Ha Giang Loop: 3-Day Motorbike Tour with Small Group & Local Stops

4.98

(606 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Hands gripping the handlebars, I could smell the sharp green of wet leaves as we left Ha Giang city behind. Our guide, Minh, handed me a helmet and grinned like he’d seen this nervous look before—maybe he had. The bikes rumbled to life and suddenly we were weaving through valleys that felt impossibly wide. At Quan Ba Heaven Gate, Minh pointed out the Twin Mountains and told us the fairy story behind them. I tried to say their name in Vietnamese—Li laughed so hard she nearly dropped her phone. The air up there tasted thin and sweet, almost like rain even though it was dry.

Lunch in Yen Minh was rice and pork with pickled greens that made my mouth tingle—simple but perfect after the ride. Kids waved from the roadside near Tham Ma Pass, where we stopped for photos (and honestly just to catch our breath). Those switchbacks are no joke. The Hmong King Palace surprised me; its stone walls felt cool under my hand and Minh explained how they built it over a century ago with a mix of French and Chinese styles. Later that night in Dong Van ancient town, everyone seemed to be out—old men playing cards under yellow lanterns, teenagers sharing snacks on low stools. I wandered until my legs gave out.

The next morning started with strong coffee and fried eggs before tackling Ma Pi Leng Pass. It’s famous for being dangerous but what got me was how quiet it felt at the top—just wind and far-off voices echoing up from the canyon. We took a boat along Nho Que River; water so green it looked fake in photos, but real enough when it splashed onto my shoes. Lunch in Meo Vac was quick—rice again (I never got tired of it) then back on the road toward Du Gia village where we stayed that night. There were fireflies outside after dinner—I hadn’t seen those since I was a kid.

On our last day we visited Lung Tam weaving village. Watching women work linen by hand made me realize how much patience lives here—their fingers moved so fast but somehow gentle at the same time. We rode back into Ha Giang city late afternoon, dust on our faces and arms sore from holding on tight. I still think about that view from Ma Pi Leng Pass when things get noisy back home.