All about The Ha Giang Loop: a motorbike tour through North Vietnam
/Updated May 5, 2019
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Best Ha Giang Loop Easy Rider Tour: Ha Giang Epic Tours
The Ha Giang Loop is by far one of the most breathtaking motorbike loops in north Vietnam — or dare I even say all of Southeast Asia! It’s not for the weak of heart, but between the swooping twists and turns, daring travelers like you will find views unlike anything else in the world.
If you're visiting this page wondering whether or not you should give motorbiking through the Ha Giang Loop during your trip to Vietnam a go - the answer is a resounding YES from me. Especially if you’re a bit of a daredevil, a rush seeker, and obsessed with finding some of the best stretches of road in the world!
And if you’re feeling a little hesitant about driving, fear not, because you can still have an epic (and arguably even more epic!) time by booking an easy rider tour through Ha Giang Epic Tours, run by reputable and fun Cheers Hostel in Hanoi.
Motorbiking through the Ha Giang Loop, a popular route in the Northern Vietnam province of Ha Giang, will likely be one of your most memorable experiences in Vietnam.
Whether you feel comfortable renting and riding a motorbike yourself, hopping on the back of the motorbike of a trusted friend, hiring a seasoned local tour guide and/or motorbike driver (often referred to as an easy rider) to take you around the Ha Giang Loop, those who take the plunge of exploring Vietnam's extreme north will be greatly rewarded with some of the most breathtaking mountain and cliff views imaginable as well as a peak into the lives of the villagers who inhabit the region.
So, need more convincing - and some knowledge - before heading along the Ha Giang Loop? Keep on reading for helpful tips on how to do the Ha Giang Loop, including how to get to Ha Giang, how to rent a motorbike, and where to stop and stay along your way!
What is the Ha Giang Loop?
The Ha Giang Loop is - you guessed it - a motorbike loop around Ha Giang, Vietnam's northernmost province bordering China. It’s starts about 5 hours North of Hanoi and is east of Sapa. Here you’ll find some of the most stunning stretches of road in Vietnam, Southeast Asia…and the world….at least I think so. Feel free to disagree in the comments and tell me of a place more stunning, because I’d love to visit!
The time to complete the full loop is approximately 3-4 days, although it’s recommended to carve out at least four days as to not rush the experience and be able to soak in all the sights. To be honest, I can't imagine doing the loop in anything less than 4 days.
Me posing in front of the Ma Pi Leng Pass - whoa!
If you’re really short form time, you can ask around for a shorter loop route, but you will be sacrificing some incredible stops along the way.
If you dare to navigate a motorbike through steep, winding cliffs and rocky roads, you will be greatly rewarded with some of the most breathtaking, mountain views in Vietnam and all of Southeast Asia, including the awe-inspiring Ma Pi Leng Pass.
The Ha Giang Province is occupied primarily by ethnic minority groups, giving travelers the opportunity to witness the everyday working lives of diverse northern Vietnamese people as they go about their daily lives, often in ethnic garb as you pass through their villages.
You will see women in colorful garments carrying bundles of sticks in baskets, children playing (and yes, sometimes working) the streets and men hard at work building new structures. As a westerner, it is incredibly humbling to see how hard these people work every single day as a community.
After a long day of riding, at each stop you will find cozy homestays and hostels to rest your head at night, and often have the opportunity to enjoy an authentic and always quite generous family-style meal.
Find your Ha Giang homestay, hostel or hotel here.
Although the Ha Giang Loop has gained some mild popularity with backpackers, it is still virtually untouched by the rampant tourism found elsewhere in Southeast Asia. As such, it makes an excellent, far-less-touristy alternative to Sapa, the region of Vietnam famous for its rice terraces and gorgeous mountain views.
Ethnic minority children of the Ha Giang Province in northern Vietnam.
Note: I have heard some warnings against purchasing goods or paying children in exchange for photographs, as this encourages exploitation. Use your discretion. I noticed many children conveniently standing along popular vantage points or roads, likely instructed to be there to receive money in exchange for photographs. For more information on what to avoid doing while in Ha Giang, check out this article from north-vietnam.com.
How to get to Ha Giang
Arranging to do the Ha Giang Loop is a fairly simple process from Hanoi, with the bus journey taking between 5-6 hours.
PRO-TIP: Unless you're really pressed for time, avoid the sleeper buses and opt for the far more comfy VIP van instead.
