The Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam at a glance
Ha Giang sits on the northern edge of Vietnam, next to China. The Ha Giang Loop is a mountain circuit of roughly 350 km that most travellers cover in 3 or 4 days. It runs from Ha Giang City through Quan Ba, Yen Minh and Dong Van over the Ma Pi Leng Pass to Meo Vac and Du Gia, and back. The karst plateau lies mostly at 1,000–1,600 m.
This guide covers tours, easy riders, riding yourself, maps, itineraries, costs, the pass and the Nho Que River, markets, weather and the way from Hanoi. Prices are for 2026, in Vietnamese dong (VND) and US dollars, and they change from provider to provider. You can ride pillion behind a driver, rent a motorbike if you hold the right licence, or book a car with a driver.
Our picks: Ha Giang Loop tours
For most people the 3-day tour with an easy rider is a good balance of price and route, and you need no motorbike licence. With only one day, take the 1-day ride; if you would rather sit in a seat than on a saddle, take the jeep.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
3-day tour in a private open-air jeep
- Driver and separate guide
- 2 nights, private room
- Permit and entrance tickets
An exclusive jeep for your group, with meals, boat ticket and the Hmong King Palace ticket in the price. The trip from Hanoi to Ha Giang is not included.
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4-day loop with a local easy rider
- Local easy rider
- Travel insurance
- Entrance tickets
Four days of riding with accommodation and meals in the price, plus a semi-automatic bike, helmet and raincoat. Ask before booking where the tour starts.
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4-day loop with an extra night and bus pickup
- Bus pickup included
- Lung Cu Flag Tower ticket
- Travel insurance
Four days with an extra hostel night before the loop starts. The return bus and the border permit are extra; ask before booking whether you ride yourself, which needs a valid motorbike licence of the right class.
Check availability →2 or 3 days with an easy rider from Hanoi
- Return sleeper bus from Hanoi
- Motorbike and tour guide
- Nho Que River cruise
Choose the 2-day or the 3-day version; both include accommodation, meals, entrance fees and insurance. The border-area permit is paid separately.
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2 days 1 night with an easy rider
- Easy rider and motorbike
- Nho Que River boat ticket
- Travel insurance
A short loop with meals and entrance tickets included. The return bus from Hanoi is part of the Hanoi departure option only; the border permit is extra.
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One day by motorbike with an easy rider
- Easy rider and 150cc bike
- Lunch and entrance fees
- Helmet and rain gear
One day covers only part of the loop, so it suits a short stay. The border permit and travel insurance are extra.
Check availability →Ha Giang Loop tours and day trips
Motorbike tours with an easy rider, car and jeep trips and day tours around Ha Giang, with live prices and availability.
Plan your Ha Giang trip
Start with the tour options, then pick the places and practical pages you need.
Ha Giang Loop tours compared
Easy rider, self-ride or car: length, what is included and prices.
Motorbike tours with easy riders
How riding pillion works and what to check before you go.
Riding the loop yourself
Licence rules, bike rental and road conditions.
Loop map and route
Stages, distances and driving times between the towns.
3 or 4 day itinerary
Where to sleep and what to see on each day.
What the loop costs
Tours, bike rental, entrance fees and rooms in 2026.
Places, seasons and getting there
The pass, the towns and the practical details.
Ma Pi Leng Pass
The gorge, the Nho Que River and the viewpoints.
Dong Van
The old quarter and the Vuong family estate.
Ha Giang markets
Sunday markets in Dong Van and Meo Vac, and Sa Phin.
Dong Van Karst Plateau
The UNESCO Global Geopark and its landscape.
Lung Cu Flag Tower
Entrance fee, the climb and the northernmost point.
Quan Ba and the Twin Mountains
The first viewpoint after Ha Giang City.
Meo Vac and Du Gia
Market town, Du Gia village and the southern stretch.
Best time to visit
Rain by month, buckwheat flowers and rice terraces.
Getting to Ha Giang
Bus from Hanoi, Noi Bai airport and transfers.
Ha Giang City
The starting point of the loop, the museum and local food.
