Hà Giang 4-Day Trip

Trip Details

Day 1: Sapa - Hà Giang

After picking you up from your hotel in Sapa, we’ll head by bus to the province of Hà Giang, located in the far north of Vietnam, on the natural border with China.

The journey will last about 6.5 hours, with a stop to stretch your legs and have dinner on your own. Upon arrival, we’ll check in at the first accommodation, where we’ll rest to begin the adventure the next day. Rest up!

Day 2: Hà Giang - Quản Bạ - Yên Minh - Pho Bang

After enjoying a buffet-style breakfast, we’ll meet the local drivers, who’ll take us by motorbike or off-roading vehicle, depending on your choice, along a route combining traditional architecture and rural life.

We’ll reach the Quản Bạ district and, as we enter its mountainous region, we’ll notice how the landscape changes. We’ll ascend to Heaven’s Gate, a mountain pass at 1,500 meters (4,921 ft) above sea level, built by the French almost a century ago as a control point. From there, we’ll enjoy views of the Quản Bạ Twin Mountains which, according to legend, symbolize a goddess who cried for love.

We’ll continue to a cooperative run by Hmong women, who still grow hemp to create handcrafted textiles with impressive symbolic meaning. Did you know that hemp is considered by the Hmong to be a bridge between the living and the dead?

When hunger sets in, we’ll head to the town of Yên Minh, where we’ll enjoy a typical Vietnamese lunch. Afterwards, we’ll travel along the winding Tham Ma Pass, a stretch of curves that defies gravity and offers endless views.

Later, we’ll head to the villages of Pho Cao and Pho Bang, where houses with yin-yang roofs still survive. There, we’ll discover these ancient structures designed according to feng shui principles to attract harmony.

The day will end with dinner at a cozy house in Pho Bang, where we’ll spend the night surrounded by the hospitality of the local people.

Day 3: Đồng Văn - Mã Pí Lèng - Du Già

We’ll start the day with breakfast and, if there’s a market going on, we’ll head out early for a walk among the stalls. There, you’ll see how the region’s communities gather to trade fabrics, spices, and fresh produce. If it’s not market day, you’ll have more time for breakfast.

Next, we’ll visit a silversmith workshop, an art passed down from generation to generation. After the visit, we’ll go in search of the Hmong King’s Palace, dating back to the early 20th century. This fortified building, symbolizing the power of one of the area’s most influential families, is closely linked to the opium trade and Chinese influence. Did you know that the layout of its courtyards follows feng shui principles to ensure prosperity?

The tour will reach its highlight when we cross the Mã Pí Lèng Pass, considered the most spectacular in Vietnam. From above, we’ll admire the Nho Quế River as it flows between steep limestone canyons.

After lunch in Mèo Vạc, we’ll continue along the popular Hà Giang Loop, taking in the Lũng Hồ Valley, the famous M-shaped road, and remains of old French military posts. Get your cameras ready, because these are postcard-worthy views!

Finally, we’ll descend to the bucolic village of Du Già, nestled in a valley of rice fields. There, we’ll enjoy dinner before heading to rest. See you tomorrow!

Day 4: Du Già Waterfall - Duong Thuong Valley - Hà Giang

Ready to enjoy the last day in the province of Hà Giang? After breakfast, we’ll head to the Du Già Waterfall, a serene spot hidden among lush vegetation. If the weather allows, you’ll be able to take a swim.

Next, we’ll cross the Duong Thuong Valley, where many families grow rice, hemp, and vegetables on terraces that seem to hang from the mountains.

The route will then take us to the Sa Li Pass, from where we’ll reconnect with the Hà Giang Loop. This road runs along a river canyon with vertical walls, offering us some final spectacular views before reaching the city of Hà Giang.

Upon arrival, we’ll have lunch at the Pizza Here restaurant, considered the best pizzeria in the province. After eating, we’ll transfer to the bus station, where we’ll say goodbye according to your bus schedule.

Return Bus Schedule

The recommended time to catch your bus is at 4 pm.

Tour Options

When making your reservation, you can choose one of the following options:

• Motorbike tour: you’ll travel on a semi-automatic or manual motorbike with a local driver.
• Off-roading vehicle tour: the route will be by a Fortuner off-roading vehicle with 7 seats, with capacity for a maximum of 5 passengers, plus the driver and the guide.

Pickup Info

This tour includes pickup from hotels in Sapa’s Old Quarter between 3:30 pm and 4 pm. If you’re staying outside this area, you’ll need to make your own way to the Bang Phan bus office.

Accommodation Info

This circuit includes 1 night of accommodation in the city of Hà Giang and 2 nights in villages in Hà Giang. All stays are in private rooms with private bathrooms in renovated family-run homes.

Meals During the Tour

During the 4 days of the tour, 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners are included. For breakfast, you might start the day with rice rolls filled with mushrooms and herbs or a kind of porridge made with rice and tubers that provides warmth on cold days. At lunches and dinners, specialties such as thắng cố, a meat and spice stew typical of the mountains; xôi ngũ sắc, glutinous rice with natural colors; or bánh cuốn, thin steamed rice rolls filled with meat and mushrooms, are usually served. Lunches will be buffet-style.

You might also try smoked or grilled meats, and dishes such as cháo ấu tẩu, a thick soup made from rice and locally grown tubers.

During the booking process, you can indicate if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions.

Please note that dinner on day 1 isn’t included, and you’ll be able to choose your own meal during the rest stop on the transfer to Hà Giang.