Ha Giang Loop 3 Days 2 Nights – Tour Overview
Your tour start date = Day 1 in Ha Giang City
Example: if you book a tour start date of 10 October, take the bus to Ha Giang on 9 October.
The Ha Giang Loop 3 days tour is our most popular way to ride Vietnam's legendary northern loop. In three days you cross the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark from end to end: Quan Ba Heaven Gate, the Twin Mountains, Tham Ma Pass, the H'Mong King's Palace, the Ma Pi Leng Pass and Skywalk above Tu San Canyon, and the quiet rice valley of Du Gia.
This Ha Giang Loop 3 days 2 nights itinerary covers the full loop without retracing your steps. Day 1 climbs from Ha Giang City to Dong Van (130 km). Day 2 is the big scenery day over Ma Pi Leng, the M-Pass and Sa Ly Pass down into Du Gia (100 km). Day 3 swims at Du Gia waterfall and returns through Duong Thuong valley and the Thai An forest road (90 km). You'll spend two nights in local homestays, with home-cooked dinners, music, games and "happy water".
The tour starts at 08:00 on Day 1 in Ha Giang City. Travel up the day before (Day 0) by day bus or night bus. Your Day 0 night at Loop Trails Hostel is included, so you start Day 1 rested, fed and briefed. Ride as a passenger with an Easy Rider, ride your own motorbike behind a guide, or travel in comfort by Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. The stops, meals and homestays are the same whichever you choose.
Easy Rider
Sit back on the back of a motorbike while an experienced local driver handles every pass. Best for first-timers and photographers.
Self-drive
Ride your own semi-automatic or manual motorbike in the group, with a guide leading the way. Requires riding experience and a valid licence.
Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Same route and stops in a modern 4x4 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (not an old army jeep), with a professional driver and an English-speaking guide. Great for couples, families and non-riders.
Why Choose the 3-Day Ha Giang Loop
All the signature sights of the Loop in three days, at a comfortable pace.
Ma Pi Leng Pass & Skywalk
Ride one of Vietnam's "four great passes" and walk the cliff-edge Skywalk above the Nho Que River.
Tu San Canyon viewpoint
Look straight down into one of the deepest canyons in Southeast Asia.
Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark
Tham Ma Pass, stone-walled H'Mong houses at Lao Sa and the H'Mong King's Palace, all on Day 1.
Remote Sa Ly – Lung Ho – Nam Lang route
A quiet backroad most short tours skip, with huge panoramas on the way down to Du Gia.
A night in Du Gia & a waterfall swim
Sleep among rice fields in Du Gia and start Day 3 with a swim at Du Gia waterfall.
A true loop, no backtracking
Return via Duong Thuong valley and the Thai An forest road instead of repeating Day 1.
Ha Giang Loop 3 Days Itinerary
Your tour start date = Day 1 in Ha Giang City
Example: if you book a tour start date of 10 October, take the bus to Ha Giang on 9 October.
Travel to Ha Giang · The Day Before Your Tour Starts
Day 0 is not a tour day. It is the day you travel up to Ha Giang City, the day before your Ha Giang Loop 3 days tour starts. Take a day bus (departures from 07:00) and arrive the same afternoon or evening, or a night bus (departures until about 21:00) and arrive in the early morning. Either way, check in to your dorm bed at Loop Trails Hostel (this night is included) and rest before the tour begins at 08:00 on Day 1.
Pick-up points to Ha Giang
Bus types
Ha Giang → Quan Ba → Yen Minh → Dong Van
The longest riding day of the Ha Giang Loop 3 days. You climb from the city onto the rock plateau, visit a H'Mong linen-weaving village, then ride deep into the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark to the Vietnam–China border area.
Tour Starts · Breakfast & Loop Briefing
Breakfast at Loop Trails Hostel, meet your guide and riders, get your helmet and knee/elbow pads fitted, and go through the safety briefing.
Bac Sum Pass & Quan Ba Heaven Gate
Wind up the Bac Sum Pass switchbacks to Quan Ba Heaven Gate, around 1,500 m above sea level. It's your first big view over the valleys.
Quan Ba Twin Mountains
Stop at the famous Twin Mountains (Fairy Bosom Mountains), two perfectly rounded hills rising from the Quan Ba valley floor.
Lunch in Tam Son Town
Local lunch in the heart of Quan Ba district.
Lung Tam Linen Village
See how H'Mong women turn hemp into linen by hand: spinning, weaving, indigo dyeing and beeswax batik, a craft passed down for generations.
Yen Minh & Tham Ma Pass
Ride past Yen Minh town into the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark and up the famous zig-zag of Tham Ma Pass, one of the most photographed roads on the Loop.
Lao Sa Village
A H'Mong village of stone-walled, earthen houses near the China border that has changed little in a century.
