Written by Josh Band
Posted, 19th September 2024
If you’re planning on doing the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam, there are some things you’ll need to know before taking on the loop.
Lots of people have concerns about safety, the condition of the roads, how much riding there is each day and most importantly, “what is happy water?”
We’re Vietnam experts and run group tours across the country, and we know pretty much everything there is to know about the loop, so we’ve put together this complete guide with all the details for you to know before setting off on what will be some of the most amazing few days of your life.
What is the Ha Giang Loop?
If you’re unfamiliar with the loop and you stumbled upon this post while trying to find an answer to what it is, the Ha Giang Loop is a popular motorbike/motorcycle route through stunning mountains in the north of Vietnam.
It’s become a “must-do” amongst budget travellers and backpackers, especially in the last few years thanks to hundreds of viral TikToks, Instagram Reels, etc. going viral and showing off the incredible views on offer.
Where is the Ha Giang Loop?
The Ha Giang Loop is in the north of Vietnam in the province of, you guessed it, Ha Giang. The loop typically begins and ends in the town of, you guessed it again, Ha Giang. Hanoi to Ha Giang is about a 5-6 hour bus journey, and most people will make this trip via an overnight bus the day before their tour begins.
The north of Vietnam is very close to the border with China; in fact, one of the popular stops is a viewpoint where you can look into China. This means that there is a lot of Chinese influence in the area, particularly in culture and music.
It’s nice to experience this as well as the traditional Vietnamese culture you’ll find in the rest of the country.
How Long Does the Ha Giang Loop Take?
Pretty much every tour company that does the Ha Giang Loop offer 3-day and 4-day tours. It’s just the right amount of time to see all of the must-see sights in the area.
The 4th day just offers a bit extra and a few more things to see, but 3 days is the most popular choice, especially as the most common type of traveller is budget travellers, so they want to save money.
If you simply rent a bike and do the loop yourself, you might want to allow yourself a bit more time as you aren’t familiar with the area like the tour companies are, so 4-5 days is probably ideal. But as is the case with anything, the more time the better!
How to Do the Ha Giang Loop
When you’re planning to do the Ha Giang Loop you have to make three decisions. The first decision is whether to take a tour, or whether to rent a bike and just go for it. Personally, we prefer a tour as it allows you to make a new group of friends, which is one of the biggest pros of group tours.
Then you have to decide who you are going to go with. The most popular company is Jasmine Tours. If you want to party and have a good time and drink lots of happy water, these are the guys for you. You typically drive for around 6 hours per day, with lots of stops throughout the day to split up the driving.
If you prefer a smaller group that is more laid back, Hong Hao is a good option as the group sizes are limited to 12. You also get a private room most of the time too, so you get to make new friends but still have privacy.
Then your third decision is to decide whether to to get an easy rider (someone who rides the bike while you sit on the back) or to ride yourself.
The Ha Giang Loop roads are not well-kept and the route is relatively dangerous, so make sure to think carefully about which option you choose.
If you have never ridden a bike before, you should definitely get an easy rider. Some people will risk it and ride themself but this usually results in broken bones (we’ve seen it way too many times first-hand).
Plus, an easy rider allows you to sit back and take in the extraordinary scenery rather than having to focus on driving yourself.
That being said, if you can ride a motorbike and you have your IDL (required for Vietnam), then it’s one of if not the, most scenic routes you will ever drive in your life.
How Much Does the Ha Giang Loop Cost?
If you choose to rent bikes yourself, you can rent a bike for as little as 200k dong each day, which is around £6.26, so really cheap. Other expenses would be petrol (50k per day), accommodation (300k+ per day) and food (100k+ per day). So all in all, it’s really cheap to self-drive the loop.
As for taking a tour, it’s slightly more expensive than what your average costs would be while backpacking Vietnam.
For a 3-day tour, it is around 3.5 million dong (£110) to drive yourself, and around 4.2 million dong (£131) to get an easy rider. So if you do need or want an easy rider, it’s really not that big of a difference.
So it works out to around £44 per day for the 3 days and this includes food, accommodation, all the activities, and the loop itself of course. As we said, slightly more expensive than your average day in Vietnam, but so worth it for the experience. And if it was anywhere else in the world, it would be 5x the price!
Ha Giang Loop Checklist
- Quan Ba Heaven Gate – This spot is usually one of the first stops on a Ha Giang Loop tour and it offers a breathtaking panoramic view, making it a perfect photo opportunity. It’s often considered one of the most scenic viewpoints in the whole region.
- Ma Pi Leng Pass – Ma Pi Leng Pass is arguably the most famous photo along the whole loop. It is known for its iconic winding roads, which are incredibly fun to drive and incredibly beautiful to look at from the top of the pass.
- Lung Cu Flag Tower – Located at Vietnam’s northernmost point, this site symbolizes national pride with its flag flying high against the backdrop of the mountains, marking the end of the Vietnamese territory. You can look out into China from here too which is pretty cool.
- Nho Que River – Nho Que River is another famous spot along the Ha Giang Loop. The most common stop is in a canyon where you can take a boat ride or a kayaking trip along the stunning turquoise waters. It’s unmissable along the loop.
- Vuong Family Mansion – In Sa Phin Village, this mansion reflects a blend of Chinese and H’Mong architectural styles, showcasing the historical wealth and influence of the H’Mong kings.
