Du Gia

Du Gia sits in a valley on the southern side of the Ha Giang loop, off the main Dong Van circuit, and it became the standard overnight stop for motorbike riders doing the loop in the counter-clockwise direction - a village of H'mong and Tay households with homestays, a small market, and a waterfall a short ride away with a pool that people swim in. The road in from Yen Minh is rough and the descent into the valley is steep. It has grown quickly with the loop's popularity, and what was a quiet stop a decade ago now has a substantial number of guesthouses.

What you actually see

• A valley off the main circuit - on the southern side of the loop.
• H'mong and Tay households - with homestays and a small market.
• A waterfall with a swimming pool - a short ride from the village.
• Fast recent growth - as the Ha Giang loop became popular.

When to go

September to November and March to May. Two days.

Honest expectations

The roads in are rough and the descent is steep - inexperienced riders come off on this section. Homestays now vary from family houses to party hostels. The waterfall is busy in season. Cold and fog in winter.

Nearby

Yen Minh is north; Ha Giang city is south-west.