3-day Ha Giang tour: Cooking class and Dong Van Karst

You cook a Vietnamese dish before you ride into the mountains.

A 3-day motorbike tour of Ha Giang in Northern Vietnam with a local English-speaking guide, small group, and homestay stays. Day one includes a cooking class where you make bánh cuốn, a steamed rice pancake; day two crosses Ma Pi Leng Pass and the Nho Que River canyon; day three visits Dong Van ancient town and Quan Ba Heaven Gate before returning to Ha Giang City. All entrance fees, fuel, and meals are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Ha Giang City to Du Gia

• Attend cooking class for Banh Cuon
• Visit viewpoint
• Explore hemp clothes factory
• See Du Gia waterfall

Day 2: Du Gia to Dong Van Town

• Drive the most beautiful road in Ha Giang
• Enjoy nature views
• Visit Nho Que River and Tu San Canyon

Day 3: Dong Van Town to Ha Giang City

• Explore Dong Van ancient town and karst plateau
• Visit Hmong royal place
• See Quan Ba Heaven Gate
• Return to Ha Giang city

The experience

What separates this tour from others in Ha Giang is the cooking class on the first morning. You'll learn to make bánh cuốn (a steamed rolled rice pancake that has been part of local life for generations) in a homestay kitchen before the group heads out. The same day you visit a hemp clothes factory where Hmong people still make fabric the traditional way, and Du Gia waterfall. Nights are spent in homestays, not hotels.

Day two is the ride itself: you travel on a well-maintained motorbike with an experienced Easy Rider guide, following what the operator calls the most beautiful road in Ha Giang. The route passes through Mau Due and along the Nho Que River, then climbs Ma Pi Leng Pass with views of Tu San Canyon below. You end in Dong Van Town. Day three loops through Sung La and Pho Cao, stops at Dong Van ancient town and the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, visits the Hmong royal palace, and passes through Quan Ba Heaven Gate (a limestone formation shaped like a gate) before returning to Ha Giang City.

The guide speaks English and stays with the group throughout. Pickup and drop-off happen in Ha Giang City. Fuel is included, and so are all entrance fees and meals. The operator notes that this tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness because of the motorbike riding and mountain terrain.

What’s included

• All entrance fees to attractions.
• well-maintained motorbike and fuel.
• licensed, experienced Easy Rider guide.
• pickup and drop-off in Ha Giang City.
• English-speaking local guide.
• room or dorm in homestays.
• and the cooking class where you make bánh cuốn.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (15 to 60 years) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 20 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 16 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Ha Giang Loop 3D2N with Easy rider, Small Group, Free Cooking Class

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so you'll follow the commentary and instructions comfortably if English is your main language. The 3-day length fits the full loop through Ma Pi Leng Pass and Dong Van Karst Plateau without rushing. If you have only 2 days, you'll miss the ancient town and Heaven Gate on the return.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

18 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What is bánh cuốn and why does the tour include a cooking class?

Bánh cuốn is a steamed rolled rice pancake that has been a beloved dish in Ha Giang for generations. The cooking class on day one teaches you to make it in a homestay kitchen, giving you a hands-on way to connect with local food culture before the motorbike portion of the tour begins.

How does the motorbike travel work on this tour?

You ride as a passenger on a well-maintained motorbike with an Easy Rider guide who is licensed and experienced. The guide handles all the driving while you sit behind and take in the landscape. Fuel is provided as part of the tour price.

What is the Dong Van Karst Plateau and when do we see it?

The Dong Van Karst Plateau is a UNESCO Geopark featuring dramatic limestone formations and mountain terrain. You pass through it on day two along Ma Pi Leng Pass and the Nho Que River canyon, and return to explore Dong Van ancient town and the plateau itself on day three.

Where do we sleep on this tour?

You stay in homestays, not hotels, on both nights. Homestays are family-run accommodations that give you a closer look at how people in Ha Giang live. Rooms or dorms are available depending on your preference.

What is Quan Ba Heaven Gate?

Quan Ba Heaven Gate is a limestone formation shaped like a gate that sits on the route between Yen Minh and Ha Giang City. It's a notable landmark you pass on day three as the tour loops back toward Ha Giang City.

Do I need any riding experience to book this tour?

No riding experience is needed because you travel as a passenger on the motorbike with a professional guide. You do need to be at least 15 years old and have moderate physical fitness for sitting on a motorbike for several hours each day over mountain terrain.