Where to stay
Homestays along the stages and what to ask.
Ha Giang and Sapa
How the two regions differ and how to combine them.
History and ethnic groups
The Hmong and other groups, and the Vuong family.
A few things to know before you go
Practical points that save time on the road.
Ha Giang is now part of Tuyen Quang
Since mid-2025 Ha Giang and Tuyen Quang form one province named Tuyen Quang. Ha Giang stays the name of the region and the loop. Ha Giang City is the former city area, now the wards Ha Giang 1 and Ha Giang 2.
Ha Giang City →Entrance fees changed on 1 January 2026
The Lung Cu Flag Tower costs VND 40,000 and the Vuong family estate VND 30,000 per person. Children under 6 enter free, and many groups pay half price.
Costs in 2026 →An international permit alone is not enough
To ride a motorbike yourself you need a valid licence with the right motorbike class. An international driving permit works together with your national licence, not instead of it.
Riding yourself →The skywalk rock is closed
The rock ledge sold as the skywalk near Ma Pi Leng (Mom da song ao) has been closed since 1 July 2026 until further notice. The pass road and the other viewpoints are separate places.
Ma Pi Leng Pass →Two different places in the far north
The Lung Cu Flag Tower and the northernmost point of Vietnam are not the same spot. They lie roughly 2 km apart.
Lung Cu →Beyond Ha Giang
Other places in northern Vietnam have their own guides.
Many travellers connect the loop with the terraces and trekking villages of Sapa. For limestone islands and cruises on the coast, see Ha Long Bay. This site stays with Ha Giang and the roads of the loop.
More independent Vietnam guides
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place.
Ha Long Bay
Cruises, caves and the quieter Bai Tu Long Bay.
Cat Ba Island
The island, its national park and kayaking in Lan Ha Bay.
Hoi An
The lantern-lit old town, My Son and the beaches.
Cam Thanh
Basket boats in the coconut forest near Hoi An.
Hue
The Imperial City, royal tombs and the Hai Van Pass.
Sapa
Treks through rice terraces, Fansipan and the Ha Giang Loop.
Nha Trang
Beaches, island trips and the Po Nagar towers.
Phu Quoc
Beaches, the Hon Thom cable car and island hopping.
Can Tho and the Mekong Delta
Floating markets, river towns and trips from Saigon.
Phu Yen
Basalt columns at Ganh Da Dia, quiet beaches and lagoons between Quy Nhon and Nha Trang.
Quy Nhon
Ky Co, Eo Gio, the Cham towers and island trips on the Binh Dinh coast.
Ba Na Hills
The Golden Bridge, the cable car and Da Nang's beaches, bridges and mountains.
Ha Giang Loop: frequently asked questions
How many days do I need for the Ha Giang Loop?
Tours run for 3 days / 2 nights or 4 days / 3 nights. Three days cover the main stages. Four days leave time for the Lung Cu detour or slower stops. See the itinerary page.
Do I need a licence to ride a motorbike on the loop?
Yes, if you ride yourself. You need a valid licence for the motorbike class, either Vietnamese or a foreign licence that Vietnam recognises. If you sit behind a driver, you do not need your own motorbike licence. See riding yourself and easy riders.
How much does a Ha Giang Loop tour cost?
Two package examples in 2026 start at VND 4,200,000 and VND 4,700,000 per person for 3 days / 2 nights, and at VND 5,200,000 and VND 5,700,000 for 4 days / 3 nights. Extras such as drinks, a return bus and tips can come on top. The cost page has the details.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
It depends on your passport. In 2026, German and British citizens can stay visa-free for up to 45 days, and Swiss citizens for tourism as well. Austrian and US citizens need a visa. The e-visa allows up to 90 days and costs USD 25 for one entry. Check your government's travel advice before you book.
When is the best time to go?
May to September brings the most rain, with June to August the wettest months. Buckwheat flowers are planned for October to December, with the peak in early November. Weather is never certain, so keep a spare day. See best time to visit.
Is ha-giang.org the official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no connection to the provincial authorities, a tourism office, the geopark management or any tour operator.