Paragliding in Quản Bạ or Đồng Văn? Choosing where to fly on the Hà Giang Loop

Where they sit on the Hà Giang Loop: Km45 or Km150

Quản Bạ is the first stage of the Loop, about 45 km from Hà Giang city — roughly 1 hour 15 minutes on road QL4C. You can fly on day one and ride on to Yên Minh in the afternoon; plenty of motorbike-tour and easy-rider guests do exactly that.

Đồng Văn is around Km150 and usually an overnight stop. If you want to fly here, plan to stay at least one night so the team has time to pick a window with the right wind.

The two sites are more than 100 km of mountain road apart, so the two flights almost always fall on different days. Stage guides: Quản Bạ on the Hà Giang Loop and Đồng Văn on the Hà Giang Loop.

Getting to each site

Getting to Quản Bạ

From Hà Giang city, take QL4C north for about 45 km, over Quản Bạ Heaven Gate and down into the valley. If you're riding yourself or with an easy rider, just agree a time with the team. If you have no transport, the team can arrange a car from Hà Giang city for 500,000 VND (≈ US$ 20) per 4-seat car each way. Guests staying in the Quản Bạ area (for example Nậm Đăm village, Cán Tỷ or H'Mong Village) get free pick-up and drop-off.

Paragliders take off from a hillside at about 950 m; paramotors take off from the valley floor next to the Miện River. When the team confirms your flight time, they'll tell you exactly where to meet. A detailed map and step-by-step directions are in our guide to getting to the Quản Bạ flying site.

Getting to Đồng Văn

From Quản Bạ, carry on along QL4C via Yên Minh up to Đồng Văn — more than 100 km with plenty of passes. On the classic route you usually reach Đồng Văn on the afternoon of day two of the Loop, after a night in Yên Minh or Quản Bạ. Because there are no fixed slots, the team gives each group its own meeting point and flight time when they schedule it. The flight lands in town, so afterwards you don't have far to go to get back to the old quarter or your homestay.

What you see from the air

Quản Bạ: twin peaks, Heaven Gate and the Miện River valley

Paragliders take off on foot from a ridge at about 950 m and glide down to the valley at about 450 m. Below you: the Fairy Twin Mountains, Quản Bạ Heaven Gate, cat-ear limestone between corn fields, and the Miện River winding through a very wide, flat valley. Open, layered and green.

What makes Quản Bạ special is the drop of roughly 500 m between take-off and landing. For the first few minutes you're level with the surrounding peaks; as you descend, the fields, village lanes and the river come into sharper focus.

Đồng Văn: the old quarter and the Rocky Plateau

Đồng Văn lies inside the Đồng Văn Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark. The wing passes over the tiled roofs of the old quarter tucked under the mountains, surrounded by sheer limestone, with corn and buckwheat planted in every pocket of soil between the rocks, and the road to Mã Pí Lèng beyond. There are no rice terraces around Đồng Văn — the scenery here is stone, corn, buckwheat and clouds.

In short: Quản Bạ gives you a wide valley, Đồng Văn makes you feel you're right in the middle of the Rocky Plateau. More in our post on paragliding in Đồng Văn.

Flight types and prices

This is the biggest difference: Quản Bạ has both paragliding and paramotor, Đồng Văn has tandem paragliding only. Not sure how the two differ? See paragliding vs paramotor.

Prices include GoPro video (ask your pilot), insurance, drinking water and free pick-up/drop-off within the Quản Bạ area. For extra angles there's a drone (flycam) and a 360° camera, 400,000 VND (≈ US$ 16) per guest each. Sunrise and cloud-chasing flights are paramotor only. If conditions don't allow a special flight, it becomes a standard flight. More in paramotor in Hà Giang.

In Đồng Văn, the team confirms the price when you get in touch to book, together with the expected time slot.

What a flying session looks like at each site

A session at Quản Bạ

On the morning of your flight, the team checks the wind again and confirms the time with you by phone, Zalo or WhatsApp. Arrive about 30 minutes before your flight to check in and pay before you fly (cash, bank transfer, card +3%, PayPal +3%).

If you're paragliding, the session starts at the take-off on the hillside. The pilot gives a short briefing: how to wear the harness, your helmet, and the few running steps at take-off. When the wind comes in steadily, you both run down the slope, the wing fills above you and after a few steps you're off the ground. You don't have to steer anything — your tandem pilot handles the whole flight. You fly for 9–15 minutes depending on the wind, then land on the field in the middle of the valley.

