2-day village trek — Lo Lo Chai to Lung Cu flagpole on foot. From US$175 per person. Schedule, includes and enquiry.
Duration
2 days · 1 night
Difficulty
Moderate
Distance
20 km total
Altitude
1,200 – 1,650 m
Best season
Oct – Apr · cool dry season
— Overview
Why this route.
Lo Lo Chai to Then Pa is the northern plateau on foot. Walk in at dusk through mud-walled Lo Lo houses, cross a long Hmong ridge through buckwheat country, then sleep below the Lung Cu flagpole, where day visitors arrive by coach. On Day 2, drop into Then Pa and climb the flagpole steps before the coach parking fills. Choose this if border-plateau atmosphere matters more than terraces. Choose Du Gia for an easier single day, or Nam Dam for Dao herbal culture and indigo weaving.
— Trip highlights
Walk into Lo Lo Chai at walking pace — not a flagpole coach stop
Homestay with a White Hmong family on the border plateau
Buckwheat fields in autumn, mustard flowers in winter
Lung Cu flagpole from the trail before day-trip crowds arrive
— Itinerary
Day by day.
Times and stops are indicative. Pace and arrival are set by the slowest walker, the weather, and the village.
Day 1
Lo Lo Chai → Ma Lung ridge
11 km · 5 h walking
Meals · Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Stay · White Hmong homestay (shared room, mattress + bedding)
"Begin in Lo Lo Chai with a slow walk through the village, then climb out behind the church onto the ridge. Follow a long contour through Hmong corn fields to a quiet hamlet for the night."
08:00
Coffee in Lo Lo Chai
Pack check and briefing before a walk through the village.
09:00
Climb to the upper ridge
Stone-paved path through buckwheat or mustard fields by season.
12:00
Picnic lunch on the ridge
Hmong corn cakes, smoked sausage, fresh fruit.
13:30
Long contour traverse
Follow an open ridge, with limestone karst dropping away east and west.
"Walk early into the bowl below Lung Cu, through stone-walled fields and the White Hmong village of Then Pa. Climb the flagpole steps at the right hour, before day-trippers arrive."
06:30
Breakfast at the homestay
Sticky rice with peanuts and sweet tea.
07:30
Descent to Then Pa
A steady drop through stone-walled corn fields.
10:00
Walk through Then Pa
Pass mud-walled houses, the school and a Hmong weaving courtyard.
11:30
Lung Cu flagpole
Climb the steps; the high point of the route.
13:00
Lunch in a Lo Lo kitchen
Hosted lunch back near the village.
14:30
Trailhead pickup
Drive back to Dong Van town, arriving around 16:00.
— Inclusions
What's included.
Included
Private transfers to and from the trail
English-speaking lead guide and local Hmong guide
1 night White Hmong homestay (shared room with bedding)
All meals from Day 1 lunch to Day 2 lunch
Drinking water, snacks and seasonal fruit
Permits, community contributions, flagpole entry
Personal accident & trekking insurance
Not included
Transfers from Ha Giang city to Dong Van
Hotel before/after the trek
Alcoholic beverages beyond the welcome rice wine
Tips for guides, drivers and the host family
Personal expenses
— Pack list
What to bring.
01Trekking shoes with grip and a change of socks
02Daypack (20 – 25 L)
03Warm layer for the homestay night (cold Oct – Mar)
04Light rain shell
05Headlamp / small flashlight
06Toiletries and a quick-dry towel
07Modest sleepwear (shared accommodation)
— Good to know
Before you walk.
This is a border zone, so bring your passport for the Lung Cu flagpole checkpoint.
Guide field note: Day 2 flagpole steps are timed for before 10:00, when coach groups from Dong Van arrive.
The Ma Lung ridge has buckwheat from October to November and mustard flowers in February. Stone paths turn slick after rain.
Night 1 uses a shared room, wood-fired hot water and a squat toilet outside. From November to February, nights can fall below 5 °C.
Lo Lo Chai mud-walled houses are cool in summer and cold in winter. Thermals are essential in shoulder season.
