5 Day Ha Giang Loop and Cao Bang Discovery Tour

  • Cao Bang, Ha Giang Loop
  • 5.0 (199)
Khau Lan Waterfall
Angel Eyes Mountain
2
3
4

Suitable For

Private and shared group of below 10 passengers

Departure

Daily at 08:30:00 from Ha Giang City

Duration

5 Days

4 Nights

Mode of Travel

Motorbike with Easy Riders, Self-riding, or Car

Tour Accommodation

Comfortable, well-equipped local homestays

Tour meals

Quality family-style meals

Description

Overview: If you’ve got more time and want to experience the full magic of northern Vietnam, this 5-day journey is the one. You’ll ride Ha Giang’s legendary passes, wander its ethnic villages, and then head to Cao Bang to see the incredible Ban Gioc Waterfall – the fourth-largest cross-border waterfall in the world, plus explore hidden caves and chill by peaceful lakes. 

This itinerary is off the beaten path, carefully crafted to show you spots most travelers miss, and it’s our most recommended route, loved by past guests and earning excellent reviews.

What makes our tour unique?

  • Safety First: Local riders with at least 5 years of navigating challenging roads.
  • Competitive Pricing: Our strong local partnerships, without intermediaries, allow us to offer the best prices without compromising the quality of experiences, accommodations, or meals, ensuring great value for you.
  • Off-the-beaten-path: Explore famous destinations and hidden off road gems.
  • Small Group & Private Tours: Shared group tours (below 10 pax) and private tours at the same price.
  • Community Support: We pay our riders 50% more than the average salary within the region and treats them with the most respect, while still providing a competitive tour pricing. 
  • Culture Immersion: Engage in authentic cultural experiences and interactive activities rather than noisy party scenes.

Important Note: Lila Inn Team wholeheartedly designed this tour itinerary and will do our best to accompany you in exploring all the listed destinations. However, the duration and stops may be adjusted depending on weather and road conditions. We will inform you if any changes are necessary.

DETAILED SCHEDULE

Please arrange your own travel to Ha Giang City before the tour departure.

Lila Inn can assist you with booking a round-trip bus at standard prices from Hanoi, Sapa, Ha Long, Ninh Binh, or Cat Ba. Check bus schedules and book here.

We offer free dorm bed for one night prior to the tour. If you would like to upgrade to a private room, check the availability and book here.

7:30 AM Have breakfast, meet your guide/easy rider, and receive tour information at Lila Hostel in Ha Giang City before starting your adventure.

9:30 AM Get to Bac Sum Pass, the longest pass in Ha Giang, often likened to a giant snake slithering along steep cliffs.

10:30 AM Visit Khau Lan Waterfall, nestled within lush tropical forests, preserving its wild and majestic beauty.

12:00 PM Arrive at Quan Ba Heaven Gate and enjoy panoramic views of Tam Son Town.

12:30 Have lunch in Quan Ba. 

2:00 PM Pass by Nam Dam Cultural Village, featuring traditional rammed earth houses of the Dao people.

2:30 PM Visit Lung Tam Linen Cooperative, a long-standing traditional craft village of brocade weaving by the Hmong.

3:30 PM Take in the breathtaking views at Can Ty Viewpoint and sightsee rice terraces at Lao Va Chai. 

4:30 PM Get on your way to Yen Minh Town and stay the night here. Enjoy a family dinner, and sing karaoke with the locals.

7:30 AM  Have breakfast, then head to Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark.

9:00 AM Reach the legendary Tham Ma Pass, a historical site with continuous hairpin bends.

9:30 AM Continue through picturesque Pho Cao Valley and Sung La Valley along the Nine-Turn Pass. 

10:30 AM Visit Lao Xa Village and check out the unique rammed earth houses and the silver carvings of the H’mong people.

11:30 AM Tour the H’Mong King Palace, a national relic showcasing a blend of traditional Chinese and H’Mong architectural styles.

12:30 PM Have lunch in Sa Phin or Ma Le.

2:00 PM Pass by Lo Lo Chai Village, check in with the iconic Lung Cu Flag Tower in the background. 

2:30 PM Get to the Vietnam-China Border and the Northernmost Point of Vietnam, enjoy the panoramic view of the vast mountains and rivers below.

3:00 PM Visit Ma Le Village, home to the Giay people, nestled among the rocky mountains. Stop at Khe Lia Viewpoint.

3:30 PM Pass through Ma U Village and Thien Huong Village, head towards Dong Van Ancient Town.

