Khau Pha (Mu Cang Chai) and Quan Ba (Ha Giang) are the only two sites in North Vietnam that offer all three: paragliding, paramotor flights on a trike, and pilot training. Mebayluon runs both, so this article has no side to push. The two sites sit on different routes, and each is beautiful in its own way.
The short answer: heading to the northwest for rice terraces? Fly Khau Pha. Riding the Ha Giang Loop for limestone peaks and the Mien river? Fly Quan Ba. The rest of this article helps you choose by season, route and type of flight.
Quick answer
Choose Khau Pha if you
- Want to see the Mu Cang Chai rice terraces from above: water season, green rice or golden harvest
- Drive from Hanoi to the northwest on the Noi Bai – Lao Cai expressway, leaving at the IC14 interchange
- Are travelling to or from Sa Pa: the road passes right over the Khau Pha pass
Choose Quan Ba if you
- Are riding the Ha Giang Loop: Quan Ba is at about Km 45, the first big stop out of Ha Giang city
- Love limestone peaks, the Twin Mountains and the Mien river winding through the valley
- Travel from October to December, when the air is dry, visibility is long and buckwheat is in flower
- Want to pay by Visa card at the site
Side-by-side comparison
| Khau Pha (Mu Cang Chai) | Quan Ba (Ha Giang) | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Khau Pha pass, Tu Le – Mu Cang Chai | Quan Ba valley, below Quan Ba Heaven's Gate |
| From Hanoi | About 280 km to take-off, via the IC14 interchange | About 300 km to Ha Giang city, then 45 km to Quan Ba |
| Under your wing | Rice terraces, Thai and Hmong villages | Limestone peaks, Twin Mountains, Mien river, maize fields |
| Best seasons | Water season (Apr – May), green rice (Jun – Aug), golden rice (late Aug – mid Oct); cloud sea in late autumn and winter | Autumn and early winter (Oct – Dec); cloud-chasing in spring and summer |
| Tandem paragliding | 8 – 15 min; 2,190,000 VND weekdays, 2,590,000 VND weekends and holidays; sunrise, sunset or 20 – 25 min long flight +700,000 VND | 9 – 15 min; 2,290,000 VND, pick-up in the Quan Ba area included |
| Paramotor (trike) | 15 min: 2,390,000 VND weekdays, 2,590,000 VND weekends and holidays; 20 – 25 min special flight +700,000 VND | 15 min: 2,490,000 VND; 20 – 25 min: 3,390,000 VND |
| Take-off and landing (paragliding) | Take-off near the top of the pass (1,268 m), landing by the It Thai bridge at the Mebayluon Clubhouse | Hillside take-off (about 950 m), landing by the Mien river (about 450 m) |
| Payment on site | PayPal, cash, bank transfer | PayPal, cash, bank transfer, Visa card |
Khau Pha: flying over rice terraces
Take-off is near the top of the Khau Pha pass, right by National Road 32, at 1,268 m. You fly out over the Lim Mong valley and land by the It Thai bridge at the Mebayluon Clubhouse, about 2.4 km in a straight line from take-off. Below you, the Mu Cang Chai rice terraces step down the hillsides to the valley floor.
From My Dinh in Hanoi, take the Noi Bai – Lao Cai expressway, leave at the IC14 interchange and follow the new link road to National Road 32: about 280 km to take-off. Route details are in Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai via the IC14 interchange.
When Khau Pha looks its best
Khau Pha changes with the rice. April – May is the water season, when flooded terraces shine like mirrors. June – August is green and quiet. Late August to mid October is the golden season: the most beautiful and the busiest. After the harvest, cold mornings in late autumn and winter often bring a sea of cloud. Khau Pha flies all year when the weather allows.
In the golden season and on public holidays, book 1 – 2 weeks ahead; at other times 3 – 5 days is enough. At some times of the year, a booking includes a free stay at the Mebayluon Clubhouse on the landing field. Everything else about this site is in our Mu Cang Chai paragliding guide.
Quan Ba: limestone and the Mien river on the Ha Giang Loop
Quan Ba sits at about Km 45 of the Ha Giang Loop, just below Quan Ba Heaven's Gate, around 1 hour 15 minutes from Ha Giang city. Paragliders take off from a hillside at about 950 m and land by the Mien river at about 450 m. From above you see the Twin Mountains, the Mien river curling between maize fields and villages, and rows of limestone peaks beyond.
Riding the Loop by motorbike, leave Ha Giang city around 7 am, fly between about 9 and 11 am, then carry on to Yen Minh. The ticket includes a return transfer within the Quan Ba area (Nam Dam, Quan Ba commune, Lung Tam, Can Ty). For a day-by-day plan, see paragliding on the Ha Giang Loop.
When Quan Ba looks its best
October to December is the best time: dry air, long views and buckwheat in flower. In spring and summer, early-morning cloud often fills the small valleys around Tam Son, which is the time for a cloud-chasing paramotor flight. The site is open 6:30 am – 6:30 pm every day.
Paramotor: both sites fly trikes
In North Vietnam, only Khau Pha and Quan Ba offer paramotor flights. Both use trikes: you sit in the front seat, the pilot sits behind, and the trike rolls along the field before lifting off. With an engine, the pilot controls height and route and depends less on the wind than a paraglider does.
Both sites offer a 15-minute flight and a longer 20 – 25-minute flight at sunrise, at sunset or above the clouds. At Khau Pha, the paramotor skims the rice terraces and climbs back up, something a paraglider cannot do; see paramotor flights at Khau Pha. At Quan Ba, the long flight goes above the cloud filling the valley; if the weather does not allow it that day, it becomes a basic flight.
Want to fly yourself? Both sites train pilots
A tandem flight needs no experience: you fly with a certified pilot and only have to run a few steps at take-off. If you want to fly your own wing, Mebayluon trains pilots at both Khau Pha and Quan Ba. The training path and certificates are explained in the P1 – P2 paragliding course.
Can you do both?
Yes, but allow time. Khau Pha is on National Road 32 to the northwest; Quan Ba is on National Road 4C to the north. From Hanoi they are on two different routes. Most travellers pick one per trip: Khau Pha for the rice seasons, Quan Ba on the Loop. With more time, do both legs: the northwest first, back to Hanoi, then up to Ha Giang. Still torn between Mu Cang Chai and Sa Pa? Read Mu Cang Chai or Sa Pa for paragliding.
FAQ
Where should I fly in November or December?
Quan Ba is in its best season: dry air, long views and buckwheat flowers. At Khau Pha the harvest is over and the terraces have lost their colour, but cold mornings often bring a sea of cloud. Choose by the route you are taking.
Which site gives a longer flight?
A standard paragliding flight is similar at both: 8 – 15 minutes at Khau Pha and 9 – 15 minutes at Quan Ba, depending on the day's wind. At Khau Pha you can add a 20 – 25-minute long paragliding flight when conditions allow. Both sites offer a 20 – 25-minute paramotor flight.
What if the weather is bad?
At both sites, if the weather is not safe to fly, you can reschedule or cancel free of charge. Booking early lets the team watch the forecast for your date and warn you before you set off.
Booking
- Khau Pha: book on the Khau Pha flying site page or call Ms. Duyen on +84 385 907 789.
- Quan Ba: book on the Ha Giang flying site page or contact Ms. Judy on +84 965 651 300 (WhatsApp or Zalo, English and Vietnamese).
Planning Ha Giang from abroad? Ha Giang Paragliding & Paramotor covers the Quan Ba site in English, French and several other languages, including a full Ha Giang paragliding guide.