{"id":5047,"date":"2021-01-14T09:55:11","date_gmt":"2021-01-14T09:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/ha-giang\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T19:13:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T19:13:26","slug":"ha-giang","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ha Giang Loop: Vietnam&#8217;s best motorbike route (2026 guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The province of <strong>Ha Giang, right up against the border with southern China, is always a fascinating experience<\/strong>; it&#8217;s one of the most beautiful corners of Vietnam, and one you shouldn&#8217;t leave out of your <a href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/vietnam-itinerary-15-days\/\" type=\"page\" id=\"67\">Vietnam itinerary<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Practically 100% of the travelers who make it up here come for one reason: <strong>the Ha Giang Loop<\/strong>, a multi-day motorbike journey through the province and one of the most breathtaking experiences in all of Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ha Giang brings together <strong>some of Vietnam&#8217;s most captivating landscapes<\/strong>, from towering limestone peaks to corn and hemp fields, along with a rich mix of <strong>local ethnic groups<\/strong> whose traditional dress fills every stretch of the road with color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We ride the loop several times a year, and even so it remains one of those experiences <strong>we never get tired of repeating<\/strong>.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In this post<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a581d1f9144f\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #233619;color:#233619\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #233619;color:#233619\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a581d1f9144f\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#%f0%9f%93%8b_the_ha_giang_loop_at_a_glance\" >\ud83d\udccb The Ha Giang Loop at a glance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#what_is_the_ha_giang_loop_an_epic_motorbike_adventure_through_northern_vietnam\" >What is the Ha Giang Loop? An epic motorbike adventure through northern Vietnam<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#how_many_days_for_the_loop_2_3_4_or_8\" >How many days for the loop: 2, 3, 4 or 8?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#how_to_get_to_ha_giang\" >How to get to Ha Giang<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#where_to_stay_in_ha_giang_before_the_loop\" >Where to stay in Ha Giang before the loop<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#the_classic_4-day_ha_giang_loop_day-by-day_itinerary_circular_route\" >The classic 4-day Ha Giang Loop: day-by-day itinerary (circular route)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#the_ha_giang_loop_in_3_days_and_2_nights\" >The Ha Giang Loop in 3 days and 2 nights<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#the_ha_giang_loop_in_2_days_and_1_night\" >The Ha Giang Loop in 2 days and 1 night<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#extension_to_ban_gioc_waterfall_8-day_loop\" >Extension to Ban Gioc waterfall (8-day loop)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#riding_the_ha_giang_loop_independently_or_on_a_tour\" >Riding the Ha Giang Loop independently or on a tour?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#before_you_start_the_loop_the_essentials\" >Before you start the loop: the essentials<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#what_to_pack_for_the_ha_giang_loop\" >What to pack for the Ha Giang Loop<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#best_time_of_year_for_the_ha_giang_loop\" >Best time of year for the Ha Giang Loop<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#final_thoughts_on_the_route_and_the_experience\" >Final thoughts on the route and the experience<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#ha_giang_loop_faqs\" >Ha Giang Loop FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stick around, because in this guide we&#8217;ll tell you <strong>everything you need to know about the Ha Giang Loop<\/strong> and how to ride it to squeeze the most out of every single stretch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"resumenrapido gb-element-e97f1cff\">\n<h2 class=\"gb-text gb-text-d38858a6\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%f0%9f%93%8b_the_ha_giang_loop_at_a_glance\"><\/span>\ud83d\udccb The Ha Giang Loop at a glance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before we get into the details, here are the essentials in one quick look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\ud83d\udccd <strong>Location:<\/strong> Northern Vietnam, on the border with China<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udee3\ufe0f <strong>Distance:<\/strong> 340\u2013380 km (circular route).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u23f1\ufe0f <strong>Recommended duration:<\/strong> 4 days \u2014 doable in 2 to 8.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83c\udf24\ufe0f <strong>Best time:<\/strong> March\u2013June + October\u2013November<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83c\udfcd\ufe0f <strong>How to ride it:<\/strong> Easy Rider (recommended) or on your own with a Vienna Convention IDP.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2b50 <strong>Must-sees:<\/strong> Heaven&#8217;s Gate Pass, Tham Ma Pass, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Tu San Canyon, Du Gia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In our view, the loop is worth it in any of its formats, but <strong>the classic 4-day version is the one we enjoy most every time we ride it again<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_is_the_ha_giang_loop_an_epic_motorbike_adventure_through_northern_vietnam\"><\/span>What is the Ha Giang Loop? An epic motorbike adventure through northern Vietnam<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>Ha Giang Loop<\/strong> is a <strong>multi-day circular route<\/strong>, usually ridden <strong>by motorbike<\/strong>, covering some 340\u2013380 km through the province of <strong>Ha Giang<\/strong> in northern <strong>Vietnam<\/strong>, very close to the border with <strong>China<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The loop can be adapted to different lengths, but the <strong>classic route is normally done in 4 days<\/strong>, passing through <strong>Ha Giang<\/strong>, <strong>Yen Minh<\/strong>, <strong>Dong Van<\/strong>, <strong>Meo Vac<\/strong> and <strong>Du Gia<\/strong> before returning to Ha Giang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most of the ride follows <strong>quiet back roads<\/strong> through the <strong>Dong Van Karst Plateau<\/strong>, a still little-known area packed with <strong>limestone formations<\/strong> and <strong>ethnic communities<\/strong> that make this region the perfect stage for a <strong>motorbike adventure<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Until recently, Ha Giang was one of the last strongholds for travelers after a taste of off-road adventure<\/strong> far from the main tourist trails. Visitor numbers <strong>have been growing exponentially<\/strong> over the past few years, yet even today you can still enjoy this destination without heavy crowds \u2014 though we&#8217;re not sure how much longer that will last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reason is that the roads along the route have been improving little by little, making access to this remote part of the country relatively easy nowadays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If adventure is what you look for when you travel, you&#8217;re going to have a blast<\/strong> on this multi-day circuit through the north of the country.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1067\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/heavens-gate-pass-ha-giang-edited.webp\" alt=\"Heaven's Gate mountain pass on the Ha Giang Loop\" class=\"wp-image-1633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/heavens-gate-pass-ha-giang-edited.webp 1067w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/heavens-gate-pass-ha-giang-edited-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/heavens-gate-pass-ha-giang-edited-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/heavens-gate-pass-ha-giang-edited-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1067px) 100vw, 1067px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Heaven&#8217;s Gate mountain pass and its beautiful views<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_many_days_for_the_loop_2_3_4_or_8\"><\/span>How many days for the loop: 2, 3, 4 or 8?