Journeys

Closed loop · 3 days, 2 nights

Out through Đồng Văn and Mèo Vạc, and back by a different road through Mậu Duệ and the Đường Thượng valley, so you do not ride the same road twice.

Day by day

Duration

3 days, 2 nights

Starts

Hà Giang city

Transport

Motorbike

Small group

3–10 guests

1. Day 0
   Arrive in Hà Giang the night beforeSo day 1 starts early and rested, not straight off an overnight bus. Check the pick-up time and place with your organiser.
2. Day 1
   Hà Giang → Đồng Văn old quarter

   Typical timings · 6

   1. 07:30
      Meet at the pickup point in Hà Giang city, safety briefing, then breakfast.
   2. 08:30
      Photo stops at the gateway to the plateau: Bắc Sum bends, Heaven's Gate, Twin Mountains.

      

   3. 11:00
      Thẩm Mã Slope, the well-known bend on the way up to Đồng Văn.

      

   4. 11:30
      Lunch in Phố Cáo.
   5. 13:00
      Vương Family Mansion: architecture, history and Hmong culture.
   6. 16:30
      Check in at Đồng Văn town, dinner (often black-chicken hotpot), free time in the old quarter.

      

   • Quản Bạ Heaven Gate
   • Twin Mountains viewpoint
   • Sà Phìn

   about 151 km · Sleep in Đồng Văn
3. Day 2
   Đồng Văn old quarter → Mèo Vạc market

   Typical timings · 8

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast, then the early market in Đồng Văn.
   2. 08:30
      Lũng Cú Flag Tower, the northernmost point of Vietnam.

      

   3. 09:30
      Photo at the northernmost coordinate marker.
   4. 10:00
      Lô Lô Chải village below the flagpole: a walk and a look at daily life.
   5. 12:00
      Lunch in Đồng Văn town.
   6. 13:30
      Mã Pí Lèng Pass: plateau, Tu Sản canyon and Nho Quế River from above.

      

   7. 14:30
      Boat ride on the Nho Quế through Tu Sản canyon.

      

   8. 17:30
      Check in, dinner and overnight in Mèo Vạc.

   • Lũng Cú flag tower
   • Mã Pí Lèng Pass
   • Nho Quế River & Tu Sản Gorge

   about 90 km · Sleep in Mèo Vạc
4. Day 3
   Back to Hà Giang

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast at your stay. If it is a Sunday, visit the Mèo Vạc market.

      

   2. 08:00
      Set off toward Hà Giang via Mậu Duệ, with a photo stop at the M-bend.
   3. 11:30
      Lunch in Mậu Duệ (Yên Minh).
   4. 13:00
      Mậu Duệ to Đường Thượng: Lũng Hồ post and the Đường Thượng valley.
   5. 16:00
      Back in Hà Giang city to freshen up, then a sleeper bus home (an early 16:30–17:00 bus or the 21:00 night bus).

      

   • Du Già – Đường Thượng valley

   about 163 km

Times are approximate, based on a public itinerary from an operator on the same route (Pai Adventure, 11/11/2026). Real timing depends on weather, roads and your group's pace.

A suggested split, not a fixed plan. Distances are measured on the map between stops and exclude detours and time at each stop. We have no measured driving times yet.

Is it for you?

Fits you if

• Want Đồng Văn, Mã Pí Lèng and Mèo Vạc in three days and prefer a different road back instead of repeating the same one.

Think twice if

• Are travelling with young children or older relatives: the last day is the longest, and sources describe the Du Già – Mậu Duệ section as steep with sharp bends.
• Have an evening bus the same day you return: leave Mèo Vạc early.

Where to eat and sleep (for reference)

Reference only, copied from Google Maps (rated 4.0 or higher, at least 20 reviews). It is not an endorsement. Please contact each place directly before you decide, or contact us to find out more. Message us on WhatsApp

Photos: trungydang (CC BY 3.0) · Hoach Le Dinh (CC0) · NKSTTSSHNVN (CC BY-SA 4.0), from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels. The other photos are our own.

Closed loop with a night in Du Già · 4 days, 3 nights

The same loop with one more night in Du Già, so the last two days are shorter and you can walk the village.

Day by day

Duration

4 days, 3 nights

Starts

Hà Giang city

Transport

Motorbike

Nights

Đồng Văn, Mèo Vạc, Du Già

1. Day 0
   Arrive in Hà Giang the night beforeSo day 1 starts early and rested, not straight off an overnight bus. Check the pick-up time and place with your organiser.
2. Day 1
   Hà Giang → Đồng Văn old quarter

   Typical timings · 6

   1. 07:30
      Meet at the pickup point in Hà Giang city, safety briefing, then breakfast.
   2. 08:30
      Photo stops at the gateway to the plateau: Bắc Sum bends, Heaven's Gate, Twin Mountains.

      

   3. 11:00
      Thẩm Mã Slope, the well-known bend on the way up to Đồng Văn.

      

   4. 11:30
      Lunch in Phố Cáo.
   5. 13:00
      Vương Family Mansion: architecture, history and Hmong culture.
   6. 16:30
      Check in at Đồng Văn town, dinner (often black-chicken hotpot), free time in the old quarter.

      

   • Quản Bạ Heaven Gate
   • Twin Mountains viewpoint
   • Sà Phìn

   about 151 km · Sleep in Đồng Văn
3. Day 2
   Đồng Văn old quarter → Mèo Vạc market

   Typical timings · 8

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast, then the early market in Đồng Văn.
   2. 08:30
      Lũng Cú Flag Tower, the northernmost point of Vietnam.

      

   3. 09:30
      Photo at the northernmost coordinate marker.
   4. 10:00
      Lô Lô Chải village below the flagpole: a walk and a look at daily life.
   5. 12:00
      Lunch in Đồng Văn town.
   6. 13:30
      Mã Pí Lèng Pass: plateau, Tu Sản canyon and Nho Quế River from above.

