Excited to explore Vietnam’s Ha Giang Loop but not sure where to start with planning? No matter if you have just a few days or a full week, finding the right Ha Giang loop itinerary is key to making the most of this incredible journey.
Having traveled the Ha Giang Loop, we know how challenging it can be to decide how many days to dedicate to this adventure.
From quick 2-day getaways to immersive 7-day explorations, each itinerary offers a unique experience. A 2-day trip might focus on the highlights, while a 7-day adventure lets you delve deeper into the region’s culture and landscapes. But which itinerary is right for you?
Let’s break down the best Ha Giang Loop itineraries for 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 days, so you can choose the one that fits your travel style and schedule.
Ha Giang Loop Itinerary
Table of Contents
Important Note
- On the first day of the Ha Giang loop, you’ll encounter a road split towards Yen Minh (as shown in the picture). We suggest you choose the longer 41 km straight route, as the shorter route is more challenging and is not recommended.
- The route until Meo Vac is the same, regardless of the number of days you choose. However, the return journey to Ha Giang takes a different route.
- The road conditions of the routes mentioned in the itineraries are paved well and have accessible roads.
- The easiest way to find the villages on Google Maps is to add the word “cho”. Cho means market. This will avoid confusion as a few places have similar names across different parts of the country.
Ha Giang Loop Itinerary for 7 Days, 6 Nights
Total Distance Covered: 1016 Km
The best of all the Ha Giang loop itineraries. This itinerary allows you to explore the places leisurely, make as many stops as you want to enjoy the landscapes, explore local markets, interact with the locals, etc. There will be fewer tourists with you on your route from day 4 compared to the first three days. We highly recommend you go for this Ha Giang loop itinerary if you have the time.
Days | Route | Distance | Hours of Driving | Attractions | Food Stops |
Day 1 | HA GIANG CITY – HEAVEN GATE (QUAN BA) – LUNG TAM VILLAGE – LUNG KHUY CAVE – YEN MINH | 118 Km | 3.5 Hours | Heaven Gate, Lung Tam Linen Cooperative, Lung Khuy Cave | Breakfast – Ha Giang City, lunch – Quan Ba Town, and dinner – Yen Minh |
Day 2 | YEN MINH – THAM MA PASS – VUONG’S KING PALACE – LUNG CU FLAG POINT – DONG VAN TOWN | 87 Km | 3 Hours | Tham Ma pass, Lung Cam cultural & travel village, Vuong’s king palace, Lung Cu flag point | Breakfast – Yen Minh, Lunch – Lao Sao village and dinner – Dong Van town |
Day 3 | DONG VAN TOWN – MA PI LENG PASS – NHO QUE RIVER – MEO VAC – MAU DUE – BAO LAC | 118 Km | 3.5 Hours | Ma Pi Leng Heritage Complex, Nho Que River | Breakfast – Dong Van, lunch – Meo Vac, and dinner – Bao Lac village |
Day 4 | BAO LAC – ME PJA PASS – BAO LAM – LUONG THONG – CAO BANG | 192 Km | 5.5 Hours | Me Pja pass, Heaven’s Gate | Breakfast – Bao Lac, lunch – Bao Lam, and dinner – Cao Bang |
Day 5 | CAO BANG – BAN GIOC – CAO BANG – NGUYEN BINH | 206 Km | 4.3 Hours | Ban Gioc Waterfalls, Nguom Ngao Cave | Breakfast – Cao Bang, lunch – Cao Bang, and dinner – Nguyen Binh |
Day 6 | NGUYEN BINH – BAO LAC – BAC ME – DU GIA | 214 Km | 6.5 Hours | Breakfast – Nguyen Binh, lunch – Bac Me, and dinner – Du Gia | |
Day 7 (Option 1) | DU GIA – DUONG THUONG – THUAN HOA – HA GIANG CITY | 81 Km | 3 Hours | Tham Luong waterfall or Du Gia Waterfall | Breakfast – Du Gia, lunch – Duong Thuong, and dinner – Ha Giang City |
Day 7 (Option 2 – recommended) | DU GIA – MINH NGOC – HA GIANG CITY | 73 Km | 2.5 Hours | Tham Luong Waterfall or Du Gia Waterfall | Breakfast – Du Gia, lunch – Minh Ngoc, and dinner – Ha Giang City |
Did you know? The mountainous roads of the Ha Giang loop pass through six provinces: Ha Giang, Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac, Bac Me, and Cao Bang.