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ha Giang Loop <strong>can be done in anywhere from 2 to 8 days<\/strong>, depending on how much time you have and how deep you want to explore. Here are the four variants so you can pick the one that fits you best:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Days<\/th><th>Route<\/th><th>Best for<\/th><th>Depth<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">2 days<\/td><td>Ha Giang \u2192 Dong Van \u2192 Ha Giang (out and back)<\/td><td>Tight schedule, first taste<\/td><td>Minimal<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">3 days<\/td><td>Shortened circular loop (no stop in Du Gia)<\/td><td>Practical travelers short on time<\/td><td>Decent<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\"><strong>4 days<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Full classic circular loop<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Recommended for almost everyone<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Ideal<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">8 days<\/td><td>Loop + extension to Cao Bang and Ban Gioc waterfall<\/td><td>No rush, ready to dive all the way in<\/td><td>Maximum<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_to_get_to_ha_giang\"><\/span>How to get to Ha Giang<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ha Giang is <strong>Vietnam&#8217;s northernmost province<\/strong>, bordering the Yunnan region of China. Even so, getting here is fairly easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From Hanoi to Ha Giang<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best way to reach Ha Giang is <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/how-to-get-from-hanoi-to-ha-giang\/\">from Hanoi<\/a>, Vietnam&#8217;s capital<\/strong>, some 319 km away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most common plan is to <strong>take the overnight bus and arrive in Ha Giang in the early hours<\/strong>, then rest for a few hours at your accommodation before starting the ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plenty of transport companies run the route by bus or minivan, and the trip takes roughly <strong>5 to 6 hours<\/strong>. You have two main options:<br><br>&#8211; <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/12go.com\/en\/bus\/hanoi\/ha-giang\/?z=4018868\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Sleeper bus<\/a><\/strong> (bunk beds) \u2014 from <strong>300,000 VND (~US$12)<\/strong>. The cheapest and most popular option.<br>&#8211; <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/12go.com\/en\/bus\/hanoi\/ha-giang\/?z=4018868\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Cabin bus<\/a><\/strong> (individual pods) \u2014 from <strong>400,000 VND (~US$15)<\/strong>. A bit pricier, but you gain privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prices and <a href=\"https:\/\/12go.com\/en\/bus\/hanoi\/ha-giang\/?z=4018868\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">timetables here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From Sapa to Ha Giang<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re elsewhere in northern Vietnam, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/how-to-get-from-sapa-to-ha-giang\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sapa, several buses run between the two every day<\/a>. The journey takes around 8 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can check <a href=\"https:\/\/12go.com\/en\/bus\/hanoi\/ha-giang\/?z=4018868\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">timetables and options here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/lang-khac-ha-giang-loop-1024x768.webp\" alt=\"descent to Lang Khac on the Ha Giang Loop\" class=\"wp-image-1634\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/lang-khac-ha-giang-loop-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/lang-khac-ha-giang-loop-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/lang-khac-ha-giang-loop-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/lang-khac-ha-giang-loop.jpg 1067w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The descent to Lang Khac on day three of the motorbike route<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"where_to_stay_in_ha_giang_before_the_loop\"><\/span>Where to stay in Ha Giang before the loop<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most travelers spend at least one night in <strong>Ha Giang city<\/strong> before starting the loop. It&#8217;s where you rent your motorbike, arrange the tour if you&#8217;re going with an Easy Rider, and recover from the night bus from Hanoi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are <strong>three options<\/strong>, one per budget, all with genuinely good ratings and plenty of reviews:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-6257d20e vv-alojamiento\">\n<h4 class=\"gb-text gb-text-d049ae1c\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/loopcentralstay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Loop Central Stay Tour &amp; Motorbike Rental<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-97656ddc\">Hotel\/Hostel \u00b7 \u2b50 9.5 \u00b7 774 reviews<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-2d48175a\">From <strong>90,000 VND (~US$3.50)<\/strong> \/ night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The backpacker option with the best value for money. They usually arrange motorbike rental and loop tour bookings too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-32e7ad78 vv-alojamiento\">\n<h4 class=\"gb-text gb-text-07f4c5e6\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/loopcentralstay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/ha-giang-historic.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnam\">Ha Giang Historic Hotel &amp; Tours<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-aca876e4\">4\u2605 hotel \u00b7 9.2 \u2b50 \u00b7 238 reviews<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-f27ad89f\">From <strong>900,000 VND (~US$35)<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For anyone who wants something a bit more polished without blowing the budget. Boutique feel, personal service.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-1d16eeed vv-alojamiento\">\n<h4 class=\"gb-text gb-text-e4815ba7\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/loopcentralstay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/four-points-by-sheraton-ha-giang.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnam\">Four Points by Sheraton Ha Giang<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-8b9f7eb5\">&nbsp;4\u2605 hotel \u00b7 9.4 \u2b50 \u00b7 439 reviews<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-e95d4ede\">From <strong>1,600,000 VND (~US$62)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you arrive late and want a proper rest before day one of the loop, this is the international standard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In our experience, most travelers stay at a hostel or homestay<\/strong> \u2014 the quality is far better than the price suggests, and they usually offer motorbike rental and loop tour bookings too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The high-end options only make sense if you arrive early and feel like treating yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to sleep during the loop: homestays town by town<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Along the loop you&#8217;ll normally sleep in <strong>four towns<\/strong>, depending on your route length: Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac and Du Gia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you join an organized tour (recommended), you don&#8217;t need to worry about any of this<\/strong>, since accommodation is usually included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If, on the other hand, you&#8217;re riding independently and need somewhere to sleep, <strong>you&#8217;ll find our favorite homestays for each stop in each day&#8217;s section<\/strong>, all bookable online in case you&#8217;d rather secure a bed