Ha Giang Loop Motorbike Tour: Bac Sum & Ma Pi Leng Pass

Two days on a motorbike through Vietnam's steepest passes and deepest canyon

This 2-day motorbike tour from Ha Noi covers the Ha Giang Loop with a private Easy Rider driver, one night in a Dong Van homestay, and stops at Bac Sum Pass, Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Geopark, and Ma Pi Leng Pass. Day one runs 130 km through mountain villages and cultural sites. Day two offers a choice between a 5 km hike to White Cliff or a boat ride on the Nho Que River, Southeast Asia's deepest canyon, before returning to Ha Noi.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Ha Giang to Dong Van via scenic passes

• Have breakfast and meet guide at Lila Hostel
• Ride through Bac Sum Pass
• Visit Quan Ba Heaven Gate
• Walk around Nam Dam Cultural Village
• Visit Lung Tam Linen Cooperative
• Lunch at Yen Minh Town
• Explore Tham Ma Pass in Dong Van Karst Plateau
• Drive through Nine-Turn Pass and Sung La Valley
• Tour H’Mong King Palace
• Check in at homestay in Dong Van Town

Day 2: Dong Van to Ha Giang via Ma Pi Leng Pass

• Breakfast and visit Dong Van Ethnic Market
• Ride Ma Pi Leng Pass
• Hike to White Cliff or boat ride on Nho Que River
• Lunch at Mau Due Village
• Sightsee Duong Thuong Valley
• Visit and swim at A Boong Waterfall
• Return to Ha Giang City

The experience

You start at Lila Hostel in Ha Giang City at 7:30 AM on day one, paired with your own Easy Rider driver for the entire tour. The route climbs Bac Sum Pass (the longest pass in Ha Giang, with hairpin bends that snake along steep cliffs), then drops into Quan Ba Heaven Gate for views over Nam Dam Village. You walk through Nam Dam, a Dao cultural village of terraced fields and traditional rammed earth houses, and stop at Lung Tam Linen Cooperative to watch Hmong weavers work brocade by hand. After lunch in Yen Minh Town, the road enters Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark, passing through Tham Ma Pass (where horses were once tested for endurance) and the Nine-Turn Pass before reaching Sung La Valley, a narrow strip of land between rocky mountains. You tour the H'Mong King Palace, a national relic mixing Chinese and H'Mong architecture, then check into your homestay in Dong Van Town for the night.

Day two starts with an optional visit to Dong Van Ethnic Market on Sunday mornings to see local handicrafts and food, then tackles Ma Pi Leng Pass, the "King of Passes", with its sharpest hairpin bends and the most dramatic views of the surrounding peaks. At this point you choose: hike 5 km to White Cliff for unobstructed panoramic views of the Nho Que River and the landscape, or take a boat ride on the emerald water through Tu San Canyon, the deepest canyon in Southeast Asia. Lunch happens in Mau Due Village. The afternoon includes a quiet stop at Duong Thuong Valley, where old houses sit beneath towering mountains, and a chance to swim at A Boong Waterfall before the 150 km ride back to Ha Giang City by 5:00 PM.

The tour includes one night before departure at Lila Hostel in Ha Giang City, dinner on day one, helmet and safety gear, a raincoat and plastic bag for weather, luggage storage, and a shower after you return. Pickup from Ha Noi is included. You meet your driver and guide at the hostel. The motorbike comes with insurance. This is a private tour, one driver per passenger, so the pace and stops are yours alone, though the itinerary and timing stay fixed across both days.

What’s included

• One night at Lila Hostel in Ha Giang City before the tour.
• dinner on day one.
• private Easy Rider driver and motorbike with insurance for both days.
• helmet, safety gear, raincoat and plastic bag.
• luggage storage at the hostel.
• shower after the tour.
• pickup from Ha Noi included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to4h before

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

GroupUp to 15

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 9 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 3 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?Book this if you have two days and want a fixed itinerary covering 130–150 km daily. Choose the hiking variant for White Cliff or the boat option on day two depending on what appeals to you.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

What is the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark?

Dong Van Karst Plateau is a UNESCO-designated geopark in northern Ha Giang featuring dramatic limestone formations, steep valleys, and the territory you ride through on day one after passing Tham Ma Pass. The landscape is defined by its rocky peaks and the geological history visible in the cliffs and passes you traverse.

Can I choose between the White Cliff hike and the Nho Que River boat ride?

Yes. On day two at Ma Pi Leng Pass, you have two options: hike 5 km to White Cliff for panoramic views of the Nho Que River and surrounding mountains, or take a boat ride on the emerald Nho Que River through Tu San Canyon, the deepest canyon in Southeast Asia. You decide which one suits your energy and interests.

Do I ride the motorbike myself or does a driver handle it?

A private Easy Rider driver operates the motorbike for the entire tour. You ride as a passenger behind the driver, who navigates the passes and roads while you take in the scenery and stop at cultural sites.

What happens at Nam Dam Cultural Village?

Nam Dam is a Dao village on day one featuring terraced fields, primeval forests, and traditional rammed earth houses. You walk around to see the landscape and architecture, then visit Lung Tam Linen Cooperative nearby, where Hmong weavers demonstrate brocade weaving by hand, a long-standing traditional craft.

Where do I sleep on this tour?

You stay one night in a local homestay in Dong Van Town on day one. The tour also includes a free dorm bed at Lila Hostel in Ha Giang City the night before departure, so you can arrive early and rest before the ride begins.

How far is the ride each day?

Day one covers 130 km from Ha Giang City through the mountain passes and villages to Dong Van Town. Day two is 150 km, starting with Ma Pi Leng Pass and ending back in Ha Giang City by 5:00 PM.