      

   7. 14:30
      Boat ride on the Nho Quế through Tu Sản canyon.

      

   8. 17:30
      Check in, dinner and overnight in Mèo Vạc.

   • Lũng Cú flag tower
   • Mã Pí Lèng Pass
   • Nho Quế River & Tu Sản Gorge

   about 90 km · Sleep in Mèo Vạc
4. Day 3
   Mèo Vạc market → Du Già – Đường Thượng valley

   Typical timings · 4

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast at your stay. On a Sunday, visit the Mèo Vạc market.

      

   2. 08:00
      Leave Mèo Vạc toward Mậu Duệ, with a photo stop at the M-bend.
   3. 11:30
      Lunch beside the Bản Án stream.
   4. 16:00
      Arrive in Du Già, a peaceful Tay village. Stroll, dinner and a homestay night.

      

   about 77 km · Sleep in Du Già
5. Day 4
   Back to Hà Giang

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 08:00
      Breakfast at the homestay, then head back to Hà Giang.
   2. 09:00
      Du Già waterfall, cool all year, swimming possible.

      

   3. 11:30
      Lunch in Đường Thượng.
   4. 13:00
      Continue to Hà Giang via Đường Thượng and Thái An, past valleys and waterfalls.
   5. 16:00
      Back in Hà Giang city to freshen up, then a sleeper bus home (an early 16:30–17:00 bus or the 21:00 night bus).

      

   about 85 km

Times are approximate, based on a public itinerary from an operator on the same route (Pai Adventure, 11/11/2026). Real timing depends on weather, roads and your group's pace.

A suggested split, not a fixed plan. Distances are measured on the map between stops and exclude detours and time at each stop. We have no measured driving times yet.

Is it for you?

Fits you if

• Are visiting for the first time, with family or over 30, and like the idea of a quiet night in Du Già so the last two days are shorter.
• Want the closed loop without riding the same road twice.

Think twice if

• Dislike a long first day: it is the longest of the four.
• Want to stay in a town with many places to eat: Du Già is a village, so ask about meals when you book.

Where to eat and sleep (for reference)

Reference only, copied from Google Maps (rated 4.0 or higher, at least 20 reviews). It is not an endorsement. Please contact each place directly before you decide, or contact us to find out more. Message us on WhatsApp

Photos: NKSTTSSHNVN (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Hoach Le Dinh (CC0), from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels. The other photos are our own.

Hà Giang – Cao Bằng, one way · 5 days, 4 nights

The first two days follow the classic loop to Mèo Vạc, then it turns east along the Gâm river to Pác Bó, Bản Giốc and Cao Bằng city. One way: you finish in Cao Bằng.

Day by day

Duration

5 days, 4 nights

Starts

Hà Giang city

Ends

Cao Bằng city

Nights

Đồng Văn, Mèo Vạc, Pác Bó, Bản Giốc

1. Day 0
   Arrive in Hà Giang the night beforeSo day 1 starts early and rested, not straight off an overnight bus. Check the pick-up time and place with your organiser.
2. Day 1
   Hà Giang → Đồng Văn old quarter

   Typical timings · 6

   1. 07:30
      Meet at the pickup point in Hà Giang city, safety briefing, then breakfast.
   2. 08:30
      Photo stops at the gateway to the plateau: Bắc Sum bends, Heaven's Gate, Twin Mountains.

      

   3. 11:00
      Thẩm Mã Slope, the well-known bend on the way up to Đồng Văn.

      

   4. 11:30
      Lunch in Phố Cáo.
   5. 13:00
      Vương Family Mansion: architecture, history and Hmong culture.
   6. 16:30
      Check in at Đồng Văn town, dinner (often black-chicken hotpot), free time in the old quarter.

      

   • Quản Bạ Heaven Gate
   • Twin Mountains viewpoint
   • Sà Phìn

   about 151 km · Sleep in Đồng Văn
3. Day 2
   Đồng Văn old quarter → Mèo Vạc market

   Typical timings · 8

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast, then the early market in Đồng Văn.
   2. 08:30
      Lũng Cú Flag Tower, the northernmost point of Vietnam.

      

   3. 09:30
      Photo at the northernmost coordinate marker.
   4. 10:00
      Lô Lô Chải village below the flagpole: a walk and a look at daily life.
   5. 12:00
      Lunch in Đồng Văn town.
   6. 13:30
      Mã Pí Lèng Pass: plateau, Tu Sản canyon and Nho Quế River from above.

      

   7. 14:30
      Boat ride on the Nho Quế through Tu Sản canyon.

      

   8. 17:30
      Check in, dinner and overnight in Mèo Vạc.

   • Lũng Cú flag tower
   • Mã Pí Lèng Pass
   • Nho Quế River & Tu Sản Gorge

   about 90 km · Sleep in Mèo Vạc
4. Day 3
   Mèo Vạc market → Pác Bó and Lê Nin stream

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 07:30
      Breakfast at your stay. At the weekend, visit the market.
   2. 09:30
      Leave Mèo Vạc for Cao Bằng along the Gâm River and through valleys.
   3. 11:30
      Lunch in Bảo Lạc town.

      

   4. 13:00
      Khau Cốc Chả Pass with 15 hairpins; a 1 km walk to the viewpoint.

      

   5. 16:30
      Check in at a Pác Bó homestay, wander, and cool off in the Lê Nin stream.

      

   • Bảo Lạc town
   • Khau Cốc Chà Pass

   about 163 km · Sleep in Pác Bó
5. Day 4
   Pác Bó and Lê Nin stream → Ngườm Ngao Cave

   Typical timings · 6

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast, then the sights of the Non nước Cao Bằng Geopark.
   2. 08:00
      Pác Bó historical site and the emerald Lê Nin stream.