We booked a "sleeper" night bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang through our hostel, although we do suspect we got a bit ripped off - over $20USD on the way there for a large bus with seats that did not recline all the way back and left my partner incredibly uncomfortable due to his larger stature. That's hardly a sleeper bus in my eyes!
They did arrange for us to stay on the bus for a few hours longer to sleep after arrival since we arrived around 3:30-4am, which I did appreciate. However, I still recommend the smaller VIP van. That is what we did on the way back and it was a much more comfortable experience for a slightly cheaper price!
Easy Rider Tours - Ha Giang Epic Tours
If you’re interested in exploring all that Ha Giang province and the Ha Giang Loop has to offer but are a bit wary of riding through the crazy roads, I highly recommend booking Ha Giang Epic Tours 3-day easy rider tour by Cheers Hostel Hanoi. It comes complete with roundtrip sleeper bus transportation from Hanoi, authentic homestay accommodation, a knowledgeable local driver and tour guide, meals, and plenty of adventure you may otherwise miss if you went the journey solo!
Ha Giang Epic Tours prioritizes comfort and safety on the journey, offering not only an experienced driver but safety features like body pads to avoid any potential injury whilst riding.
My favorite part is the kayaking on the river overlooking the Ma Pi Leng Pass - the ability to see the epic pass from both above and below is an incredible and breathtaking experience. Once you return to Hanoi in the late evening, you can even stay at Hanoi Cheers Hostel for free.
Accommodation Around Ha Giang
If you’re seeking accommodation upon arrival in Ha Giang city itself before or after setting off on your motorbike journey, accommodation is aplenty, with a variety of low-budget hotels and hostels. Many Ha Giang hostels and hostels will assist you in renting the motorbike itself, help plan your trip and allow you to store your bigger luggage so you don’t have to lug it with you along the Northern Loop. If you’re traveling by sleeper bus (more not that below) you’re likely arriving in the wee hours in the morning, so check with a Ha Giang hostel in advance to see if they’ll let you crash for a couple hours at a discounted rate before you set off on your long journey. Trust me, you’ll want the shut-eye.
Accommodation Recommendation: Maison Teahouse Homestay
The bungalows and houses on stilts in nature at Maison Teahouse Homestay are divine!
If you’re looking for much more tranquil and beautiful accommodation in Ha Giang - especially to relax before setting off on the Ha Giang Loop or at the end of the long journey! - I highly recommend Maison Teahouse Homestay, in a Tay ethnic village about 4km from Ha Giang city center and right in nature.
Much like its name suggests, it is in fact a tea factory where they make Shan Tuyet Tea, a tea native to Ha Giang province. There’s the option to rent private rooms, bungalows or dorms, plus a bar and restaurant on site.
Renting a Motorbike
Our 125cc motorbike successfully got us through the Ha Giang Loop!
Once you've arrived in Ha Giang, it is very easy to find motorbikes for rent. However, the number of places you can rent from may be a bit overwhelming. My partner and I rented from Anh Anh Motel / Mr Bay Motorbike Rental after reading a number of positive reviews online and we were incredibly satisfied with the rental experience. We also ended up staying there overnight after we completed the loop, and the rooms were satisfactory for a one-night stay.
The motorbike we ended up with was a 125cc motorbike for 150k VND per day, including two helmets and a paper map outlining the Ha Giang Loop route and where we should stop along the way. They also allow you to store your luggage at the motel, including a locker you can store any important valuables in.
Ha Giang Northern Loop Stops
While the number of stops you will make depend on the amount of time in which you wish to accomplish the loop. I highly recommend taking at least four full days to complete the journey as to be able to soak in the beauty and not rush (not to mention, rushing too quickly through these roads can be dangerous).
Here is a brief outline of some stops you may make along your journey.
Day One: Ha Giang to Yen Minh
Ha Giang, the capital city of the province, is where one begins and ends the journey along the Ha Giang Loop (sometimes also called the Vietnam Northern Loop). After picking up a motorbike (see above for advice on renting a bike!), we set off towards Yenh Min. After a day of getting acclimated to our motorbike and enjoying a nice ride, we stopped for the evening in Yen Minh, a small town that offers a number of homestay options.
That night, we ended up staying at Ha Anh Homestay, where we enjoyed a family-style dinner (a northern Vietnamese homestay dinner typically consists of some type of meat, fried spring rolls, veggies and white rice), cold beer and a decent place to rest our head for the evening.