H'Mong King's Palace (Vuong Palace)
Explore the former royal residence of the H'Mong King in Sa Phin valley, a mix of H'Mong, Chinese and French architecture built from stone and pơ mu wood.
Arrive Dong Van · Homestay Night
Check in to a local homestay in Dong Van. In the evening: dinner, local games, traditional music and "happy water" (rice wine) with your group.
Dong Van → Ma Pi Leng Pass → Meo Vac → Du Gia
The signature scenery day of the Ha Giang Loop 3 days 2 nights. You'll ride Vietnam's most legendary pass, walk the Skywalk above Tu San Canyon, then take a remote backroad over Sa Ly Pass and down into the peaceful Du Gia valley.
Breakfast & Check-out
Breakfast at the homestay in Dong Van, then pack up and get ready to ride.
Ma Pi Leng Pass
Ride the legendary Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of Vietnam's four great mountain passes, carved into the cliff high above the Nho Que River.
Ma Pi Leng Skywalk Trek Trek
Walk the narrow Skywalk path along the cliff face for the best views of the canyon and the winding emerald river far below.
Tu San Canyon Viewpoint
Stop above Tu San Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in Southeast Asia, with limestone walls dropping hundreds of metres to the Nho Que River.
Meo Vac Town
Ride down through Meo Vac, the district town at the foot of Ma Pi Leng.
Lunch in Sung Trai & the M-Pass
Lunch in Sung Trai, then ride the "M-Pass", a road that zig-zags down the mountain in the shape of a giant letter M.
Mau Due, Sa Ly Pass & Lung Ho Viewpoint
Pass through Mau Due and climb Sa Ly Pass to Lung Ho viewpoint. This remote stretch sees very few other travellers.
Nam Lang Panorama & Du Gia Pass
Take in the wide Nam Lang panorama, then ride down Du Gia Pass into Du Gia village, inside Du Gia National Park.
Arrive Du Gia · Homestay Night
Check in to a peaceful local homestay among the rice fields. Dinner, music, fun games and "happy water" to celebrate your last night on the Loop.
Du Gia → Duong Thuong → Thai An → Ha Giang
A relaxed final day: a morning swim, a hidden H'Mong valley, two waterfalls and a forest road along the Mien River back to Ha Giang City. You won't ride back the same way you came on Day 1.
Breakfast with a Rice-Field View
Slow breakfast at the homestay overlooking Du Gia's rice terraces.
Swim at Du Gia Waterfall Swim
A fresh morning dip in the clear pools of Du Gia waterfall. Bring swimwear and a quick-dry towel.
Duong Thuong Valley
Ride through Duong Thuong, a secluded H'Mong valley enclosed by mountains, with scattered farmhouses and maize terraces.
Duong Thuong Viewpoint
Stop above the valley for the last big panorama of the trip.
Lunch in Thai An
Farewell lunch in Thai An.
Thai An Waterfall
A short stop at Thai An waterfall to stretch your legs.
Forest Road Along the Mien River
Leave Thai An on a green forest road that follows the Mien River back down to Ha Giang City.
Arrive Loop Trails Hostel · End of Tour
Back at Loop Trails Hostel. Shower, relax, then take your bus back to Hanoi (Airport or Old Quarter) or on to your next destination: Sapa, Ninh Binh, Cat Ba, Ha Long or Cao Bang.
Ha Giang Loop 3 Days Route Map
Ha Giang → Bac Sum Pass → Quan Ba (Twin Mountains, Lung Tam) → Yen Minh → Tham Ma → Lao Sa → H'Mong King's Palace → Dong Van → Ma Pi Leng → Meo Vac → Sung Trai → Mau Due → Sa Ly → Du Gia → Duong Thuong → Thai An → Ha Giang
Getting to Ha Giang & Onward Travel
What's Included in the Ha Giang Loop 3 Days Tour
Included
- Professional drivers & local English-speaking guideEasy Rider, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon driver and English-speaking guide
- 3 nights accommodation (dorm beds)2 nights on the Loop (local homestays in Dong Van & Du Gia) + 1 night before the tour at Loop Trails Hostel
- All meals on tour: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinnersLocal home-cooked food; vegetarian & dietary needs on request
- Vehicle for the whole tripMotorbike for Easy Rider & Self-drive · Jeep Wrangler Rubicon for the Jeep Tour
- Fuel for the entire journeyMotorbike or Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, no extra fuel costs
- Entrance tickets & activities in the itineraryIncl. Lung Tam linen village, H'Mong King's Palace and the Ma Pi Leng Skywalk
- Safety gearHelmet, knee & elbow protective pads, raincoat
- Drinking waterOne 1.5 L bottle per person, per day
- 24/7 support throughout the trip
- Basic travel insuranceWe recommend you also carry your own comprehensive travel insurance
Not Included
- Bus tickets to / from Ha Giang Add-onNot in the listed tour price. Add at checkout
- Private room upgrade Add-onTour price includes dorm beds. Upgrade at checkout
- Border area permit: 260,000 VND / personRequired for the border zone. We handle the paperwork for you
- Personal expensesSnacks, extra drinks, souvenirs, laundry
- Tips for drivers & guideOptional, always appreciated
Ha Giang Loop 3 Days Reviews
"We did the Ha Giang Loop 3 Days 2 Nights tour and it was the best thing we did in Vietnam. Ma Pi Leng was unreal, and the Skywalk views were insane. Du Gia was the perfect peaceful night."
