Five days. Two provinces. New ground every single day.
Trip duration: 5 days
Trip duration: 5 days
If you have five days and want to see the best of Vietnam's far north, this is the route we recommend without hesitation.
This journey connects two of the most spectacular provinces in the country: Ha Giang and Cao Bang, along a continuous road that most travellers never manage to piece together. Starting in Ha Giang City, you ride to Dong Van Ancient Town through Heaven's Gate and the Hmong King's Palace on day one, tackle the legendary Ma Pi Leng Pass and the Nho Que River canyon on day two, cross into Cao Bang via the Khau Coc Cha Pass on day three, trace Ho Chi Minh's wartime footsteps through Pac Bo Cave on day four, and finish at Ban Gioc Waterfall before the tour concludes in Cao Bang City.
Five nights of accommodation range from a hotel in Dong Van's ancient quarter to a family homestay in the Pac Bo jungle to a stone-house village stay in Khuoi Ky. Every meal is local. Every guide grew up on these roads. And because this is point-to-point, you cover entirely new ground every day.
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Leave Ha Giang City after a bike check and briefing with your Easy Rider. The first climb is the Bac Sum Pass to Quan Ba Heaven's Gate — a panoramic viewpoint above the Twin Mountains (the Fairy Bosom) where the plateau road begins and the landscape announces what the next five days will look like.
A mid-morning stop at the Lung Tam Hmong Linen Cooperative, a women-led collective hand-dyeing linen with indigo techniques passed down through generations. Lunch in Yen Minh Town, then the afternoon ride across the Dong Van karst plateau to Vuong Mansion — the Hmong King's Palace, a national monument blending Chinese, French colonial, and Hmong architecture built by the powerful Vuong clan in the early 20th century. Arrive Dong Van Old Town before dark: one of the highest-altitude ancient towns in Vietnam, still very much intact.
Banh Mi moment: Dong Van Old Town after dinner, on foot through the old quarter. Torchlit stone alleys at 1,600 metres, almost no other tourists, the houses still in daily use.
Accommodation
Hotel in Dong Van Old Town
Meals included
Highlights
All essential services for a comfortable and memorable trip.
Items and services that are not part of the package price.
Your tour begins in Ha Giang early on Day 1. The day before — your arrival day, sometimes called Day 0 — is fully arranged: we collect you from Hanoi, Ha Long, Sapa, Ninh Binh, Cat Ba, Noi Bai Airport or Cao Bang, and your first overnight in a basic Ha Giang City guesthouse is included in the tour price at no extra charge. Pick-up timing is confirmed at booking, and an upgraded room is available on request, so you wake on Day 1 rested and ready to ride.
Departure date
Sun, Jun 28 – Thu, Jul 2
Departure date
Sun, Aug 23 – Thu, Aug 27
“<p>I have ridden between Ha Giang and Cao Bang more times than I can count, and the join between the two provinces is still my favourite road in the country — the rocky plateau softens into green valleys the moment you crest Khau Coc Cha. Trust me with Day 2: we leave Dong Van early so Ma Pi Leng and the Nho Que boat are quiet and the light on the canyon is still gold. Come with an open schedule and a charged camera, and I will show you the north the way I grew up seeing it. — Vàng A Sình</p>”
The full Ha Giang circuit in three days: Quan Ba Heaven's Gate, the Ma Pi Leng Pass above the gorge, a boat into Tu San Canyon, and a night in a Tay stilt-house homestay at Du Gia. Ride pillion or take the handlebars yourself. All meals, accommodation, fuel and entrance fees included.
$199
$169
Our experienced guides speak fluent English and know Vietnam inside out. They share local insights and ensure you have an authentic experience.
Choose between small group tours with like-minded travelers or customize a private journey just for you and your companions.
With nearly a decade of experience in Vietnam, we've built trusted relationships and deep local knowledge.
Every hotel, restaurant, and activity we recommend has been personally tested by our team. We only offer what we love.
From the moment you land to your departure, every detail is arranged. Just relax and enjoy the journey.
Our 4.9 rating speaks for itself. We go above and beyond to ensure every traveler returns home with amazing memories.
Best months to visit this destination
Air temperature
30 °C
Water temperature
27 °C
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From
$329