4:30 PM Check in to your homestay in Dong Van Town and stay the night here. Enjoy a family dinner, and sing karaoke with the locals.

7:30 AM Have breakfast and visit the Dong Van Ethnic Market (Sunday mornings) to experience local culture and buy unique handicrafts and food.

8:30 AM Conquer the stunning Ma Pi Leng Pass, known as the “King of Passes” with extremely sharp hairpin bends for spectacular mountain views.

9:30 AM There are 2 options for you:

  • Option 1: Hike 5 km to White Cliff for unmatched panoramic views of the Nho Que River, Tu San Canyon and surrounding landscapes.

  • Option 2: Enjoy a boat ride (about 30 minutes) on the emerald Nho Que River, sightseeing the Tu San Canyon, the deepest canyon in Southeast Asia.

12:30 PM Have lunch in Meo Vac.

1:30 PM Proceed to Cao Bang territory, arriving in Bao Lac Town.

4:00 PM Check in homestay in Bao Lac Town and stay the night here. Enjoy a family dinner.

7:30 AM Have breakfast, then continue the journey through Khau Coc Cha Pass, one of Vietnam’s Four Great Passes with 15 vertical levels.

9:00 AM Continue to Cao Bac Pass to admire terraced fields and mist-covered villages.

10:30 AM Traverse the lesser-known Na Tenh Pass, which features impressive 20 gentle curves.

12:30 PM Have lunch in Tra Linh District.

2:00 PM Venture into the Phong Nam Valley or Ngoc Con Valley, where traditional Tay ethnic cultures thrive amidst picturesque paddy fields.

3:30 PM Drop by Co La Waterfall, which has a poetic beauty surrounded by mountains and fields.

4:30 PM Stroll through the 400-year-old Khuoi Ky Stone Village and explore the stone stilt houses of the Tay people.

5:00 PM Check in to the homestay near Ban Gioc Waterfall. Enjoy dinner with local foods.

7:30 AM Have breakfast then discover the remarkable limestone grotto Nguom Ngao Cave.

10:00 AM Hike to Phat Tich Truc Lam Pagoda to enjoy the panoramic view of the waterfall and rolling mountains from above.

11:00 AM Take a boat ride at the majestic Ban Gioc Waterfall, situated on the jade-blue waters of the Quay Son River flowing from China.

12:00 PM Have lunch in Trung Khanh.

2:00 PM Visit the mysterious Mountain Angel Eye, nestled in the valley of Thang Hen Lake.

4:00 PM Conclude your tour in Cao Bang City.

The tour ends in Cao Bang City, you can consider these 3 options:

Option 1:

  • Stay in Cao Bang overnight and depart for Hanoi the next morning.
  • You will arrange your own accommodation, Lila Inn can assist with booking a local bus from Cao Bang to Hanoi.

Option 2:

  • Take a night bus from Cao Bang to Hanoi.
  • From Hanoi, you can easily connect to other destinations like Ninh Binh, Cat Ba, or Ha Long.
  • Lila Inn can help you book a local bus from Cao Bang to Hanoi.

Option 3:

  • Extend your tour to 6 days:
    • Stay overnight in Cao Bang City after the tour.
    • Return to Ha Giang the following day (7-8 hours by motorbike).
    • Then take a night bus from Ha Giang to Sapa.
    • An additional fee of 700,000 VND/person (applies for a package that includes a private room, dinner, breakfast, lunch, easy riders and motorbike).

Please contact us if you need assistance with these options.

Note: Direct buses from Cao Bang to other provinces are either unavailable or in poor condition, so we highly recommend these options.

5 Day Ha Giang Loop and Cao Bang Discovery Tour

Discover Ha Giang Loop Map

Tour Package Prices

Motorbike Tour with Easy Rider

Testimonials

Alisia Sciacca

From US
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I can’t say enough good things about LiLa Inn, especially the staff. When we arrived we had the intention of driving the loop ourselves. Being from the USA, we unfortunately did not have the proper license to do. The front desk went over every possibility for us and took 2 hours of their time to figure everything out. They will hold your hand through the process, and that is worth the stay alone. We’re actually staying with them again when we head back to Ha Giang once we’re done with the loop.

Esther Wong

From Australia
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you’re thinking of doing the Ha Giang/Cao Bang loop, look no further than Lila Inn.

We wanted to do Ha Giang and Cao Bang in 5D4N and not many companies offered this. We also wanted to avoid the big companies where they group people in hordes of 20-30, going to packed touristy places/routes with drinking and partying every night.

