SCENIC HA GIANG & HIGHWAY 4, VIETNAM
(Scenic Ha Giang 8-11 days, 7-10 nights)
Below is a video clip from one of our recent scenic Ha Giang motorbike tours. In case you want to watch more videos please check our YouTube channel.
Scenic Ha Giang Rides At A Glance
* OPTION 1 (For experienced riders, a longer ride than Option 2. Click here for a detailed itinerary).
1st day: Hanoi – Phu Yen.
2nd day: Phu Yen – Than Uyen.
3rd day: Than Uyen – Sapa.
4th day: Sapa – Bac Ha.
5th day: Bac Ha – Ha Giang.
6th day: Ha Giang – Dong Van.
7th day: Dong Van – Bao Lac.
8th day: Bao Lac – Cao Bang.
9th day: Cao Bang – Quang Uyen.
10th day: Quang Uyen – Lang Son.
11th day: Lang Son – Hanoi.
This trip can also be completed in 10 days returning via Ba Be lake instead of extending to Lang Son on Highway 4.
* OPTION 2 (Shorter riding version in less day. (Click here for a detailed itinerary).
1st day: Hanoi – Vu Linh.
2nd day: Vu Linh – Ha Giang.
3rd day: Ha Giang – Dong Van.
4th day: Dong Van – Bao Lac.
5th day: Bao Lac – Cao Bang.
6th day: Cao Bang – Quang Uyen.
7th day: Quang Uyen – Lang Son.
8th day: Lang Son – Hanoi.
Important! Please send us your full name, passport number, nationality, sex, date of birth and occupation as soon as you secure the booking because we need to apply a permit for you at Ha Giang Immigration Police office.
These programs are flexible, the above itineraries are just samples, we will customize to suit your riding skills and to meet your expectations.
SCENIC HA GIANG OPTION 1 – THE LONG RIDE IN 11 DAYS
Day 1: Hanoi – Phu Yen (~180km, ~5h).
Before the ride, it takes 30 minutes to double-check the bikes and make sure that we have all the necessary tools and equipment to guarantee maximum fun. We head out of Hanoi skirting along Red River to Son Tay and then head up the mountain to Phu Yen. Phu Yen is a small mountain town where we stay the night.
Day 2: Phu Yen – Than Uyen (~200km, ~6h).
Wild and bumpy road with Lung Lo Pass as the first challenge. We ride through the Mu Cang Chai massif, almost as high as the Fansipan. From the top, it offers one of the most beautiful views of North Vietnam. The ride is challenging but very rewarding.
Night in a hotel.
Day 3: Than Uyen – Sapa (~140 km, ~5 h).
The area of Than Uyen is mainly populated by Flower H’mong and Dzao people. Then direction Sapa. Easy track for 100 km and asphalted mountainous road for the last 40 km. Stay in Sapa and you will find out the reason Sapa is one of the most popular places for tourists in Vietnam.
Day 4: Sapa – Bac Ha (~100 km, ~3 h).
The drive from Sapa to Bac Ha takes ~3 hours, down from Sapa to Lao Cai (34 km), a border city where we can take photos with China as the background. After lunch, ride up to Bac Ha (70 km) with stunning landscape. Overnighting in Bac Ha.
Day 5: Bac Ha – Ha Giang (~200 km, ~6 h).
After breakfast, ride on the track to Xin Man and on many small/back roads with scenic mountain views before joining the main road heading up to Ha Giang where we stop for the night and apply for a permit.
Day 6: Ha Giang – Dong Van (~180 km, ~6 h).
After getting the permit to ride in border areas at Ha Giang’s Immigration Police, we ride on small challenging mountain roads (but incredibly beautiful) on the land of colorful mountain hill-tribes.
Head up the Ma Pi Leng Pass. Here is yet another amazing place, with cloudy mountain ranges and the poetic Nho Que river winding off in the distance. Ride on a zig-zag track until Dong Van, a remote area and meet the hard-working local people here. It is inspiring to see how they survive as they manage to live in the rocks. When we reach town we will have some extra time to wander the ancient streets lined with H’mong homes of clay bricks and tiles roofs built centuries ago.
Day 7: Dong Van – Bao Lac (~80 km, ~4 h).
The road is still under construction and tracks what make the ride relatively long in spite of few kilometres. The landscape is among the most beautiful of Vietnam, and the slow tempo is only more appreciable.
We cross the wild regions of the mythical province of Ha Giang. Stop for the night at Bao Lac, the ethnic crossroad of North-east Vietnam. Many other ethnic groups on the two sides of the border meet at the market every Sunday.
Day 8: Bao Lac – Cao Bang (~150 km, ~5 h).
Beautiful ride down to Cao Bang province. Few passes from where you can dominate the area. The road is easy but there are many blind curves. We can stop very often for photos. Altogether, stop for drinks and food it should be an 8-hour journey. Stay in a hotel.
Day 9: Cao Bang – Quang Uyen (~140 km, ~5 h).
