Skip to content
Traditional houses and paths in the Lo Lo Chai highland village environment.
VTR · 02 · 2 days · 1 night · Dong Van · Lung Cu

Lo Lo Chai,
to Then Pa.

2-day village trek — Lo Lo Chai to Lung Cu flagpole on foot. From US$175 per person. Schedule, includes and enquiry.

— Quick decision facts

At a glance

Duration
2 days · 1 night
Format
Private trek
Difficulty
Moderate
Start
Lo Lo Chai
Finish
Then Pa · Lung Cu
Your party
2 – 8 trekkers in your private party
Indicative from-price
from US$ 175 / person
— Journey in one glance

What this trek is.

Lo Lo Chai to Then Pa is the northern plateau on foot. Walk in 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.

— Route facts

What this walk actually is.

Walking distance and road distance are not the same number. Unverified elevation gain and maps stay hidden. Walking distance versus road distance.

Start
Lo Lo Chai

From this programme’s operating notes

Finish
Then Pa / Lung Cu approach

From this programme’s operating notes

Walking distance
Operational figure: about 20 km over two days. Not surveyed GPX.

Operational range — not a surveyed GPX figure

Vehicle transfer
Plateau access transfers are separate from walking km

From this programme’s operating notes

Walking time
Two walking days

Operational range — not a surveyed GPX figure

Difficulty
Moderate

From this programme’s operating notes

Terrain
Northern plateau village paths — eastern Ha Giang

From this programme’s operating notes

Route type
2 days · 1 night

From this programme’s operating notes

Accommodation
White Hmong homestay (Lo Lo Chai B when confirmed)

From this programme’s operating notes

Best season
October–April

From this programme’s operating notes

Private / shared
Small group; private on enquiry

From this programme’s operating notes

Hanoi transfer
Not included unless confirmed for your departure

From this programme’s operating notes

GPX status
No public operator GPX
Map status
No surveyed trail map published
— Itinerary

Day by day.

Times and stops are indicative. Pace follows the slowest walker, weather and village rhythm on the day.

Route outline

  1. Day 1
    Lo Lo Chai → Ma Lung ridge
    Walking · Overnight
  2. Day 2
    Ma Lung → Then Pa → Lung Cu
    Walking

Two-day village trek from Lo Lo Chai through the Ma Lung area (typical Night 1) to Then Pa and Lung Cu pickup — not the short Lo Lo village stroll. Day-by-day detail stays in the itinerary below — the map is supplementary schematic evidence only.

Illustrative Route Map

This schematic map shows the approximate route sequence, walking sections, transfers and overnight stops. It is not a GPS track; exact trail lines may change with weather, trail conditions and guide decisions.

  • Walking — Solid line
  • Vehicle transfer — Long dash
  • Approach / shuttle — Dotted
  • Optional section — Dash-dot
  • Night 1 in the Ma Lung area is typical homestay rhythm — household confirmed before travel.

Two-day village trek from Lo Lo Chai through the Ma Lung area (typical Night 1) to Then Pa and Lung Cu pickup — not the short Lo Lo village stroll.

  1. Day 1

    Lo Lo Chai → Ma Lung ridge

    Walking · Overnight · White Hmong homestay (shared room, mattress + bedding)

    11 km · 5 h walking

    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.

    • 16:30
      Arrival at the homestay

      Welcome tea, a hot wash and time to settle in.

    • 19:00
      Family dinner

      Shared table — corn, mountain greens, smoked pork, rice wine.

  2. Day 2

    Ma Lung → Then Pa → Lung Cu

    Walking · Meals · Breakfast · Lunch

    9 km · 4 – 5 h walking

    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.

— Field

Frames from the route.

Guest bed in a homestay room in Lo Lo Chai, eastern Ha Giang
Karst view from a homestay in Lo Lo Chai, eastern Ha Giang
Lo Lo Chai village houses and lanes — start of the walking journey, not a Then Pa claim.
Lo Lo Chai homestay building in a highland village setting.
— Accommodation

Where you sleep.

Household, lodge or shelter is confirmed for your travel dates when you enquire — we do not guarantee a fixed hotel brand on multi-night plateau routes unless named below.

  • Day 1
    White Hmong homestay (shared room, mattress + bedding)
    Typical property
— 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
— 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
— Practical detail

Packing & good to know.

Pack

  • Trekking shoes with grip and a change of socks
  • Daypack (20 – 25 L)
  • Warm layer for the homestay night (cold Oct – Mar)
  • Light rain shell
  • Headlamp / small flashlight
  • Toiletries and a quick-dry towel
  • Modest sleepwear (shared accommodation)

Good to know

  • 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 when conditions allow, 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.
— 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. Night 1 is a White Hmong ridge homestay away from the coach stop — not a universal Lo Lo house standard.

  • 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.

— Related programmes and guides

This page is the two-day Lo Lo Chai overnight toward Then Pa. The seven-day west-to-east journey uses Lo Lo Chai as the eastern walking start toward Dong Van — a different line.

— 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.

  1. Step 1

    Enquire

    Tell us your route, dates and group size — by WhatsApp from any programme or tour page.

  2. Step 2

    Confirm

    We reply with availability, a clear price and the logistics needed to confirm your departure.

  3. 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 published hub programmes — see each programme's includes list. Extended journeys and custom expeditions do not include trekking insurance. Community and forest permit fees are included in programme prices where listed and paid to the communes on your behalf. Extended journey and custom permit requirements vary by route. 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
  • Published extended journeys: 30% deposit and free cancellation up to 14 days before departure — confirmed for your departure before you travel
  • If we cancel your departure for safety or weather before you travel, we offer a full refund or reschedule
  • Weather or safety may require a postponed or adjusted route — we confirm options with you, not through the website checkout
— Verified elsewhere

Independent profiles for the operating company — not on-site guest reviews.

— Trip shape

Which product line fits your dates?

Days alone do not define the trip. A three-day Ban Luoc hub programme and a four-day Hoang Su Phi extended journey cover overlapping geography but differ in pace, product line and 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.

    Browse programmes
  • Extended journey

    Four to seven days across wider geography on a published multi-day route — itinerary and pricing on each tour page under Extended Journeys.

    Extended journeys
  • Custom expedition

    Private dates, mixed regions or a route that does not match a published programme or tour — designed after enquiry on Custom Expeditions.

    Custom expeditions
Local guides

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 where listed and paid to the communes on your behalf. Extended journey and custom permit requirements vary by route.

Insurance & group size

Personal accident and trekking insurance is included on published hub programmes — see each programme's includes list. Extended journeys and custom expeditions do not include trekking insurance. 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

Landscape and season articles sit alongside this trek page — open them for place context, then enquire here for dates and price.

— Plan a departure

Think this trek fits Lo Lo Chai?

Send your dates and walking history — we reply with availability and a private price for your party. Travelling solo? Ask us whether a compatible shared departure is available for your date — not guaranteed.

Check availability & private price
  1. Step 1

    Enquire

    Tell us your route, dates and group size — by WhatsApp from any programme or tour page.

  2. Step 2

    Confirm

    We reply with availability, a clear price and the logistics needed to confirm your departure.

  3. Step 3

    Prepare

    You receive what to pack and where to meet before you travel.

2 days · 1 night
Lo Lo Chai
US$ 175 / person
Enquire