The Ha Giang loop : Top experiences on a 350-km road trip

Social media, tour companies, fellow travelers – everywhere you turn these days you will be inundated with photos and videos telling you the importance of « doing the Ha Giang loop. »

The northernmost region in Vietnam has surged in popularity in recent years and has arguably overtaken Sa Pa as the most popular area in northern Vietnam, particularly among international tourists.

Whether it is individuals mustering up the courage to drive themselves or joining an easy-rider tour, the famed route covering areas such as Dong Van, Yen Minh and Meo Vac is visited by over 3 million international and domestic tourists every year. The province was even listed by New York Times as one of the best places to travel in 2023.

The 350-kilometer Ha Giang loop usually takes travelers at least four days to complete and features countless historical, unique and stunning stops along the way.

Here are some of the experiences not to be missed:

Taking a swim in Du Gia waterfall

Du Gia is one of the quietest stops visitors can include in their Ha Giang itinerary with only around 122 people per squ.km, yet it is quickly becoming an unmissable location for many travelers. In addition to the serenity offered by this remote commune, you can enjoy a fresh swim at Du Gia waterfall with six meter-high cliffs around the natural pool. Many visitors relish the opportunity to launch themselves into the water, imitating the actions of local children who consider this their local playground. Just be sure to arrive as early as possible to appreciate the beauty before the tour groups begin.

Reach Vietnam’s northernmost point

For thrill seekers who are not satisfied with the breathtaking Highway 4C, affectionally known as « Happiness Road », you can choose to venture further north on more challenging roads to Lung Cu Flag Tower. The 30-meter tall monument is the furthest north point of Vietnam that tourists can visit and offers the change to gaze across the Vietnam-China border. Although it is not technically the most northern point in the country due to restrictions, it a wonderful opportunity to take photos under the 54 sq.m flag which represents the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam and enjoy the special charm Lung Cu has to offer, 200 km away from Ha Giang City and a world away from urban life.

Remember those who lost their lives

Thousands of workers contributed an untold amount of effort and hardship to build the winding road that many enjoy every day 60 years on from when it was completed. There is no section on the loop more magnificent than Ma Pi Leng pass, but in order to construct a functional road, young volunteers had to chip away at this section of the mountain with handheld tools while suspended by ropes attached to the rocky cliffs. Between September 1963 and August 1964, volunteers, including many teenagers, tirelessly chiselled to create a 0.4 meter wide path in order to connect the road.

At the foot of Ma Pi Leng skywalk, you can visit Happiness Road Memorial Monument and wander inside to reflect on the incredible sacrifice many made to build the road and remember the 14 young volunteers who lost their lives whilst constructing the treacherous road. It also offers fascinating photographic insight into life in the province before the tourism boom that has taken place more recently.

Enjoy local specialties in Dong Van

The ancient quarter of Dong Van is one of the most ethnically-diverse areas in the country and is a time capsule that should be appreciated by everyone who ventures this far north. The forty stone houses situated roughly 1,400 m above sea level is the best place on the loop for visitors to consume a variety of local delicacies unique to the region. Within the narrow alleys and chaotic markets, delicious dishes can be discovered such as dried buffalo meat, colourful sticky rice, Ha Giang sour pho and steamed rice rolls.

Nho Que River boat ride

One inevitability in Ha Giang, beyond the stunning landscape, is a sore backside. After driving hundreds of kilometers while enjoying the wonderful views, you will likely be relishing some time away from the motorbike, beyond the brief stops at viewpoints along the way.

After a rocky descent to the bottom of Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, you can enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the turquoise river that meanders through the jaw-dropping landscape and is one of the best moments to awe at the scenery from a different perspective and capture a photo that is not of you sitting on the back of a motorbike, similar to many of the others you will take on the route.

Visit Dinh Vua Meo

Avid history-lovers can drive to Sa Phin Valley to take a glimpse of what life would have been like for royalty living in the region over a century ago. The well-preserved French baroque villa is the former home of Vuong Chinh Duc, who was the head of the most powerful Hmong family in the region. He adopted the title « Vua Meo » which translates to « King of the Meo » – the former name of the Hmong ethnic group and resided in the 64-room mansion after consulting with a Chinese fengshui master to decide on the location and style of the building.

Nowadays, visitors can walk up the stone steps leading to the house and imagine what life would have been like at that time. The village it is situated in is always a joyful place too, as young children play in the courtyard and locals frequent the market, a scene similar to one many would have witnessed if you visited the same spot 100 years earlier.

By Darren Barnard – VnExpress.net – March 30, 2025