Ha Giang Loop: Open Air Jeep Tour with Ethnic Villages & Ma Pi Leng

Summary

Ha Giang’s wild passes, open jeeps & mountain villages

You’ll feel Ha Giang’s wildness right from the back of an open-air jeep: wind in your face on mountain passes, lunch with locals overlooking rice terraces, stories shared over homemade “happy water,” and nights spent in traditional village homes—all with pickup, meals included, and a guide who knows every twist of the Loop.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the wind—sharp and clean, carrying a hint of wood smoke as we rattled out of Ha Giang city in that open-air jeep. Our driver, Minh, grinned back at us through the rearview mirror, his hair already wild from the ride. Ten minutes out and the city was gone; just rice paddies, kids waving from doorways, and those mountains that look almost too steep to be real. We stopped at Pac Sum Pass for coffee (instant, sweet) and Minh pointed out how the clouds snagged on the peaks. I tried to take a photo but honestly, it never looks like what you see. The air felt different up there—thinner maybe? Or just quieter.

At Nam Dam Village, we met Mrs. Dao who showed us her house—mud walls cool to the touch and a kitchen that smelled like ginger and something smoky I couldn’t place. She laughed when I tried to say “thank you” in her dialect (I definitely got it wrong). Lunch was somewhere above Lung Tam Valley—a plastic table with bowls of pork and sticky rice, views down into terraces so green they looked fake. The jeep tour made it easy to just watch everything slide by: water buffalo in muddy fields, old men playing cards under a tree, kids chasing after our wheels. It’s a lot more comfortable than a motorbike (I get why people love those too), but here you can actually look around without worrying about crashing.

The next morning started early in Dong Van town—roosters yelling before sunrise—and then we climbed Ma Pi Leng Pass. That road is something else: cliffs dropping straight down to the Nho Que River, mist rolling over limestone spikes. Our guide told stories about building this “Happiness Road”—how people carved it by hand not that long ago. Standing at the edge made my stomach flip (not sure if from nerves or excitement). We stopped for photos but mostly just stood there quiet for a bit; even Minh didn’t talk much then.

I still think about dinner in Du Gia village—sitting cross-legged with a Tay family while their little boy kept sneaking bites off my plate. They poured “happy water” (homemade corn liquor) into tiny cups until everyone was laughing at nothing in particular. That night I fell asleep listening to rain tapping on bamboo outside my room and woke up not quite sure where I was for a second.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Ha Giang to Dong Van via scenic passes

• Breakfast at homestay
• Meet guide and jeep driver
• Drive outside city for landscape views
• Stop at Pac Sum Pass viewpoint
• Visit Quan Ba Heaven Gate panorama
• Explore Nam Dam Village and Dao culture
• Drive through Lung Tam Valley
• Stop at Can Ty Pass viewpoint
• Lunch at local restaurant with valley views
• Drive through Tham Ma Pass to Dong Van
• Stop at Hmong King Palace
• Arrive Dong Van and dinner
• Evening explore and relax in town

Day 2 — Dong Van to Du Gia via Ma Pi Leng Pass

• Breakfast in Dong Van
• Drive to Ma Pi Leng Pass
• Ride Sky Path and view Nho Que River
• Admire Ma Pi Leng Pass panorama
• Drive through Lung Ho and Meo Vac villages
• Break at M road pass
• Lunch at local restaurant in Mau Due Valley
• Drive to Du Gia Village
• Stay overnight at Tay minority homestay
• Dinner and happy water with family

Day 3 — Du Gia to Ha Giang and return to Hanoi

• Breakfast and farewell at homestay
• Drive from Du Gia towards Ha Giang
• Visit terrace rice paddies valley
• Cross Nam Cang Village and Sky Gate
• Return via Bac Me national road
• Arrive Ha Giang in afternoon
• Take bus or limousine back to Hanoi

Top questions

How long is the Ha Giang Loop open air jeep tour?

The tour lasts 3 days and 2 nights starting from Ha Giang city.

Is pickup included for this Ha Giang Loop jeep tour?

Yes, pickup from Ha Giang city is included before departure each morning.

What villages are visited during the tour?

You’ll visit Nam Dam Village (Dao minority), Dong Van town, Meo Vac, Du Gia (Tay minority), and more along the Loop.

Are meals provided during the trip?

All meals are included: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners featuring local food.

Do you stay overnight with local families?

Yes—accommodation includes private rooms in traditional village homes such as Tay family homestays.

What’s special about Ma Pi Leng Pass on this route?

Ma Pi Leng Pass offers dramatic cliffside views over Nho Que River; it’s considered Vietnam’s most rugged pass.

Is this tour suitable for people who don’t want to ride motorbikes?

Yes—the open-air jeep is designed for comfort and safety if you prefer not to ride motorbikes.

Are entrance fees included in this Ha Giang Loop jeep tour?

All entrance fees to villages or historical sites are covered by your booking.

What’s included

Your journey includes pickup in Ha Giang city each morning, all entrance fees along the Loop—from mountain passes to village visits—a seat in an open-air jeep driven by an experienced local guide, three breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners with authentic regional dishes shared at local restaurants or homestays. You’ll sleep in private rooms within traditional houses each night before returning to Ha Giang for onward travel options back to Hanoi.