Ha Giang Loop itinerary: 3 or 4 days
Most Ha Giang Loop itineraries start and end in Ha Giang City and use Yen Minh (Yên Minh), Dong Van (Đồng Văn) and Du Gia (Du Già) as places to sleep. Tours are sold as 3 days and 2 nights or as 4 days and 3 nights. The 4-day version leaves room for the Lung Cu (Lũng Cú) side trip and the river at Nho Que.
Three days are enough to ride the loop, but not to see every stop on it. If you would rather have the days arranged for you, look at Ha Giang Loop tours. The distances behind this plan are on the loop map page.
The 4-day itinerary day by day
Ride times without stops, based on approximate 2026 values.
Day 1: Ha Giang City to Yen Minh
About 95 km in two stages: 45 km to Quan Ba (1.5 hours) and 50 km on to Yen Minh (1.5 to 2 hours). Stop at the Heaven Gate and the twin mountains in Quan Ba. Sleep in Yen Minh, where pine forest grows at roughly 1,000 to 1,300 m.
Day 2: Yen Minh to Dong Van
50 km, about 2 hours. In Dong Van, see the old quarter. The Vuong family palace is in Sa Phin (Sà Phìn). If you add Lung Cu, plan about 3 more hours for the ride and the tower. Sleep in Dong Van.
Day 3: Dong Van to Du Gia over Ma Pi Leng
22 km over the pass to Meo Vac (Mèo Vạc), about 1 hour, then 75 km to Du Gia, about 3 hours. This is a long day once you add time on the pass and at the river. Sleep in Du Gia.
Day 4: Du Gia to Ha Giang City
80 km, about 2.5 to 3 hours. Leave time for the road: parts of this stretch are narrow and uneven.
Our pick: a 4-day, 3-night tour
Four days and three nights give the loop room to breathe; this tour covers the nights and meals along the way.
Hand-picked tours, booked through 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.
Ha Giang Loop tours in 3 and 4 days
Easy rider, jeep and car tours with fixed itineraries, live prices and availability.
The 3-day version: what changes
You keep the same stops and drop the slack.
Merge the last two days
Meo Vac to Du Gia to Ha Giang City is 155 km, roughly 5.5 to 6 hours of riding without stops. The 3-day plan makes this one day, so it leaves little time at the market or the waterfall.
Skip Lung Cu or start early
The Lung Cu side trip is 25 km each way. On 3 days, leave it out unless you can start very early.
Lung Cu guide →Plan a buffer for weather
Fog, rain and landslides can change a day. A 3-day plan has no spare day, so be ready to cut a stop instead of rushing the road.
Best time to visit →The sleeper bus from Hanoi is not part of the counted loop days. Some tours add an extra dorm night in Ha Giang City before the start, so check whether a 3-day tour includes that night.
Two sample plans compared
For most visitors, 4 days is the better choice.
| Day | 4 days, 3 nights | 3 days, 2 nights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ha Giang City to Yen Minh, 95 km | Ha Giang City to Yen Minh, 95 km |
| 2 | Yen Minh to Dong Van, 50 km, optional Lung Cu | Yen Minh to Dong Van and over Ma Pi Leng to Meo Vac, 72 km |
| 3 | Dong Van over Ma Pi Leng to Meo Vac and Du Gia, 97 km | Meo Vac to Du Gia to Ha Giang City, 155 km |
| 4 | Du Gia to Ha Giang City, 80 km | – |
For most visitors, 4 days is the better plan: it keeps each day under 100 km and leaves room for Lung Cu and the river. Choose 3 days only if you accept a long final day. Another return route over Bao Lam and national road QL34 through Bac Me is used by some itineraries; check which one yours uses.
Before you plan the days
Four things that change an itinerary.
The closed rock ledge
The rock ledge Mom da song ao (Mỏm đá sống ảo) at Ma Pi Leng has been closed since 1 July 2026 until further notice. Do not build a day around it.
Ma Pi Leng Pass →Sunday markets
Dong Van and Meo Vac hold their market on Sunday. Plan the nights so you wake up in one of them on that day.
Markets →Registration
Every lodging must register foreign guests, even for 1 night. Keep your passport with you at each stop.
Add Sapa
A bus links Ha Giang City and Sapa in about 6 to 6.5 hours. Read how to combine the two on the Ha Giang to Sapa page or see the Hanoi bus options. For the Sapa side, see the Ha Giang Loop guide on visitsapa.org.
Ha Giang Loop itinerary: frequently asked questions
Is 3 days enough for the Ha Giang Loop?
It is enough to ride it, with a long last day of about 155 km. It is not enough to see every stop. Four days give you a calmer pace and room for Lung Cu.
Where should I sleep on the loop?
The usual overnight stops are Yen Minh, Dong Van and Du Gia, with Ha Giang City before and after. Not every variant uses all of them, so confirm the stops of your tour or plan.
How long does the Lung Cu detour take?
Allow about 3 extra hours. The ride from Dong Van is 25 km each way, about 1 hour, plus time at the tower.
Do I need a licence to ride the itinerary myself?
Yes, a valid licence for Vietnam that covers motorbikes. A car licence alone does not. An easy rider drives you, and then you do not need a motorbike licence. See riding the loop yourself.
Should I go clockwise or the other way?
The stages above run north first and return via Du Gia. Many tours follow this order, but you can plan it differently.
How long is the bus from Ha Giang to Sapa?
About 6 to 6.5 hours, roughly 240 km, from VND 350,000. Check the current departures before you plan the connection.