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Tam Son town in its valley below the Quan Ba hills

On the Loop

Quan Ba

The Heaven Gate into the stone plateau.

6 places

Photo: trungydang / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0

About Quan Ba

Quan Ba is the first highland you climb into after leaving the city. At the top of the pass, the Quan Ba Heaven Gate opens onto the valley of Tam Son and the Twin Mountains, and the landscape changes from green hills to the grey karst of the Dong Van Karst Plateau.

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 Quan Ba

Viewpoints & Passes

View from the Bac Sum climb over the valley

Bac Sum Pass

The first big climb north of Ha Giang town, winding up the mountainside toward Quan Ba and the stone plateau.

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The road and valley seen from the Quan Ba Heaven Gate

Quan Ba Heaven Gate

The pass at the top of the climb from Ha Giang town, looking down on the Tam Son valley and the Twin Mountains.

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The Twin Mountains in the fields of Quan Ba

Twin Mountains (Nui Doi), Quan Ba

Two rounded hills rising from the fields of the Tam Son valley — best seen from the Heaven Gate or on a slow walk in the valley.

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Villages & Culture

Hands drawing a pattern on hemp linen

Lung Tam linen village

A Hmong linen-weaving cooperative in the Quan Ba area where you can watch hemp fibre become cloth, step by step.

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Nam Dam village

A small Dao community tourism village below Quan Ba Heaven Gate, known for herbal baths, quiet homestays and a preserved way of life.

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Nature & Hiking

Stalactites and stalagmites inside Lung Khuy cave

Lung Khuy cave

A lit show cave high on a hillside near Quan Ba, reached by a steep uphill walk — a cool detour from the main road.

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Itineraries through Quan Ba

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

  • Most people only stop at the Heaven Gate viewpoint for ten minutes. Stay a night in the valley instead — mornings here are quiet and misty.
  • Afternoon light is best for the Twin Mountains; mornings are often foggy in the cool months.