Christmas and New Year 2027 in Hà Giang: paragliding and paramotor flights to welcome the year over the Rocky Plateau

From above you see the Fairy Twin Mountains (núi đôi Cô Tiên), Quản Bạ Heaven Gate, limestone outcrops among the corn fields, and the Miện river winding through the valley.

What is flying like in late December?

Winter on the plateau is very different from summer, and that directly affects flying times. A few things worth knowing before you choose your flight:

• Short days. Around 25/12 and 1/1 the sun rises at about 6:40 and sets at about 17:20 (on the horizon; behind the mountains the light arrives a little later and fades a little earlier). That is why sunset slots are scheduled earlier than in summer.
• Cold mornings, sometimes foggy. Mornings and evenings on the plateau are often only 5–15 °C. On some mornings thick fog sits in the valley; the team then waits for it to lift and only takes off once visibility is safe.
• Clouds don't keep appointments. A sea of clouds is most likely early in the morning after a cold, humid, still night, but it is a natural phenomenon and nobody can promise which day it will appear.
• The winter landscape. The rice was harvested by mid-October, and buckwheat flowers usually only last until about early December. What you see from above is grey stone mountains, corn fields after the harvest, villages and the Miện river, in cold, clear air.
• Frost. Some years, late December into January brings frost on high ground such as Đồng Văn.

As on every day of the year, flights only go ahead when wind and visibility are safe; the team checks the forecast and confirms the time on the morning of the flight.

Choosing your holiday flight

The Quản Bạ site (around Km45 of the Loop, about 45 km from Hà Giang city) is open daily 06:30–18:30. Paragliding (PG) launches on foot from a ridge at about 950 m and lands in a wide, flat valley at about 450 m; paramotor (PPG) takes off from the valley floor next to the Miện river.

Included: GoPro video (ask your pilot), insurance, drinking water and free pick-up/drop-off within the Quản Bạ area (for example Nậm Đăm village, Cán Tỷ, H'Mong Village resort). Add-ons: drone (flycam) or 360° camera footage, 400,000 VND (≈ US$ 16) per guest each.

Standard paragliding: quiet flight over the valley

You run a few steps down the grassy slope with your pilot, the wing rises and the two of you leave the ground. There is no engine noise, only the sound of the wind. Looking down from 950 m, the valley opens up with the Fairy Twin Mountains, the bends of the Miện river and the small rooftops at the foot of the mountains. Flight time depends on the wind, so it varies between 9 and 15 minutes. In winter, paragliding flights are usually scheduled once the fog has lifted and the sky is bright and clear.

Standard paramotor: take-off from the valley

A paramotor is a powered paraglider: you sit in front, the pilot flies from behind, and you take off right from the flat field next to the Miện river, so there is no need to go up the mountain. The 15-minute flight suits anyone who wants a little longer in the air than a paragliding flight while keeping the schedule tight. To understand the difference between the two in detail, read paragliding vs paramotor.

Sunrise and cloud-chasing paramotor on the morning of 31/12 or 1/1

For your "first flight of the year", choose the 22–25 minute long paramotor flight early in the morning. Sunrise and cloud-chasing flights are paramotor only; paragliding has no such option. Clouds are a natural phenomenon and nobody can promise them, and on some mornings the fog is so thick that you have to wait for it to lift before flying. If conditions don't allow the special flight, it becomes a standard paramotor flight.

To fly early, stay overnight in Quản Bạ the night before, and put on your warm clothes before you leave your room, because early morning is the coldest part of the day. See our tips on where to stay in Quản Bạ.

Sunset paragliding on the last afternoon of the year

The afternoon of 31/12 is perfect for sunset paragliding: the wing glides slowly while the last light of the day spreads over the stone mountains. The December sun sets early, so sunset slots are scheduled earlier than in summer; the team confirms the exact time after checking the wind. Take-off is on the mountain top, so allow time to get up there and arrive about 30 minutes early. Once you land in the valley it gets cold fast after the sun drops behind the mountains, so keep a thick jacket ready.

Day-by-day itineraries

Travel times vary with the bus company and road conditions, and over the holidays they can be longer than usual; see how to get from Hanoi to Hà Giang. Both plans below put the Quản Bạ flight at the start of the trip, so you still have a spare day if the weather doesn't allow flying at first.

3-day plan: Christmas 25⁠–⁠27/12 or New Year 1⁠–⁠3/1

The night before: Take an overnight sleeper bus from Hanoi to Hà Giang city.

