Ha Giang Loop 5-Day Tour: Ban Gioc Waterfall & Ma Pi Leng

Ride the Ma Pi Leng Pass and paddle to Ban Gioc Waterfall on a 5-day loop through Vietnam's far north.

A 5-day motorbike tour from Hanoi that loops through Ha Giang and Cao Bang provinces, following mountain passes and stopping at ethnic villages, caves and the Dong Van Karst Plateau. You ride the Ma Pi Leng Pass (the "King of Passes"), explore Khuoi Ky Stone Village and Phong Nam Valley, then take a bamboo raft to Ban Gioc Waterfall at the Vietnam-China border. A private Easy Rider driver handles the bike. You ride as a passenger.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Ha Giang to Yen Minh exploration

• Have breakfast at Lila Hostel
• Ride through Bac Sum Pass
• Visit Khau Lan Waterfall
• Explore Soan Tung Cave
• Lunch in Quan Ba
• Tour Nam Dam Cultural Village
• Visit Lung Tam Linen Cooperative
• Travel golden cypress forest to Yen Minh
• Dinner and karaoke with locals

Day 2: Yen Minh to Dong Van sightseeing

• Breakfast and head to Dong Van Karst Plateau
• Visit Tham Ma Pass
• Drive through Nine-Turn Pass and Sung La Valley
• Visit Lao Xa rammed earth houses
• Tour H’Mong King Palace
• Lunch in Sa Phin
• Visit Vietnam-China Border northernmost point
• Visit Ma Le Village
• Pass through Thien Huong Village to Dong Van
• Check in and walk Dong Van ancient market
• Dinner with locals

Day 3: Dong Van to Bao Lac journey

• Breakfast and explore Dong Van Ethnic Market
• Ride Ma Pi Leng Pass
• Hike White Cliff or boat Tu San Canyon
• Lunch in Meo Vac Town
• Travel to Bao Lac Town
• Check in Bao Lac homestay

Day 4: Bao Lac to Trung Khanh adventure

• Breakfast and ride Khau Coc Cha Pass
• Travel Cao Bac Pass
• Discover Na Tenh Pass
• Lunch in Tra Linh District
• Visit Phong Nam Valley
• Visit Co La Waterfall
• Tour Khuoi Ky Stone Village
• Arrive at homestay near Ban Gioc Waterfall

Day 5: Ban Gioc Waterfall and Cao Bang

• Breakfast and explore Nguom Ngao Cave
• Hike to Phat Tich Truc Lam Pagoda
• Bamboo raft on Quay Son River
• Visit Mountain Angel Eye
• Lunch in Trung Khanh
• Conclude tour in Cao Bang City

The experience

The tour starts with breakfast at Lila Hostel in Ha Giang City on day one, then heads out on the Bac Sum Pass (a winding road carved into steep cliffs) before stopping at Khau Lan Waterfall and Soan Tung Cave. You'll visit Nam Dam Cultural Village to see the rammed earth houses of the Dao people, then watch Hmong artisans at the Lung Tam Linen Cooperative weave brocades by hand. The first night ends in Yen Minh Town with a family dinner and karaoke with locals.

Day two takes you to the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark, crossing the Tham Ma Pass and Nine-Turn Pass before reaching the Vietnam-China border at the northernmost point of Vietnam. You'll see the H'Mong King Palace in Sa Phin, visit Ma Le Village (home to the Giay people), and arrive in Dong Van Ancient Town by late afternoon. Day three includes the vibrant Dong Van Ethnic Market (Sundays only) and the legendary Ma Pi Leng Pass, where you can either hike 5 km to the White Cliff for panoramic views or take a boat through the Tu San Canyon, Southeast Asia's deepest canyon, along the emerald Nho Que River. Lunch is in Meo Vac Town, and you settle into a homestay in Bao Lac.

Days four and five push deeper into Cao Bang. You'll cross the Khau Coc Cha Pass (one of Vietnam's Four Great Passes with 15 dramatic vertical levels), the Cao Bac Pass with its golden terraced fields, and the gentler Na Tenh Pass. The Phong Nam Valley introduces you to Tay ethnic communities, and you'll visit the Co La Waterfall and the 400-year-old Khuoi Ky Stone Village, where the Tay people built stone stilt houses. On the final day, explore Nguom Ngao Cave and hike to Phat Tich Truc Lam Pagoda for views of Ban Gioc Waterfall, then take the bamboo raft ride on the Quay Son River to the waterfall itself. You'll also see the Mountain Angel Eye formation at Thang Hen Lake before the tour ends in Cao Bang City.

What’s included

• Your package includes one night at Lila Hostel in Ha Giang City before the tour begins.
• a private Easy Rider driver and motorbike with insurance for all five days.
• helmet, safety gear, raincoat and protective bags.
• all meals and homestay accommodation during the tour.
• luggage storage at the hostel.
• and a shower after the tour ends.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (6 to 9 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years): free

GroupUp to 15

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 10 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Fabulous Mekong Eco Tours

Is this one for you?The tour runs five full days on a motorbike, with early starts (7:30–8:30 AM) and long riding days covering 110–180 km. Choose this if you're comfortable spending hours each day as a passenger on a bike and want to see remote mountain passes, ethnic villages and the Ban Gioc Waterfall in one loop. The pace and distance let you reach places that shorter tours cannot.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 9 years); Infant (1 to 5 years): free.

What is the Ma Pi Leng Pass like, and why is it called the King of Passes?

The Ma Pi Leng Pass is a mountain road through Ha Giang known for sharp hairpin bends and steep drops, with breathtaking views of the surrounding karst landscape. It earns its title as the "King of Passes" because of the dramatic combination of sharp turns and the scale of the scenery. It's one of the most striking stretches of road in the region.

Can I choose between hiking to the White Cliff or taking a boat through the Tu San Canyon?

Yes. On day three, you have two options: hike 5 km to the White Cliff for panoramic views of the Nho Que River and karst peaks, or take a boat ride through the Tu San Canyon, Southeast Asia's deepest canyon, along the emerald river. Your guide will help you decide based on your preference and conditions that day.

What happens on the bamboo raft ride to Ban Gioc Waterfall?

On the final day, you take a serene bamboo raft ride on the jade-blue Quay Son River, gliding close to the Ban Gioc Waterfall, which marks the border between Vietnam and China. The ride is a slow, peaceful way to experience the waterfall and the surrounding landscape.

Where do I stay during the 5 days?

You stay in local homestays in Dong Van, Bao Lac and near Ban Gioc Waterfall, plus one night at Lila Hostel in Ha Giang City before the tour begins. Each homestay offers a chance to experience local hospitality and eat with families.

Do I need a motorcycle license or riding experience?

No. A private Easy Rider driver operates the motorbike for each passenger. You ride as a passenger. No license or riding experience is required. The driver handles all navigation and road conditions.

What ethnic groups and villages will I encounter?

You'll meet the Dao people in Nam Dam Cultural Village, the Hmong at the Lung Tam Linen Cooperative and in Lao Xa, the Giay people in Ma Le Village, and the Tay people in Phong Nam Valley and at Khuoi Ky Stone Village. Each stop shows a different aspect of northern Vietnam's cultural heritage.