Ride in 1 hour and a half to reach the beautiful village of Quang Uyen, in the middle of a mountain cirque. This is the territory of Nung An people. Homestay with a host family and the hostess is a great cook.
We make our way through spectacular scenery to Vietnam’s most impressive waterfall, Ban Gioc Waterfalls, 50km from Quang Uyen. Weather permitting we can swim right up to where the 50m high falls hit the river.
Day 10: Quang Uyen – Lang Son (~180 km, ~6 h).
Ride from Quang Uyen to Lang Son on the famous historical Highway 4. We will have time to discover this city which has become a big trading post between China and Vietnam. You can shop for cheap Chinese products at the nearby Dong Kinh market.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 11: Lang Son – Hanoi (~150 km, ~3 h). End of Scenic Ha Giang in 11 days.
An easy day back to Hanoi on the new Highway 1B. You can wake up late in the morning as we guess you can be tired after 10 long riding days.
Arrival at Hanoi around 3pm. End this scenic Ha Giang in 11 days before rush hours.
Contact us in case you need more detail about this 11 days scenic Ha Giang ride.
SCENIC HA GIANG OPTION 2 – THE SHORT RIDE IN 8 DAYS
This is the shorter version of scenic Ha Giang motorbike tours.
Day 1: Hanoi – Vu Linh (~180 km, ~7 h).
Easy drive to on the sealed road to Thac Ba Lake and follow the little road to Vu Linh. Vu Linh is a Dzao village by the side of the lake, very friendly people and the welcome is exceptional.
Day 2: Vu Linh – Ha Giang (~180 km, ~6 h).
After breakfast, ride along the Thac Ba lake on a small road lined with palm trees and scenic mountain views to join the main road heading up to Ha Giang where we stop for the night and apply for a permit.
Day 3: Ha Giang – Dong Van (~180 km, ~6 h).
After getting the permit to ride in border areas at Ha Giang’s Immigration Police, we ride on small challenging mountain roads (but incredibly beautiful) on the land of colorful mountain hill-tribes.
Head up the Ma Pi Leng Pass. Here is yet another amazing place, with cloudy mountain ranges and the poetic Nho Que river winding off in the distance. Ride on a zig-zag track until Dong Van, a remote area and meet the hard-working local people here. It is inspiring to see how they survive as they manage to live in the rocks. When we reach town we will have some extra time to wander the ancient streets lined with H’mong homes of clay bricks and tiles roofs built centuries ago. Honestly, this is the best day of this 8 days Ha Giang motorbike tours.
Day 4: Dong Van – Bao Lac (~80 km, ~4 h).
The road is still under construction and tracks that make the ride relatively long in spite of few kilometres. However, the landscape is among the most beautiful of Vietnam, and therefore the slow tempo is only more appreciable.
While riding, you cross the wild regions of the mythical province of Ha Giang. Then you stop for the night at Bao Lac, the ethnic crossroad of North-east Vietnam. Right here, many other ethnic groups on the two sides of the border meet at the market every Sunday.
Day 5: Bao Lac – Cao Bang (~150 km, ~5 h).
This is a beautiful ride down to Cao Bang province. There are a few passes from where you can dominate the area. The road is easy but there are many blind curves. While riding, we can stop very often for photos. Altogether, stop for drinks and food it should be an 8-hour journey. Stay in a hotel.
Day 6: Cao Bang – Quang Uyen (~140 km, ~5 h).
Ride in 1 hour and a half to reach the beautiful village of Quang Uyen, in the middle of a mountain cirque. This is the territory of Nung An people. Then homestay with a host family where the hostess is a great cook.
We make our way through spectacular scenery to Vietnam’s most impressive waterfall, Ban Gioc Waterfalls, 50km from Quang Uyen. Weather permitting we can swim right up to where the 50m high falls hit the river.
Day 7: Quang Uyen – Lang Son (~180 km, ~6 h).
Ride from Quang Uyen to Lang Son on the famous historical Highway 4. We will have time to discover this city which has become a big trading post between China and Vietnam. This is the place you can shop for cheap (fake) Chinese products at the nearby Dong Kinh market.
Overnight in hotel.
Day 8: Lang Son – Hanoi (~150 km, ~3 h). End of Scenic Ha Giang in 8 days.
An easy day back to Hanoi on the new Highway 1B. You can wake up late in the morning as we guess you can be tired after 7 long riding days.
Arrival at Hanoi around 3pm. End this scenic Ha Giang in 8 days before rush hours.
More Motorbike Tour Itineraries In Vietnam
– Full North Loop Vietnam
– Middle North Vietnam Motorbike Tour
– North-East Vietnam Motorbike Ride
– North-West Vietnam Loop
– Ho Chi Minh Trail Motorcycle Voyage
– One Day Motorbike Tour
– Women Tours
– Custom Tours
Contact us in case you need more detail about this 8 days scenic Ha Giang ride.
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