If you're flying paramotor, there's no hill to go up: the flight starts on the flat field next to the Miện River. You sit in the front seat of the paramotor trike with the pilot behind you; the trike rolls across the field and takes off. A standard flight lasts 15 minutes, a long flight 22–25 minutes.

If you want a video, remind your pilot to switch the GoPro on before take-off.

A session at Đồng Văn

In Đồng Văn, the preparation starts before your trip: you tell the team the date you expect to be in Đồng Văn and how many people are in your group, and the team checks the forecast and suggests a time window. On the morning of the flight, the team confirms the exact time after checking the wind, and asks you to be at the meeting point about 30 minutes early.

The rest is like a tandem paragliding flight anywhere: a short briefing, harness, helmet, a few running steps with your pilot and you're airborne. The difference is the view: below you are the houses and streets of the town and the grey limestone slopes. After landing in town, you can walk straight into the old quarter for a coffee.

Take-off and landing

Quản Bạ: paragliders land on a wide field in the middle of a very wide, flat valley — open and easy to reach; paramotors take off from the valley floor next to the Miện River. The landing field is close to the lunch stops of many Loop tour groups, to H'Mong Village and to Nậm Đăm village, so a flight slots easily into a riding day. Friends who aren't flying can wait at the field to watch and take photos as you land. See the landing field page.

Đồng Văn: you land right in town, a few minutes' walk from the old quarter. There's no need to hire a ride back after your flight — handy if you're spending the night in the old quarter.

Wind and weather: why the two sites differ

Neither site flies when the wind or visibility isn't safe; the team checks the forecast and confirms the time on the morning of the flight. Knowing a little about how wind decides a flight helps you pick the right site:

• A paraglider has no engine. The wing takes off from the hillside when the wind blows from the right direction at a moderate strength. Wind that's too strong or gusty, rain, or low cloud over the launch are all reasons not to fly. When the wind is light, you can still fly but the flight is shorter — which is why paragliding is listed as 9–15 minutes depending on the wind.
• A paramotor has an engine. It takes off from a flat field and holds its own height, so it can still fly on calm mornings when a paraglider struggles to stay up. That's also why sunrise and cloud-chasing flights are paramotor only: seas of clouds tend to form early in the morning after a cool, humid night, exactly when the air is usually still calm.
• Đồng Văn is paragliding only, so if the wind isn't right in your booked window, there's no other flight type to switch to. Quản Bạ has two flight types and is open all day, so there are more options.

As for seasons: October to December is the dry season, usually with clearer skies. In November–December the sun sets around 17:15–17:30, so sunset flights are scheduled earlier than in summer. Late December to January can bring frost on the high plateau. Read more on why wind, rain and cloud can postpone a flight.

How reliable is the schedule?

The odds of flying differ between the two sites:

• Quản Bạ is open every day 06:30–18:30 (the season opened on 15/10/2026), with two flight types and many slots. Your chances of flying on the day you pass through are higher.
• Đồng Văn is paragliding only, fully dependent on the wind, and scheduled in advance per group. If you're only stopping for a few hours, your chances are low.

At both sites booking needs no deposit, and if the wind isn't right your flight is rescheduled for free. Check the flying-weather forecast before choosing a day.

Which one should you choose?

Quick pick

• First flight, want the best chance of flying: Quản Bạ.
• Want to try paramotor, cloud chasing or a sunrise flight: Quản Bạ (the only site with paramotor).
• Want a sunset flight: Quản Bạ (sunset options for both paragliding and paramotor).
• Doing the Loop in 2 days / 1 night, or short on time: Quản Bạ, right at the start.
• Travelling with a tour group or easy rider: Quản Bạ, the landing field is near the lunch stops.
• Already flew Quản Bạ and want a different angle: Đồng Văn.
• Love the Rocky Plateau and the old town, and have half a day spare: Đồng Văn.
• Want both: Quản Bạ on day one, Đồng Văn later.

Families with young children (kids from 3 can fly tandem) and guests over 90 kg should let the team know in advance; for them, Quản Bạ is usually easier to schedule. See the flying sites page.