than take your chances on arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>On the loop it pays to sleep in family-run homestays rather than conventional hotels<\/strong> \u2014 the difference in experience (family dinners with other travelers, karaoke, local atmosphere) more than makes up for the simple rooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_classic_4-day_ha_giang_loop_day-by-day_itinerary_circular_route\"><\/span>The classic 4-day Ha Giang Loop: day-by-day itinerary (circular route)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are several routes for exploring Ha Giang province and neighboring Cao Bang. Out of all of them, this article focuses on <strong>the classic Ha Giang route, which takes 4 days<\/strong> from start to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Below you&#8217;ll find the details of each day so you don&#8217;t miss a single one of the spectacular experiences this route has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Full map of the classic 4-day Ha Giang Loop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s <strong>the full map of the Ha Giang motorbike loop<\/strong>. For detailed information on each leg and each day, head to the day-by-day itinerary, where you&#8217;ll find that day&#8217;s map and its main highlights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/1\/embed?mid=1rc1kg5o6cqw1ArgdVwTnUDLZ5fD2tFnP&#038;ehbc=2E312F\" width=\"100%\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Day 1: Ha Giang to Yen Minh<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-6ce6aaf8\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\ud83d\udccd <strong>Route:<\/strong> Ha Giang &#8211; Tam Son &#8211; Yen Minh<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udee3\ufe0f <strong>Distance:<\/strong> <em>102 km<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/em>(approximately).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2b50 <strong><em>Main highlights: <\/em><\/strong><em>Tam Son, Quan Ba Heaven&#8217;s Gate, Lung Khuy Cave.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day one is the longest of the route and your first contact with the loop, so <strong>we recommend getting up early and having everything well prepared before hitting the road<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The route heads north along the QL4C<\/strong>, and just a few kilometers out of the city the landscape transforms completely \u2014 you&#8217;ll quickly find yourself surrounded by limestone peaks and lush vegetation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you reach the town of Tam Son you&#8217;ll see the sign announcing that you&#8217;re entering the <strong>Dong Van Plateau, the UNESCO-listed geopark the loop runs through<\/strong>, which will keep you company for the next few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Right after the sign, the climbing begins toward the first of the many passes and viewpoints along the way, Doc Bac Sum, with splendid views over the valley you&#8217;ve just ridden through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Heaven&#8217;s Gate, the Ha Giang Loop&#8217;s balcony to the sky<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ll keep climbing past picturesque towns and villages until the first stop, <strong>perfect for a break and a Vietnamese coffee<\/strong>: the famous Quan Ba Heaven&#8217;s Gate Pass, where you&#8217;ll get a first taste of the beauty waiting along the rest of the route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There&#8217;s <strong>a small caf\u00e9 here and views that are well worth the stop<\/strong>. It&#8217;s a busy spot where everyone riding the route pulls over, so <strong>if you left Ha Giang early you&#8217;ll get to enjoy it almost to yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1067\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quang-ba-heaven-pass-ha-giang-vietnam-edited.webp\" alt=\"Quan Ba Heaven's Gate on the Ha Giang Loop\" class=\"wp-image-1593\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quang-ba-heaven-pass-ha-giang-vietnam-edited.webp 1067w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quang-ba-heaven-pass-ha-giang-vietnam-edited-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quang-ba-heaven-pass-ha-giang-vietnam-edited-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quang-ba-heaven-pass-ha-giang-vietnam-edited-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1067px) 100vw, 1067px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The views from the Quan Ba Heaven&#8217;s Gate viewpoint<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From here the road starts to descend, and barely 1\u20132 km on you&#8217;ll find <strong>the Quan Ba visitor center<\/strong>. The best reason to stop is to <strong>climb the stairs to a small viewpoint<\/strong> overlooking the town of Tam Son and its gorgeous karst pinnacles \u2014 a scene straight out of a storybook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_20190515_134029-1024x240.webp\" alt=\"views over Tam Son on the Ha Giang Loop\" class=\"wp-image-1588\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_20190515_134029-1024x240.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_20190515_134029-300x70.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_20190515_134029-768x180.webp 768w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_20190515_134029.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Views of Tam Son from the visitor center viewpoint<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lung Khuy Cave, an optional detour if you have time to spare<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few kilometers past Tam Son you&#8217;ll spot a gas station on the right and, immediately after, on the left, the turn-off for Lung Khuy Cave \u2014 essentially a dizzying, narrow road you follow to the parking area. <strong>You can&#8217;t reach the cave by motorbike, so from the parking area you&#8217;ll walk about 1.5 km<\/strong> uphill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This detour is <strong>worth it only if you have plenty of time to spare<\/strong>: between getting there, seeing the cave and returning to the main road, you lose roughly 2.5 hours. <strong>Keep that in mind unless you want to end up riding in the dark<\/strong> on your first day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That said, the place is simply spectacular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"331\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-dia-1-1024x331.webp\" alt=\"panoramic views on the Ha Giang Loop\" class=\"wp-image-2032\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-dia-1-1024x331.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-dia-1-300x97.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-dia-1-768x248.webp 768w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-dia-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Views on the way down from Lung Khuy Cave<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Two roads to reach Yen Minh<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following the main route, you&#8217;ll begin <strong>descending toward the floor of a beautiful valley<\/strong> that opens up on your right and leads to the village of Cho Kem, where you&#8217;ll meet the river that will keep you company for the next few kilometers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Down by the river you&#8217;ll hit a somewhat confusing fork signposting <strong>Yen Minh via two different routes<\/strong>. Having ridden both, we have to say the upper route is our favorite, though both have plenty of charm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1067\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/vistas-loop-de-ha-giang-vietnam-edited.webp\" alt=\"views along the Ha Giang Loop, Vietnam\" class=\"wp-image-1596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/vistas-loop-de-ha-giang-vietnam-edited.webp 1067w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/vistas-loop-de-ha-giang-vietnam-edited-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/vistas-loop-de-ha-giang-vietnam-edited-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/vistas-loop-de-ha-giang-vietnam-edited-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1067px) 100vw, 1067px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Right at the start of the climb you get panoramic views over the river<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The lower route<\/strong> is the <strong>longer one and follows the river for quite a few kilometers<\/strong>, before starting a climb of endless switchbacks that feels like it goes on forever. After that, a lovely pine forest and the final descent into Yen Minh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The upper route<\/strong> starts with a steep climb \u2014 stop right at the beginning to scramble up to a small rocky viewpoint \u2014 and then <strong>ascends almost vertically to the top of the mountain.