— Field
Frames from the route.
— FAQ
Common questions.
Q · 01
Do I need a special border permit?
No. Lung Cu and Then Pa are inside the open zone for foreign travellers. Your passport is checked at the flagpole.
Q · 02
What does the homestay sleep like?
You sleep on a shared mattress on a wooden floor, with full bedding and a mosquito net. Up to 6 guests share one room.
Q · 03
Will it be very cold?
From November to February, it can be. Nights may drop below 5 °C. We provide extra blankets; you bring thermals.
Q · 04
Is Lo Lo Chai crowded?
Day visitors arrive from the flagpole road. We walk in from Chai village at a quieter hour and sleep in a Lo Lo homestay away from the coach stop.
Q · 05
How fit do I need to be?
Day 1 is a moderate ridge walk, while Day 2 descends through buckwheat fields. You should be comfortable with 10 – 12 km days.
Q · 06
What is included?
The programme includes one homestay night, all meals from Day 1 lunch to Day 2 lunch, local Lo Lo and Hmong guides, and transfers to trailheads.
— Booking
What happens after you enquire.
This page holds the schedule, price and inclusions for this route. Confirmation and payment steps are handled directly with our team — not through this website.
Step 1
Enquire
Tell us your route, dates and group size — by WhatsApp from any programme or tour page.
Step 2
Confirm
We reply with availability, a clear price and the logistics needed to confirm your departure.
Step 3
Prepare
You receive what to pack and where to meet before you travel.
— Why book with us
Licensed local operator
Hanoi Travel Mate Co., Ltd. (tax code 0110906485) runs every departure listed on this site — not a reseller or marketplace listing. Licensed Local Operator
Local trekking expertise
Ha Giang has no marked national-park trail network. Paths follow irrigation channels, farm decisions, and weather calls made by people who live on the route. Local trail guides from each community negotiate homestay space, read fog on the ridge, and know when a bamboo bridge is safe after rain — alongside English-speaking trekking leads who handle logistics, pace and guest communication.
Transparent enquiry process
No payment on this site. Enquire by WhatsApp; we usually reply within 24 hours with availability, a clear price and what to pack. Booking Terms
No payment on this site
Every departure is confirmed after a direct conversation. Nothing is collected or stored here. Payment Policy
Safety and responsible travel
Personal accident and trekking insurance is included on every guide-led programme — see each programme's includes list. Permits and community fees are included on programme prices where listed. Safety Policy
Community payments stay local
Homestay payments go directly to host families — we do not take a margin on meals or overnight stays. Responsible Travel
— Deposit, cancellation & enquiry
—Enquire by WhatsApp — we usually reply within 24 hours with availability, price and what to pack
—No payment on this site — confirmation steps are shared directly after your enquiry
—Deposit and cancellation terms are confirmed for your specific departure before you travel
—Weather or safety may require a postponed or adjusted route — we confirm options with you, not through the website checkout
Days alone do not define the trip. A three-day Ban Luoc programme and a three-day Tay Con Linh Summit extended journey share duration but not product line or booking page. Programme vs Extended Journey.
Hub programme
One to three focused walking days in Hoang Su Phi, Village Treks or Ridge & Cloud — a defined route with schedule and price on the programme page.
Local trail guides from the communities on the route, with English-speaking trekking leads on every departure. Guide roles & field notes
Community & permits
Homestay payments go directly to host families — we do not take a margin on meals or overnight stays. Community and forest permit fees are included in programme prices and paid to the communes on your behalf.
Insurance & group size
Personal accident and trekking insurance is included on every guide-led programme — see each programme's includes list. Guide-led programmes run small groups — typically 2–8 trekkers; ridge routes cap at six.
Operator & enquiry
No payment on this site. Enquire by WhatsApp; we usually reply within 24 hours with availability, a clear price and what to pack. Licensed Local Operator · Safety Policy
— Places and routes
Entity guides hold landscape and season research; this programme page holds schedule and enquiry.
VTR · 011 day