Matt Ha Giang

On the bike Β· 3 days

The Classic Loop

3 days Β· 2 nights Β· max 5 guests

Ma Pi Leng, the Nho Que river and the border road β€” the whole Ha Giang Loop in three days, ridden by someone who lives on it.

Ask about this trip See the price

The experience

Every big name on the Ha Giang Loop β€” Tham Ma, Lung Cu, Ma Pi Leng, Nho Que β€” plus the homestay tables and quiet valleys the convoys never stop at.

Day one climbs from Ha Giang City to the stone plateau. Day two is the one people come for: Ma Pi Leng ridden slowly, then down to the green water. Day three belongs to the water and the crafts.

Maximum five guests. No convoy. I run every trip myself.

Matt in a helmet and rain jacket beside his enduro bike on a wet village road in Ha Giang

Duration

3 days

2 nights

On the water

2 boats

Nho Que + Ban An

Group

2–5

always private

You travel by

150cc

your bike or your rider

Why this one

What makes it different

  • The whole Loop, properly closed

    Ha Giang β†’ Dong Van β†’ Meo Vac β†’ Du Gia β†’ Ha Giang. No backtracking, no van shortcut.

  • You eat where people actually live

    Homestay kitchens in Dong Van and Du Gia, lunch on a boat at Ban An. Never a tour menu.

  • Craft villages, not craft shops

    Lung Tam linen, hand-woven and indigo-dyed the way it always has been β€” and you get to try it.

  • You know who is guiding you

    Not a call centre. Matthew runs these trips himself, and he is from here.

The route

Day by day

Day 1 Β· Passes and the border

Ha Giang City β†’ Lung Cu β†’ Dong Van

A full riding day Β· night in a Dong Van homestay

  1. Coffee, then the keys

    Breakfast, bulky bags into the locker, pick your helmet, route briefing β€” and we ride.

  2. Thuan Hoa, Can Ty, Tham Ma

    The Boong waterfall viewpoint, Can Ty pass, Lao Va Chai, then the switchbacks everyone photographs. Lunch in Yen Minh.

  3. The palace, the village, the flag

    The H'mong King's Palace, Lo Lo Chai at the foot of the hill, and the tower at Lung Cu β€” the northernmost point of Vietnam.

  4. Dong Van after dark

    Dinner with our homestay family, then the old quarter β€” a fire, music, and shophouses a hundred years old.

Day 2 Β· The big one

Dong Van β†’ Ma Pi Leng β†’ Du Gia

Boat on the Nho Que Β· night in Du Gia village

  1. Ma Pi Leng, slowly

    One of Vietnam's four great passes β€” ridden with the stops your guide knows, not the ones on the map.

  2. Down to the green water

    A boat on the Nho Que, between limestone walls five hundred metres below the road. Then Meo Vac town.

  3. The valley road to Du Gia

    Lunch at Mau Due, then Tham Luong waterfall and down into Du Gia β€” the village the Loop rushes through.

  4. A night that runs long

    Family dinner at the homestay, rice wine if you want it, and whoever is still up when the music starts.

Day 3 Β· Water, craft and the road home

Du Gia β†’ Lung Tam β†’ Ha Giang City

Tour ends 7:00pm Β· night bus 9:00pm

  1. Morning under the waterfall

    Breakfast at the homestay, a swim at Tham Luong, and a walk through Du Gia before the heat.

  2. Lunch on the river

    Over the Duong Thuong road to the Ban An wharf, onto a boat, and lunch eaten on the water.

  3. Indigo, by hand

    Lung Tam weaving village β€” linen stripped, spun and dyed the old way. Then Thai An waterfall for the last swim.

  4. 7:00pm β€” the end

    Back the empty Thuan Hoa road. Hot shower, tea, somewhere to repack. We drive you to the night bus or call your car.

Before you book

Honest numbers

What each day asks of you
DayWhat it involvesEffort
1Ha Giang β†’ Dong VanFull riding day
2Dong Van β†’ Ma Pi Leng β†’ Du GiaFull riding day + boat
3Du Gia β†’ Lung Tam β†’ Ha GiangModerate + two swims

Is this the right trip for me?

This is the Loop done well β€” riding days, short walks, two swims. No trekking day, no gear to carry. If you want a full off-road day and a hike to a hidden waterfall, take Off The Map instead. Age 14 and over.

When to come

  • Sep–Nov and Mar–May β€” The best months. Clear light, dry roads, comfortable temperatures.
  • Dec–Feb β€” Spectacular, and genuinely cold at altitude. Bring more layers than you think.
  • Jun–Aug β€” Green and wet, with the waterfalls at their best β€” and the months when landslides happen. I will tell you honestly if your dates are a bad window.

Good to know

Trip essentials

Included

  • Your guide, all three days
  • Border area permit, arranged before you arrive
  • 2 nights: Dong Van and Du Gia homestays
  • All meals and drinking water
  • 150cc bike β€” self-drive or your own rider
  • Petrol for the whole route
  • Nho Que and Ban An boat tickets
  • Helmet, pads, raincoat, dry bag
  • Luggage locker in Ha Giang City
  • Every entrance and parking fee
  • Hot shower before your night bus
  • My phone, 24/7

Not included

  • Sleeper bus to and from Hanoi β€” booked at cost
  • Travel insurance β€” required
  • Drinks and personal expenses
  • Tips β€” never expected

What to bring

  • A small backpack β€” the only bag you carry
  • Trainers or walking shoes, not sandals
  • Swimwear β€” you'll swim twice
  • Warm layer, rain jacket, sun cream
  • Power bank and some cash

The price

Everything in, one number

Permit, bike, petrol, both nights, every meal, both boats, every entrance fee. You will not be asked for cash on the road.

Easy rider

$230

you sit, I ride

Self-drive

$190

your own bike

Minimum two guests. Private trip β€” I never merge groups. Travelling solo? Message me anyway.

To reserve: your passport photo page, your dates and your group size. That is all I need to start the permit.

Free cancellation up to seven days before. If I cancel for weather, you get everything back or a free date change β€” your call.

Next step

Tell me your dates

I will tell you honestly whether it is a good time to come, and which trip fits you.