Ha Giang Safari Group Tour | 3-4 Days | from HANOI, VIETNAM

Overview

Embark on a thrilling motorbike adventure through the heart of Ha Giang, Vietnam, and immerse yourself in its awe-inspiring landscapes and vibrant culture. Roar along winding mountain roads, conquer the legendary Ma Pi Leng Pass, and cruise the Nho Que River on a boat trip. Discover remote villages, visit the H’mong King’s Palace, and explore Dong Van’s charming markets. Stay in local home stays and savour traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Engage with the warm-hearted locals, test your karaoke skills, and witness the rich traditions of the local H’mong ethnic communities. This epic journey offers adventurous travellers a chance to make new travel buddies, explore incredible scenery and create lifelong memories!

Itinerary: 3 Days / 2 Nights

DAY 1

PLACES VISITED: HA GIANG CITY – HEAVEN GATE (QUAN BA) – LUNG TAM VILLAGE – LUNG – KHUY CAVE – YEN MINH

• START 8:30am: The tour will start at Safari Hostel in Ha Giang City where you will have a delicious breakfast whilst going over the itinerary and other details about the trip.
• You will set off on the bike at 9.30am. During the first day’s riding, you will see a big change in the scenery as you drive along the mountain roads and snake rolls (hairpin bends) before arriving in the town of Tam Son.
• You will cross the Bac Sum Pass and go up to Heaven’s Gate to see the Twin Mountains and the expansive view of Tam Son town.
• You will then pass through the town of Quan Ba (where lunch will be served), you visit Lung Tam village. Nestled under the hills, this small village attracts travellers thanks to its astonishing landscape, serenity and the H’mong ethnic minority women in their colourful local dress.
• Nearby is Lung Khuy cave, which can be reached via a short uphill hike. This stunning cave is large and pristine with many stalagmites and stalactites (it’s worth the hike to get there!).
• Afterwards we will drive by the Pines Hills Forest where we will pause a while and then continue to Yen Minh town. Here you will arrive at our homestay for the night and enjoy a delicious family dinner. You’ll also get a chance to test your singing – let’s karaoke!

DAY 2

PLACES VISITED: YEN MINH TOWN – THAM MA PASS – LAO SA VILLAGE – H’MONG KING – LUNG CU FLAG POINT – DONG VAN TOWN

• START 8:00am: After breakfast, you will head to Tham Ma pass, which is a must see. In the past this pass was used to test horses. After cutting along steep, treeless valleys, the road winds up to what has become known as the ‘Nine-Turn Pass‘ and ends in Lao Sa village. This is one of the oldest villages in the country.
• The tour continues through the Dong Van Karst Plateau, which is a major geo heritage sight in Vietnam. You will see a lot of terraced rice fields, thousands of limestone rocks, magnificent views and hidden villages in the valley. You will also visit Vuong’s Palace which was once home to a H’mon King, Vuong Duc Chinh and his son Vuong Chi Sinh.
• Your riders will then take you to the Flag Point of Vietnam, located near to the Chinese border and the most famous Northern viewpoint of the country. The trip will continue to the town of Dong Van, where you will join a family dinner with hotpot or Vietnamese food. In the evening there is a famous local night market, which is a great opportunity to enjoy some local street food.

DAY 3:

PLACES VISITED: DONG VAN TOWN – MA PI LENG PASS – NHO QUE RIVER – MAU DUE – DUONG THUONG – THUAN HOA – HA GIANG CITY

• START 8:00am: After breakfast at the homestay, you will drive to the famous Ma Pi Leng pass where you can see the Nho Que river below. This pass is well known, as most travellers call this the most breathtaking part of the loop!
• You will ride down to the river to enjoy a boat cruise, with activities like swimming or kayaking.
• The journey will continue to more distant villages, where you will see how people live in remote parts of Vietnam. You will pass through Mau Due and Meo Vac, with a pit stop for lunch.
• Afterwards, you will start to head back towards Ha Giang City, cruising through mountainous trail roads of our province and past some villages with amazing landscapes. You will arrive back at Safari Hostel in Ha Giang City around 4.30pm/5pm (flexible depending on your return time to Hanoi or Sapa).

Itinerary: 4 Days / 3 Nights

DAY 1:

PLACES VISITED: HA GIANG CITY – HEAVEN GATE (QUAN BA) – LUNG TAM VILLAGE – LUNG KHUY CAVE – YEN MINH

• START 8:30am: The tour will start at Safari Hostel in Ha Giang City where you will have a delicious breakfast whilst going over the itinerary and other details about the trip.
• You will set off on the bike at 9.30am. During the first day’s riding, you will see a big change in the scenery as you drive along the mountain roads and snake rolls (hairpin bends) before arriving in the town of Tam Son.
• You will cross the Bac Sum Pass and go up to Heaven’s Gate to see the Twin Mountains and the expansive view of Tam Son town.
• You will then pass through the town of Quan Ba, where lunch will be served. Nestled under the hills, this small village attracts travellers thanks to its astonishing landscape, serenity and the H’mong ethnic minority women in their colourful local dress.
• Nearby is Lung Khuy cave, which can be reached via a short uphill hike. This stunning cave is large and pristine with many stalagmites and stalactites (it’s worth the hike to get there!).
• Afterwards we will drive by the Pines Hills Forest where we will pause a while and then continue to Yen Minh town. Here you will arrive at our homestay for the night and enjoy a delicious family dinner. You’ll also get a chance to test your singing – let’s karaoke!