      

   3. 11:30
      Lunch in Trà Lĩnh town.
   4. 13:30
      Bản Giốc Waterfall: a boat close to the falls, Vietnam on one side and China on the other.

      

   5. 15:00
      Ngườm Ngao Cave, one of the longest caves in Cao Bằng.

      

   6. 17:00
      Check in at a homestay by the Quây Sơn River near Bản Giốc, dinner and overnight.

      

   • Bản Giốc Waterfall

   about 107 km · Sleep in Bản Giốc
6. Day 5
   Ngườm Ngao Cave → Cao Bằng city

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast, then the last sights of the journey.
   2. 09:00
      Ba Khoang (Ba Quang) grass hills, green slopes to the horizon.
   3. 11:00
      Lunch in Quảng Uyên town.
   4. 14:00
      Nà Mạ valley and the pierced Eye Mountain, with grassland, streams and lakes.
   5. 16:00
      Back in Cao Bằng city, end of the journey, then a sleeper bus (an early 15:00–16:00 bus or the 21:00 night bus).

      

   • Núi Thủng (the pierced mountain)

   about 94 km · The journey ends in Cao Bằng

Times are approximate, based on a public itinerary from an operator on the same route (Pai Adventure, 11/11/2026). Real timing depends on weather, roads and your group's pace.

A suggested split, not a fixed plan. Distances are measured on the map between stops and exclude detours and time at each stop. We have no measured driving times yet.

Is it for you?

Fits you if

• Have five days and want to continue to Cao Bằng instead of coming back the same way, adding Pác Bó, Bản Giốc and the Gâm river.

Think twice if

• Need to return to Hà Giang afterwards: this is one way, so plan the trip home by coach from Cao Bằng city. If you rent a motorbike in Hà Giang, ask whether it can be returned in Cao Bằng and what that costs.
• Dislike long days: days 3 and 4 are long, and the Khau Cốc Chà pass has many bends. Check road conditions before you go.

Where to eat and sleep (for reference)

Reference only, copied from Google Maps (rated 4.0 or higher, at least 20 reviews). It is not an endorsement. Please contact each place directly before you decide, or contact us to find out more. Message us on WhatsApp

Photos: Adam Jones (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Hoach Le Dinh (CC0) · Q. Hưng Phạm (Pexels) · Anh Tuan (Pexels), from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels. The other photos are our own.

Hoàng Su Phì – Bắc Hà, one way · 4 days, 3 nights

West of the main loop: terraced hillsides, the Chiêu Lầu Thi peak, then Bắc Hà in Lào Cai. One way: you finish in Lào Cai and take a coach home.

Day by day

Duration

4 days, 3 nights

Starts

Hà Giang city

Ends

Lào Cai (Bảo Thắng)

Nights

Nậm Hồng, Vinh Quang, Bắc Hà

1. Day 0
   Arrive in Hà Giang the night beforeSo day 1 starts early and rested, not straight off an overnight bus. Check the pick-up time and place with your organiser.
2. Day 1
   Hà Giang → Hoàng Su Phì terraces

   Typical timings · 7

   1. 08:00
      Meet in Hà Giang city, briefing, then breakfast.
   2. 08:30
      Drive up to Hoàng Su Phì through Tay and Dao villages under palm trees.
   3. 11:00
      Mâm Xôi Nậm Khòa hill, a newer viewpoint over the terraces.

      

   4. 12:00
      Lunch with a view of the hills and terraces.
   5. 13:30
      Nậm Hồng terraces, horseshoe-shaped fields among stilt houses.
   6. 15:00
      Catch carp for dinner. Villagers release carp in the terraces to eat pests.
   7. 16:00
      Check in at a Nậm Hồng homestay, dinner with Dao dishes.

   about 105 km · Sleep in Nậm Hồng
3. Day 2
   Hoàng Su Phì terraces → Chiêu Lầu Thi peak

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 07:30
      Breakfast, then more of Hoàng Su Phì.
   2. 09:30
      Hike Chiêu Lầu Thi, 2,402 m, the second highest peak in Hà Giang, with about 800 m on foot to the summit.

      

   3. 12:00
      Lunch at the foot of the mountain.
   4. 14:30
      Bản Luốc terraces, the largest terrace valley in Hoàng Su Phì.
   5. 16:00
      Check in, dinner and overnight in Vinh Quang.

   about 33 km · Sleep in Vĩnh Quang
4. Day 3
   Chiêu Lầu Thi peak → Hoàng A Tưởng Palace, Bắc Hà

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 07:30
      Breakfast, then on to Bản Phùng.
   2. 10:00
      Bản Phùng, a La Chí village in the clouds, peaceful and beautiful.

      

   3. 12:00
      Lunch in Cốc Pài town.
   4. 14:00
      Suối Thầu grassland, several hundred hectares where the Hmong live and farm.
   5. 16:30
      Arrive in Bắc Hà, homestay check-in, dinner (often horse hotpot), then the night market.

   • Bản Phùng terraces

   about 115 km · Sleep in Bắc Hà
5. Day 4
   Bắc Hà, then the coach home

   A morning around Bắc Hà, then on to Lào Cai for the coach. The journey ends in Lào Cai, not Hà Giang.

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 07:30
      Breakfast, or the Bắc Hà market on a Sunday morning.
   2. 09:00
      Hoàng A Tưởng Palace.

      

   3. 10:00
      Cốc Sâm grass hill on the Bắc Hà plateau, with grazing cattle and horses.
   4. 11:30
      Boat upstream on the Chảy River from Bảo Nhai, past Tiên cave and Cốc Ly Waterfall.
   5. 14:00
      The journey ends at the Nội Bài–Lào Cai expressway junction (Bảo Thắng), then a sleeper bus to Hà Nội and other provinces.

