Ha Giang 3-day Jeep Tour: Dong Van Karst Plateau Adventure

Three days in an open jeep through mountain passes most visitors never reach

A 3-day open-air jeep tour of Ha Giang in Northern Vietnam that combines the Dong Van Karst Plateau's most famous passes (Pac Sum, Heaven Gate, Ma Pi Leng) with remote villages and ethnic minority homestays, guided in English with all meals, accommodation and entrance fees included. The open-air jeep format lets you stop freely on roads inaccessible to other vehicles, and the route prioritizes hidden villages over the commercialized photo spots that now dominate the region. Pickup and drop-off in Ha Giang city are included. Children from age 1 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Ha Giang to Dong Van exploration

• Breakfast at homestay
• Meet guide and Jeep driver
• Drive outside city and view landscape
• Stop at Pac Sum Pass valley
• Visit Heaven Gate panorama
• Visit Nam Dam Village
• See Trang Kim and Can Ty Pass
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Drive past Yen Minh Town
• Drive up Tham Ma Slope
• Stop at Pho Cao
• Visit Hmong King Palace
• Drive to Dong Van town for overnight

Day 2: Dong Van to Du Gia Village journey

• Breakfast in Dong Van Town
• Drive to Ma Pi Leng Pass
• Stop at Ma Pi Leng panorama viewpoint
• Ride down Sky Path viewpoint
• Drive through Lung Ho, Mau Due, Meo Vac villages
• Lunch and drink stop in Meo Vac Town
• Continue 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

• Breakfast and farewell at homestay
• Drive to terrace paddies valley
• Cross Nam Cang Village
• Cross Sky Gate
• Return via Bac Me national road
• Arrive Ha Giang in afternoon
• Option to take bus or limousine to Hanoi

The experience

Day one starts at 8 am with breakfast at the homestay, then a 10-minute drive outside the city where the landscape shifts to mountain ranges and villages. The first stop is Pac Sum Pass, where you see the valley open below. Then Heaven Gate at over 1,300 meters above sea level, where the view stretches across the mountain range. You pass through Nam Dam Village and the dramatic Trang Kim and Can Ty passes before lunch at a local restaurant around 12:30 pm. The afternoon takes you up Tham Ma Slope, a road with nine switchbacks carved into the mountainside, then to the Hmong King Palace to learn the history of the Hmong royal family. You reach Dong Van town by evening for your first night in a traditional homestay.

Day two is the heart of the journey. After breakfast you head to Ma Pi Leng Pass, the most famous stretch of the whole route: a winding road at 2,000 meters altitude that locals call the king of the passes in Vietnam. The road clings to cliffs above the Nho Que River. You stop at a panorama viewpoint for a 360-degree view of the valley and the pass itself. From there the jeep continues through remote villages (Lung Ho, Mau Due, Meo Vac), where few tourists venture. You have lunch in Meo Vac, then drive through mountainous terrain to Du Gia Village, where seven ethnic minorities live together. That night you stay with a Tay minority family, eat dinner with them, and share rice wine (happy water) as part of the homestay experience.

The final day takes you back toward Ha Giang, but the route still holds surprises. After breakfast and goodbyes to your host family, you drive through a valley famous for its rice terraces (some say the paddies look like a fairy's breasts), and cross Nam Cang Village. You pass through Sky Gate and rejoin the national road at Bac Me. By afternoon you're back in Ha Giang city, with time to catch a bus or limousine back to Hanoi the same day or later that evening, depending on what suits your schedule.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off in Ha Giang city.
• English-speaking guide for all three days.
• open-air 4WD jeep with professional driver and fuel.
• three breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners.
• two nights' accommodation in traditional homestays (private rooms).
• all entrance fees to attractions including Hmong King Palace and the Dong Van Karst Plateau sites.
• water during the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 59 years) · Senior (60 to 83 years) · Youth (12 to 16 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Authentic Ha Giang - Easy Riders - Motorcycle - Dirt Bike Tours

Is this one for you?Book the open-air jeep if you want to stop freely at viewpoints and feel wind and altitude. Choose the homestay version if you're willing to trade hotel comfort for nights in remote villages, or pick the shorter tour for faster-paced hotel stays.

Traveler reviews

4.98★★★★★★★★★★

169 verified traveler reviews

5 ★167

4 ★1

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 16 years); Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 5 years).

What is Ma Pi Leng Pass and why is it the highlight of the tour?

Ma Pi Leng Pass is a winding mountain road at 2,000 meters altitude on the Happiness Road between Dong Van and Meo Vac, known for its dramatic cliffs above the Nho Que River. The jeep climbs through nine switchbacks on Tham Ma Slope and stops at a panorama viewpoint where you see a 360-degree view of the valley and the pass itself. Locals call it the king of the passes in Vietnam because of how the road hugs the mountainside.

Do I stay in hotels or with local families on this tour?

You stay two nights in traditional homestays with local families: the first in Dong Van town and the second with a Tay minority family in Du Gia Village. Dinner on the second night is with your host family, and you share rice wine as part of the experience. Breakfast is included both mornings before you leave.

What meals are included in the 3-day tour?

The tour includes three breakfasts, three lunches and two dinners. Breakfasts are at your homestays, lunches are at local restaurants or stops along the route, and one dinner is with your Tay host family on day two. The other is at a restaurant in Dong Van on day one.

Is the open-air jeep safe, and what makes it different from a regular van?

The tour uses 4WD open-air army jeeps with professional drivers. The open-air format lets you stop freely and explore areas inaccessible to regular vans or buses, and you can move around inside the vehicle to photograph and experience the landscape without the barrier of windows. The jeep is designed for mountain terrain and narrow passes.

How do I get back to Hanoi after the tour ends in Ha Giang?

On day three you arrive back in Ha Giang city by afternoon. Public transportation options are available nearby. You can take a bus or limousine back to Hanoi the same day, or catch a night bus or afternoon limousine later, depending on your schedule and what you want to do after the tour.

What ethnic groups and villages will I see on this tour?

The route passes through villages of several ethnic minorities, including Hmong, Tay, and others. Du Gia Village is notable because seven ethnic minorities live there together. You also visit Nam Dam Village, Lung Ho, Mau Due, Meo Vac, and Nam Cang Village, each with distinct landscapes and local life.