Day 1 (Friday) — Quản Bạ, your first flight: Arrive in Hà Giang city, have breakfast, then head up to Quản Bạ on QL4C (about 45 km, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes; the team's 4-seat car costs 500,000 VND (≈ US$ 20) per car each way). Fly during the day, or save a sunset paragliding flight for the afternoon. Spend the night in Quản Bạ.

Day 2 (Saturday) — Đồng Văn: If the weather kept you grounded yesterday, fly in Quản Bạ in the morning before you leave. Then ride through Yên Minh to Đồng Văn (around Km150) and stroll the old quarter in the early evening, once the lanterns are lit. Đồng Văn has paragliding only and no fixed daily slots: flights are arranged in advance for each group according to the wind. If you have booked and the wind is right, you fly over the old quarter and the Rocky Plateau and land right in town. See our Đồng Văn stage guide and the article on the Đồng Văn paragliding site.

Day 3 (Sunday) — Đồng Văn market, Mã Pí Lèng and back: Both 27/12 and 3/1 are Sundays, the day the Đồng Văn Sunday market is held in the old market area. Sellers arrive from about 5:30 and it is busiest around 7:00–10:00; remember to bring cash. More in Đồng Văn old quarter and its markets. Then ride the Mã Pí Lèng pass to look down on the Nho Quế river, and return to Hà Giang city for the night bus back to Hanoi. This is the day with the most riding, so set off early and avoid being on the road after dark.

4-day plan: see out the old year and welcome the new, 31/12 – 3/1

If you can take 31/12 (Thursday) off as well, you get four full days and a flight at both ends of the year.

Night of 30/12: Night bus from Hanoi to Hà Giang city.

Day 1 (31/12) — Quản Bạ, the last flight of the year: Go up to Quản Bạ in the morning, visit Quản Bạ Heaven Gate and the Fairy Twin Mountains, and take a sunset paragliding flight in the afternoon. New Year's Eve on the plateau is cold and quiet; stay in Quản Bạ so you can fly early the next morning.

Day 2 (1/1) — The first flight of the year, on to Đồng Văn: Early in the morning, take the long paramotor flight to greet the sunrise, chasing clouds if there are any. Then ride through Yên Minh to Đồng Văn and stroll the old quarter in the evening.

Day 3 (2/1) — Lũng Cú: From Đồng Văn go to Lũng Cú (about 24 km); the road up usually passes through Sà Phìn, where you can stop at the Hmong King's Palace. Climb the steps to the flag tower at the country's northernmost point; go around midday when it's less cold. See our Lũng Cú stage guide. If you'd like to paraglide in Đồng Văn on this trip, arrange it with the team in advance; flight times depend on the wind.

Day 4 (3/1, Sunday) — Market, Mã Pí Lèng, back to Hanoi: Go to the Đồng Văn Sunday market early in the morning, then cross the Mã Pí Lèng pass and return to Hà Giang city for the night bus.

For a longer trip, see our 4-day, 3-night Hà Giang Loop itinerary.

Booking flights for a whole group

Over the year-end holidays, many groups of friends, families and companies come up to Hà Giang at the same time. To get the whole group in the air in a single session:

1. Gather the details first: the number of people, whether each person wants paragliding or paramotor (people in the same group can choose differently), children's ages, anyone over 90 kg, and anyone with a heart condition, who is pregnant, has had recent surgery or has a history of epilepsy.
2. Book once for the whole group via online booking, or message the hotline / Zalo / WhatsApp so the team can schedule your flights back to back. Each guest flies tandem with their own pilot.
3. Plan the transport: pick-up and drop-off within the Quản Bạ area are free; from Hà Giang city there is a 4-seat car at 500,000 VND (≈ US$ 20) per car each way, and large groups need several cars, so let the team know early.
4. Have everyone there about 30 minutes early. A late first flight holds up the whole group, especially in the short winter sunset window.
5. Stay flexible when the weather changes: the wind may suit one time slot and then shift; the team can split the group across slots or move flights to the next day, and rescheduling for weather is free.

Payment is at check-in on the flying day, before the flight: each person can pay for themselves or one person can pay for everyone, by cash, bank transfer, card (+3%) or PayPal (+3%). More tips for groups and companies in group paragliding and team building.

A flight as a gift: couples, families, groups

A flight makes an unusual end-of-year present: the person you give it to gets the experience and a GoPro video to keep.

• Couples: you both fly in the same time slot, each on a tandem with your own pilot. Pick sunset on the last day of the year or cloud chasing on the first morning. More ideas in paragliding for couples.
• Families: children from 3 years old can fly tandem with a pilot. Dress them very warmly. Read paragliding with young children carefully first.
• Photography lovers: the 22–25 minute long paramotor flight gives the most time in the air; add a drone (flycam) or 360° camera (400,000 VND (≈ US$ 16) per guest each) for shots from outside, see drone and 360° cameras on your flight.
• First-timers who are a bit scared of heights: no experience is needed and the pilot handles all the flying; read can you paraglide if you're afraid of heights? beforehand.

