HOW TO: HA GIANG MOTORBIKE LOOP ADVENTURE

Ha Giang Loop motorbike trips takes adventure travelers to the extreme northern territories of Vietnam from where rugged mountains, minority villages, lush landscapes and awe-inspiring beauty can be seen. To Map the Ha Giang Loop, in particular, the trip names after a series of 3-5 days (sometimes longer), adventure trips that arranged and planned by motorbike and often takes travelers to the famous sights and view-points that Vietnam has to offer.

Let’s figure out where is Ha Giang and why travelers opt for the Loop adventure by motorbike and why not with car or bus?

Ha Giang loop covers an areas of northwest Vietnam that is home to rugged, high-green mountains with expansive vistas and deep valleys, and to explore it your way, what better option than a motorbike trip to experience the most dramatic landscapes Vietnam has to offer.

Travelers choose the famous loop tour in Ha giang just to experience them all in a short period of time, a 3 to 5 days motorbike trips, the Ha Giang Loop map often starts all the way from Hanoi will takes you to visit Ha Giang, Quản Bạ, Yên Minh, Đồng Văn, Mèo Vạc valley & Mã Pí Lèng Pass.

How many days for a perfect adventure along the Ha Giang tour?

Trust our words, for a perfect loop, at least spend 4 days and 3 nights and expand to 5 days if you start the loop from Hanoi city. Ha Giang loop tour is best explored on a motorbike, to which, you may rent a 110cc in Ha Giang city and do your own adventure, or, go further and organize it through a tour all the way from Hanoi.

Firstly, if you book a tour to explore the loop from Hanoi, the 150cc and stronger motorbikes comes full gear including full-face helmet, luggage rack, experienced guide who knows the area like the back of his hand and full inclusive package such as homestay & full board meals.

The most convenient yet best way to experience the Ha Giang Loop is through an organized motorbike tour ONLY from Hanoi, and, best things to experience if you book a Ha Giang loop is the difference from terrains and the places you visit.

And yet, if you have no idea how to ride a motorbike, or you scare and or think about safety, go for a “Pillion Riding Ha Giang Tours”.

And directly to the point, the Ha Giang Loop trip is an adventure you do it on a motorbike – bus, car? no, don’t go on a motorbike, its not safe – stay away from those advices and go on a motorbike or forget about Ha Giang Loop!

How to: TIPS to Book a BEST Ha Giang Motorbike Loop tour?

Consider following notes, before going to book yourself or your travel buddies a motorbike tour to experience Ha Giang Loop.

Many backpackers tend to travel cheap and save a penny on everything, most of them book a loop tour once they’re in Hanoi directly in their hostel since they chance to meet fellow backpackers from where they advice and tell each others about booking a cheap tour to visit Ha Giang.

Most of these hostels kick off the Ha Giang tours without taking you to see the actual viewpoints and they only passing through the towns and you only stop once in a certain place.

I was doing the +500cc motorbike Ha Giang loop from Hanoi in September with my group and I’ve seen a herds of 110cc motorbikes each holding a flag representing a backpacker hostels in Ha Giang town. Listen up, these aren’t showing you the real Vietnam and the real extreme Loop in Ha Giang tours. Backpackers yet choose them to only pay less and save money and yet “Ive seen the Ha Gian Loop”.

HOW TO get most out of a Ha Giang loop tour on a motorbike?

Do a bit of research, stay away from cheap tours (saving money is good, but wasting money is the worst). Compare itineraries, where to go, what to see, is Tu San Canyon included? What motorbikes are used, which routes are following and if you can’t or do not wish to ride, ask if the pillion passenger tour is an option.

Once you make sure, then go ahead and I recommend you to book the loop trip to Ha Giang directly from Hanoi and ride the way up to the extreme north-west to experience the best this mountainous region has to offer.

