Home › Journeys › Hà Giang Loop
Hà Giang Loop: the Day-by-Day Itinerary
The Hà Giang Loop is Vietnam's wildest road. Limestone towers stack to the horizon, terraced valleys drop a kilometre below the roadside, and the Mã Pí Lèng Pass hangs high above the Nho Quế river. Hmong market towns provide the welcome at the end of each day.
Hà Giang Loop is a 350 km loop (self-drive). It works best as 3–4 days; the plan below is the 4-day version for October, built from 34 verified places, with real road-routed transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.
Customize this plan → 3-day plan · 4-day plan · best time to go
4
days
186 km
distance
5.3 h
driving
20
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- Buckwheat flowers tint the karst pink and rice terraces gild — the loop's most photographed weeks.
Day 1 Hà Giang → Yên Minh
🌡 5.8–28.8°C · 🌧 ~10 rain days · ☀ 11.4h light
09:00
Mã Pí Lèng River Gorgehiking
50 min · Hà Giang
09:50
Tây Côn Lĩnh Trekking
90 min · Hà Giang
Overnight: Yên Minh
e.g. Mama's House Hostel · Huong Tra Hotel
Day 2 Yên Minh → Đồng Văn
🌡 5.8–28.8°C · 🌧 ~10 rain days · ☀ 11.4h light
09:36
Hmong King Palacehistory & sagaslocal & traditional
See a grand early 20th-century Hmong mansion shaped like a king.
50 min · Đồng Văn · 20,000 dong
open: 08:00-17:00
10:26
Lung Cu Flag Towerhikinghistory & sagas
Feel pride beneath Vietnam's largest flag atop Dragon Mountain.
50 min · Đồng Văn · 20,000 dong
11:16
Pho Bang Villagehistory & sagaslocal & traditional
Discover calm, wooden-column houses of Hoa and Hmong people.
50 min · Đồng Văn
12:06
Dong Van markethistory & sagaslocal & traditional
Hear the lively chatter of diverse ethnic groups trading local crafts and goods.
90 min · Đồng Văn
open: Sundays
13:36
Khau Làn waterfallhiking
Feel the mist of a secluded 20 m waterfall on a steep trail.
50 min · Đồng Văn
14:26
Ma Pi Leng Passhiking
Witness steep, dramatic karst pyramids along the Sky Path.
50 min · Đồng Văn
Overnight: Yên Minh
e.g. Mama's House Hostel · Huong Tra Hotel
Day 3 Đồng Văn
🌡 4.4–28.5°C · 🌧 ~10 rain days · ☀ 11.4h light
09:36
Quản Bạ Passhiking
See breathtaking valley views from the 1945 m Heaven Gate.
50 min · Đồng Văn
10:26
Dong Van Old Townhistory & sagas
Stroll through early 20th-century Hmong and Tay architecture.
50 min · Đồng Văn
11:16
Nhà Há Súnglocal & traditional
Visit a traditional extended family house open to guests.
50 min · Đồng Văn
12:06
Lung Khuy Caveshiking
Feel awe as you walk through vast, cool karst caverns.
50 min · Đồng Văn
12:56
Sà Phìnhistory & sagas
Admire Chinese-style yellow-brick Hmong houses near the border.
50 min · Đồng Văn
13:46
Pả Vihistory & sagas
Relax in herbal baths in a hexagonal Hmong cultural village.
50 min · Đồng Văn
Overnight: Đồng Văn
e.g. Hoa Cuong Hotel · Lam Tung Hotel
See the remaining 1 days of the 4-day plan →
Route map
Similar journeys
- Armenia's Monasteries & Mountains — 650 km loop · 5–7 days
- Baku & the Caucasus Foothills — 700 km loop · 5–7 days
- Angkor to the Cambodian Coast — Siem Reap → Kampot · 5–8 days