Northern Vietnam
Ha Giang
Vietnam’s wildest mountain roads, through limestone peaks and hill tribe villages.
About Ha Giang
The Roof Of Vietnam
Ha Giang is the northernmost province of Vietnam, a rocky land of limestone peaks, deep river gorges and terraced valleys along the Chinese border. The Dong Van Karst Plateau, recognised as a UNESCO Global Geopark, is one of the most dramatic landscapes in Southeast Asia.
This is also home to many ethnic groups, including the Hmong, Dao, Tay, Lo Lo and Nung. Weekly markets in Dong Van, Meo Vac and the smaller villages bring people down from the hills to trade, eat and meet friends, and they remain among the most authentic markets in the country.
Ha Giang is remote and the roads are long, so we travel at an unhurried pace, with time to walk between villages and stay with local families or in characterful lodges. The famous Ma Pi Leng Pass, high above the Nho Que River, is a highlight of any journey here.
Best time to visit
September to November, for clear skies and golden rice; March to May for spring flowers. Winters are cold; summers can be rainy.
Getting there
About 6 to 7 hours by road from Hanoi. We travel by private car with stops along the way.
How long to stay
4 to 7 days to enjoy the loop without rushing.
Good for
Mountain scenery, adventure, photography, hill tribe culture.
Highlights
What We Love About Ha Giang
Ma Pi Leng Pass
A road cut into the cliffs high above the turquoise Nho Que River, one of the great views of Asia.
Dong Van Karst Plateau
A UNESCO geopark of grey limestone peaks, stone walls and corn growing between the rocks.
Weekly markets
Colourful Sunday markets where hill tribe families trade, eat and meet friends.
Heaven’s Gate
The entrance to the plateau, with wide views over the twin hills of Quan Ba.
Mountain lodges
Old Hmong family houses restored as simple, atmospheric places to stay.
Ba Be Lake
The largest natural lake in Vietnam, surrounded by forest and Tay stilt house villages.
Tours
Ha Giang Tours
Multi-day journeys through the far north, with village walks, mountain lodges and a finish at Ba Be Lake.
New Ha Giang
Ha Giang Loop With Easy Riders: Dong Van, Nho Que River And Du Gia, 4 Days
Ride pillion with local drivers on Vietnam’s most spectacular mountain roads, with a boat on the Nho Que and a night in Du Gia.
New Ha Giang
Dong Van Karst Plateau Trek And Sunday Market, 5 Days
Walk between Dao, Hmong and Lo Lo villages on the rocky plateau of the far north, and visit a colourful highland market.
New Ha Giang
Ha Giang Loop By Private Car: Dong Van And Ma Pi Leng, 3 Days
The highlights of the Ha Giang Loop in three days, in comfort, with time to stop wherever the view demands it.
New Ha Giang
Ha Giang Highlands to Ba Be Lake
Seven days across Vietnam’s rocky far north, from hill tribe villages to the country’s largest natural lake.
Plan Your Trip To Ha Giang
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