Summary

The minimum time to give the Northern Ha Giang Loop any justness is three days. We call it jokingly ‘hurry, hurry’ to try to indicate that it would be three quite long days of motorcycling. It would be no possibilities for add-on activities like trekking and limits to time visiting the many attractions that the loop has to offer.

The tour would still ensure the completion of the full loop with inclusion of Heaven’s Gate, Dong Van Stone Plateau, the Ma Pi Leng mountain pass and the backroads of the spectacular inner Ha Giang mountains.

There will be no time for lazy sleep-in mornings, and we will be out on the road at 8 am each of the days.

Possibility to self-drive or to ride pillion (behind guide/driver). If self-driving, we recommend sound prior motorcycling experience

Accommodation will be one night in ethnic minority homestay and one night in hotel (choice of doing both nights in homestay)

Roundtrip bus transfer from Hanoi

1. Pickup:

   We will pick you up at 19:30 pm at the hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter the day before

2. Board the Night Bus:

   • Head to the bus on the scheduled day, and board the night bus to Ha Giang. Night buses often come equipped with sleeper seats, allowing you to rest during the journey.

3. Arrival in Ha Giang:

   • The journey from Hanoi to Ha Giang takes around 7-8 hours. You’ll arrive in Ha Giang early in the morning. Take a short break before starting the tour 

Itinerary

The tour may be done clockwise or anti-clockwise around the loop and will depend on driving skills, seasons and market-days. For those who want to include Dong Van or Meo Vac weekly Sunday market, you will need to start on a Friday morning.

Day 1: Ha Giang Motorbike Tour to Quan Ba – Du Gia, approx. 120 km drive

After some breakfast, we go out on ‘Road of Happiness’ and start driving north out of Ha Giang City. We climb up the Quan Ba mountain pass and enter the Dong Van Geopark and reach the Heaven’s Gate and pass the Fairy Hills. In or around the small town of Tam Son we find our lunch. Thereafter we venture deep into Ha Giang mountains and reach the picturesque village of Du Gia. Here we will stay with an ethnic minority family at their homestay. We will have dinner and breakfast with the family. (Day includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 2: Du Gia – Meo Vac – (Ma Pi Leng) – Dong Van – Lung Cu – Dong Van, approx. 110 to 150 km drive

We say thanks to the family of the homestay and head north, passing some of the most magnificent mountain passes you will ever have seen, pass the town of Meo Vac (where we take lunch) and move up the majestic Ma Pi Leng mountain pass before reaching Dong Van, the most northern town in Vietnam. Depending on season (days are very short in December – February) and weather we may continue up to Lung Cu, the most northern point of Vietnam. The Lung Cu Flag Tower can be climbed for stunning views. Back to Dong Van where we take into a hotel or homestay as agreed for the tour. Maybe a Hot Pot for dinner?! (Day includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Dong Van motorbike tour to Sa Phin – Yen Minh – Tam Son – Ha Giang City  approx. 150 km drive

After breakfast, we start our journey south. Soon we reach Sa Phin where we find the one-hundred-year-old palace of Vuong Chinh Duc – the King of H’mong people. We go down the Stone Plateau and reach Yen Minh where we take lunch and then climb a mountain pass covered in pine forest and sweeping rice terraces along our drive. Down to the Song La river valley until the road takes us up to Tam Son, over the Quan Ba mountain pass and back to Ha Giang. (Day includes Breakfast, Lunch)

Then you will board the night bus where you take a sleep and arrive in Hanoi early morning the next day

Price includes (All-inclusive tour)

• English Speaking Tour guide
• All meals, as indicated in the itinerary (local Vietnamese food)
• Drinking water, water or soft drinks during lunch, coffee and a smoothie where they can be found
• Accommodation (mix of ethnic minority homestay and hotel (shar by two – single room for extra fee possible)
• Quality genuine Japanese Motorcycles
• Full cover bike damage insurance
• All fuel cost
• All entrance tickets & permits
• Full or half-helmet, protective knee and elbow gear, basic rain clothes
• Bungee cords & plastic cover for your bags
• Free storage of excess luggage
• Free dorm bed, when arriving on a night bus, at Guest House (03.00-08.00)
• Rountrip bus tickets Hanoi – Ha Giang/Ha Giang – Hanoi 

Price excludes

• Gratuities & tips
• Alcoholic beverages if not served on behalf of third party like homestay
• Personal expenses
• Personal travel insurance