Ha Giang Trekking Tour 3 Days 2 Nights

Travel Style: Active Tours
Trip length: 3 days

Step off the beaten track and discover Ha Giang, Vietnam’s northernmost province, where dramatic limestone peaks, deep valleys, and colorful ethnic culture await. This 3-day trekking adventure takes you through the heart of the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, a UNESCO-listed site, and across the legendary Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of the most stunning mountain passes in Asia.

Along the way, you’ll hike through remote Hmong and Tay villages, explore hidden valleys, and witness breathtaking views of the Nho Que River. Overnight stays in Dong Van town let you soak up local life while enjoying hearty northern cuisine. If your trip coincides with buckwheat flower season (Nov–Dec) or the vibrant Dong Van Sunday market, you’re in for an extra treat. This journey blends adventure, culture, and unforgettable scenery — perfect for those who crave authenticity.

• Trekking through Ma Pi Leng Pass and the Dong Van Karst Plateau.
• Visits to remote ethnic minority villages along the Chinese border.
• Visit to Dong Van Sunday market (buffaloes, colorful ethnic clothes, vibrant trade).
• Spectacular views of rice terraces, valleys, and limestone peaks.
• Cultural insights from Tay and H’mong ethnic groups.
• Visit Vuong Palace with unique Chinese-French-H’mong architecture.

Option | Sleeping Bus Hanoi – Ha Giang

• 19:30–19:45 Depart Hanoi by sleeping bus.
• 03:00–04:00 Arrive in Ha Giang, rest at homestay until morning.

Day 1. Ha Giang - Meo Vac - Dong Van (L, D)

7:30am Our guide will pick you up at your hotel/bus station in Ha Giang to start the drive to Dong Van, beginning of your greatest adventure in one of the most remote areas of Northern Vietnam. On the way you will pass by Quan Ba and its legendary Fairy Bosom Hills, visit a French bunker dated from the colonization and stop in Mau Due for lunch.

After lunch, you will reach Meo Vac to start the first trek of the trip, a 10-kilometer hike through Ma Pi Leng pass, a must see destination in Ha Giang. You will stroll around the valley, meet a small Hmong village under the hill, cling to the side of the undulating mountains, overlooking the Nho Que river, giving unrivaled views of the valleys and terraced hemp fields, which decorate the mountainsides. This pass will make you feelings you never experienced before.

Though it is not advised, if you do not want to trek you will have the possibility to stay with the driver in the car and zigzag down the pass to the end of the trail. You can stop for photos on the way. Arriving in Dong Van, you will settle for the night in a hotel and have dinner in a local restaurant.

Highlights and activities: Dong Van, Quan Ba, Ma Pi Leng, 10 – 12 km trek
Accommodation: Hotel in Dong Van

Day 2. Trekking in Dong Van (B, L, D)

You will start today an amazing trek through the unique Dong Van Karst Plateau, included in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network since 2010. Located in the northernmost province in Vietnam, nearly 80% of the geopark is covered by limestone, high mountains and deep canyons, providing the area with a temperate climate ideal for trekking.

In the 1920s, the French colonists set up one of the biggest fortresses in northern Vietnam at the highest point of the mountain dominating Dong Van town. The area is rich with history and geological wonders.

You will stroll around the frontier between China and Vietnam, visiting remote villages living on the border, learning about the different aspects of the H’mong and Tay ethnic minority groups. One of the highlight will be the discovery of Thien Huong, a 100-year old secret village sitting on the mountainside with traditional Tay houses.

Highlights and activities: Dong Van, Don Cao, Thien Huong village
Accommodation: Hotel in Dong Van

Day 3. Dong Van - Yen Minh - Ha Giang - Hanoi (B, L)

If today is Sunday, you are lucky as Dong Van ethnic market it open. This a change for you to meet local ethnic minorities in the area and gives you the unique opportunity to walk through the crowd, witness the trade market of buffaloes, cows or chickens, or be dazzled by the colourful booths of traditional ethnic clothes.

Back in the car, we will continue our loop to the final frontier and travel through Ma Le, the 'one-eyed ghost' area. This road remains a secret, it can take you to the northernmost point of Vietnam, Lung Cu, home of the Lo Lo ethnic minority, or to Vuong palace which is our next destination. It is a unique place, home of the H’mong King, whose architecture is influenced by three cultures: Chinese, French and Hmong. It was also used during the French colonization as a secret storage room for opium.

The tour then continues to Yen Minh, known for its countless terraced fields, posed on the mountainsides. Lunch will be served at your next stop in Quan Ba, before returning to Ha Giang City.

You then catch a night bus to Hanoi. Overnight on the bus, and reach Hanoi early morning the following day. End of the tour.

Highlights and activities: Dong Van Market, Vuong palace
Accommodation: Not Included