<\/strong> The scenery is simply spectacular. After a few kilometers, the road rejoins the main route on the final descent into Yen Minh, day one&#8217;s finish line and a well-earned rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1067\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-en-moto-dia-1-edited.webp\" alt=\"June riding the Ha Giang Loop by motorbike\" class=\"wp-image-1597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-en-moto-dia-1-edited.webp 1067w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-en-moto-dia-1-edited-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-en-moto-dia-1-edited-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-en-moto-dia-1-edited-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1067px) 100vw, 1067px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">June enjoying the views on the upper route toward Yen Minh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1067\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-ruta-1-edited.webp\" alt=\"day one of the Ha Giang route\" class=\"wp-image-1600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-ruta-1-edited.webp 1067w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-ruta-1-edited-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-ruta-1-edited-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-ruta-1-edited-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1067px) 100vw, 1067px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The road to Yen Minh along the lower route \u2014 longer, but just as spectacular<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Map of day 1 of the Ha Giang motorbike loop<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s the route on the map. The upper route to Yen Minh doesn&#8217;t show up on Google, but we promise you&#8217;ll find it on the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/1\/embed?mid=1NC7p3VVpBrCe5c_gX7PHA91WlohbkOZd&#038;ehbc=2E312F\" width=\"100%\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to stay in Yen Minh (end of day 1)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are two good options for the night in Yen Minh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-5ccd96d1 vv-alojamiento\">\n<h4 class=\"gb-text gb-text-ea0c158d\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/loopcentralstay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/tom-homestay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/tom-homestay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\">Tom Homestay<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-27d16dcb\">&nbsp;9.0 \u2b50 \u00b7 133 reviews<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-144a4924\">From <strong>150,000 VND (~US$6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our favorite: it&#8217;s run by the loveliest lady, the mattresses are the most comfortable in the world, and the bedsheets have Doraemon on them. You know the kind of place.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-8d5081ae vv-alojamiento\">\n<h4 class=\"gb-text gb-text-321e0a3b\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/loopcentralstay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/bong-bang-homestay-2.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/tom-homestay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/bong-bang-homestay-2.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\">Bong Bang Homestay 2<\/a><\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-ea1e7a05\">9.1 \u2b50 \u00b7 302 reviews<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-06cdb677\"> From <strong>150,000 VND (~US$6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A solid alternative with loads of reviews and a very good rating, in the same price range.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Day 2: Yen Minh to Meo Vac, along the Chinese border<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-ea77e2de\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\ud83d\udccd <strong>Route:<\/strong> Y<em>en Minh &#8211; Dong Van &#8211; Meo Vac<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udee3\ufe0f <strong>Distance:<\/strong> <em>70 km<\/em> (approximately) + 58 (detour to the flag tower)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2b50 <strong><em>Main highlights: <\/em><\/strong><em><em>Tham Ma Pass, <em>H&#8217;mong Palace<\/em><\/em><\/em>, <em>Lung Cu Flag Tower (detour),<\/em> <em><em>Ma Pi Leng Pass<\/em>, Sky Path, Tu San Canyon, boat trip on the Nho Que River.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just when you&#8217;re still reeling from the landscapes and everything you felt on day one of the ride, <strong>along comes day two to finish the job.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-vietnam-ruta-en-moto-1024x290.webp\" alt=\"motorbike route through Ha Giang\" class=\"wp-image-1607\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-vietnam-ruta-en-moto-1024x290.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-vietnam-ruta-en-moto-300x85.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-vietnam-ruta-en-moto-768x218.webp 768w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-vietnam-ruta-en-moto.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you thought it couldn&#8217;t get any better, <strong>the day opens with a stunning climb<\/strong> through rocky landscapes of dramatic peaks and hollows, shaped over millions of years by tectonic activity and erosion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tham Ma Pass<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The first major stop is the Tham Ma viewpoint<\/strong>, one of the loop&#8217;s most iconic images, where you can look back over the dizzying, switchback-filled road you&#8217;ve just climbed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There&#8217;s also a small caf\u00e9 with a good terrace and several stalls run by local people selling produce and food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A heads-up, though<\/strong>, on something worth knowing in advance: at this viewpoint you&#8217;ll often see <strong>young girls dressed in the traditional costumes of the local ethnic groups, which their parents use to collect tips from tourists in exchange for photos<\/strong>. It&#8217;s an increasingly common practice on the loop and, <strong>in our view, one better not to take part in<\/strong>: what looks like a harmless gesture ends up pulling the kids out of school to spend the day with tourists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to support the local economy, buy something from the adults&#8217; stalls instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1067\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/tha-ma-ha-giang-loop-edited.webp\" alt=\"Tham Ma panoramic viewpoint in Ha Giang\" class=\"wp-image-1611\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/tha-ma-ha-giang-loop-edited.webp 1067w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/tha-ma-ha-giang-loop-edited-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/tha-ma-ha-giang-loop-edited-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/tha-ma-ha-giang-loop-edited-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1067px) 100vw, 1067px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tham Ma Pass leaves you with a spectacular picture<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Detour to the Chinese border<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A little further on, once you reach the highest section, you&#8217;ll have the chance to leave the main route for a <strong>quick side trip to the Chinese border at the town of Pho Bang<\/strong> and a remote border crossing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Is it worth it? In our opinion, not especially \u2014 but if you have time and feel curious, the detour doesn&#8217;t take long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A better-known option is to visit the border with China at the famous <a href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/ha-giang\/la-torre-de-la-bandera-de-lung-cu\/\">Lung Cu Flag Tower<\/a><\/strong>, in the town of <strong>Lung Cu<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The turn-off is just before you reach the H&#8217;mong King&#8217;s Palace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The old H&#8217;mong King&#8217;s Palace<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back on the route you&#8217;ll start the descent into the valley, then climb again to one of the most spectacular spots on the Dong Van Plateau: a viewpoint over the eroded limestone all around you, <strong>a lunar landscape you could stare at for a good while.