Times are approximate, based on a public itinerary from an operator on the same route (Pai Adventure, 11/11/2026). Real timing depends on weather, roads and your group's pace.

A suggested split, not a fixed plan. Distances are measured on the map between stops and exclude detours and time at each stop. We have no measured driving times yet.

Is it for you?

Fits you if

• Want terraced hillsides and mountain scenery away from the main plateau route, in four days.
• Are happy to finish in Lào Cai and take a coach home.

Think twice if

• Need to return to Hà Giang afterwards: this is one way. Plan the trip home from Lào Cai.
• Dislike cold and fog: Chiêu Lầu Thi is high. The terraces look best around September to October, so check the season.

Where to eat and sleep (for reference)

Reference only, copied from Google Maps (rated 4.0 or higher, at least 20 reviews). It is not an endorsement. Please contact each place directly before you decide, or contact us to find out more. Message us on WhatsApp

Photos: Quangpraha (CC0) · Khiển Hoàng (Pexels) · Adam Jones (CC BY-SA 2.0), from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels. The other photos are our own.

The slow loop · 6 days, 5 nights

Six days with an extra day staying in Pả Vi, so you can walk instead of ride, and a different road back through Du Già.

Day by day

Duration

6 days, 5 nights

Starts

Hà Giang city

Transport

Motorbike or car

Nights

Nặm Đăm, Lô Lô Chải, Pả Vi (2), Mèo Vạc

1. Day 0
   Arrive in Hà Giang the night beforeSo day 1 starts early and rested, not straight off an overnight bus. Check the pick-up time and place with your organiser.
2. Day 1
   Hà Giang → Nặm Đăm village

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 07:30
      Meet in Hà Giang city, briefing, then breakfast.
   2. 09:30
      Khuổi Lăn Waterfall: about 500 m through forest, around 30 minutes.
   3. 11:30
      Chinese-style lunch with Cao Mã Pờ beef hotpot.
   4. 15:30
      Photo stops at the plateau gateway: Bắc Sum bends, Heaven's Gate, Twin Mountains.

      

   5. 16:30
      Arrive in Nặm Đăm, a Dao village.

      

   • Quản Bạ Heaven Gate
   • Twin Mountains viewpoint

   about 54 km · Sleep in Nặm Đăm
3. Day 2
   Nặm Đăm village → Lô Lô Chải village

   Typical timings · 7

   1. 07:30
      Breakfast, then the villages of the stone plateau.
   2. 09:30
      Sao Hạ, an old village hidden in the forest, with about 20 Hmong households.
   3. 11:00
      Thẩm Mã Slope, a panoramic photo of the bends.

      

   4. 11:30
      Lunch in Phố Cáo (Đồng Văn).
   5. 13:00
      Lão Xá village and its Hmong silver craft.
   6. 14:30
      Vương Family Mansion.
   7. 16:00
      Arrive in Lô Lô Chải below the Lũng Cú flagpole and walk through the village.

      

   • Sà Phìn

   about 129 km · Sleep in Lô Lô Chải
4. Day 3
   Lô Lô Chải village → Pả Vi village

   Typical timings · 7

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast, then set off.
   2. 08:00
      Lũng Cú Flag Tower.

      

   3. 09:30
      Northernmost coordinate marker, where the Nho Quế starts to flow into Vietnam.
   4. 11:30
      Lunch in Đồng Văn, then free time in the old quarter and a coffee.

      

   5. 13:30
      Mã Pí Lèng Pass.

      

   6. 14:30
      Youth Volunteer Monument, the start of the White Cliff walk of over 4 km.
   7. 16:30
      Arrive in the Hmong cultural village of Pả Vi and walk around.

      

   • Lũng Cú flag tower
   • Mã Pí Lèng Pass
   • Nho Quế River & Tu Sản Gorge

   about 58 km · Sleep in Pả Vi
5. Day 4
   A day to stay in Pả Vi

   No change of bed: walk around the village and the cliffs nearby, and rest. This is the extra day that makes the loop slow.

   Typical timings · 7

   1. 07:30
      Breakfast, then the next sights.
   2. 08:30
      Boat ride on the Nho Quế through Tu Sản canyon.

      

   3. 11:30
      Lunch in Mèo Vạc town.
   4. 13:30
      Mèo Vạc sinkhole, one of the largest in Hà Giang.
   5. 14:30
      Tia Cua Si road, over the Nho Quế basin.
   6. 15:30
      Nìa Đỏ bamboo forest in the heart of the plateau.
   7. 16:30
      Back to Pả Vi.

      

   Sleep in Pả Vi
6. Day 5
   Pả Vi village → Mèo Vạc market

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast. At the weekend, visit the Mèo Vạc market.

      

   2. 09:00
      Motorboat on the Nho Quế 3 reservoir to the Phong Lưu gorge and its mid-river rock.
   3. 12:00
      Lunch in Niêm Tòng.
   4. 13:30
      Niêm Tòng grass hill, hundreds of hectares, with sunset over the Nho Quế.
   5. 16:30
      Arrive in Mèo Vạc, homestay check-in, dinner and the night market.

   about 8 km · Sleep in Mèo Vạc
7. Day 6
   Back to Hà Giang

   Typical timings · 7

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast. At the weekend, visit the Mèo Vạc market.
   2. 08:30
      Leave Mèo Vạc toward Mậu Duệ, with a photo stop at the M-bend.
   3. 10:00
      Bamboo raft on the clear Bản Án stream, with a stop at Thẳm Lìn cave.
   4. 11:30
      Lunch beside the Bản Án stream.
   5. 13:00
      Mậu Duệ to Đường Thượng: Lũng Hồ post and the Đường Thượng valley.
   6. 14:30
      Lùng Tám linen village.
   7. 16:00
      Back in Hà Giang city to freshen up, then a sleeper bus home (an early 16:30–17:00 bus or the 21:00 night bus).

