Dong Van Karst Plateau
  • Visited places: Hanoi, Ha Giang, Dong Van Plateau, Bac Me, Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Meo Vac
  • Tour Activity/Theme: Adventure, Bike, Ethnic market, Ethnic village, Sublime nature, Exotic lifestyle, Off the beaten track, Plateau

Ha Giang is famed for the fabled karst plateau of Dong Van and myriad heavenly valleys surrounded by towering mountains.

Ha Giang Mountain Biking Tour Overview

Our cycling tour in Ha Giang is an off-the beaten path adventure exploring the untamed beauty of the province slowly in 8 days 7 nights.

For most of the trip, we cycle on traffic free paved roads on mountains slope through the region that tourists are rarely in sight. Some gradients are very steep that we will have to get off our bike quite a few times. Some of the cycling roads are not accessible to cars and this means that our support vehicle won't always be available immediately when you need.

Day-to-day itinery

Day 1 Hanoi – Ha Giang (320km, cycling 10km) (B/L/D)
Day 2 Ha Giang – Quan Ba (50km) (B/L/D)
Day 3 Quan Ba – Yen Minh (50km) (B/L/D)
Day 4 Yen Minh – Pho Cao – Pho Bang - Dong Van (+50km) (B/L/D)
Day 5 Dong Van – Lung Cu – Meo Vac (50km) (B/L/D)
Day 6 Meo Vac – Bac Me (110km) (B/L/D)
Day 7 Bac Me – Ha Giang (50km) (B/L/D)
Day 8 Ha Giang – Tuyen Quang – Hanoi (320km, no cycling) (B/L/D)

Accommodations
Hotels, guest houses and homestay with basic facilities.

{Inclusions
English-speaking guide;
Bike hire as indicated on the tour itinerary;
Accommodations in twin-shared rooms as indicated on the tour itinerary;
Meals as indicated as indicated on the tour itinerary: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner;
All admission fees as indicated on the tour itinerary;
}
{Exclusions
Insurance of any type;
Drinks or personal expenses;
Others not specified in the inclusions;
}

Detailed itinerary

Day 1 Hanoi – Ha Giang (320km, cycling 10km) (B/L/D)

We travel by car to Ha Giang City. The road is scenic with rice fields, palm forests and captivating mountains. On arrival, we have time for refreshment and for testing our bike.
Overnight in Ha Giang.

Day 2 Ha Giang – Quan Ba (50km) (B/L/D)Quan Ba, Ha Giang

Breakfast at the hotel.
We pedal uphill and could feel the change in altitude the higher we go. Sometimes you can not climb a gradient due to its steepness, then keep in mind that the beauty here must be enjoyed even more slowly. Keep getting off your bike every now and again and turn around to take in the ethereal scenery then. After passing the high pass, it is basically flat again as we pedal into Tam Son Town.
Overnight at Tam Son.

Day 3 Quan Ba – Yen Minh (50km) (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
We bike along the Nho Que River flanked by imposing mountains on both sides. The terrain today is not that steep as yesterday, but do not make it in a hurry. Beauty must be savored! We pedal past a high pass which provides sweeping view of the surroundings before rolling down into Yen Minh Town.
Overnight at Yen Minh.

Day 4 Yen Minh – Pho Cao – Pho Bang - Dong Van (+50km) (B/L/D)Road by the Nho Que River from Quan Ba to Yen Minh

Breakfast at the hotel.
We cycle on high altitude with some arid scenery, cool air and panoramic view of the area. The scene changes abruptly once we enter Dong Van District, the heart of the Rock Plateau. It's sheer gray and black colors of rock all around us. Amazingly local H'mong could still grow corn on the rock! It's normal we feel lost in a fabled world.

On our cycling route today, we visit some attractions in Dong Van including Pho Cao, Pho Bang, Sung La Valley, Sa Phin Valley with former residence of the Vuong Family. We do have stops every now and then for some hot coffee and for taking in the heavenly landscape.
Overnight at Dong Van.

Day 5 Dong Van – Lung Cu – Meo Vac (50km) (B/L/D)Dong Van Rock Plateau

Breakfast at the hotel.
We cycle through an area characterized by rock and arid land to the northern-most commune in Vietnam. At Lung Cu, we will climb the Flag Tower to have panoramic views of the surroundings and visit a Lo Lo ethnic community. Then, bike back to Dong Van Old Town.

In the afternoon, we cycle to Meo Vac via Ma Pi Leng Pass, the most sublime mountain pass in Vietnam! Have some great moments on the pass and descend into Meo Vac Town.
Overnight at Meo Vac.

Day 6 Meo Vac – Bac Me (110km) (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
We cycle on a rarely visited area of Dong Van Karst Plateau. The biking route today is along mountain slopes, up and down various valleys and through many ethnic communities. We sometimes find ourselves on the brim of a bottomless ravine, sometimes on top of a mountain range looking down a quiet valley and sometimes lost amid endless corn farms. At the end of the day, we mostly roll downhill cycling through mountains covered in dense forest.
Overnight at Bac Me.

Day 7 Bac Me – Ha Giang (50km) (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
Today is relaxing. We cycle leisurely on a quiet paved road to Ha Giang City. The riverine life is certainly worth several stops for photographs.
Overnight in Ha Giang.

Day 8 Ha Giang – Tuyen Quang – Hanoi (320km, no cycling) (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.
We travel back to Hanoi by car today. We arrive back in the capital city in late afternoon concluding our mountain biking adventure to Ha Giang. We trust you enjoyed the experience tremendously and look forward to welcoming you back for another adventure in Vietnam with AdventureGreen.

Vietnam Adventure Travel