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just <strong>a few kilometers later you&#8217;ll reach the old H&#8217;mong King&#8217;s Palace, <\/strong>a good spot for a stop along the way. The H&#8217;mong are the majority ethnic group in this part of Vietnam and China, and the palace was home to the area&#8217;s leading family, which grew wealthy on the opium trade these regions were known for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/palacio-hmong-ha-giang-loop-1024x768.webp\" alt=\"H'mong King's Palace in Ha Giang\" class=\"wp-image-1609\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/palacio-hmong-ha-giang-loop-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/palacio-hmong-ha-giang-loop-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/palacio-hmong-ha-giang-loop-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/palacio-hmong-ha-giang-loop.webp 1067w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Entrance to the H&#8217;mong King&#8217;s Palace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Entry costs 30,000 VND (~US$1<strong>)<\/strong> and it&#8217;s well worth it just to see the house from the inside. There are several caf\u00e9s and craft shops around it for a break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ma Pi Leng Pass, the most impressive stretch of the Ha Giang Loop<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The road continues between limestone peaks until it reaches dusty <strong>Dong Van<\/strong>, where many travelers choose to spend the night before riding on. In our opinion, if you&#8217;re doing the 4-day route it&#8217;s more rewarding to continue to Meo Vac \u2014 but <strong>Dong Van is a great lunch stop,<\/strong> with far more options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But <strong>the best part of the day is still to come<\/strong>: the final stretch <strong>from Dong Van to Meo Vac runs along a heart-stopping road<\/strong> carved into the flanks of the limestone mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After a short climb past Dong Van, <strong>you round a right-hand bend and the landscape hits you \u2014 for us, the most impressive of the whole trip.<\/strong> The river far below, mountains all around, dizzying ravines covered in vegetation and corn fields: an obligatory stop on a small wooden platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ma-pi-leng-pass-ha-giang-loop-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"Ma Pi Leng Pass on the Ha Giang Loop\" class=\"wp-image-1608\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ma-pi-leng-pass-ha-giang-loop-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ma-pi-leng-pass-ha-giang-loop-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ma-pi-leng-pass-ha-giang-loop-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ma-pi-leng-pass-ha-giang-loop.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ma Pi Leng Pass serves up several kilometers of breathtaking views<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Sky Path: the trail up to the Ma Pi Leng viewpoint<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shortly after, you&#8217;ll pass a monument to everyone who helped build these vertiginous roads, and <strong>immediately after it, the turn-off for the Sky Path: an extremely narrow trail climbing the mountainside from Ma Pi Leng Caf\u00e9, which has become famous as a sunrise spot<\/strong> thanks to its unbeatable views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the end of the trail there&#8217;s <strong>a small mound you can climb for a panorama of the whole area<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Fair warning though<\/strong>: the Sky Path has become <strong>very popular and tends to get crowded<\/strong>, especially when the Easy Rider groups roll in mid-morning or in the afternoon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ll need to leave the motorbike at the start and walk up to the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tu San Canyon and the Nho Que River<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following the road, you&#8217;ll come to the <strong>Ma Pi Leng viewpoint,<\/strong> with mesmerizing views over the Nho Que River \u2014 although the construction of a dam has taken something away from the scenery.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Past the viewpoint you&#8217;ll find a couple of restaurants such as the <strong>Ma Pi Leng Panorama<\/strong> <strong>Hotel<\/strong>, where you can stop for a drink and <strong>take in Tu San Canyon<\/strong> in all its glory \u2014 a spectacular, <strong>deep gorge carved out by the river.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They offer two options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Entry with a drink included: 65,000 VND (~US$2.50)<\/strong>. A warning though: the drink isn&#8217;t great, so don&#8217;t expect much.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Entry without a drink: 40,000 VND (~US$1.50)<\/strong>, viewpoint access only.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Honestly, the sensible move is to skip the Panorama Hotel<\/strong>: you can pull over at any bend along Ma Pi Leng Pass without paying a thing and enjoy the same views. Save the money for a cold beer back at your homestay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Down to the Nho Que River: the boat trip through the canyon<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A couple of kilometers further on there&#8217;s a turn-off on the left, descending a road that makes you dizzy just looking at it. It takes you down to the jetty at the river&#8217;s edge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good news: <strong>the road is fully paved<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once at the bottom, the star activity is taking <strong>a boat trip through the canyon<\/strong>: it lasts <strong>about 20 minutes<\/strong> and costs <strong>150,000 VND per person (~US$6)<\/strong>. It&#8217;s genuinely worth it \u2014 you glide between the rock walls and grasp the true scale of the place, which you just can&#8217;t appreciate the same way from above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you run out of time for the river trip today, we recommend doing it the next day \u2014 just don&#8217;t miss it, because the scenery deserves it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back on the main road, <strong>a few more kilometers bring you at last to the day&#8217;s final destination, the town of Meo Vac<\/strong> \u2014 a big town by local standards, where you can find a bed and rest up for the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n<div  id=\"jtg-4103\" class=\"modula modula-gallery modula-creative-gallery\" data-config=\"{&quot;height&quot;:800,&quot;tabletHeight&quot;:800,&quot;mobileHeight&quot;:800,&quot;desktopHeight&quot;:800,&quot;enableTwitter&quot;:false,&quot;enableWhatsapp&quot;:false,&quot;enableFacebook&quot;:false,&quot;enablePinterest&quot;:false,&quot;enableLinkedin&quot;:false,&quot;enableEmail&quot;:false,&quot;randomFactor&quot;:0.5,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;creative-gallery&quot;,&quot;columns&quot;:12,&quot;gutter&quot;:10,&quot;mobileGutter&quot;:10,&quot;tabletGutter&quot;:10,&quot;desktopGutter&quot;:10,&quot;enableResponsive&quot;:true,&quot;tabletColumns&quot;:2,&quot;mobileColumns&quot;:1,&quot;lazyLoad&quot;:0,&quot;lightboxOpts&quot;:{&quot;animated&quot;:true,&quot;Thumbs&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;modern&quot;,&quot;showOnStart&quot;:false},&quot;Toolbar&quot;:{&quot;display&quot;:{&quot;right&quot;:[&quot;close&quot;]},&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;Carousel&quot;:{&quot;Panzoom&quot;:{&quot;touch&quot;:true},&quot;infinite&quot;:false},&quot;keyboard&quot;:{&quot;Escape&quot;:&quot;close&quot;,&quot;Delete&quot;:&quot;close&quot;,&quot;Backspace&quot;:&quot;close&quot;,&quot;PageUp&quot;:&quot;next&quot;,&quot;PageDown&quot;:&quot;prev&quot;,&quot;ArrowUp&quot;:&quot;prev&quot;,&quot;ArrowDown&quot;:&quot;next&quot;,&quot;ArrowRight&quot;:&quot;next&quot;,&quot;ArrowLeft&quot;:&quot;prev&quot;},&quot;wheel&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;touch&quot;:true,&quot;backdropClick&quot;:&quot;close&quot;,&quot;l10n&quot;:{&quot;CLOSE&quot;:&quot;Close&quot;,&quot;NEXT&quot;:&quot;Next&quot;,&quot;PREV&quot;:&quot;Previous&quot;,&quot;Error&quot;:&quot;The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.