Booking for a loved one as a surprise? You can make the booking in the recipient's name; since payment happens at check-in on the flying day, the giver should come along to pay on the spot. See giving a paragliding experience as a gift.

What to wear for a midwinter flight

In December, mornings and evenings on the plateau are often only 5–15 °C, Đồng Văn is colder, and some years bring frost. In the air, the wind makes it feel colder still.

• Layers: a thermal base, a sweater or light down jacket, and a windproof outer jacket.
• Long trousers and trainers; no sandals or flip-flops.
• Gloves, a thin beanie to wear under the helmet, a scarf or neck warmer.
• Sunglasses, lip balm and a power bank (phone batteries drain fast in the cold).
• For children, add one more layer than an adult wears and a woolly hat that covers the ears.

The full list is in what to prepare for your first paragliding flight.

Staying safe on the Loop's winter roads

Over the holidays the passes carry more traffic than usual, on top of the fog and cold. A few rules keep the trip safe:

• Set off once it is fully light. Early in the morning, fog can lie thick on passes such as Quản Bạ Heaven Gate or Mã Pí Lèng; turn on your lights, slow down and keep your distance.
• Arrive before dark. The sun sets around 17:20 and mountain roads get dark very quickly; avoid riding at night.
• Watch out for wet roads. Fog makes the surface slippery, especially on bends that stay in the shade; from late December into January the high ground can have frost.
• Keep your hands and feet warm. Numb hands brake late: wear windproof gloves and use a light rain jacket as an outer windbreak.
• Give way on the passes. There are plenty of coaches, cars and motorbike convoys; keep to the right, sound your horn on blind bends and never overtake on a bend.
• Check your bike and fill up in town before the long stretches.

If you're not used to mountain passes, ride with a local driver; compare the two options in easy rider or riding yourself.

Book early for the holidays

Flights are scheduled first come, first served, and over the holidays the early-morning and sunset slots fill first. Booking early costs you nothing:

• Book online with no deposit and nothing to pay when you book.
• Pay at check-in on the flying day, before your flight: cash, bank transfer, card (+3%) or PayPal (+3%).
• Bad weather means free rescheduling.

The team confirms your flight time on the morning of the flight; you can follow the flying weather forecast beforehand.

Quick checklist

1. Pick your dates, book the night bus and beds in Quản Bạ and Đồng Văn.
2. Book your Quản Bạ flight; for Đồng Văn, contact the team to arrange it in advance.
3. Tell the team in advance if you weigh over 90 kg or have a heart condition, are pregnant, have had recent surgery or have a history of epilepsy; give children's ages.
4. Pack warm layers, gloves, a beanie and trainers.
5. Wait for the team to confirm the time on the morning of the flight; arrive about 30 minutes early.

Frequently asked questions

Is the site open over Christmas and New Year?

The Quản Bạ site is open daily 06:30–18:30. As on any day, flights only go ahead when wind and visibility are safe.

Can I fly at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve?

No. The site only operates 06:30–18:30 and there is no night flying. The closest you can get is a sunset paragliding flight on the afternoon of 31/12 and a sunrise paramotor flight on the morning of 1/1.

Can I paraglide at sunrise on 1 January?

Sunrise flights are only available as the 22–25 minute long paramotor flight (3,390,000 VND), not as paragliding. If conditions don't allow it, the flight becomes a standard paramotor flight.

Can you fly when it's this cold?

Yes, once the fog lifts and the wind is steady; morning flights may start a little later while visibility improves. Just dress warmly enough.

Are the buckwheat flowers still out in late December?

Buckwheat usually flowers from about October to early December, at its best from late October to November, so by Christmas most of it is over. See buckwheat flower season in Hà Giang.

Can a large group fly in the same session?

Yes, if you book the whole group in advance: the team schedules your flights back to back, and each guest flies tandem with their own pilot. Over the holidays, book as early as you can.

Do I need a deposit to secure a holiday slot?

No. You pay at check-in before your flight, and bad weather means free rescheduling.

Book a flight: book online — no deposit, pay at check-in, free rescheduling for bad weather

Hotline / Zalo / WhatsApp: +84 964 073 555 (Mr. Mỹ) · +84 965 651 300 (Ms. Judy)

Read more: A paragliding gift · Hanoi to Hà Giang · Hà Giang Loop: Đồng Văn · Flying weather forecast

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