have a swim, then get back on the road where you can be mesmerized by beautiful golden terraced rice fields and winding mountain passes. Stop by Du Gia National Park, a must visit for nature lovers while in Ha Giang. The park is home to many rare fauna, floras, and animals in danger of extinction. 

Where to stay:

• Du Gia View Homestay: a cute rustic homestay in Du Gia, Meo Vac with large and comfortable rooms with mountain views. A single room costs 258.750 vnd ($10.5 usd) and a double room costs from 328.000 vnd ($13.42 usd) per night.
   
• Du Gia Coffee View Homestay: an eco-homestay with a terrace, front yard and view over rice fields and the mountains, which costs 110.000 vnd ($4 usd)/person for a night in the dorm room, and 297.000 vnd ($12.15 usd) for a double room.

Day 3: Du Gia - Meo Vac

Day 3, we leave for Meo Vac town. On the way you'll be mesmerized by beautiful golden terraced rice fields, winding mountain passes and cliffs overlooking the emerald water of Nho Que River. Visit locals villages like Mau Due and Lung Ho to admire daily lives of the ethnic groups and to have a bite of the local specialties. In the afternoon, continue the trip towards Meo Vac. Today's route will be the longest (73 km) so brace yourself, take as many stops on the way as you need. If you're in luck, stop by Sung Phin Market and Lung Phin Market, the biggest flea markets in Meo Vac held every week.

Night in Meo Vac town.

Where to stay:

• Lo Lo Homestay & Cafe Meo Vac: a rustic guesthouse near town center with a great view and friendly host, which costs 160.000 VND ($6.5 USD) /person/night in a dorm room and 390.000 VND ($16 USD) for a double room.
   
• Little Yen's Homestay: a homestay build in the style of traditional H'Mong houses with yinyang roofs, with included services like campfires, traditional herbal baths and massages, etc. A night in the dorm room costs 200.000 VND ($8 USD)/person and a double room with a private bathroom costs 900.000 VND ($36 USD).

Day 4: Meo Vac - Dong Van

Today, go for the ride of your life: the Ma Pi Leng Pass.

Ma Pi Leng Pass, a mountain pass located in Ha Giang province, connecting the towns of Dong Van and Meo Vac, is 20 km long and at the altitude of 1,500 m (4,900 ft). This spectacular mountain pass, whose name means "bridge of a horse's nose" in the Hmong language, is one of Four Great Passes in Northwest Vietnam, along with O Quy Ho Pass, Pha Din Pass and Khau Pha Pass.

Ma Pi Leng is a famous destination for travel enthousiasts, especially fans of adventure, for its breath-taking scenery, rugged cliffs and bends almost everywhere along the roads, making it one of the most impressive passes in Vietnam. 

Along the way, you'll want to take multiple stops just because everything is so beautiful. Check out our article for a detailed Ma Pi Leng guide.

Arrive at the town of Dong Van, where you will spend the night. Here you can visit Dong Van Ancient Town, where you can see historical remnants and ethnic groups with their ancient customs.

Where to stay:

• Binh Minh Hostel, which costs about 200.000 - 300.000 VND ($9 USD) per night for a double room, located right next to Dong Van market and Dong Van Ancient Town.
   
• Dong Van Cliffside House: a beautiful hotel with a beautiful view in the center of Dong Van, which costs about 1.200.000 VND ($52 USD) per night for a double room with a king sized bed.

Day 5: Dong Van - Quan Ba

If you happen to be in Dong Van on a Sunday, you're in luck because you can visit the Dong Van Sunday market. In addition to the purpose of trading, the market is also a place for cultural exchange between ethnic minorities groups in Ha Giang.

Continue the route to Quan Ba, visit the H'mong King's Palace, notoriously known as the "Opium Palace", is a century old mansion that survived 2 major wars - the French war and American war - and now recognized as the symbol of past glory for the H'Mong. Next, stop by Dong Van Stone Plateau, renowned for its stunning karst landscape, characterized by limestone formations that have been eroded over millions of years, resulting in dramatic peaks, caves, sinkholes, and terraced fields. Continue through Chin Khoanh Pass and Tham Ma Pass on the 4C route. Take as many stops as you need to rest and to admire the landscape. Arrive at the town of Quan Ba where you will spend the night.

Where to stay:

• Homestay Hoang Vu: a lovely and affordable family run homestay with wooden rooms and great views. A night in the wooden dorm room costs only 80.000 vnd ($3.7 usd) / person and 400.000 vnd ($16.37 usd) / night for a double room.
   
• Hong Thu Homestay & Bungalow: a cozy place ran by a friendly couple, which costs 100.000 vnd ($4 usd) / person for a night in the dorm room, 300.000 vnd ($12.27 usd) / night for a double room, and 600.000 vnd ($24.55 usd) / night for a garden view bungalow.

Day 6: Quan Ba - Lung Tam - HN

Start by visiting the weaving village of Lung Tam, a traditional craft village of the Hmong, under the foot of the hills in Quan Ba town. The products, including clothes, wallets, pillows and blankets with colorful patterns showcasing the indigenous culture, are made by skilled hands and through a unique process, which makes them so appreciated nationwide and internationally. Stop by and support the small businesses and to help keep the village alive.

Next, visit Quan Ba Heaven's Gate, a famous check-point ressembling a doorway to Heaven, where you get a full view of the Twin Mountains, the valley and small villages down below. Then head back to Ha Giang via the Bac Sum Pass. Finally, take the bus back to Hanoi or Sapa, finishing the 6 day Ha Giang Loop tour.

Final thoughts

So that was our recommendation of a Ha Giang Loop tour for 6 days, however you could always skip the places that you're not that interested in, or stay in a village a while longer to explore stuff at your own pace. You can also check out other tours that we suggest, including a 3-day-2-night itinerary and a detailed 4 day itinerary of the Ha Giang Loop.