&quot;,&quot;PLAY_START&quot;:&quot;Start slideshow&quot;,&quot;PLAY_STOP&quot;:&quot;Pause slideshow&quot;,&quot;FULL_SCREEN&quot;:&quot;Full screen&quot;,&quot;THUMBS&quot;:&quot;Thumbnails&quot;,&quot;DOWNLOAD&quot;:&quot;Download&quot;,&quot;SHARE&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;ZOOM&quot;:&quot;Zoom&quot;,&quot;EMAIL&quot;:&quot;Here is the link to the image : %%image_link%% and this is the link to the gallery : %%gallery_link%%&quot;,&quot;MODAL&quot;:&quot;You can close this modal content with the ESC key&quot;,&quot;ERROR&quot;:&quot;Something Went Wrong, Please Try Again Later&quot;,&quot;IMAGE_ERROR&quot;:&quot;Image Not Found&quot;,&quot;ELEMENT_NOT_FOUND&quot;:&quot;HTML Element Not Found&quot;,&quot;AJAX_NOT_FOUND&quot;:&quot;Error Loading AJAX : Not Found&quot;,&quot;AJAX_FORBIDDEN&quot;:&quot;Error Loading AJAX : Forbidden&quot;,&quot;IFRAME_ERROR&quot;:&quot;Error Loading Page&quot;,&quot;TOGGLE_ZOOM&quot;:&quot;Toggle zoom level&quot;,&quot;TOGGLE_THUMBS&quot;:&quot;Toggle thumbnails&quot;,&quot;TOGGLE_SLIDESHOW&quot;:&quot;Toggle slideshow&quot;,&quot;TOGGLE_FULLSCREEN&quot;:&quot;Toggle full-screen mode&quot;},&quot;Images&quot;:{&quot;Panzoom&quot;:{&quot;maxScale&quot;:2}},&quot;mainClass&quot;:&quot;modula-fancybox-container modula-lightbox-jtg-4103&quot;,&quot;Html&quot;:{&quot;videoAutoplay&quot;:0,&quot;videoTpl&quot;:&quot;&lt;video class=\\&quot;fancybox__html5video\\&quot; controls muted playsinline controlsList controlsList=\\&quot;nodownload\\&quot; poster=\\&quot;{{poster}}\\&quot; src=\\&quot;{{src}}\\&quot; type=\\&quot;{{format}}\\&quot; &gt;  Sorry, your browser doesn&#039;t support embedded videos, &lt;a href=\\&quot;{{src}}\\&quot;&gt; download &lt;\\\/a&gt; and watch with your favorite video player! &lt;\\\/video&gt;&quot;}},&quot;inView&quot;:false,&quot;email_subject&quot;:&quot;\\u00a1\\u00a1Mira esta impresionante imagen!!&quot;,&quot;email_message&quot;:&quot;Este es el enlace a la imagen: %%image_link%% y este es el enlace a la galer\\u00eda: %%gallery_link%%&quot;,&quot;lightbox&quot;:&quot;fancybox&quot;,&quot;lightbox_devices&quot;:&quot;both&quot;}\">\n\n\t\n\t<div  class=\"modula-items\">\n\t\t<div class=\"modula-item effect-pufrobo\" >\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-overlay\"><\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-content\">\n\n\t\t<a data-image-id=\"4104\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"jtg-4103\" data-caption=\"\" aria-label=\"Open image in lightbox\" class=\"tile-inner modula-item-link\"><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pic wp-image-4104\"  data-valign=\"middle\" data-halign=\"center\" alt=\"ha gian rio paseo\" data-full=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-10.webp\" title=\"ha-giang-loop-10\" crop=\"\" width=\"226\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-10-226x300.webp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-10-226x300.webp\" data-caption=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-10.webp 771w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-10-226x300.webp 226w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-10-768x1020.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px\" \/>\n\t\t<div class=\"figc no-description\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"figc-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><div class=\"modula-item effect-pufrobo\" >\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-overlay\"><\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-content\">\n\n\t\t<a data-image-id=\"4105\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"jtg-4103\" data-caption=\"\" aria-label=\"Open image in lightbox\" class=\"tile-inner modula-item-link\"><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pic wp-image-4105\"  data-valign=\"middle\" data-halign=\"center\" alt=\"paseo en barca en ma pi leng\" data-full=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-11.webp\" title=\"ha-giang-loop-11\" crop=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-11-225x300.webp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-11-225x300.webp\" data-caption=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-11.webp 768w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-11-225x300.webp 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/>\n\t\t<div class=\"figc no-description\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"figc-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><div class=\"modula-item effect-pufrobo\" >\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-overlay\"><\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-content\">\n\n\t\t<a data-image-id=\"4106\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"jtg-4103\" data-caption=\"\" aria-label=\"Open image in lightbox\" class=\"tile-inner modula-item-link\"><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pic wp-image-4106\"  data-valign=\"middle\" data-halign=\"center\" alt=\"barca tu san abismo\" data-full=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-12.webp\" title=\"ha-giang-loop-12\" crop=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"226\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-12-300x226.webp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-12-300x226.webp\" data-caption=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-12.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-12-300x226.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-12-768x578.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n\t\t<div class=\"figc no-description\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"figc-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><div class=\"modula-item effect-pufrobo\" >\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-overlay\"><\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-content\">\n\n\t\t<a data-image-id=\"4031\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"jtg-4103\" data-caption=\"\" aria-label=\"Open image in lightbox\" class=\"tile-inner modula-item-link\"><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pic wp-image-4031\"  data-valign=\"middle\" data-halign=\"center\" alt=\"diego en vietnam\" data-full=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vietnam-13.jpg\" title=\"Vietnam-13\" crop=\"\" width=\"226\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vietnam-13-226x300.webp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vietnam-13-226x300.webp\" data-caption=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vietnam-13.jpg 771w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vietnam-13-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vietnam-13-768x1020.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px\" \/>\n\t\t<div class=\"figc no-description\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"figc-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\n\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n\t{\n\t\t\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n\t\t\"@type\"   : \"ImageGallery\",\n\t\t\"id\"      : \"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#modula-gallery-4103\",\n\t\t\"url\"     : \"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/\"\n\t}\n\n\t<\/script>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to stay in Dong Van or Meo Vac (end of day 2)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On day two you can sleep in either of these two towns depending on your preference \u2014 and whether you ride out to the flag tower or not, you can adapt your route to your arrival time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-764dedd3 vv-alojamiento\">\n<h4 class=\"gb-text gb-text-3d7dd9b6\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/loopcentralstay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/lolo-guesthouse-meo-vac.