"Amazing route and great pacing for 3 days. This Ha Giang Loop 3 Days 2 Nights itinerary covered all the highlights without feeling rushed. The guides were professional and super fun."
"Loved the mix of epic passes and village life. The homestays were cozy, and the Du Gia waterfall swim was a highlight. Highly recommend Easy Rider if you want to relax and enjoy the views."
Ha Giang Loop 3 Days – FAQs
Choose the date of Day 1, the first riding day. The tour starts at 08:00 on Day 1 at Loop Trails Hostel in Ha Giang City, so you need to travel to Ha Giang the day before (Day 0). Take a day bus (departures from 07:00, arriving the same afternoon or evening) or a night bus (departures until about 21:00, arriving in the early morning). Your dorm bed at Loop Trails Hostel for the Day 0 night is included. For example, if your tour start date is 10 October, take the bus to Ha Giang on 9 October.
Yes. 3 days 2 nights is the most popular length for the Ha Giang Loop. You'll ride the full loop (around 320 km) and see the signature highlights: Quan Ba Heaven Gate, Tham Ma Pass, the H'Mong King's Palace, Dong Van, Ma Pi Leng Pass and Skywalk, Tu San Canyon and Du Gia. If you want Lung Cu Flag Tower, Lung Khuy Cave and a Nho Que River boat trip too, choose the 4-day loop.
Choose Easy Rider if you've never ridden mountain roads, since you sit behind an experienced local driver. Choose self-drive only if you're a confident motorbike rider with a valid licence. Choose the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon tour if you prefer comfort, are travelling with family or older travellers, or don't want to ride. It's a modern 4x4 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, not an old army jeep. All three options follow the same itinerary, stops, meals and homestays.
Buses to Ha Giang depart between 07:00 and 21:00 and take around 6–7 hours. You can be picked up at Hanoi Airport (Noi Bai), Hanoi Old Quarter, Ninh Binh, Sapa, Ha Long, Cat Ba or Cao Bang. Choose from Limousine bus, VIP cabin sleeper, cabin sleeper or regular sleeper bus. Bus tickets are an add-on you select at checkout, and your first night at Loop Trails Hostel is included in the tour.
Yes. Foreign visitors need a border area permit because the Loop runs close to the Vietnam–China border. The fee is 260,000 VND per person and is not included in the tour price. We handle all the paperwork for you. Just bring your passport when you check in at Loop Trails Hostel.
The tour price includes dorm beds for 3 nights: 1 night at Loop Trails Hostel before the tour, then 2 nights in local homestays in Dong Van and Du Gia. Blankets, pillows and hot showers are provided. If you prefer more privacy, you can add a private room upgrade at checkout.
Yes. Most of our guests have never done a motorbike trip before and choose the Easy Rider or Jeep Wrangler Rubicon option. Every rider gets a helmet, knee and elbow pads and a raincoat. Basic travel insurance is included and we offer 24/7 support. Our local drivers ride these passes every week and adjust the pace and route to the weather.
The Loop runs all year. September to November brings golden rice terraces and buckwheat flowers with clear skies. March to May is mild with blossoms. June to August is lush and green but has afternoon rain, and the Nho Que River is at its most emerald. December to February is cold (sometimes below 5°C at night), so bring warm layers.
Pack light in a small backpack: a warm jacket, long trousers, closed shoes for the Ma Pi Leng Skywalk, swimwear and a quick-dry towel for Du Gia waterfall, sunscreen, sunglasses, a power bank, your passport (needed for the permit) and some cash for personal expenses. We provide the helmet, knee and elbow pads, raincoat and daily drinking water. You can leave your big luggage at Loop Trails Hostel.
We arrive back at Loop Trails Hostel around 16:00 on Day 3. From there you can take an evening or night bus to Hanoi (Airport or Old Quarter), Sapa, Ninh Binh, Cat Ba, Ha Long or Cao Bang. Add your onward bus at checkout and we'll arrange it.
Once you have a confirmed travel date, book as soon as you can. Most guests book 1–3 months in advance, especially for September–November. Jeep Wrangler Rubicon availability is limited compared with motorbikes, so book the jeep tour early so we can arrange everything properly.