      

   • Du Già – Đường Thượng valley

   about 163 km

Times are approximate, based on a public itinerary from an operator on the same route (Pai Adventure, 11/11/2026). Real timing depends on weather, roads and your group's pace.

A suggested split, not a fixed plan. Distances are measured on the map between stops and exclude detours and time at each stop. We have no measured driving times yet.

Is it for you?

Fits you if

• Have six days and want a slow pace, with a full day to stay and walk in Pả Vi.
• Are travelling with family or over 30 and want short riding days.

Think twice if

• Do not have six days: take the four-day loop instead.
• Dislike changing homestay often: this journey changes beds on most nights.

Where to eat and sleep (for reference)

Reference only, copied from Google Maps (rated 4.0 or higher, at least 20 reviews). It is not an endorsement. Please contact each place directly before you decide, or contact us to find out more. Message us on WhatsApp

Photos: Velvet (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Hoach Le Dinh (CC0) · MapKoi Travel (Pexels) · NKSTTSSHNVN (CC BY-SA 4.0), from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels. The other photos are our own.

Villages loop · 4 days, 3 nights

Three nights in villages (Nặm Đăm, Lô Lô Chải, Pả Vi) instead of towns, and a different road back through Du Già.

Day by day

Duration

4 days, 3 nights

Starts

Hà Giang city

Transport

Motorbike or car

Nights

Nặm Đăm, Lô Lô Chải, Pả Vi

1. Day 0
   Arrive in Hà Giang the night beforeSo day 1 starts early and rested, not straight off an overnight bus. Check the pick-up time and place with your organiser.
2. Day 1
   Hà Giang → Nặm Đăm village

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 07:30
      Meet in Hà Giang city, briefing, then breakfast.
   2. 09:30
      Cao Mã Pờ, a border commune of peaceful villages, known for its peach trees.
   3. 11:30
      Lunch in Chinese-style, often with Cao Mã Pờ beef hotpot.
   4. 14:00
      Photo stops at the plateau gateway: Bắc Sum bends, Heaven's Gate, Twin Mountains.

      

   5. 16:00
      Arrive in Nặm Đăm, a Dao village known for festivals such as fire dancing and coming-of-age rites.

      

   • Quản Bạ Heaven Gate
   • Twin Mountains viewpoint

   about 54 km · Sleep in Nặm Đăm
3. Day 2
   Nặm Đăm village → Lô Lô Chải village

   Typical timings · 7

   1. 07:30
      Breakfast, then the villages of the stone plateau.
   2. 09:30
      Sao Hạ, an old village hidden in the forest, with about 20 Hmong households.
   3. 11:00
      Thẩm Mã Slope, a panoramic photo of the bends.

      

   4. 11:30
      Lunch in Phố Cáo (Đồng Văn).
   5. 13:00
      Lão Xá village and its Hmong silver craft.
   6. 14:30
      Vương Family Mansion.
   7. 16:00
      Arrive in Lô Lô Chải below the Lũng Cú flagpole and walk through the village.

      

   • Sà Phìn

   about 129 km · Sleep in Lô Lô Chải
4. Day 3
   Lô Lô Chải village → Pả Vi village

   Typical timings · 7

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast, then set off.
   2. 08:00
      Lũng Cú Flag Tower, the northernmost point of Vietnam.

      

   3. 09:30
      Photo at the northernmost coordinate marker.
   4. 11:30
      Lunch in Đồng Văn town, then free time in the old quarter.

      

   5. 13:00
      Mã Pí Lèng Pass, with views of the plateau, Tu Sản canyon and the Nho Quế River.

      

   6. 15:00
      Boat ride on the Nho Quế through Tu Sản canyon.

      

   7. 17:30
      Arrive in the Hmong cultural village of Pả Vi, dinner and overnight.

      

   • Lũng Cú flag tower
   • Mã Pí Lèng Pass
   • Nho Quế River & Tu Sản Gorge

   about 58 km · Sleep in Pả Vi
5. Day 4
   Back to Hà Giang

   Typical timings · 8

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast, then the last sights.
   2. 07:30
      Visit the Mèo Vạc market if it falls at the weekend.

      

   3. 08:00
      Tia Cua Si road, one of the most beautiful stretches of the plateau, over the Nho Quế basin.
   4. 10:00
      Head to Hà Giang via Mậu Duệ, with a photo stop at the M-bend.
   5. 12:00
      Lunch in Mậu Duệ.
   6. 13:00
      Mậu Duệ to Đường Thượng: Lũng Hồ post and the Đường Thượng valley.
   7. 14:30
      Lùng Tám linen village, more than 40 steps of Hmong linen making.
   8. 16:00
      Back in Hà Giang city to freshen up, then a sleeper bus home (an early 16:30–17:00 bus or the 21:00 night bus).

      

   • Mèo Vạc market
   • Du Già – Đường Thượng valley

   about 170 km

Times are approximate, based on a public itinerary from an operator on the same route (Pai Adventure, 11/11/2026). Real timing depends on weather, roads and your group's pace.

A suggested split, not a fixed plan. Distances are measured on the map between stops and exclude detours and time at each stop. We have no measured driving times yet.

Is it for you?

Fits you if

• Prefer sleeping in villages over towns, and want a different road back instead of repeating the same one.
• Have four days and like short, steady riding days.

Think twice if

• Want a real town with many places to eat each night: villages have fewer, so ask about meals when you book.
• Are travelling with children or older relatives: the last day is the longest, and the Du Già – Mậu Duệ section is described as steep with sharp bends.