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/tom-homestay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\"><strong><strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/a><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/lolo-guesthouse-meo-vac.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\">Lo Lo Homestay &amp; Cafe Meo Vac<\/a><\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-c1741f2d\">9.0 \u2b50 \u00b7 187 reviews<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-77014d25\">From <strong>160,000 VND (~US$6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where we usually stay. On a street away from the noise of the center, great backpacker vibe, decent coffee.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-be18aa8d vv-alojamiento\">\n<h4 class=\"gb-text gb-text-6aaf59c8\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/loopcentralstay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/hoang-bach-homestay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/tom-homestay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\"><strong><strong><strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/a><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/hoang-bach-homestay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\">Ho\u00e0ng B\u00e1ch Homestay<\/a><\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-cf19defe\">9.0 \u2b50 \u00b7 187 reviews<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-a8f7c176\">From <strong>300,000 VND<\/strong> <strong>(~US$12)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A good middle-ground option: a highly rated homestay experience at a reasonable price.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-9018b1c5 vv-alojamiento\">\n<h4 class=\"gb-text gb-text-9ef400fd\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/loopcentralstay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/dong-van-cliffside-house.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/tom-homestay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/a><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/dong-van-cliffside-house.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\">Dong Van Cliffside House<\/a><\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-f0446a7e\">9.0 \u2b50 \u00b7 187 reviews<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-35efa4cb\">From <strong>900,000 VND<\/strong> <strong>(~US$35)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;d rather sleep in Dong Van with more of a hotel standard than a homestay one, this is the most solid option we know. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Map of the Ha Giang motorbike route, day 2<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/1\/embed?mid=190BLpT5v4iw5if1Z39XFqAe15jMtMM4s&#038;ehbc=2E312F\" width=\"100%\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Day 3: Meo Vac to Du Gia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-4dc3005f\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\ud83d\udccd <strong>Route:<\/strong> <em>Meo Vac &#8211; Mau Due &#8211; Lang Khac &#8211; Du Gia<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udee3\ufe0f <strong>Distance:<\/strong> 81 km (approximately)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2b50 <strong><em>Main highlights: <\/em><\/strong><em>Mau Due rice terraces, old French fort, Lung Ho viewpoint, Du Gia viewpoint.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day three starts in Meo Vac, where you leave the main road to follow the DT182 to Mau Due and then the DT176. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A quick climb takes you between corn fields and villages<\/strong> scattered across the area, among the <strong>karst pinnacles<\/strong> that by now feel almost normal \u2014 even though the landscape remains surreal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/meo-vac-ha-giang-loop-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"landscape near Meo Vac, Ha Giang Loop\" class=\"wp-image-1616\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/meo-vac-ha-giang-loop-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/meo-vac-ha-giang-loop-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/meo-vac-ha-giang-loop-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/meo-vac-ha-giang-loop.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Between rice terraces and mountains, the road to Du Gia<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Riding <strong>the DT176 to Du Gia is a genuine treat for any motorbike travel lover<\/strong> \u2014 not just for the scenery, but for the near-total absence of traffic. <strong>One note: some stretches were under construction during 2024\u20132025<\/strong>, so if you&#8217;ve read somewhere that it&#8217;s unpaved, you can ignore it: <strong>the works are finished and the road is a pleasure to ride again<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After a steep climb where you can <strong>soak up the rice terraces<\/strong> from <strong>the Mau Due viewpoint<\/strong>, a <strong>kilometers-long descent drops you into Lang Khac<\/strong>, where a short stop lets you admire the imposing valley and wander among hemp fields and the ruins of an old French-era fort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1067\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/terrazas-arroz-du-gia-ha-giang-loop-edited.jpg\" alt=\"rice terraces in Du Gia, Ha Giang Loop\" class=\"wp-image-1619\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/terrazas-arroz-du-gia-ha-giang-loop-edited.jpg 1067w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/terrazas-arroz-du-gia-ha-giang-loop-edited-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/terrazas-arroz-du-gia-ha-giang-loop-edited-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/terrazas-arroz-du-gia-ha-giang-loop-edited-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1067px) 100vw, 1067px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rice terraces on the way to Du Gia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From here to Du Gia, the road is a string of bends where you&#8217;ll want to stop at every turn to keep taking photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two spots you definitely shouldn&#8217;t skip along the way: first, <strong>the Lung Ho viewpoint<\/strong>, and second, just <strong>before reaching Du Gia, the viewpoint on the descent.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first has a caf\u00e9 where you can grab a drink while the views blow you away. You&#8217;ll recognize the second easily by its <strong>stunning panorama over the gorge carved by the river<\/strong> \u2014 nowadays it has a caf\u00e9 too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few kilometers later you&#8217;ll arrive in Du Gia, practically a village lost in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by beautiful rice fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Du Gia waterfall, the perfect way to end the day<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just a few kilometers from the village there&#8217;s <strong>a beautiful waterfall<\/strong>, <strong>ideal for closing out the day with a refreshing swim<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The road ends at a parking area where you&#8217;ll see plenty of motorbikes lined up. From there it&#8217;s a short 5-minute walk to the falls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>These days it&#8217;s a crowded waterfall full of tour groups<\/strong>, so we recommend visiting in the late afternoon, when there are somewhat fewer people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re short on time today, you can also visit the next morning before starting the ride back \u2014 but <strong>don&#8217;t go early: from 10:30 onward the groups clear out and you can have it all to yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main fall is usually the busiest, but there&#8217;s a pool just before it and, further up, several tiers you can explore on your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/du-gia-cascada.jpg\" alt=\"Du Gia waterfall\" class=\"wp-image-4110\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/du-gia-cascada.