Ha Giang Loop Itinerary for 6 Days, 5 Nights
Total Distance Covered: 928 Km
The itinerary is the same as the 7D6N itinerary, except that you will skip Du Gia village if you choose this option. From Nguyen Binh, you’ll directly return to Ha Giang.
Days | Route | Distance | Hours of Driving | Attractions | Food Stops |
Day 1 | HA GIANG CITY – HEAVEN GATE (QUAN BA) – LUNG TAM VILLAGE – LUNG KHUY CAVE – YEN MINH | 118 Km | 3.5 Hours | Heaven Gate, Lung Tam Linen Cooperative, Lung Khuy Cave | Breakfast – Ha Giang City, lunch – Quan Ba Town, and dinner – Yen Minh |
Day 2 | YEN MINH – THAM MA PASS – VUONG’S KING PALACE – LUNG CU FLAG POINT – DONG VAN TOWN | 87 Km | 3 Hours | Tham Ma pass, Lung Cam cultural & travel village, Vuong’s king palace, Lung Cu flag point | Breakfast – Yen Minh, Lunch – Lao Sao village and dinner – Dong Van town |
Day 3 | DONG VAN TOWN – MA PI LENG PASS – NHO QUE RIVER – MEO VAC – MAU DUE – BAO LAC | 118 Km | 3.5 Hours | Ma Pi Leng Heritage Complex, Nho Que River | Breakfast – Dong Van, lunch – Meo Vac, and dinner – Bao Lac village |
Day 4 | BAO LAC – ME PJA PASS – BAO LAM – LUONG THONG – CAO BANG | 192 Km | 5.5 Hours | Me Pja pass, Heaven’s Gate | Breakfast – Bao Lac, lunch – Bao Lam, and dinner – Cao Bang |
Day 5 | CAO BANG – BAN GIOC – CAO BANG – NGUYEN BINH | 206 Km | 4.3 Hours | Ban Gioc Waterfalls, Nguom Ngao Cave | Breakfast – Cao Bang, lunch – Cao Bang, and dinner – Nguyen Binh |
Day 6 | NGUYEN BINH – BAO LAC – HA GIANG CITY | 207 Km | 6 Hours | Breakfast – Nguyen Binh, lunch – Bao Lac, and dinner – Ha Giang City |
During the road trip, you can experience different cultures and hill tribes native to Northern Vietnam. You can also see the locals going about their day, giving a glimpse of their day-to-day lives. Explore the local markets as much as possible en route to the passing towns to indulge in some local delicacies.
Ha Giang Loop Itinerary for 4 Days, 3 Nights
Total Distance Covered: 383 Km
This 4-Day/3-Night Ha Giang loop Itinerary is the most popular with overseas visitors and is the most touristy. This option is best suited for shorter trips. If you choose this itinerary, you will skip the Cao Bang province.
Days | Route | Distance | Hours of Driving | Attractions | Food Stops |
Day 1 | HA GIANG CITY – HEAVEN GATE (QUAN BA) – LUNG TAM VILLAGE – LUNG KHUY CAVE – YEN MINH | 118 Km | 3.5 Hours | Heaven Gate, Lung Tam Linen Cooperative, Lung Khuy Cave | Breakfast – Ha Giang City, lunch – Quan Ba Town, and dinner – Yen Minh |
Day 2 | YEN MINH – THAM MA PASS – VUONG’S KING PALACE – LUNG CU FLAG POINT – DONG VAN TOWN | 87 Km | 3 Hours | Tham Ma pass, Lung Cam cultural & travel village, Vuong’s king palace, Lung Cu flag point | Breakfast – Yen Minh, Lunch – Lao Sao village and dinner – Dong Van town |
Day 3 | DONG VAN TOWN – MA PI LENG PASS – NHO QUE RIVER – MEO VAC – MAU DUE – DU GIA | 105 Km | 3.5 Hours | Ma Pi Leng Heritage Complex, Nho Que River | Breakfast – Dong Van, lunch – Meo Vac, and dinner – Du Gia village |
Day 4 (option 1 – recommended) | DU GIA – MINH NGOC – HA GIANG CITY | 73 Km | 2.5 Hours | Tham Luong Waterfall or Du Gia Waterfall | Breakfast – Du Gia, lunch – Ming Ngoc, and dinner – Ha Giang City |
Day 4 (option 2) | DU GIA – DUONG THUONG – THUAN HOA – HA GIANG CITY | 81 Km | 3 Hours | Tham Luong Waterfall or Du Gia Waterfall | Breakfast – Du Gia, lunch – Duong Thuong, and dinner – Ha Giang City |
The loop is a mesmerizing mix of breathtaking landscapes, such as terraced rice fields, pine forests, thousands of limestone rocks mountains, rivers, remote villages, and rich cultural experiences that deserve to be savored—no matter how much time you have.
