Ha Giang Loop: 3-Day Motorbike Tour, Homestays & Local Crafts

Summary

Ride twisting passes meet Hmong families taste local food sleep in mountain homestays

You’ll ride twisting mountain roads with a local guide, visit families who still weave hemp by hand, eat home-cooked meals in hilltop villages, and sleep in friendly homestays along the Ha Giang Loop. Expect laughter over rice wine and moments of quiet awe above cloud-wrapped valleys—this trip lingers long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember about the Ha Giang Loop was the sound — engines humming, wind rushing past my helmet, and our guide Minh shouting something about “snake road” as we leaned into yet another curve on Bac Sum Pass. The road really does twist like a snake, twenty bends or so, and every time I thought we’d reached the top there was another corner. We stopped at Heaven Gate for a view that made me just stand there for a minute — mist hanging in the valley, bamboo green everywhere. Minh pointed out hidden villages below, tiny roofs tucked into the folds of the mountains. Lunch at Quiri Peninsula was loud with laughter and clinking chopsticks; I tried something pickled that nearly blew my head off (in a good way).

Later that afternoon we visited a family who showed us how they weave hemp into fabric. Their hands moved so fast I couldn’t keep up — honestly, it’s humbling watching someone do what their family’s done for generations. Li laughed when I tried to say “thank you” in H’mong (probably butchered it). The smell of wood smoke from their kitchen stuck to my jacket for hours. That night in Yen Minh, our homestay felt more like staying with distant relatives than strangers. There were kids running around barefoot and someone’s grandmother insisted I have seconds of rice wine — which is stronger than you think.

The next day we hit Tham Ma Road (Minh called it “horse testing road,” which made sense after seeing how steep it was), then wandered through the old H’mong King Palace. The walls were cool stone and wood — you could almost feel the history pressed into them. At Lung Cu Flag Tower, looking out over the borderlands toward China, there was this weird quiet except for wind flapping the flag above us. We ate lunch in Lo Lo Chai village where houses are built from clay; I still think about that soup they served, smoky and sweet at once.

On our last morning we rode along Ma Pi Leng Pass — people call it Vietnam’s king of mountain passes for a reason. Standing at the edge looking down at rivers curling through rock gorges made me forget to take photos for once. We stopped in Mau Due for lunch (sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves) before winding back to Ha Giang city through valleys where rice terraces climb right up into clouds. By then my legs were sore but my head felt clearer than it had in months.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Ha Giang to Yen Minh via Bac Sum Pass

• Enjoy lunch at Quiri Peninsula restaurant
• Ride to Bac Sum Pass and admire views
• Visit Heaven Gate in Tam Son
• See Twins Hill viewpoint and Nam Dam village
• Visit local family weaving hemp fabric
• Ride along river to Yen Minh
• Stop at loop road peak for valley view
• Take photos at H'mong Village
• Overnight stay at local homestay

Day 2 — Yen Minh to Dong Van via Tham Ma Road

• Have breakfast at homestay
• Drive to Tham Ma Road and explore
• Visit H'mong King Palace
• Visit Lung Cu Flag Tower and Lo Lo Chai village
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Explore Thien Huong Ancient Village
• Arrive in Dong Van and have dinner
• Overnight stay at H'garden Homestay

Day 3 — Dong Van to Ha Giang via Ma Pi Leng Pass

• Breakfast at H'garden Homestay
• Ride Ma Pi Leng Pass and enjoy views
• Visit remote villages along route
• Continue journey back to Ha Giang
• Lunch and drinks in Mau Due
• Pass through Du Gia village
• Return to Ha Giang in afternoon

Top questions

How long is the Ha Giang Loop tour?

The Ha Giang Loop tour lasts 3 days and 2 nights.

Is accommodation included during the tour?

Yes, you’ll stay both nights in local homestays along the route.

Do I need to know how to ride a motorbike?

No experience needed—local drivers handle all riding if you prefer.

Are meals provided on this Ha Giang Loop tour?

Yes, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included each day.

What cultural experiences are part of this tour?

You’ll visit ethnic minority villages, see traditional hemp weaving, explore ancient palaces and eat with local families.

Does this tour include pickup from my hotel?

The tour includes pickup from the operator’s office; luggage storage is available there too.

What’s special about Ma Pi Leng Pass?

Ma Pi Leng Pass is known as Vietnam’s most dramatic mountain pass with sweeping views over deep river gorges.

Is this trip suitable for beginners or families?

The tour is suitable for most fitness levels but not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or pregnant travelers.

What’s included

Your three days include all motorbike transport (with driver if needed), two nights’ stay in welcoming homestays among Ha Giang’s ethnic communities, all meals—breakfasts steaming hot at sunrise, hearty lunches en route (sometimes right inside village homes), dinners shared around low tables—and guidance from locals who know every curve of these mountains by heart. Luggage storage is offered at the starting point so you can travel light on the loop before returning by bus or limousine back to Hanoi if you wish.