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Rice terraces in the hills near Ha Giang town

On the Loop

Ha Giang Town

Where every Loop starts — arrive, rest, prepare.

2 places

Photo: Benjamin Smith / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

About Ha Giang Town

Ha Giang town sits on the Lo River at the foot of the highlands. Most travellers arrive here by overnight bus from Ha Noi, spend a night, sort out their transport and papers, and set off north the next morning. It is also where the Loop ends, so plan an easy last evening here. Since July 2025 the former city is made up of the wards of Ha Giang 1 and Ha Giang 2, Tuyen Quang province.

Updated 6 October 2026

Map of the six regions of Ha Giang and the Loop roadMau DueBac Sum PassChieu Lau ThiChin KhoanhDu GiaKhau VaiLo Lo ChaiLung CuLung Khuy CaveLung TamMa Pi Leng PassNam DamPa ViPho BangHeaven GateSung LaTham MaThon ThaTwin MountainsVuong Mansion1Ha Giang Town2Quan Ba3Yen Minh4Dong Van5Meo VacHoang Su Phi & the West
The Loop (1–5: travel order)Off the LoopMap data © OpenStreetMap

Highlights in Ha Giang Town

The Km 0 marker of Ha Giang

Km 0 marker, Ha Giang Town

The roadside marker in Ha Giang town where every Loop trip begins — a symbolic starting point and the first photo of the journey.

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Rice terraces near Thon Tha village

Thon Tha village

A Tay village of stilt houses and rice fields just outside Ha Giang town — a gentle first or last night before or after the mountain roads.

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Itineraries through Ha Giang Town

A road winding through a green valley in Ha Giang
4 days

The classic Ha Giang Loop in 4 days

The route most people mean by 'the Loop' — and the one I have ridden more times than I can count. Four days through Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Ma Pi Leng and Meo Vac, returning through the quiet Du Gia valley. Long enough to stop, short enough to keep moving.

~350 km · Moderate · Easy rider (local driver), Car with driver, Self-ride motorbike

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The road towards Dong Van between green mountains
3 days

Ha Giang Loop in 3 days

The Loop’s highlights when you only have three days. It works, but the last day is long — we recommend four days if you can.

~330 km · Challenging · Easy rider (local driver), Car with driver

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The winding road below the Ma Pi Leng ridges
6 days

Slow Ha Giang in 6 days

Our favourite way to see Ha Giang: shorter driving days, a night in the Quan Ba valley, a full day around Dong Van and time to rest in Du Gia.

~380 km · Easy pace · Car with driver, Easy rider (local driver), Self-ride motorbike

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Sunlight streaming into a misty mountain valley near Yen Minh
5 days

Ha Giang by car with kids (5 days)

A gentle car itinerary for families with children or older travellers: short driving days, easy stops and early arrivals.

~360 km · Easy pace · Car with driver

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Local tips

  • Arrive a day early if you came by night bus — starting the mountain roads tired is the most common mistake we see.
  • Sort out cash, a local SIM and any permit paperwork here; options thin out further north.