We are so so glad to have done the loop with them. We had a group of 5 people in total, all like minded people and we visited famous places as well as quiet spots. We even did a little hike on day 2 where there was no one else but us. The first 3 days were the 5 of us with an easy rider each, then the last two days were just my partner and I (basically private tour) as we continued onto Cao Bang and everyone else the rest of Ha Giang.

The easy riders are fantastic too. Very kind, caring and fun people to be with. We felt safe the whole time as they’re great drivers, and it was just a very intimate experience of the loop as we avoided big crowds most of the time.

Special shout out to Ninh, Ngân, Tuyển, Thanh and Lưu who went above and beyond for our trip.

Agathi Zervou

From Cyprus
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We just finished the Ha Giang Loop Tour with Lila Inn and it was most incredible experience. Firstly, the accomodation at Lila Inn in Ha Giang is exceptional. The rooms are clean and specious and the staff super attentive. They also provide you with lockers for your luggage until you complete the loop. Liam, the mananger, was extremely helpful with everything we needed and a wonderful host.

The loop tour itself was brilliantly organised. We booked the 4 days – 3 nights tour and it was the most epic experience. We stayed in wonderful homestays along the route (clean and decilious food) and visited breathtaking sights and local villages, off the beaten track. Unlike other packed group tours we saw on the way, we were only a group of 4 and our riders. This made the experience more personal and more enjoyable. Our riders were simply amazing – they drove safely, took care of us and made sure we got the most out of the trip. Special shoutout to my driver Duong, the sweetest person, who made this experience a lifetime highlight 🌻

I 100% recommend Lila Inn and their loop tour.

Mouli Duddupudi

From India
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Booked a solo trip for 4 days with an easy rider. The ride was smooth, the rider was very friendly and cooperative. He will be with you all along and helps you in any way needed. The selected home stays are comfortable. The best thing is “sometimes, the route which was chosen is completely different from other groups. I didn’t see any tourist guy in few places and I had one of the best experiences. You will get to see more unique places and get to know about local people easily”. Even though my rider doesn’t know English well, he tried his best in conveying the message and helped me learn some vietnamese as well.

Kathrin Westphal

From Germany
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We recommended the property especially because we were able to book the tour to Ha Giang Loop through this. The rooms are clean and big. Showers and toilets are fine. In the evening we were invited to a dinner at the accommodation, which was delicious. The tour the following days was really a dream, everything was great organized our guide Stephan spoke very good English. There were only three of us traveling in the group and we felt safe at every moment. The accommodations and food on the go were well selected as well.

Gareth Severs

From UK
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended by a friend so I booked a stay and when I arrived, Liam arranged for me to join the Ha Giang Loop tour for the following day. I joined 3 others and we had a fantastic experience. It felt like a private VIP tour, with the first stop being a private cave where we were able to swim and relax for an hour. This was an amazing experience and the tour only got better from there. The tour guide Stephan and her team of riders were excellent throughout and made sure to look after us all the way through. Would recommend this hostel and tour to anyone thinking of doing it. a

FAQs

faq-icon-classFrequently Asked Questions for 5 Day Ha Giang Loop and Cao Bang Discovery Tour Expand All

  • Is it worth doing the 5D4N Ha Giang & Cao Bang tour instead of the 4D3N complete Ha Giang tour?

  • What kind of motorbikes do your easy riders use?

  • Can your Easy Riders speak English?

  • What payment methods do you accept?

  • What do the rooms on the tour look like?

  • What do the foods served during the tour look like?

  • Can you accommodate Vegans and Vegetarians on your tours?

  • I don’t want to join a group. Do you offer private tours, and what is the surcharge?

  • How can I bring my luggage during the 5D4N tour if the tour ends in Cao Bang City?

  • Where can I stay if I arrive in Ha Giang City early before the start of the tour?

  • How long will I be riding and walking/hiking each day on the loop?

  • Are your tours kid friendly?

5 Day Ha Giang Loop and Cao Bang Discovery Tour

USD 320 / PAX

Approx VND 8000000 / PAX

Included in price

  • Local homestay experience
  • Private Easy Rider, Motorbike Rental or Car Rental
  • All entry fees covered
  • Authentic local meals & water
  • Free luggage storage
  • Exclusively designed T-shirt

Other Add-ons

Explore with Lila - Empower local riders

FROM TRAVELERS TO CHANGEMAKERS

With every tour you join, you contribute to our "Ride with Heart" training program - empowering local motorbike riders to become more skilled and conscious riders.
Read more about this program

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