- Meo Vac – While not a specific location and more of an area, Meo Vac is known for its rugged beauty and is included in the loop for its unique landscapes. After all, the whole reason to do the HGL is the views!
- Hoang Su Phi Terraced Rice Fields – Depending on the time of year, you might take note of the rice fields. They’re everywhere but these ones in particular are extraordinary. They are especially beautiful during harvest time in late September and October.
- Thon Tha Village and Waterfall – Close to Ha Giang City, this village provides insights into local life, and the waterfall is a refreshing stop either just before finishing the loop or just after starting.
Tips for the Ha Giang Loop
- Download maps offline: The signal along the loop comes and goes. Make sure to download maps onto your phone so you can use them even without signal.
- Get an IDP: If you want to ride a bike in Vietnam, you need an international driver’s license. They are cheap to get and can save you a fortune in fines if you are caught riding without one.
- Check your insurance: Even if you have an international driver’s license, check if your bike insurance and travel insurance cover you riding a bike and double check the cc you can drive. And once again, please only drive if you are confident in doing so and have the required experience/licenses as you will spend a decent amount of time driving on roads like this.
- Take photos of your bike: If you are riding yourself, whether as part of a tour or by renting a bike, take photos of your bike, especially any damages. Unfortunately, a lot of these companies will try to scam you by making you pay for things you have “damaged” even if it was not you who did it.
- Download Vietnamese on Google Translate: English in Vietnam is not as well-spoken as in other Southeast Asian countries, so it is a good idea to download Vietnamese so you can use it even when offline. And of course, learn some basic phrases in Vietnamese so you can bring a smile to the locals’ faces by saying thank you (Cảm ơn).
- Pay on checkout: Most accommodation options in Vietnam get you to pay when checking out rather than when you check in. So make sure you don’t leave your accommodation without paying for it.
- Cash is king: As is the case with the whole of Vietnam, the Ha Giang Loop is extremely cash-orientated, even more so than other parts. The small coffee shops you will stop at along the way will not accept card payments and will only accept cash.
- Expect a lot of karaoke: Karaoke is a staple of the Ha Giang Loop. Every single night in your accommodation, the speaker and microphone are a cert to come out – unless the place has its own karaoke room which is a lot more common than you would expect! The guides absolutely love it and if you give it a go, we promise you will too.
- Always look back: The landscapes along the loop are unbelievable, but make sure you look behind you as you don’t want to miss any views. Of course, this only applies if you are on the back of a bike with an easy rider – we wouldn’t recommend driving whilst looking behind you!
- Bars use tabs: Throughout Ha Giang, it’s very rare to pay for a drink when you get it. 99% of bars just start a tab for you. They mostly go by an honesty policy, so make sure you keep count of your drinks and make sure you pay before leaving. This applies to bottles and cans you take out of fridges too! If it’s a bar in your accommodation, you’ll just pay it upon checkout the next day.
- Take a smaller bag: If you’re backpacking Vietnam, leave your massive bag in Ha Giang town and take a smaller bag with just a few pairs of clothes and your essentials. You don’t want to be on a bike with a huge Osprey!
- Bring layers: Depending on the time of year you visit Northern Vietnam, the weather can be pretty crap. Ha Giang is so far north that it gets the weather from China which is usually very cold, wet and windy. Make sure to bring clothes to wrap up warm because you’ll probably use them and maybe even sleep in them.
What to do after the Ha Giang Loop
Lots of people will land in Hanoi to begin their trip in Vietnam and head straight further north to do the 3-day loop.
If this is you and you’re looking for something to do after the Ha Giang Loop, we have the perfect thing for you.
Our 15-day Vietnam tour takes you to all of the highlights from Hanoi all the way down to Ho Chi Minh City with stops in Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang and Mui Ne along the way.
Whether you’re travelling solo for the first time, or looking to make some friends for 2 weeks, it’s the perfect option for exploring all of the best things Vietnam has to offer.
It’s one of our most popular tours and you can secure your spot for as little as £1 – pretty cheap even by Vietnam’s standards right? We can’t wait to see you soon!
FAQ
Below are some common questions about the loop along with our answers to each one.
3 days is definitely the most popular tour option for Ha Giang Loop tours, but if you go on a 4 day tour, you get to go to some extra spots like hidden waterfalls, caves and even more view points. Plus, it’s usually a lot more chilled out as the majority of the group will have left on the 3rd day.
Yes, you can self-drive the Ha Giang Loop. If you rent a motorbike and book your own accommodation along the way, you can drive the loop yourself. That being said, it is recommended to get an easy-rider if you have no experience in driving a bike.
The Ha Giang Loop is quite a dangerous loop to drive if you have little riding experience. The road conditions are poor, the hills are steep and the bends are sharp. But if you are a confident driver, it is more straightforward.
Conclusion
And there you have it, a complete guide to doing the Ha Giang Loop whether on your own or as part of a tour.
From the views to the memories, it’s 4 days that you will never forget.
It’s a must-do when visiting Vietnam and it’s bound to create some of the best memories you will make in the country.
That being said, remember if you would like to make even more memories in Vietnam, you can join us on our North to South group tours 🙂
Whether you’re looking to travel solo or bring a friend along for the ride, our group tours in South East Asia & Australia are the perfect balance of culture, adventure & chill time. You’ll arrive as strangers and leave as the best of friends.
Here are a few useful links to help with that planning;
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