Ha Giang Loop Itinerary for 3 Days 2 Nights
Total Distance Covered: 360 Km
The Ha Giang loop itinerary, which lasts 3 Days and 2 Nights, is for tourists who don’t want to rush but want to explore Northern Vietnam for a short time. The last day is the most scenic, but it is also a tiring ride.
Days | Route | Distance | Hours of Driving | Attractions | Food Stops |
Day 1 | HA GIANG CITY – HEAVEN GATE (QUAN BA) – LUNG TAM VILLAGE – LUNG KHUY CAVE – YEN MINH | 118 Km | 3.5 Hours | Heaven Gate, Lung Tam Linen Cooperative, Lung Khuy Cave | Breakfast – Ha Giang City, lunch – Quan Ba Town, and dinner – Yen Minh |
Day 2 | YEN MINH – THAM MA PASS – VUONG’S KING PALACE – LUNG CU FLAG POINT – DONG VAN TOWN | 87 Km | 3 Hours | Tham Ma pass, Lung Cam cultural & travel village, Vuong’s king palace, Lung Cu flag point | Breakfast – Yen Minh, Lunch – Lao Sao village and dinner – Dong Van town |
Day 3 | DONG VAN TOWN – MA PI LENG PASS – NHO QUE RIVER – MAU DUE – DUONG THUONG – THUAN HOA – HA GIANG CITY | 155 Km | 5 Hours | Ma Pi Leng Heritage Complex, Nho Que River | Breakfast – Dong Van, lunch – Meo Vac, and dinner – Ha Giang City |
Ha Giang Loop Itinerary for 2 Days 1 Night
Total Distance Covered: 308 Km
This option gives you a trailer of the Ha Giang loop experience. If you’re short of time yet want to experience the Ha Giang loop for at most a couple of days, only visiting the prime attractions, this one is for you. You’ll have to rush, and the ride will become tiring, as two days and one night are definitely not enough to experience the Ha Giang loop. But this is the shortest loop that is possible.
Days | Route | Distance | Hours of Driving | Attractions | Food Stops |
Day 1 | HA GIANG CITY – QUAN BA HEAVEN GATE – YEN MINH – THAM MA PASS – H’MONG KING PALACE – DONG VAN | 143 Km | 4.5 Hours | Heaven Gate, Tam Ma Pass, Lung Cu Flag Point, Vuong’s King Palace | Breakfast – Ha Giang, lunch – Yen Minh, and dinner – Dong Van |
Day 2 | DONG VAN TOWN – MA PI LENG PASS – MEO VAC – YEN MINH – LUNG TAM – THUAN HOA – HA GIANG CITY | 165 Km | 5 Hours | Ma Pi Leng Heritage Complex, Nho Que River | Breakfast – Dong Van Town, lunch – Yen Minh, and dinner – Ha Giang |
Ha Giang Loop Customised Itinerary
You can always craft your own itinerary that suits you by referring to the above-mentioned ones. If you’re planning the route on your own, consider that you are driving on mountainous roads, not a straight highway, and that the time will be longer. If you need help creating a custom itinerary for the Ha Giang loop, drop an email to hello@twinsontoes.com. We will create one for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular itinerary chosen by the tourists?
Most foreign tourists explore the Ha Giang loop for 4 Days and 3 Nights.
How many days are required to do the Ha Giang loop?
To do the Ha Giang loop, you must spend at least 3 days and 2 nights. The longer the number of days, the better. We did the Ha Giang loop for 6 Days and 5 Nights. If you have more time, we recommend you choose the 6 Days 5 Nights or 7 Days 6 Nights Itinerary.
Can you do the Ha Giang loop Itinerary in the reverse order?
Of course, you can. Doing the Ha Giang loop in reverse order is a smart way to skip the crowd of easy riders. But check whether the attractions in the loop will be open when you reach them.
If you have any further questions, feel free to drop them in the comments section below. We will do our best to answer them.
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