The only downside was we were the only two staying there aside from another couple, and we were hoping to make some travel companions to head out with the next day! We had originally meant to stay at Tom Homestay next door but it was difficult to get to at the time due to road construction. We heard from other travelers along the route that Tom Homestay is where they stayed and it was similarly nice to Ha Anh Homestay, so I recommend either. Then again, I’m sure there’s plenty of other homestay options that have sprung up in the past year or so, so feel free to check out the other options by clicking here!
Day Two: Yen Minh to Dong Van
On this next leg of the adventure, we had the opportunity not only to encounter more gorgeous views along this famous Vietnam loop, but to head all the way north to the Vietnam-China border (via a small detour) before making our way to the city of Dong Van for the night.
If you're feeling gutsy, you can quickly cross over into China for a brief photo op. It may sound wild or even a bit reckless, but to the left of the poorly-kempt barbed wire fence is a well-defined footpath to cross the border, so you're far from the only tourist taking the leap. The border in and of itself is nothing to write home about, but it's not every day you get to say you had one foot in Vietnam and another in China.
*Disclaimer: In case you didn’t realize, this isn’t exactly legal, so tread lightly. I doubt you want to end up in a Chinese jail.
Standing at the China-Vietnam border!
Before nightfall, after a full day of riding through small villages, the neon lights of a city emerged below us in the distance. This city was Dong Van, and it is the closest thing to a metropolis one will find along the Ha Giang Loop.
In Dong Van, we stayed at Xuan Thu Guesthouse (about $10USD for a private double room) and while it was nothing to write home for, the room perfectly fine for the two of us. Throughout the town, there are a number of cafes and restaurants to enjoy that night or the following morning before making my personal favorite leg of the Ha Giang journey - through the Ma Pi Leng Pass!
Looking for accommodation along the Ha Giang Loop? Click here.
Day Three: Dong Van to Du Gia (via Ma Pi Leng Pass)
As I said, get ready for the best part of the journey and undeniably some of the most incredible views in Vietnam (and perhaps all of Southeast Asia….and the world….foreal) on the Ma Pi Leng Pass.
At an elevation of 1500 meters, The Ma Pi Leng Pass is a high mountain pass offering views of a deep valley and turquoise waters below.
In all honesty, I'm struggling to put the beauty of the Ma Pi Leng Pass into words.
I was impressed by the endless beautiful scenery along the Ha Giang Loop already, but as we looped around this mountain pass, my partner and I were absolutely mind blown at how jaw-droppingly, mind-numbingly perfect scenery offered to us as we zipped through the Ma Pi Leng Pass.
It made every heart-stopping sharp curve on the motorbike 100% worth it.
After a day of having your breath taken away, head to the cozy village of Du Gia and make friends at Du Gia Backpackers Hostel. The family dinner, complete with plenty of "happy water" (aka rice wine - be careful, this stuff is lethal) makes it a great last night before making it full circle back to Ha Giang.
Day Four: Back to Ha Giang
I have to be honest here and say that heading back to Ha Giang from Du Gia was a bit fuzzy. My travel partner and I imbibed a bit too much "happy water" and woke up feeling dizzy and less than ready to roll. I told you folks, be careful with the happy water!
However, after a couple of bottles of water, a big hostel breakfast and a few cups of strong Vietnamese coffee, we managed to hit the road.
What I do remember is that the roads on the way back to Ha Giang sucked, at least as of April 2018. Not that they're any less scenic than the rest of Ha Giang (although perhaps we were a bit jaded after already having seen the most scenic road ever, Ma Pi Leng Pass) - it's just that much of the road was barely passable as a road and consisted more of dirt and jagged rocks with the occasional pavement sprinkled in. Not all of the way back was like this, but be prepared as you leave Du Gia for some rough terrain ahead.
We managed to make it back to Ha Giang right as the sun was setting, and we were exhausted, retiring back to Anh Anh Motel for the night before heading to Hanoi the following morning.
Safety Warnings: 2019 Update
In recent months there have been some reports (or rumors, at least) of increased local police presence around Ha Giang tourist areas targeting tourists who are driving motorbikes without licenses and issuing tickets and/or demanding money on the spot. While it may mostly be hearsay, it is something to be aware of.
There have also been reports of increased numbers of motorbike-related injuries and deaths along the Ha Giang loop route amongst tourists which is the likely reason for increased police patrolling. Safety is the top priority before doing any motorbike journey, and Ha Giang is a particularly winding and risky journey. Drive safely and sober, avoid riding in inclement weather, and enjoy the ride.
A collection of photographs from my Ha Giang Loop journey
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