Recommended 3-5 days itineraries for riding the Ha Giang Loop tour + Map

5 days motorbike itinerary (Most Recommended)

Hanoi to Ha Giang: 300km, 6 hours ride

Ha Giang to Yen Minh: 100 km, 2,45 hours ride

Yen Minh to Dong Van: 50 km, 1.5 hours ride

Dong Van to Meo Vac: 30 km, ~ 1 hour ride

Meo Vac to Du Gia: 75 km, 2.5 hours ride

Du Gia to Ha Giang: 75 km, 2.5 hours ride

There are overnight buses leaving Hanoi to Ha Giang around 9PM every evening, the bus ride is about 6-7 hours and you will be in Ha Giang center around 4.30AM.

If you are booking a motorbike loop trip all the way to start from Hanoi, then the earlier you start the better since traffic in early hours takes the whole morning to get out of Hanoi. So, let’s say leaving Hanoi around 5AM and heat toward Ha Giang via Tuyet Quang city. The ride to Ha Giang takes around 6 hours.

Yen Minh, is the first stop once you start the actual loop trip, this small town is located some 100km, or equally less than 3 hours ride from Ha Giang. Yen Minh is sandwiched between a valley and surrounded by lush hills and rice fields.

The main road, the QL4C, passes through Yen Minh town. iIf you feel to stay here in a tranquil area, there are a few local ethic minority homestay and some shops and eateries to count in.

Yen Minh – Dong Van (with extension to Lung Cu flagpole point)

Here is the second leg of the trip and probably the most interesting yet challenging part of it. Yen Minh – Dong Van & particularly if go further to visit the Lung Cu flagpole point, the northernmost point of Vietnam.

Yen Minh – Dong Van road passes through the green rice fields from QL4C, where switchbacks and turns got sharper and twistier up to the mountains. Tham Ma Pass is where almost everyone stop as the viewpoint is one of the key-sights in the region.

This mountain pass is one of the most visited en-route stop from Yen Minh to Dong Van UNESCO Karst Plateau Geopark. Don’t miss it!

Dong Van to Meo Vac

The one hour ride from Dong Van to Meo Van through the impressive Ma Pi Leng Pass, which is probably the only viewpoint in whole Ha Giang loop tour with motorbike that brings you a killer impressive view of mountains, deep valley and an amazing view. Park your motorbike on the viewpoint cafes and take some amazing photos.

Meo Vac to Du Gia

This 2.5 hours ride passing the road from Meo Vac all the way to Du Gia, is just stunning since you have to ride through the twisting roads with hazardous corners and small ethnic minority villages. The zigzagging roads up the mountains will showcase a colorful ethnic people life’s.

Once in Du Gia, there is a famous waterfall with the same name, the Du Gia waterfall, with high cliffs of up to 6 meters an a pool green fridge cold natural water which is flowing all year round.

3 day Ha Giang loop itinerary

The 3 days loop following the main roads as in 5 days but it is recommended for those with less time. The motorbike tour starts from Ha Giang, means, you should travel via overnight bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang beforehand.

Ha Giang to Quan Ba & Sa Phin via via QL4C: 65km, 2 hours

Sa Phin to Dong Van Old Town, Ma Pi Leng Pass & Meo Vac: 65km, 2 hours

Meo Vac to Du Gia & back to Ha Giang: 150km, ~5 hours

Best Highlights of the Ha Giang loop

As a motorbike enthusiast and a pro biker who have been leading a great number of motorbike tours within Vietnam and South-east Asia, I am sharing my best highlights of ANY Ha Giang Loop. No matter for ho along are you going to spin around the mountains and consider it as a perfect loop, following highlights are the top and must see sights of “Ha Giang Loop”

Quan Ba Twin mountains pass

Upon departing Ha Giang town, the initial standout feature along the Ha Giang loop is Quan Ba Pass known as the twin mountain. This is a perfect spot with spacious parking space and a cafe for refreshments. The panoramic view from the town mountain will showcase a great days ahead of your loop tour.

The Quan Ba twin mountain is actually located midway from Ha Giang to the Quan Ba town – Once you done with the viewpoint, carry on your way to Quan Ba for a rest place and mainly a lunch stop.

