Ha Giang Loop 3-Day Small Group Mountain Pass Tour

Three days riding Vietnam's four greatest passes, staying in local homestays instead of hotels.

The Ha Giang Loop 3-Day Tour is a small-group guided journey from Hanoi through northern Vietnam's mountain terrain, covering the region's most celebrated passes—Tham Ma, Ma Pi Leng, and others—with stops at viewpoints, a boat trip on the Nho Que River, and nights in authentic homestays with ethnic families. You choose between easy-rider (motorbike with driver), self-driving, or private car transport. The tour includes all accommodations, meals, an English-speaking guide, and pickup from Hanoi or nearby hubs; extended pickups from airports, Sapa, Ninh Binh, or Ha Long Bay are available for an additional fee.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Ha Giang Heaven Gate and Passes

• Visit Bac Sum Pass and terraced fields
• Stop at Quan Ba Sky Gate viewpoint
• Drive through Can Ty Pass
• Lunch in Yen Minh
• Ride through Tham Ma Pass
• Stay at local homestay

Day 2 — Ma Pi Leng Pass and Nho Que River

• Breakfast with local cuisines
• Visit Ma Pi Leng Pass viewpoints
• Check in at Nho Que River Viewpoint
• Boat trip on Nho Que River
• Stop at Pass and Lung Ho Viewpoints
• Stay at local homestay

Day 3 — Return to Ha Giang City

• Relax and freshen up in Ha Giang
• Breakfast with local cuisines
• Drive through Sa Phin and Highland of Stone
• Lunch in Yen Minh
• Climb mountain pass with pine forest
• Drive through Song La river valley and Tam Son
• Return to Ha Giang City

The Experience

The loop starts north of Hanoi at Bac Sum Pass, where the road climbs through terraced rice fields toward Quan Ba Sky Gate—a viewpoint over rolling green valleys that stretches for miles. From there, the route winds through Can Ty Pass, a narrow mountain corridor with limestone cliffs rising on both sides, before dropping into Yen Minh for lunch and the ascent of Tham Ma Pass. Each pass has its own character: some offer panoramic overlooks, others force the road through tight switchbacks where the valley floor disappears below. The first night lands in a local homestay, the kind of accommodation where you eat what the family eats and sleep in a private or shared room depending on which option you chose at checkout.

Day two tackles Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of Vietnam's four greatest mountain passes, where the road hugs sheer cliffs above deep valleys and the views are the kind people photograph from every angle. After stops at the Nho Que River Viewpoint—looking down at emerald-green water from high above—you board a boat for a slow drift along the river itself, the landscape towering on both sides. The route then passes through Lung Ho Viewpoint and continues toward Du Gia and Meo Vac, with another night in a homestay. Meals throughout are cooked by the families you stay with, not brought in from outside.

The final day heads south from Dong Van through Sa Phin and the Highland of Stone, then climbs through pine forest and rice terraces toward Tam Son. The road crosses the Song La river valley and climbs the Quan Ba mountain pass one last time before dropping back into Ha Giang City by afternoon. The whole loop—passes, river, valleys, and the people living in them—fits into three days because the itinerary is fixed and the guide handles the route; you show up and the day unfolds.

What’s included

• VIP cabin bus transfer from Hanoi to Ha Giang.
• motorbike rental with fuel, helmet and protective gear (easy-rider option) or self-driving vehicle.
• three nights in basic authentic homestays with ethnic families.
• all meals during the tour.
• Nho Que River boat trip.
• English-speaking guide throughout.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by ZGO-HaGiang Loop

Is this one for you?Three days winds through Vietnam's most dramatic mountain passes—Tham Ma, Heaven's Gate, Ma Pi Leng—with a local guide, homestays, and a Nho Que River boat trip all mapped out for you.

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Top questions

What are the four greatest mountain passes in Vietnam that this tour covers?

The Ha Giang Loop includes Ma Pi Leng Pass, known as one of Vietnam's four greatest mountain passes, along with Tham Ma Pass, Can Ty Pass, and Quan Ba Pass. Each pass offers different views—some with sheer cliffs above deep valleys, others winding through limestone formations or terraced farmland.

Can I choose between riding a motorbike with a driver or driving myself on this tour?

Yes. You can book the easy-rider option (motorbike with a driver), self-driving (you drive your own vehicle), or a private car with a driver. The easy-rider option also comes in a version that adds a private room for the three nights instead of shared homestay accommodation.

What happens on the Nho Que River boat trip?

The boat trip is a slow ride along the Nho Que River, which flows through a deep valley surrounded by dramatic cliffs and limestone formations. You board after viewing the river from above at the Nho Que River Viewpoint, then drift along the water to soak in the landscape from a different angle.

Where do I stay at night on this tour?

You stay in authentic local homestays run by ethnic families in the Ha Giang region. Meals are cooked and eaten with the families. The easy-rider option with private room includes a private bedroom for all three nights; other options may include shared rooms depending on availability and which option you select.

Does the tour include pickup from Hanoi, or do I need to get to the starting point myself?

Pickup from Hanoi central is included. The operator also offers extended pickup from Noi Bai Airport, Sapa, Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay, and Cat Ba Island for an additional fee of $10 per person. Pickup location can be arranged by messaging the operator before the tour begins, subject to availability.

How long does it take to complete the entire Ha Giang Loop?

The full loop takes three days. This timeframe allows the tour to cover all the major passes, viewpoints, the Nho Que River boat trip, and the mountain trails of the Ha Giang range without rushing any single stop.