A Complete Guide to the Ha Giang Motorbike Loop, Vietnam

There are a large amount of travelers who ride a motorbike down the entire length of Vietnam or even just through sections. However, there are only a small sliver of travelers who venture far up North to the Ha Giang region of Vietnam, which borders China. It is filled with beautiful mountains, limestone cliffs, and pine trees but is void of souvenir shops and has only a handful of tourists. Not many locals speak English, though they maintain to be some of the friendliest locals I have met throughout the country. Taking a motorbike through the Ha Giang loop is the ultimate off the beaten track experience and this is the ultimate guide on how you can do the same.

How long to take

I have heard rumors that one can complete the loop in a day and I do not see how this is feasible. The average person completes the loop in 3-4 days. I would recommend 4 days to fully take in the scenery and to enjoy the trip without feeling rushed.

The motorbike

If you did not buy a motorbike, there are a plethora of shops to rent a motorbike from in the town of Ha Giang. It's always a good idea to ask your accommodation for rental recommendations. You will need a semi-automatic or a manual bike for this trip to handle the very hilly and varying terrain. If you have only driven an automatic bike and are nervous, I would recommend the semi-automatic. They are extremely easy to use and after about three minutes of practice you will have it in no time.

Note: When renting a motorbike, be sure to inspect the bike, especially the tires, for any signs of damage or wear that could cause issues for your trip. Also ask for a contact number, in case you incur any problems with the bike on your trip.

The terrain

Most roads are in great shape and are well paved. However, there were some spots that seemed under construction and were very rocky. It's also important to be careful if you are driving in the rain. We ran into a lot of people who had fallen off their bike or crashed in the inclement weather.

The route:

I recommend getting a map from your accommodation or bike rental store. You can also use the app Maps.me to help with navigating. There really is just one main road, this is the only road you will take, so it's unlikely that you will get lost and it is very easy to find your way. There are some small villages set back off the main road, but those side roads are very easy to locate. All other attractions and sights are off of the main road and are near impossible to miss. If you have a basic understanding of maps and roads, you will be absolutely fine.

Day 1: Ha Giang City --> Yen Minh

Highlights & Stops:

Quan Ba

Great stop for lunch, several restaurants right off the road as you drive through town

Bac Sum Pass

A great view, there is also a small coffee shop set up on the hill, you can't miss it

Day 2: Yen Minh --> Dong Van

Highlights & Stops:

Villages

There are a variety of villages you can stop at during this stretch. We stopped at Pho Bang which was absolutely gorgeous

Lung Cu

A 30 meter tower with the Vietnam flag, an impressive and famous monument, very close to the Chinese boarder

Day 3: Dong Van --> Du Gia

Highlights & Stops

Ma Pi Leng Pass

This whole stretch is arguably the most beautiful of the whole route. We were pulling over every few minutes to get pictures.

Day 4: Du Gia --> Ha Giang City

Highlights & Stops

There aren't too many highlights left at this point and this final stretch is short, but just as beautiful as the rest of the route.

Lodging

There are a variety of guest houses in each town that we stopped in. Many of them you can book in advance on booking.com but most accommodation you can show up and get a bed on arrival as well. While you shouldn't expect anything fancy, we always had a clean bed and a warm shower, which is all you really need.

What to pack

Depending on the time of year that you go, it could be very cold and rainy. Make sure you pack in layers. For us, some days were pretty cold, but when the sun came out it was quite warm. Unfortunately, it rained a lot for us. You will be absolutely miserable in the rain if you are not prepared for it.

A few necessities include:

• Rain poncho
• Long pants
• Extra socks
• Rain coat
• Layers (it gets very cold when the sun is not out!)
• Closed toe shoes
• First aid kit
• Camera

Enjoy your trip and let me know if you have any other questions!