Where to eat and sleep (for reference)

Reference only, copied from Google Maps (rated 4.0 or higher, at least 20 reviews). It is not an endorsement. Please contact each place directly before you decide, or contact us to find out more. Message us on WhatsApp

Photos: Velvet (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Hoach Le Dinh (CC0) · NKSTTSSHNVN (CC BY-SA 4.0), from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels. The other photos are our own.

Cao Bằng loop · 3 days, 2 nights

Starts and ends in Cao Bằng city: Khau Cốc Chà pass, Pác Bó, Bản Giốc waterfall and the pierced mountain. No Hà Giang part.

Day by day

Duration

3 days, 2 nights

Starts

Cao Bằng city

Transport

Motorbike or car

Nights

Pác Bó, Khuổi Ky

1. Day 0
   Arrive in Cao Bằng the night beforeSo day 1 starts early and rested, not straight off an overnight bus. Check the pick-up time and place with your organiser.
2. Day 1
   Cao Bằng city → Pác Bó and Lê Nin stream

   Typical timings · 6

   1. 07:30
      Pickup in Cao Bằng city, short briefing, then breakfast.
   2. 08:00
      Drive past bamboo forest and Tay and Nùng villages among rice fields.
   3. 09:30
      Khau Cốc Chả Pass with 15 hairpins; a 1 km walk to the viewpoint.

      

   4. 11:30
      Lunch at a local restaurant on the way.
   5. 14:00
      Pác Bó historical site and the emerald Lê Nin stream.

      

   6. 16:30
      Check in at a Pác Bó homestay, free time for a bamboo raft or the stream.

   • Khau Cốc Chà Pass

   about 164 km · Sleep in Pác Bó
3. Day 2
   Pác Bó and Lê Nin stream → Ngườm Ngao Cave

   Typical timings · 7

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast, then the Non nước Cao Bằng Geopark sights.
   2. 09:30
      Ngọc Côn viewpoint over the rice valley and the winding Quây Sơn River.
   3. 11:30
      Lunch near Bản Giốc Waterfall.
   4. 13:30
      Bản Giốc Waterfall, with a boat close to the falls.

      

   5. 15:00
      Ngườm Ngao Cave.

      

   6. 16:00
      Khuổi Ky stone village with traditional Tay stone houses.
   7. 17:00
      Check in at a riverside homestay, dinner and overnight.

   • Bản Giốc Waterfall

   about 107 km · Sleep in Khuổi Ký
4. Day 3
   Ngườm Ngao Cave → Cao Bằng city

   Typical timings · 6

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast, then the last sights of the journey.
   2. 09:00
      Ba Khoang (Ba Quang) grass hills.
   3. 11:00
      Lunch at a local restaurant.
   4. 13:00
      Địa Trên traditional papermaking village.
   5. 14:00
      Nà Mạ valley and the pierced Eye Mountain.
   6. 16:00
      Back in Cao Bằng city, end of the journey, then a sleeper bus (an early 15:00–16:00 bus or the 21:00 night bus).

      

   • Núi Thủng (the pierced mountain)

   about 94 km · The journey ends in Cao Bằng

Times are approximate, based on a public itinerary from an operator on the same route (Pai Adventure, 11/11/2026). Real timing depends on weather, roads and your group's pace.

A suggested split, not a fixed plan. Distances are measured on the map between stops and exclude detours and time at each stop. We have no measured driving times yet.

Is it for you?

Fits you if

• Already know the Hà Giang plateau and want Cao Bằng alone: pass, history site and waterfall in three days.
• Prefer a closed loop that starts and ends in the same city.

Think twice if

• Want Hà Giang: this journey does not include it.
• Dislike long days: day 1 and day 2 are long, and the Khau Cốc Chà pass has many bends. Check road conditions before you go.

Where to eat and sleep (for reference)

Reference only, copied from Google Maps (rated 4.0 or higher, at least 20 reviews). It is not an endorsement. Please contact each place directly before you decide, or contact us to find out more. Message us on WhatsApp

Photos: Adam Jones (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Q. Hưng Phạm (Pexels) · Anh Tuan (Pexels), from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels. The other photos are our own.

Hà Giang – Đồng Văn · 2 days, 1 night

A short taste of the plateau. Expect long road hours, so keep the stops few and the lunches unhurried.

Day by day

Duration

2 days, 1 night

Starts

Hà Giang city

Transport

Motorbike or car

Nights

Đồng Văn

1. Day 0
   Arrive in Hà Giang the night beforeSo day 1 starts early and rested, not straight off an overnight bus. Check the pick-up time and place with your organiser.
2. Day 1
   Hà Giang → Đồng Văn old quarter

   Typical timings · 6

   1. 08:30
      Breakfast in Hà Giang city, fill the tank and set off.

      

   2. 09:30
      Stop at the Bắc Sum bends, Heaven's Gate and the Twin Mountains. No rush: this is the best stretch of the morning.

      

   3. 11:00
      Thẩm Mã Slope, a photo and rest stop.

      

   4. 12:00
      Lunch in Phố Cáo or Yên Minh.
   5. 14:00
      Sà Phìn village, a half-hour stop at the old house and the small market.

      

   6. 16:30
      Check in at Đồng Văn, then the old quarter and dinner.

      

   • Quản Bạ Heaven Gate
   • Sà Phìn

   about 151 km · Sleep in Đồng Văn
3. Day 2
   Back to Hà Giangabout 160 km

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 07:30
      Breakfast and the early market in Đồng Văn.

      

   2. 08:30
      Set off for Hà Giang on the QL4C, about 160 km, with a rest every 1 to 1.5 hours.
   3. 12:00
      Lunch in Yên Minh.
   4. 13:00
      Continue through Quản Bạ; stop again at Heaven's Gate if you are tired.

