Are you ready to embark on a thrilling adventure that will take you through some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in Vietnam? Then hop on a motorcycle and join the Ha Giang Loop 4-day tour with an easy rider!
After more than 6 hour bus riding, we arrived Ha Giang at 4.30 am. What made our starting part so easy despite of Ha Giang Loop difficulty was the hostel having all the thing we need.
Being too early in the morning, we decided to stay in Ha Giang Cozy Hostel and rested for a few hours. It is totally free if you hire an easy rider from the homestay or have Ha Giang motorcycle rental.
Ha Giang Loop 4 Day Tour: Day 1 – Ha Giang City to Nam Dam Village
On the morning of my first day, I received a briefing on my itinerary and destinations. Though it seemed a bit rushed, that’s typical for this area. Thankfully, Thuc, my Ha Giang easy rider, had created a flawless plan for my four-day road trip.
Quan Ba Heaven Gate
Upon reaching Ha Giang city, you catch a glimpse of the forthcoming beauty. However, the real spectacle occurs as you near Quan Ba. While atop the mountain pass, the cone-shaped mountains resemble rolling waves in the distance, as if they were cut out with wavy scissors.
Descending below unveils a sweeping valley, adorned with kid-cut mountains stretching to the foot of the pass. This area is aptly named Heaven’s Gate.
Thon Tha Village
After lunch, we continued our journey to the serene Thon Tha Village, where we were greeted by friendly locals who showed us around their traditional homes and shared stories about their way of life.
Nam Dam Village
Arriving at Nam Dam village and making my way to the local homestay, I realized the real Ha Giang heaven. The road length was approximately 50 kilometers, but it felt like we were transported to another world entirely. The dorm is next to terraced rice fields and scenic mountains.
Ha Giang Loop 4 Day Tour: Day 2 – Nam Dam Village to Dong Van Ancient Town
On the second day of exploring Ha Giang Loop map, we were ready for a longer journey from Nam Dam Village to Dong Van Town. As we left, we couldn’t help but marvel at the breathtaking landscapes that lay ahead of us.
Yen Minh Town
The journey was a whopping 100 kilometers, but it was worth every moment of it. Our first stop was in Yen Minh. The view was incredibly scenic with stunning mountains.
If you have much time, you should visit Yen Minh Pine Forest. A stunning image of straight rows of towering pine trees soaring upward into the sky will be presented to your eyes.
H’mong King Palace
The H’mong King Palace was our next stop, and it was nothing short of magnificent. The palace boasts a mix of Chinese and Hmong architecture, with a phoenix and dragon painting at the entrance.
Feng shui was also incorporated. Surrounded by a forest and red amaryllis flowers, the garden blooms with pink peach blossoms in spring.
Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark
The road winds through the stunning Karst Geopark, showcasing the Dong Van Karst Plateau’s magnificent geoheritage. The landscape along the way is incredible with rice fields, and thousands of limestone rocks.
Then, we visit the famous northernmost viewpoint in Vietnam – Lung Cu Flagpole and the Chinese border. The journey ends in Dong Van Town, where we rest at night.
Ha Giang Loop 4 Day Tour: Day 3 – Dong Van Ancient Town to Du Gia Village
After breakfast, we went around the town and there was a traditional market. We tried so much delicious things such as banh cuon, thang den, xoi ngu sac. This is a must-try activity if you have a chance, especially people who love diving into the local culture.
Ma Pi Leng Pass
Day three of our Ha Giang tour was a breathtaking adventure as it is the longest section of the Ha Giang motorbike tour. Our first stop was Ma Pi Leng Pass.
It is a thrilling motorbike ride that should be on everyone’s bucket list. This 20 km route is both beautiful and dangerous, with hairpin turns and curves that wind through the mountains.
Along the way, you’ll see stunning green mountains and rice terraces in the valleys below, as well as the turquoise Nho Que River. Be sure to take your time and stop for photos, but also keep an eye out for blind spots on the curves.