Lung Khuy Cave – An impressive one in Ha Giang

This gorgeous cave located within 10km from Quan Ba town, the roomy, well worth a visit Lung Khuy Cave takes its name from a distinctive dragon-shaped rock formation, discovered in early 2015.

In addition to the Ha Giang loop adventure, the road to the gorgeous cave showcase a stunning array of stalagmites and stalactites. The entrance ticket to visit the cave is 50k VND.

The twisty Sung La Valley

While Sung La valley is located mid-way from Tham Ma Pass to Dong Van old town, it is definitely worth to stop, take some photos from the view overlooking the gorgeous valley offering the most picturesque during the blooming season in early spring.

In addition, Sung La valley is most famous for the filming location of the award-winning movie “Story of Pho” “Chuyện của Pao in Vietnamese”, in 2006.

The historic Hmong king palace

Located in Sa Phin village and built in 1920 for the king of Hmong who ruled the area. This well preserved Chinese style mansion is worth a visit during your Ha Giang loop trip. The old house has been opened as a tourist attraction since 1993.

Tham Ma pass: The iconic S-shaped road

Dốc Thẩm Mã in Vietnamese, this winding S-shaped road connecting Yen Minh to Dong Van and its probably the most iconic road offering a great view overlooking the winding roads. There is a parking area and a crowd of local ethnic minority kids selling flowers and handicrafts up there.

Sa Phin ethnic minority market

To point out the must-see sights, here is another notable market in Sa Phin where local minorities from the nearby hamlets gather to trade goods and also to reconnect and build connection and trust.

Sa Phin ethnic minority market is also among the four rotating markets in Ha Giang, meaning its day of operation shifts weekly—for instance, from Sunday one week to Saturday the next, and then to Friday the following week. This unique schedule adds to the market’s dynamic atmosphere and cultural significance.

Lung Cu Flagpole Tower

The Lung Cu Flagpoint tower stands prominently atop a hill, marking Vietnam’s northernmost point with its towering flag.

From the flashpoint viewpoint, you can gaze across borders views of both Vietnam and China. To stay at local villages here, homestay require for a permit, to which you can easily apply it through the homestay itself (they send your passport and visa to the local authorities). The motorbike trip to Lung Cu and its surrounding area showcase among the best highlights of the Ha Giang loop.

Along the route, consider visiting local minority villages for refreshing and probably a lunch mid-way to Dong Van old town.

Dong Van: Old Quarter & Minority Market

Dong Van is a primary town where almost 90% of Ha Giang loop tours will lodge for an overnight stay. The town itself dates back to at least few hundreds ago and hosts a vast number of homestay and places to stay. The center of the town called old quarter and it is very chill and atmospheric specially during the night.

Despite tourism being developed here, there are souvenir shops, pharmacies and even few massage parlors offering fine massage for those who want to get a relaxing time after a long day ride.

TIn addition, there is a Sunday market held weekly from where local ethnic people get together to trade, sell and buy buffaloes and even get a haircut.

Ma Pi Leng pass in Ha Giang

The Ma Pi Leng Pass is named after a great viewpoint of the Ha Giang loop and it lies between Dong Van & Meo Vac. For some tourists, this is the most iconic place in whole south-east Asia. Once you crossing the winding roads, you definitely see the Ma Pi Leng pass. This is a great place to capture some great photos overlooking the valley and lush green mountains raising high from the cliff.

In addition, there is a cafe from where you may get some refreshing drinks and a place to sit and admire the view.

Boat trip over the Nho Que river

As soon as you cross the Ma Pi Leng pass, the majestic Pho Que river is on your left side, an additional 2km ride through the narrow gravel roads takes you down the valley from where you can park your motorbike to the safe parking, get something to eat an or refresh and join an hour boat trip for 100k VND per person.

Meo vac to Du Gia via Mau Due

Mau Due host one of the most beautiful roads and landscapes of Ha Giang Loop.

To explain, this area is considered a less touristy roads – as it is hidden between the high mountains and lush green rice fields of the region. The area is also home to some of the most beautiful waterfalls and lakes that is takes an effort and an skilled ride to get there. Du Gia waterfall is one of them.