Flying both on a 3⁠–⁠4 day Loop

Quản Bạ is at Km45 and Đồng Văn at Km150 — both sit right on the classic Loop route:

1. Day 1: Hà Giang city – Quản Bạ, fly paramotor or paragliding, then ride on to Yên Minh in the afternoon.
2. Day 2: Yên Minh – Đồng Văn, with an optional detour to Lũng Cú. If you've booked and the wind is right, paraglide in Đồng Văn that afternoon or the next morning. Overnight in the old quarter.
3. Day 3: Cross Mã Pí Lèng Pass, look down on the Nho Quế River, ride down to Mèo Vạc.
4. Day 4 (on a 4-day trip): Back to Hà Giang city, optionally via Du Già.

Many guests choose paramotor in Quản Bạ to see the Miện River valley, then paragliding in Đồng Văn to see the Rocky Plateau. A few tips to make this plan run smoothly:

• Book Quản Bạ first and treat Đồng Văn as a bonus. Fly Quản Bạ on day one, when the daily schedule makes it easy to get a slot. If the wind doesn't work out in Đồng Văn, you've already flown.
• Give the team your Đồng Văn date as early as possible. When you book, tell them the day you'll be in Đồng Văn, how many people, and weights for anyone over 90 kg.
• Keep half a day spare. Sleeping in Đồng Văn and leaving the morning of day 3 free before you cross Mã Pí Lèng gives you another window if the wind wasn't right the afternoon before.
• On a 3-day trip, you can fly Quản Bạ on the morning of day 1 and ride straight up to Đồng Văn — it's a long day, so it only suits riders comfortable on mountain roads or those travelling with an easy rider.

A day-by-day plan is in our 4-day, 3-night Hà Giang Loop itinerary.

Late October to November is buckwheat-flower season, usually dry and clear. This year the 12th Buckwheat Flower Festival opened on the evening of 25/10/2026 in Đồng Văn commune, with activities running to the end of December 2026 — Đồng Văn is busier than usual, so book your flight early. More on the buckwheat flower season in Hà Giang. If you stay in Đồng Văn until Sunday morning, you can also catch the weekly market in the old quarter — details in our post on Đồng Văn old quarter, its evenings and its market.

Preparing for either site

• No flying experience needed; children from 3 years old can fly tandem with a pilot.
• Guests over 90 kg, please tell the team in advance; also let them know about heart conditions, pregnancy, recent surgery or epilepsy.
• Early mornings and late afternoons on the plateau are cold, often 5–15 °C in November–December, and Đồng Văn is colder than Quản Bạ. Bring a warm jacket, wear long trousers and lace-up trainers.
• Keep your phone reachable on Zalo or WhatsApp on the flying day, since the flight time is confirmed in the morning.

The full checklist is on our before-you-fly page.

FAQ

Is there paramotor in Đồng Văn?

No. Đồng Văn offers tandem paragliding only. Paramotor, cloud-chasing and sunrise flights are only available at Quản Bạ.

How much does paragliding in Đồng Văn cost?

The Đồng Văn price is confirmed when you contact the team to book. At Quản Bạ, standard paragliding is 2,290,000 VND per guest and standard paramotor 2,490,000 VND.

I'm only stopping in Đồng Văn for a few hours. Can I fly?

Possibly, but it's hard to guarantee because flights are scheduled around the wind. Get in touch before you arrive and ideally stay one night so there's a backup slot.

Can I fly Quản Bạ and Đồng Văn on the same day?

In practice, it's not a good idea. The two sites are more than 100 km of mountain passes apart, and Đồng Văn flights also have to wait for the wind. The sensible plan is Quản Bạ on day one and Đồng Văn on day two or three.

If I only fly once, where should it be?

For most travellers, Quản Bạ: it flies every day, offers both paragliding and paramotor, and is right at the start of the Loop. If you've already flown Quản Bạ, or the Rocky Plateau is your priority, choose Đồng Văn.

Is booking different for the two sites?

For Quản Bạ, book online and pick your date and time. For Đồng Văn, book online with the note "Đồng Văn flight" or call us so the team can schedule around the wind. Neither needs a deposit; you pay on the flying day.

Book a flight: book online — no deposit, free cancellation

Hotline / Zalo / WhatsApp: +84 964 073 555

Read more: Quản Bạ flying site · Paragliding in Đồng Văn · Landing field · Flying-weather forecast

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