Ha Giang Loop Motorbike Tour: Ma Pi Leng Pass & Guide

Two days riding the Ha Giang Loop's sharpest passes and walking between canyon walls.

A 2-day guided motorbike tour of the Ha Giang Loop in Northern Vietnam, riding mountain passes and walking Ma Pi Leng Pass with a local English-speaking guide. The tour includes accommodation at a 2-star hotel, dinner, breakfast, entrance tickets, a boat trip on Nho Que River, a campfire with locals and easy riders, and a return journey to Hanoi by overnight bus. Children from age 8 are welcome; the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Ha Giang to Dong Van exploration

• Arrive and check in at hostel
• Breakfast at the hostel
• Meet local guide and start loop
• Drive through Bac Sum Pass
• Visit Heaven Gate and Twin Mountains
• Travel through Can Ty Pass
• Check in at Tham Ma Pass viewpoint
• Explore Hmong King’s Palace
• Check in at Dong Van hotel
• Dinner and local games with campfire

Day 2 — Dong Van to Ha Giang return

• Breakfast in Dong Van town
• Walk on Ma Pi Leng Pass
• Coffee break at scenic viewpoint
• Boat trip on Nho Que River
• Visit M-Shape Curve viewpoint
• Rest at Lung Pu viewpoint
• Arrive in Ha Giang City
• Board VIP bus to Hanoi

The Experience

Day one starts at 9 a.m. in Ha Giang city after breakfast at the hostel. Your local guide leads you through the Ha Giang Loop on a motorbike, climbing Bac Sum Pass first, then reaching Heaven Gate and the Twin Mountains viewpoint. By mid-morning you're threading Can Ty Pass through limestone cliffs, and by early afternoon you arrive at Tham Ma Pass — a snake-shaped mountain pass at 1,500 meters elevation with roads that zigzag sharply. You'll explore the Hmong King's Palace, a structure blending Chinese, French and H'mong architecture, before checking into a hotel in Dong Van town. That evening you interact with locals, play traditional games, and join a campfire with other easy riders.

Day two begins with breakfast in Dong Van, then a walk across Ma Pi Leng Pass — one of Vietnam's Four Great Passes — where you stand between cliffs and deep valleys. A coffee break on camping chairs at a scenic viewpoint lets you take in the panoramic views while freshly brewed coffee is served. At 11 a.m. you board a boat on Nho Que River, gliding between towering canyon walls and emerald water. By afternoon you reach the M-Shape Curve, Ha Giang's most iconic viewpoint with dramatic mountain bends, and rest at Lung Pu viewpoint before returning to Ha Giang city. At 9 p.m. you board a VIP cabin bus for the overnight return to Hanoi.

The tour includes a dorm bed at the hostel the night before departure, a 2-star hotel room in Dong Van on night one, helmet and rain protection, a Ha Giang Loop T-shirt, entrance tickets to all sites, fuel, water, and English-language guiding. Travel insurance is covered. You can choose to upgrade to a private room or premium accommodation at checkout, and coffee and soft drinks are available as add-ons depending on your option. The motorbike is semi-automatic, and luggage storage at the hostel is included for any gear you don't carry.

What’s included

• Accommodation at a 2-star hotel in Dong Van on night one and a dorm bed at the hostel on the night before the tour.
• breakfast on both days and dinner on day one.
• helmet, rain protection and a Ha Giang Loop T-shirt.
• entrance tickets to all sites, fuel and water.
• English-language guide and travel insurance.
• luggage storage at the hostel.
• return journey to Hanoi by overnight VIP cabin bus.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Hong Hao Ha Giang Loop Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a structured two-day introduction to the Ha Giang Loop with a local guide handling the route, the timing and the evening interactions — the fixed schedule means you ride the passes and walk Ma Pi Leng without building the day yourself. Choose the private room option at checkout if you prefer not to share accommodation in Dong Van.

Traveler reviews

4.99★★★★★★★★★★

81 verified traveler reviews

5 ★80

4 ★1

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What is Ma Pi Leng Pass and what do I actually do there?

Ma Pi Leng Pass is one of Vietnam's Four Great Passes, located between towering cliffs and deep valleys. On day two you walk across it, then sit on camping chairs at a scenic viewpoint with freshly brewed coffee while taking in the panoramic mountain views.

Can I bring my children on this 2-day Ha Giang Loop tour?

Children are welcome from age 8 onward. The tour involves motorbike riding and walking, so children should be comfortable on a bike and able to walk the Ma Pi Leng Pass section.

What happens on the boat trip on Nho Que River?

The boat trip on Nho Que River takes place on day two at 11 a.m. You glide between towering canyon walls and emerald water, experiencing one of Ha Giang's most stunning natural settings without the motorbike.

Do I need to arrange my own return to Hanoi?

No. The tour includes a VIP cabin bus that departs Ha Giang city at 9 p.m. on day two, arriving in Hanoi by morning. You spend the night on the bus, so no separate accommodation in Hanoi is needed.

What meals and drinks are included in the 2-day tour?

Breakfast is included on both days, and dinner is included on day one. Water is provided throughout. Coffee and soft drinks are available as add-ons depending on which option you choose at checkout.

Is the motorbike automatic or manual?

The motorbike is semi-automatic, so you don't need to manage a clutch or gear shifts manually. Your guide will brief you on how to operate it before the tour begins.