      

   5. 16:30
      Back in Hà Giang city, return the bike, then a sleeper bus or an overnight stay.

      

The timings for this journey are our own estimates, based on the times operators publish for the same roads, cross-checked against travel times in guides (VnExpress, Vietnamtourism, Mia.vn) and a slower pace. We have not ridden it as scheduled, so leave extra time.

A suggested split, not a fixed plan. Distances are measured on the map between stops and exclude detours and time at each stop. We have no measured driving times yet.

Is it for you?

Fits you if

• Have only a weekend and accept that most of it is the road.
• Mainly want to see Đồng Văn and the Quản Bạ viewpoints.

Think twice if

• Are travelling with young children, older relatives, or are prone to car sickness. The sources already call three days hurried, and this is shorter.
• Want Mã Pí Lèng or Mèo Vạc. This journey stops at Đồng Văn.

Where to eat and sleep (for reference)

Reference only, copied from Google Maps (rated 4.0 or higher, at least 20 reviews). It is not an endorsement. Please contact each place directly before you decide, or contact us to find out more. Message us on WhatsApp

Hà Giang – Yên Minh – Đồng Văn · 3 days, 2 nights

A gentler rhythm with a proper stop in Yên Minh, so no day is only driving.

Day by day

Duration

3 days, 2 nights

Starts

Hà Giang city

Transport

Motorbike or car

Nights

Yên Minh, Đồng Văn

1. Day 0
   Arrive in Hà Giang the night beforeSo day 1 starts early and rested, not straight off an overnight bus. Check the pick-up time and place with your organiser.
2. Day 1
   Hà Giang → Yên Minh town

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 08:30
      Breakfast in Hà Giang city, fill the tank and set off.

      

   2. 09:30
      Stop at the Bắc Sum bends, Heaven's Gate and the Twin Mountains. No rush: this is the best stretch of the morning.

      

   3. 11:30
      Lunch in Tam Sơn or Yên Minh, eat slowly and rest your arms.
   4. 13:00
      A gentle walk around Yên Minh and the nearby villages.

      

   5. 16:00
      Check in at Yên Minh, rest, dinner in town.

      

   • Quản Bạ Heaven Gate

   about 106 km · Sleep in Yên Minh
3. Day 2
   Yên Minh town → Đồng Văn old quarter

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 08:00
      Breakfast in Yên Minh, then on toward Đồng Văn.
   2. 11:00
      Thẩm Mã Slope, a photo and rest stop.

      

   3. 12:00
      Lunch in Phố Cáo or Yên Minh.
   4. 14:00
      Sà Phìn village, a half-hour stop at the old house and the small market.

      

   5. 16:30
      Check in at Đồng Văn, then the old quarter and dinner.

      

   • Sà Phìn

   about 61 km · Sleep in Đồng Văn
4. Day 3
   Back to Hà Giangabout 160 km

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 07:30
      Breakfast and the early market in Đồng Văn.

      

   2. 08:30
      Set off for Hà Giang on the QL4C, about 160 km, with a rest every 1 to 1.5 hours.
   3. 12:00
      Lunch in Yên Minh.
   4. 13:00
      Continue through Quản Bạ; stop again at Heaven's Gate if you are tired.

      

   5. 16:30
      Back in Hà Giang city, return the bike, then a sleeper bus or an overnight stay.

      

The timings for this journey are our own estimates, based on the times operators publish for the same roads, cross-checked against travel times in guides (VnExpress, Vietnamtourism, Mia.vn) and a slower pace. We have not ridden it as scheduled, so leave extra time.

A suggested split, not a fixed plan. Distances are measured on the map between stops and exclude detours and time at each stop. We have no measured driving times yet.

Is it for you?

Fits you if

• Like to break the first day with a night in Yên Minh.
• Want a calmer first loop to Đồng Văn.

Think twice if

• Want Mã Pí Lèng or Mèo Vạc, which this journey does not reach.
• Dislike a long drive on the last day: the way back is the same road.

Where to eat and sleep (for reference)

Reference only, copied from Google Maps (rated 4.0 or higher, at least 20 reviews). It is not an endorsement. Please contact each place directly before you decide, or contact us to find out more. Message us on WhatsApp

Photos: NKSTTSSHNVN (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Velvet (CC BY-SA 4.0), from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels. The other photos are our own.

Hà Giang – Đồng Văn – Mèo Vạc · 3 days, 2 nights

Reaches Mã Pí Lèng and Mèo Vạc, with a viewpoint most days.

Day by day

Duration

3 days, 2 nights

Starts

Hà Giang city

Transport

Motorbike or car

Nights

Đồng Văn, Mèo Vạc

1. Day 0
   Arrive in Hà Giang the night beforeSo day 1 starts early and rested, not straight off an overnight bus. Check the pick-up time and place with your organiser.
2. Day 1
   Hà Giang → Đồng Văn old quarter

   Typical timings · 6

   1. 08:30
      Breakfast in Hà Giang city, fill the tank and set off.

      

   2. 09:30
      Stop at the Bắc Sum bends, Heaven's Gate and the Twin Mountains. No rush: this is the best stretch of the morning.

      

   3. 11:00
      Thẩm Mã Slope, a photo and rest stop.

      

   4. 12:00
      Lunch in Phố Cáo or Yên Minh.
   5. 14:00
      Sà Phìn village, a half-hour stop at the old house and the small market.

      

   6. 16:30
      Check in at Đồng Văn, then the old quarter and dinner.

      

   • Quản Bạ Heaven Gate
   • Sà Phìn

   about 151 km · Sleep in Đồng Văn
3. Day 2
   Đồng Văn old quarter → Mèo Vạc market

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast and the early market in Đồng Văn.

      

   2. 08:30
      Lũng Cú Flag Tower, the northernmost point.

