Ha Giang Loop 3 Days: Ma Pi Leng Pass & Lung Cu Tower

Three days riding Vietnam's most dramatic mountain pass and staying in remote villages

You ride the Ma Pi Leng Pass and visit Lung Cu Flag Tower on a 3-day loop through Ha Giang's remote valleys, staying in ethnic minority homestays and eating meals prepared by local families. The tour includes breakfast cooking lessons, boat trips on the Nho Que River, and stops at traditional villages, with small groups and all transport, meals, and accommodation included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Ha Giang to Dong Van exploration

• Enjoy breakfast with Bánh Cuốn
• Depart from Ha Giang and photo at Km0 Landmark
• Stop at Quan Ba Heaven Gate for photos
• Pause at Lonely Tree and Can Ty Slope
• Enjoy traditional lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Sao Ha village and H'mong homes
• Stop at Tham Ma Pass
• Explore the Vu Family Mansion
• Arrive Dong Van and check in Serenity Bungalow
• Enjoy dinner and rest

Day 2: Dong Van to Lung Cu and back

• Start day with breakfast
• Conquer Ma Pi Leng Pass with views
• Take boat trip on Nho Que River
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Coffee break at Deo Gio (Windy Pass)
• Visit Thien Huong Village
• Visit Lung Cu Flag Tower and Lo Lo Chai Village
• Return to bungalow for dinner and stay

Day 3: Dong Van to Ha Giang return

• Check out and enjoy breakfast
• Visit Youth Monument
• Pause for drink at Meo Van Information Centre
• Stop at M Pass for mountain views
• Discover weaving at Lung Tam linen village
• Visit Thai An waterfall
• Photo at Km 0 milestone in Ha Giang city
• Return to Ha Giang city and end tour

The experience

You leave Hanoi at 8:30am and by mid-morning you're standing at Quan Ba Heaven Gate, looking out at the Twin Mountains rising like stone sentries over the valley below. The Ha Giang Loop isn't a gentle introduction to northern Vietnam. It's a 3-day motorcycle ride that takes you through some of the country's most rugged terrain, and it starts right away. After breakfast in Ha Giang city (where you'll learn to make bánh cuốn from a local cook), you head toward Dong Van, stopping at the Vu Family Mansion, a 100-year-old stone house that still feels lived-in, and Sao Ha village, where H'mong families live much as they have for generations.

Day two is the centerpiece: the Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of Vietnam's four great mountain passes, where the road clings to limestone cliffs and the Nho Que River winds far below in shades of emerald and gray. You ride it, stop to absorb the scale of it, then take a boat trip on the river itself before heading to Lung Cu Flag Tower, the northernmost point of Vietnam, standing alone on a ridge. The pace is deliberate: breakfast at 8am, the pass conquered by mid-morning, lunch at a local restaurant, a coffee break at Windy Pass, then back to your homestay by evening. It's not rushed, but it's not leisurely either. You're moving through the landscape, not just looking at it.

The third day loops back through Meo Vac, stopping at M Pass (another sweeping ridge road), the Youth Monument, and Lung Tam linen village, where you can watch traditional weaving. There's Thai An waterfall tucked into the mountains, and you finish at the Km 0 milestone in Ha Giang city, the symbolic end of the loop, before returning to Hanoi by 5pm. Groups stay under ten people, which means you're not herded through villages or waiting in lines at viewpoints. You sleep in homestays, eat meals cooked by locals, and spend two full days on a motorcycle seeing how the landscape actually changes as you climb and descend.

What’s included

Accommodation in ethnic minority homestays for two nights, all meals including a traditional bánh cuốn cooking lesson, motorcycle transport throughout the loop, a boat trip on the Nho Que River, entry to Lung Cu Flag Tower and other sites, and a guide who speaks English and knows the villages and passes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Child (3 to 17 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by SERENITY HA GIANG

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to ride Vietnam's most dramatic mountain pass and stay in remote villages without arranging transport, meals, or accommodation yourself: the fixed itinerary and small group size are what make three days of riding and cultural immersion feel manageable rather than chaotic.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 17 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

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's the fitness level needed for the Ha Giang Loop?

Moderate fitness is recommended. You'll spend 6–8 hours on a motorcycle each day, with some walking at stops. The ride itself isn't technical, but the mountain roads are winding and the days are long.

Do I need a motorcycle license to do this tour?

The tour description doesn't specify. Contact the operator to confirm licensing requirements for your nationality.

What's included in the Ha Giang Loop tour?

Accommodation in homestays, all meals (including a bánh cuốn cooking lesson on day one), motorcycle transport, a boat trip on the Nho Que River, and guide services. Entry fees to sites are included.

How many people are in a typical group?

Groups are kept to a maximum of 10 travelers, allowing for a more intimate experience and easier access to villages and viewpoints.

What time does the tour start and end each day?

Day one departs at 8:30am from Ha Giang and arrives in Dong Van by 6pm. Days two and three start with breakfast at 8am. The tour ends on day three around 5pm in Ha Giang city.

Is there a Sunday market stop?

Yes, if your tour falls on a Sunday, you can depart at 7am to visit the weekly ethnic market in Meo Vac, where local minority groups gather to trade.

What accommodation will I have?

You stay in homestays run by local families: Tom Tep Homestay on night one and Dong Van Homestay on night two. These are basic but comfortable, with meals cooked on-site.

Is this tour suitable for pregnant travelers?

No, the tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers due to the long motorcycle rides and mountain terrain.

Can I do this tour if I have back problems?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries because of the extended time on a motorcycle over winding mountain roads.

What should I bring?

The tour description doesn't detail a packing list. Bring warm layers (mountain temperatures drop in the evening), sun protection, sturdy shoes for walking, and any personal medications.