3-Day Ha Giang Loop Tour: Small Group with Local Guide

Three days crossing four passes and meeting the people who live there

A 3-day Ha Giang Loop tour for small groups (2–8 people) with an English-speaking local guide, hotel pickup, and two nights in homestays. You travel by vehicle through Quan Ba Heaven Gate, Tham Ma slope, and Meo King's Palace on day one; cross Ma Pi Leng Pass and the Cinnamon Grape River on day two; and swim at Du Gia waterfall before returning to Ha Giang on day three. The tour centers on meeting ethnic groups, eating local food, and moving at a pace that lets you stop and talk.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Ha Giang to Dong Van Town

• Pick up at Ha Giang hotels
• Meet driver and depart via Quan Ba Heaven Gate
• Admire scenery and enjoy coffee at Quan Ba Heaven Gate
• Travel through Quan Ba Twin Mountains and Yen Minh town
• Lunch at Yen Minh
• Visit Tham Ma slope and H'mong King's Palace
• Explore H'mong King's Mansion
• Travel to Dong Van and check in homestay
• Dinner in Dong Van town
• Karaoke and walk around town

Day 2: Dong Van to Du Gia Village

• Breakfast at homestay
• Depart through Ma Pi Leng Pass
• Arrive at Ma Pi Leng Pass and admire views
• Experience cruise on Cinnamon Grape River
• Travel to Meo Vac for lunch
• Move to Du Gia village and check in homestay
• Dinner and karaoke at homestay

Day 3: Du Gia to Ha Giang

• Breakfast at homestay
• Visit Du Gia waterfall and swim
• Travel through upper valley to Thuan Hoa commune
• Lunch at Thuan Hoa commune
• Return to Ha Giang and end trip

The experience

The loop starts with an 8 a.m. pickup from your hotel in Ha Giang city. By 10 a.m. you're at Quan Ba Heaven Gate, a viewpoint where the road splits two limestone peaks. You stop for coffee and the first real look at the stone plateau. From there the route moves through Yen Minh town to lunch, then climbs to Tham Ma slope and Meo King's Palace: a 4,000-square-meter mansion built in H'Mong style in the 20th century. You reach Dong Van by 5:30 p.m., check into a homestay, and have dinner with your guide and driver: hot pot, fried noodles, and what locals call "happy water" rice wine. Karaoke and a walk around town happen after.

Day two is the mountain crossing. You leave at 8:30 a.m., reach Ma Pi Leng Pass by 10 a.m. (one of northern Vietnam's four great passes), and then descend to the Cinnamon Grape River. The river sits 700 to 900 meters below a cliff face that stretches 1.7 kilometers. It is the geological centerpiece of the loop, exposed when the ocean receded millions of years ago. You can experience a short river cruise there before moving to Meo Vac for lunch. The afternoon takes you to Du Gia village, where you check in to another homestay and have dinner with the family.

The final morning starts with breakfast, then a stop at Du Gia waterfall where you can swim. After that, the route passes through Thuan Hoa commune for lunch, and you're back in Ha Giang city by 4:30 p.m. Bottled water comes every day. Your guide speaks English and knows the area. The group stays small enough that stops are not rushed.

What’s included

• Entry tickets to all attractions.
• English-speaking local tour guide.
• private rooms for two nights.
• bottled water each day.
• free dorm bed upon arrival in Ha Giang city.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 to 50 years) · Senior (51 to 60 years) · Youth (11 to 12 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years)

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 due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Friendly Ha Giang loop tour

Is this one for you?At three days, the loop fits inside a long weekend or a break between other stops in northern Vietnam without eating your whole trip, and the small group size (2–8 people) means the pace can slow when something catches your eye: a conversation, a view, a meal worth lingering over.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 12 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Meo King's Palace and why is it on the tour?

Meo King's Palace is a 20th-century H'Mong mansion covering 4,000 square meters, built in traditional H'Mong style blended with Chinese and French architecture. It stands as a landmark of the region's ethnic heritage and sits on the route between Quan Ba and Dong Van, making it a natural stop on the first day.

How difficult is the drive, and what kind of vehicle is used?

The tour uses a private vehicle with an experienced local driver. The route crosses four passes and follows mountain roads, so a moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. The itinerary does not involve hiking, but the terrain and road conditions require comfort with driving in mountainous areas.

What happens at Ma Pi Leng Pass and the Cinnamon Grape River?

Ma Pi Leng Pass is one of northern Vietnam's four great passes. From there you descend to the Cinnamon Grape River, a geological formation with cliffs 700–900 meters high and a length of 1.7 kilometers, considered the most beautiful landscape on the Ha Giang Loop. You can take a short river cruise to experience it from the water.

Do I stay in hotels or homestays, and what are they like?

You stay two nights in homestays: one in Dong Van town and one in Du Gia village. The homestays provide private rooms and include dinner with the family, which is part of the tour's focus on meeting local people and experiencing their food and daily life.

What meals and drinks are included, and what costs extra?

Lunch and dinner are included each day, along with bottled water. Tips, coffee, and beer are not included and can be purchased separately. Breakfast is provided at the homestays on days two and three.