      

   3. 12:00
      Lunch in Đồng Văn.
   4. 13:30
      Mã Pí Lèng Pass, stop for Tu Sản canyon and the Nho Quế River.

      

   5. 17:00
      Check in, dinner and overnight in Mèo Vạc.

      

   • Lũng Cú flag tower
   • Mã Pí Lèng Pass

   about 76 km · Sleep in Mèo Vạc
4. Day 3
   Back to Hà Giangabout 185 km

   Typical timings · 4

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast; on a Sunday morning visit the Mèo Vạc market.

      

   2. 08:30
      Set off for Hà Giang via Đồng Văn and Yên Minh, about 185 km, with frequent rests.
   3. 12:30
      Lunch in Đồng Văn or Yên Minh.
   4. 17:30
      Back in Hà Giang city, return the bike, then a sleeper bus or an overnight stay.

      

The timings for this journey are our own estimates, based on the times operators publish for the same roads, cross-checked against travel times in guides (VnExpress, Vietnamtourism, Mia.vn) and a slower pace. We have not ridden it as scheduled, so leave extra time.

A suggested split, not a fixed plan. Distances are measured on the map between stops and exclude detours and time at each stop. We have no measured driving times yet.

Is it for you?

Fits you if

• Want Mã Pí Lèng and Mèo Vạc in three days and are comfortable with long days.

Think twice if

• Are travelling with children or older relatives. Sources describe three days as hurried, with more than seven hours of riding a day.
• Have an evening bus the same day you return: the return day is long, so leave early.

Where to eat and sleep (for reference)

Reference only, copied from Google Maps (rated 4.0 or higher, at least 20 reviews). It is not an endorsement. Please contact each place directly before you decide, or contact us to find out more. Message us on WhatsApp

Photos: Hoach Le Dinh (CC0), from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels. The other photos are our own.

Hà Giang – Đồng Văn – Mèo Vạc · 4 days, 3 nights

The comfortable way to do the loop: shorter days, time to walk, and room for weather changes.

Day by day

Duration

4 days, 3 nights

Starts

Hà Giang city

Transport

Motorbike or car

Nights

Yên Minh, Đồng Văn, Mèo Vạc

1. Day 0
   Arrive in Hà Giang the night beforeSo day 1 starts early and rested, not straight off an overnight bus. Check the pick-up time and place with your organiser.
2. Day 1
   Hà Giang → Yên Minh town

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 08:30
      Breakfast in Hà Giang city, fill the tank and set off.

      

   2. 09:30
      Stop at the Bắc Sum bends, Heaven's Gate and the Twin Mountains. No rush: this is the best stretch of the morning.

      

   3. 11:30
      Lunch in Yên Minh.
   4. 13:00
      A gentle walk around Yên Minh.

      

   5. 16:00
      Check in at Yên Minh, rest, dinner in town.

      

   • Quản Bạ Heaven Gate
   • Twin Mountains viewpoint

   about 107 km · Sleep in Yên Minh
3. Day 2
   Yên Minh town → Đồng Văn old quarter

   Typical timings · 5

   1. 08:00
      Breakfast in Yên Minh, then on toward Đồng Văn.
   2. 11:00
      Thẩm Mã Slope, a photo and rest stop.

      

   3. 12:00
      Lunch in Phố Cáo or Yên Minh.
   4. 14:00
      Sà Phìn village, a half-hour stop at the old house and the small market.

      

   5. 16:30
      Check in at Đồng Văn, then the old quarter and dinner.

      

   • Sà Phìn

   about 61 km · Sleep in Đồng Văn
4. Day 3
   Đồng Văn old quarter → Mèo Vạc market

   Typical timings · 6

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast and the early market in Đồng Văn.

      

   2. 08:30
      Lũng Cú Flag Tower.

      

   3. 12:00
      Lunch in Đồng Văn.
   4. 13:30
      Mã Pí Lèng Pass.

      

   5. 14:30
      Boat ride on the Nho Quế through Tu Sản canyon.

      

   6. 17:00
      Check in, dinner and overnight in Mèo Vạc.

      

   • Lũng Cú flag tower
   • Mã Pí Lèng Pass
   • Nho Quế River & Tu Sản Gorge

   about 90 km · Sleep in Mèo Vạc
5. Day 4
   Back to Hà Giangabout 185 km

   Typical timings · 4

   1. 07:00
      Breakfast; on a Sunday morning visit the Mèo Vạc market.

      

   2. 08:30
      Set off for Hà Giang via Đồng Văn and Yên Minh, about 185 km, with frequent rests.
   3. 12:30
      Lunch in Đồng Văn or Yên Minh.
   4. 17:30
      Back in Hà Giang city, return the bike, then a sleeper bus or an overnight stay.

      

The timings for this journey are our own estimates, based on the times operators publish for the same roads, cross-checked against travel times in guides (VnExpress, Vietnamtourism, Mia.vn) and a slower pace. We have not ridden it as scheduled, so leave extra time.

A suggested split, not a fixed plan. Distances are measured on the map between stops and exclude detours and time at each stop. We have no measured driving times yet.

Is it for you?

Fits you if

• Are visiting for the first time, with family or over 30: sources call four days the standard.
• Like to start with a night in Yên Minh instead of pushing to Đồng Văn on day one.

Think twice if

• Want a day with almost no driving. None is built in yet.
• Dislike the long final day: the way back is about 185 km, longer than any day before it.

Where to eat and sleep (for reference)

Reference only, copied from Google Maps (rated 4.0 or higher, at least 20 reviews). It is not an endorsement. Please contact each place directly before you decide, or contact us to find out more. Message us on WhatsApp

Photos: MapKoi Travel (Pexels) · Velvet (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Hoach Le Dinh (CC0), from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels. The other photos are our own.