DAY 2:

PLACES VISITED: YEN MINH – THAM MA PASS – LAO SA VILLAGE – H’MONG KING – LUNG CU FLAG POINT – DONG VAN TOWN

• START 8:00am: After breakfast, you will head to Tham Ma pass, which is a must see. In the past this pass was used to test horses. After cutting along steep, treeless valleys, the road winds up to what has become known as the ‘Nine-Turn Pass‘ and ends in Lao Sa village. This is one of the oldest villages in the country.
• The tour continues through the Dong Van Karst Plateau, which is a major geo heritage sight in Vietnam. You will see a lot of terraced rice fields, thousands of limestone rocks, magnificent views and hidden villages in the valley. You will also visit Vuong’s Palace which was once home to a H’mon King, Vuong Duc Chinh and his son Vuong Chi Sinh.
• Your riders will then take you to the Flag Point of Vietnam, located near to the Chinese border and the most famous Northern viewpoint of the country. The trip will continue to the town of Dong Van, where you will join a family dinner with hotpot or Vietnamese food. In the evening there is a famous local night market, which is a great opportunity to enjoy some local street food.

DAY 3:

PLACES VISITED: DONG VAN TOWN – MA PI LENG PASS – NHO QUE RIVER – MAU DUE – DU GIA

• START 8:00am: Enjoy breakfast and visit Dong Van Market to see different ethnic groups with their colourful local dress. Afterwards, you will be driven to the most beautiful landscapes of Ha Giang Province, going through the famous Ma Pi Leng pass where you can see the Nho Que river below.
• This pass is well known, as most travellers call this the most breathtaking part of the loop!
• You will ride down to the river to enjoy a boat cruise, with activities like swimming or kayaking.
• The journey will continue to more distant villages, where you will see how people live in remote parts of Vietnam. You will pass through Mau Due and Meo Vac, with a pit stop for lunch.
• As you get closer to Du Gia, the landscapes will change into the most amazing scenery you can imagine… you will end up in a small village called Du Gia village and we will check-in at the homestay for the night. We will have a family dinner and you will have one last opportunity to show off your karaoke skills!

DAY 4:

PLACES VISITED: DU GIA – YEN MINH – LUNG TAM VILLAGE – THUAN HOA – HA GIANG CITY

• START 8:30am: You will enjoy breakfast and start the day with a stop at the beautiful Tham Luong Waterfall, where you can have a refreshing swim in the natural clear pool.
• The tour will have one last stop visiting Lung Tam linen village, which is nestled under the foot hills of Quan Ba. Here you will be greeted by friendly locals and will learn a bit about the 41-step process of making linen which is the magic fabric that the women wear to keep warm in the bitter cold winters of this mountainous region. 
• Finally, you will head back towards Ha Giang City, cruising through mountainous roads of our province and past some villages with amazing landscapes. You will arrive back at Safari Hostel around 4.30pm/5pm (flexible depending on your return time to Hanoi or Sapa).

Accommodation

During the tour you will stay in home stays with local ethnic minorities. The rooms are shared dorm rooms (shared between 3-10 people). If you prefer a private room there will be an extra cost of 200.000 VND/night/person (around $10 USD). Please let us know at the time of booking if you prefer a private room. 

Food

You will eat Vietnamese Cuisine made with fresh ingredients from the local area. Vegetarian and vegan options are available and specific diets can be catered for, please inform us if you have any special dietary requirements when booking.

Guide

Local Vietnamese and English Speaking Guide. Experienced local Easy Riders. 

What’s Included

INCLUDED:

• Quality motorbike
• Helmet
• Option of easy rider (experienced local motorbike driver)
• Petrol
• Insurance for motorbike
• All meals during the tour: breakfast, lunch, dinner
• All accommodation at local home stay
• Water
• All entrance fees / tickets
• Boat tour (on 3D, 2N and 4D, 3N tour)
• Free gift: Ha Giang loop t-shirt

NOT INCLUDED:

• Personal travel insurance
• Spending money for snacks, souvenirs, tips
• Alcohol

FAQs

• What should I bring with me? You should pack sunscreen, sunglasses, a swim suit, a thin jacket, comfortable clothes for riding, hiking shoes, a waterproof jacket in case of rain. In the winter you will need to take warm clothes, full-length trousers, socks, a warm jumper, and a big jacket to protect you from the wind and cold.
• Is it safe to ride a motorbike on the Ha Giang Loop? While the roads can be challenging due to their winding nature, the trip can be safe with proper guidance and equipment. Follow the instructions of your tour guide for a safe experience.
• Do I need a driving license to self ride? It is recommended that you have an International Driving Permit, A or A1. 
• What is the best time of year to visit Ha Giang? The best time to do the Ha Giang Loop is October to November OR March to May when the weather is cooler and drier. While rain can happen year-round, it’s more frequent from June to September. The coldest months are December to February.

Further Information

Riding preference: You can do this tour two ways:

• Easy Rider – This means that you will sit on the back seat of a motorbike whilst one of our experienced motorbike riders drives you around the loop.
• Self Driving – This means you will ride the motorbike yourself. In order to do this, you will to be a competent motorbike rider with an International Driving Permit, A or A1. Be aware that the roads on the Ha Giang Loop are extremely curvy and can be dangerous for non-experienced drivers. If there is any doubt in your mind that you may be unable to manage a motorbike over such terrain, please choose the easy rider option. It is also a good idea to check that your travel insurance policy covers you for riding a motorbike in Southeast Asia. 

Please tell us which riding option you prefer at the time of booking.