Ha Giang is known for its stunning landscapes, rugged mountains, and diverse ethnic communities. You may have heard of the Ha Giang Loop, a travel route that typically starts and ends in Ha Giang City, typically done on a motorbike, taking you through picturesque valleys, traditional villages, and challenging mountain passes. It has become a popular route for those looking to explore the remote and beautiful corners of northern Vietnam. The roads can be quite challenging, so it would require driving experience, but Ha Giang makes up for it with mesmerizing rice terraces, karst mountains, and river valleys. So what are the highlights of the Ha Giang Loop Tour? And how many days is enough for a Ha Giang Loop Tour? Look no further because this article is for you !

What to Visit on The Ha Giang Loop

Quan Ba Heaven's Gate & Twin Mountains

Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate and Twin Mountains are indispensable stops on the Ha Giang Loop Tour highlights. Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate lies at an altitude of 1500 m and is only 50 km from Ha Giang City. It’s not really a gate, at least not anymore, but rather a viewpoint. Back in 1939, the French built a wooden gate that was 150 cm in thickness, but it doesn’t exist anymore due to weather conditions. Now, what you’ll see instead is a sign that says “Cong Troi Quan Ba,” or Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate, in between 2 mountains, and breathtaking views over the plateau and the Twin Mountains.

The Twin Mountains or Fairy Mountains are two identical mountains that, from afar, resemble, you guessed it, breasts. As Vietnamese people love myths and legends, of course the Twin Mountains have an origin story. Legend has it, there was a Fairy who fell in love with a H’Mong man; they became husband and wife and had a baby together. The Fairy tried to stay in the mortal realm for as long as she could, until the Jade Emperor found out and made her go back, leaving behind her husband, who had to be a single parent. Seeing the baby’s lack of mother’s milk, the Fairy decided to leave her own pair of breasts for the child, who then grew up to be a healthy boy. Eventually, her bosoms transformed into two identical mountains that the locals named Twin Mountains.

Lung Cu Flag Tower

The Lung Cu Flag Tower is a prominent landmark located in Dong Van District. Situated atop a mountain peak, the flag tower is a symbol of the country's territorial integrity and marks the northernmost point of Vietnam. The flag tower is 35 meters tall, built in an octagonal shape, with 8 bronze drums attached to it, one on each side of the octagon. On top of the flag tower is the 54 square meters national flag, representing the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. To get to the flag tower, you have to go over 800 steps, but you can ride an electric car for two-thirds of the way and climb about 280 steps to the base of the tower; from here, you already get a pretty good view. But if you want to get all the way to the top, you’ll have to climb an additional 135 steps.

Lo Lo Village

Nestled at the foot of Dragon Mountain and just about 1 km from the Lung Cu Flag Tower, Lolo Chai Village is the home of both H'Mong and Lo Lo, preserving cultural values of the communities on the beautiful Dong Van Karst Plateau. This village resembles a magical land with charming houses, the ones we usually see in fairytale books. For those seeking an escape from the city, Lo Lo Chai Village is the ideal destination on the Ha Giang Loop Highlights.

Taking a stroll around Lo Lo Chai Village, you will have the opportunity to admire the distinctive trinh tuong architecture, with yin-yang tiled roofs. The village still maintains some traditional crafts such as woodworking and embroidery.

In early 2022, Lo Lo Chai was recognized as a Cultural Tourism Village.

Dong Van Town

Dong Van is located 150 km north of Hanoi. Dong Van District has two towns, Dong Van and Pho Bang, along with 17 communes such as Ta Phin, Xa Phin, Pho Cao, Sung La, Van Chai, Lung Phin, and Ma Le. This northernmost point of Vietnam is often a stopping point for those visiting Ha Giang, as it is a hub for the region's iconic attractions.

Situated in the core area of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, Dong Van Old Quarter is an unmissable destination on the Ha Giang Loop Tour Highlights. The Old Quarter, located in the town center, has a history dating back over 100 years. Previously, this area was just a pristine valley until the Tay, Dzao and Nung came and settled in the 19th century. The town consists of 40 ancient houses and 20 of them are over 100 years old. When visiting, you should also stop by Pho Co Coffee in Dong Van, redesigned from a century-old building.