The road is mostly paved and has guard rails and striped barriers to keep you safe from the cliff’s edge.
Nho Que River
Experience the beauty of Nho Que River by taking a boat ride. This 192-kilometer river flows between Vietnam and China and has a turquoise color during the dry season.
To embark on your boat ride, make your way to the boat pier (Bến thuyền hẻm Tu Sản). There are three ways to get there:
- Take a 25-minute walk down from the coffee shops/motorbike parking area. This is an ideal option if you’re looking to save money while also getting some exercise.
- Take a motorcycle taxi for 50,000 VND ($2.20) per person each way. The drivers of these motorcycles are highly skilled, as the road leading to the pier is bumpy and extremely steep.
- Take the electric vehicle (coming soon!) – we heard from our tour guide that a road is getting built for an electric vehicle to take visitors.
If you’re afraid of heights, it’s recommended that you walk down to the pier, as the ride can be quite daunting. Even riding up on a motorbike can be quite scary. However, if you’re up for the challenge, a boat ride on the Nho Que River promises to be a memorable experience.
Once you’ve arrived at the pier, you’ll be directed to one of the boats. The ride lasts for 30-40 minutes, during which you’ll have ample opportunities to take in the stunning views and snap photos. The boat doesn’t go very fast, so you can relax and enjoy the ride.
One of the highlights of the boat ride is passing through Tu San Abyss Alley, considered the deepest alley in Southeast Asia. The two tall mountains surrounding the Alley make for a truly majestic landscape. The entire experience is incredibly humbling, as you’re reminded of the sheer size and beauty of nature.
Du Gia Village
As you make your way towards Du Gia, brace yourself for a breathtaking ascent through the lush green mountains that surround you. The vistas that unfold before you are nothing short of spectacular, with vast expanses of rice paddies and untouched nature stretching out as far as the eye can see.
Once we dropped off our bags, we couldn’t resist taking one last short ride to end the day. The ride takes me to a waterfall that is only 10-15 minutes away from the main town.
We took a refreshing swim in the waterfall. As the sun sets over the mountains, it creates a beautiful cascade of colors over Du Gia. This is the perfect way to end our third day of the Ha Giang Loop 4 day tour.
Then, we spent our night with authentic Ha Giang dinner, a lot of drinks and laughs when the karaoke machine came out.
Ha Giang Loop 4 Day Tour: Day 4 – Du Gia Village to Ha Giang City
There are three ways to finish the Ha Giang Loop from Du Gia: backtrack to DT182, complete the loop using DT176 (not recommended due to poor road conditions), or take the popular Du Gia cut through to DT181. In our journey, we chose to go through the DT181.
Du Gia Village to Ha Giang City
Embarking on the Ha Giang motorbike route, we were pleasantly surprised by the smooth road conditions. However, the ride back from Du Gia involves some unpaved and bumpy roads.
After leaving Du Gia, you’ll backtrack for a bit before cutting onto the DT181. As you pass through the small village, be sure to snap a photo. While the road will be fine for a while, it eventually turns wild due to ongoing road construction.
Hopefully, the roads will be finished when you arrive. The DT181 cut through promises another epic afternoon of stunning views and winding roads. As you approach town, you’ll retrace your steps from day 1, likely eager to end the journey.
Ha Giang to Hanoi
Don’t let exhaustion weigh you down after the epic 4 day tour on the Ha Giang Loop. Instead, hop on a bus back to Hanoi that same night and avoid adding another day of travel to your trip.
We recommend arranging this with your hostel at least 2 days prior to your departure. Our experience was seamless: we arrived in Ha Giang town around 2:30pm and were on the shuttle back to Hanoi by 4pm.
4 days on the Ha Giang Loop by motorbike is a memorable and quiet way to admire Vietnam’s beauty. The long drive is worth it for the stunning landscapes. Start planning your Ha Giang trip now!