Ma Pi Leng Pass Motorbike Tour: 2 Days Off-Road Dong Van

Two Days on Dirt Bike Through Ha Giang's Limestone Valleys

You ride your own dirt bike through Ha Giang's mountain passes and limestone valleys for two days, staying overnight in a traditional house and eating all meals with the group. The tour hits the loop's main attractions (Pac Sum, Heaven Gate, Ma Pi Leng, Dong Van Karst Plateau, and Hmong villages) without stretching into a third day. Your English-speaking guide handles navigation and village visits, so you focus on the riding and the scenery. Pickup is at the office in Ha Giang City at 8:30 am on day one.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Ha Giang to Dong Van Highlights

• Start at Ha Giang office 8:30 am
• Test and choose suitable dirt bike
• Ride off-road through backroad and rocky road
• Stop at Pac Sum Pass viewpoint
• Ride to Heaven Gate and enjoy valley view
• Visit Lung Tam Village and local family
• Drive to Trang Kim Pass and see panorama
• Lunch at Yen Minh with terrace rice view
• Ride Tham Ma road and visit 9 step road
• Pass Lao Xa and Cao villages to Dong Van
• Visit Hmong King Palace
• Ride to Dong Van town and check in
• Free time and dinner in Dong Van town

Day 2: Dong Van to Ha Giang Return

• Breakfast and check out at 8:30 am
• Drive Ma Pi Leng Pass and stop viewpoint
• Continue to Meo Vac and visit local market
• Drive through Mau Due valley village
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Ride to Yen Minh town
• Return to Ha Giang via Quan Ba and Pac Sum Pass
• Arrive Ha Giang city around 5:00 pm
• Relax, shower, and dinner on your own

The experience

So you've got maybe 48 hours and you want to see the whole Ha Giang Loop without spending three days on it. That's exactly what this ride is built for. You start at 8:30 am at the office in Ha Giang City, pick your own dirt bike after a quick test run on the backroads, and then you're off. The first day takes you through Pac Sum Pass (over 1,000 meters), Heaven Gate, Tham Ma's famous nine-step road, and down into Dong Van, where you sleep in a private room at a traditional house. Day two is the showstopper: Ma Pi Leng Pass and the Nho Que River valley, which is why most people say this is the most beautiful stretch of the entire loop.

The riding itself is a mix of paved mountain roads and actual backroad dirt. You're not stuck on a highway. Your guide speaks English and knows where the villages are, so you stop at Lung Tam to walk around Dao minority settlements, visit the Hmong King Palace (built in 1902), and eat lunch at local restaurants with views of rice terraces. The pace is slower than a three-day tour because you're covering the highlights, not every single corner, which means you're not exhausted by day two. Water is provided twice daily, and the protective gear (helmet, rain coat, body protection) is included, so you're not buying anything extra on the road.

The second morning you leave Dong Van after breakfast and head straight to Ma Pi Leng Pass. The road itself is the attraction here, and you'll understand why once you're riding it. The valley drops away on one side, the Nho Que River is far below, and the limestone mountains go on forever. You stop at viewpoints to walk around and take pictures, then continue through Meo Vac (if there's a market day, you get 30 minutes to look around), and ride back toward Ha Giang through Yen Minh and Quan Ba. You're back in the city by 5 or 5:30 pm, which gives you time to shower and grab dinner on your own.

What’s included

Your two days include the dirt bike and fuel, protective gear (helmet, rain coat, body protection), all meals (two breakfasts, two lunches, one dinner), a private room in a traditional house on night one, entrance fees to villages and the Hmong King Palace, and an English-speaking guide who leads the route and arranges village visits. Water is provided twice daily during the ride.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 85 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Authentic Ha Giang - Easy Riders - Motorcycle - Dirt Bike Tours

Is this one for you?This works well if you have two days and want to see the Ha Giang Loop's main passes and valleys without committing to three days. The compressed schedule is what fits everything in, and riding your own bike means you set your own pace through the backroads instead of sitting in a jeep.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 5 years): free.

Do I need dirt bike experience to do this tour?

No. You test-ride the bike before you start, and the guide chooses a suitable machine for your skill level. The roads include both paved mountain passes and backroad dirt sections.

What's included in the price?

The dirt bike and fuel, all meals (two lunches, one dinner, two breakfasts), accommodation in a private room, entrance fees to villages and attractions, protective gear, helmet, and an English-speaking guide.

How long is each day of riding?

Day one is roughly eight hours of riding and stops combined, finishing in Dong Van by late afternoon. Day two is similar, ending back in Ha Giang City around 5 to 5:30 pm.

Is this the same as the three-day Ha Giang Loop?

It covers the same main attractions (Pac Sum Pass, Heaven Gate, Ma Pi Leng, Dong Van Karst Plateau, Hmong villages) but in two days instead of three, so the pace is tighter and some smaller stops are skipped.

What if there's bad weather?

Rain coats are provided. The roads are rideable in rain, though visibility and grip change. Your guide will adjust the pace if conditions are unsafe.

Can I ride with a passenger?

This is a self-guided dirt bike tour, so you ride your own bike. Passengers are not mentioned in the itinerary.

Where do I stay overnight?

In Dong Van Town, in a private room at a traditional house. Breakfast is included the next morning before you leave.

What time does the tour end on day two?

Around 5:00 to 5:30 pm, when you arrive back in Ha Giang City. Dinner is on your own.