Ma Pi Leng Pass & Nho Que River

The Ma Pi Leng Pass, which translates to "the bridge of a horse’s nose," is one of the four great mountain passes of Vietnam, along with the O Quy Ho Pass, Pha Din Pass, and Khau Pha Pass. This mountain pass is part of the Happiness Road, known for its breathtaking landscapes, attracting many adventure enthusiasts.

The Nho Que River, originating from Yunnan Province, China, flows through to Lung Cu Commune, Ha Giang. Most people make a stop on the Ma Pi Leng Pass to have a look down on the emerald green river. You can also have a boat ride on the Nho Que River for about 100,000 - 150,000 VND/person or kayak on the river for 50,000 VND/person.

H’Mong King’s Palace

The H’Mong King’s Palace, situated in Sa Phin commune, Dong Van, was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century, emulating the architectural style of the Qing Dynasty in China. The construction of this mansion took eight years to complete and is situated on a land area of 1,120 square meters that resembles a turtle shell, surrounded by tall rows of ancient cypress trees. The palace consists of three buildings. The main house faces the entrance gate, while the two auxiliary houses run parallel and form a right angle with the main house. All three structures, including the columns, beams, floors, walls, and roofs, are crafted from precious wood. In 1993, the Royal Palace was recognized as a national architectural and artistic monument.

Du Gia Village

Du Gia is a highland commune in Yen Minh District, Ha Giang Province, approximately 70 km from Ha Giang City. Reaching Du Gia requires considerable time due to the challenging terrain, but what you will experience in return is the untouched nature and serene landscapes. Besides the vast and magnificent natural scenery, when visiting Du Gia village in Ha Giang, you also have the opportunity to experience the cultural diversity of ethnic communities such as the Tay, Dao, Mong, etc. Every Saturday morning, you can visit Du Gia's market.

Tham Luong waterfall is one of the few attractions in Du Gia. The Tham Luong Waterfall may not be that tall but it is very powerful, and at the foot of the waterfall are little pools that you can swim in.

Lung Tam Weaving Village

The renowned Lung Tam brocade weaving village is located not far from the Quan Ba Heaven's Gate in Ha Giang. The tradition of linen weaving in Lung Tam has been present for a long time, not only providing a source of income but also helping to preserve the traditions of the H'Mong people. The village continues to produce various products such as wallets, scarves, clothing, brocade bags, tablecloths, pillowcases, decorative panels, and more. What’s special about Lung Tam brocade is that the process takes about 41 steps, and the products are entirely handwoven, using completely natural materials. 

Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about or personally engage in sewing and weaving with the local women. Every step is carried out with utmost effort and precision. Stop by Lung Tam Village on your Ha Giang Loop Highlights and help keep the tradition alive by getting your friends something nice.

Ha Giang Loop Itinerary

Because there is so much to explore in Ha Giang, and getting to Ha Giang alone takes almost half a day already, we recommend setting aside at least 3 days to explore Ha Giang. Here are some Ha Giang Loop Highlights itineraries that you can take, keep in mind that we only include the days in Ha Giang and that you can change the destinations according to your preference.

3-day Ha Giang Loop

Day 1: Ha Giang City - Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate - Yen Minh Town - Lung Cu Flag Tower - Lo Lo Village

Day 2: Lo Lo Village - Dong Van Town - Nho Que River

Day 3: Dong Van - Ma Pi Leng Pass - Meo Vac - Ha Giang City

4-day Ha Giang Loop

Day 1: Ha Giang City - Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate - Yen Minh Town

Day 2: Yen Minh Town - Tham Ma Pass - H’Mong King’s Palace - Lung Cu Flag Tower - Dong Van

Day 3: Dong Van - Ma Pi Leng Pass - Meo Vac - Du Gia

Day 4: Du Gia - Ha Giang City

5-day Ha Giang Loop

Day 1: Ha Giang - Trekking to Thon Tha Village - Ha Giang

Day 2: Ha Giang - Du Gia - Du Gia Waterfall

Day 3: Du Gia - Dong Van Town

Day 4: Dong Van - Lung Cu Flag Tower - H’Mong King’s Palace - Tham Ma Pass - Quan Ba

Day 5: Quan Ba - Lung Tam weaving village - Quan Ba Heaven’s Gate - Twin Mountains - Ha Giang City

Conclusion

We hope that this was helpful. And if you want to know how to get to Ha Giang, where to stay, what to eat, and more tips, check out our articles below.

=> Top 20 things to do and to visit in Ha Giang