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/du-gia-cascada-300x226.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/du-gia-cascada-768x578.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ending the day at the Du Gia waterfall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to stay in Du Gia (end of day 3)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the last night of the loop in Du Gia, here are a couple of good options in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Du Gia is a very small village<\/strong> where a large share of the houses have been converted into tourist accommodation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many sit on the outskirts of the village, among the rice paddies, and some still preserve the traditional wooden houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If your visit to Du Gia falls on a Sunday<\/strong>, get ready to rise early and wander <strong>the Du Gia market<\/strong>: a kind of rural market held in the village every Sunday, where you&#8217;ll find countless ethnic groups, gadgets, pots and pans, animals and plenty more \u2014 a window into the deepest, most cultural side of the people of this part of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-7ebf258f vv-alojamiento\">\n<h4 class=\"gb-text gb-text-33735ca8\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/loopcentralstay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/du-gia-with-love-homestay-yen-minh-ha-giang.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/tom-homestay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/a><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/du-gia-with-love-homestay-yen-minh-ha-giang.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\">Du Gia Field View Homestay<\/a><\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-d4e301c8\">9.0 \u2b50 \u00b7 187 reviews<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-0ec54127\"> From <strong>900,000 VND<\/strong> <strong>(~US$35)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A homestay right among the rice paddies of Du Gia, with the kind of views you came here for. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-006aab46 vv-alojamiento\">\n<h4 class=\"gb-text gb-text-16c270a9\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/loopcentralstay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/du-gia-muong-tra-ecolodge.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/tom-homestay.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/a><strong><strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/vn\/du-gia-muong-tra-ecolodge.en-gb.html?aid=1736512&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2&amp;label=vietnamblog\">Chien&#8217;s Lodge Du Gia<\/a><\/strong> <\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-59b92535\">9.5 \u2b50 \u00b7 715 reviews<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-a9b849f6\"> From <strong>999,000 VND (~US$38)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The benchmark mid-range stay in Du Gia. An ecolodge overlooking the rice terraces, very well run. The most expensive option on the loop, but also the most polished. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Map of the day 3 route<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here&#8217;s the map for day three of the motorbike loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/1\/embed?mid=1-P6QPb27bpFVEhnMtKBmabI9OB6knufm&#038;ehbc=2E312F\" width=\"100%\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Day 4: Back to Ha Giang<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-79443484\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\ud83d\udccd <strong>Route:<\/strong> <em>Du Gia &#8211; Lang Khac &#8211; Nam Luong &#8211; Ha Giang<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udee3\ufe0f <strong>Distance:<\/strong> 91 km (approximately)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2b50 <strong><em>Main highlights:<\/em><\/strong> D<em>u Gia viewpoint<\/em>, <em>Lung Ho viewpoint<\/em>, A Boong Waterfall, Little Ma Pi Leng.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the last day it&#8217;s time to <strong>retrace the road back to our starting point, the town of Ha Giang<\/strong>. If your visit falls on a Sunday, remember to get up early for a stroll through the Du Gia market.<\/p>\n\n\n<div  id=\"jtg-4113\" class=\"modula modula-gallery modula-creative-gallery\" data-config=\"{&quot;height&quot;:800,&quot;tabletHeight&quot;:800,&quot;mobileHeight&quot;:800,&quot;desktopHeight&quot;:800,&quot;enableTwitter&quot;:false,&quot;enableWhatsapp&quot;:false,&quot;enableFacebook&quot;:false,&quot;enablePinterest&quot;:false,&quot;enableLinkedin&quot;:false,&quot;enableEmail&quot;:false,&quot;randomFactor&quot;:0.5,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;creative-gallery&quot;,&quot;columns&quot;:12,&quot;gutter&quot;:10,&quot;mobileGutter&quot;:10,&quot;tabletGutter&quot;:10,&quot;desktopGutter&quot;:10,&quot;enableResponsive&quot;:true,&quot;tabletColumns&quot;:2,&quot;mobileColumns&quot;:1,&quot;lazyLoad&quot;:0,&quot;lightboxOpts&quot;:{&quot;animated&quot;:true,&quot;Thumbs&quot;:{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;modern&quot;,&quot;showOnStart&quot;:false},&quot;Toolbar&quot;:{&quot;display&quot;:{&quot;right&quot;:[&quot;close&quot;]},&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;Carousel&quot;:{&quot;Panzoom&quot;:{&quot;touch&quot;:true},&quot;infinite&quot;:false},&quot;keyboard&quot;:{&quot;Escape&quot;:&quot;close&quot;,&quot;Delete&quot;:&quot;close&quot;,&quot;Backspace&quot;:&quot;close&quot;,&quot;PageUp&quot;:&quot;next&quot;,&quot;PageDown&quot;:&quot;prev&quot;,&quot;ArrowUp&quot;:&quot;prev&quot;,&quot;ArrowDown&quot;:&quot;next&quot;,&quot;ArrowRight&quot;:&quot;next&quot;,&quot;ArrowLeft&quot;:&quot;prev&quot;},&quot;wheel&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;touch&quot;:true,&quot;backdropClick&quot;:&quot;close&quot;,&quot;l10n&quot;:{&quot;CLOSE&quot;:&quot;Close&quot;,&quot;NEXT&quot;:&quot;Next&quot;,&quot;PREV&quot;:&quot;Previous&quot;,&quot;Error&quot;:&quot;The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.&quot;,&quot;PLAY_START&quot;:&quot;Start slideshow&quot;,&quot;PLAY_STOP&quot;:&quot;Pause slideshow&quot;,&quot;FULL_SCREEN&quot;:&quot;Full screen&quot;,&quot;THUMBS&quot;:&quot;Thumbnails&quot;,&quot;DOWNLOAD&quot;:&quot;Download&quot;,&quot;SHARE&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;ZOOM&quot;:&quot;Zoom&quot;,&quot;EMAIL&quot;:&quot;Here is the link to the image : %%image_link%% and this is the link to the gallery : %%gallery_link%%&quot;,&quot;MODAL&quot;:&quot;You can close this modal content with the ESC key&quot;,&quot;ERROR&quot;:&quot;Something Went Wrong, Please Try Again Later&quot;,&quot;IMAGE_ERROR&quot;:&quot;Image Not Found&quot;,&quot;ELEMENT_NOT_FOUND&quot;:&quot;HTML Element Not Found&quot;,&quot;AJAX_NOT_FOUND&quot;:&quot;Error Loading AJAX : Not Found&quot;,&quot;AJAX_FORBIDDEN&quot;:&quot;Error Loading AJAX : Forbidden&quot;,&quot;IFRAME_ERROR&quot;:&quot;Error Loading Page&quot;,&quot;TOGGLE_ZOOM&quot;:&quot;Toggle zoom level&quot;,&quot;TOGGLE_THUMBS&quot;:&quot;Toggle thumbnails&quot;,&quot;TOGGLE_SLIDESHOW&quot;:&quot;Toggle slideshow&quot;,&quot;TOGGLE_FULLSCREEN&quot;:&quot;Toggle full-screen mode&quot;},&quot;Images&quot;:{&quot;Panzoom&quot;:{&quot;maxScale&quot;:2}},&quot;mainClass&quot;:&quot;modula-fancybox-container modula-lightbox-jtg-4113&quot;,&quot;Html&quot;:{&quot;videoAutoplay&quot;:0,&quot;videoTpl&quot;:&quot;&lt;video class=\\&quot;fancybox__html5video\\&quot; controls muted playsinline controlsList controlsList=\\&quot;nodownload\\&quot; poster=\\&quot;{{poster}}\\&quot; src=\\&quot;{{src}}\\&quot; type=\\&quot;{{format}}\\&quot; &gt;  Sorry, your browser doesn&#039;t support embedded videos, &lt;a href=\\&quot;{{src}}\\&quot;&gt; download &lt;\\\/a&gt; and watch with your favorite video player! &lt;\\\/video&gt;&quot;}},&quot;inView&quot;:false,&quot;email_subject&quot;:&quot;\\u00a1\\u00a1Mira esta impresionante imagen!!&quot;,&quot;email_message&quot;:&quot;Este es el enlace a la imagen: %%image_link%% y este es el enlace a la galer\\u00eda: %%gallery_link%%&quot;,&quot;lightbox&quot;:&quot;fancybox&quot;,&quot;lightbox_devices&quot;:&quot;both&quot;}\">\n\n\t\n\t<div  class=\"modula-items\">\n\t\t<div class=\"modula-item effect-pufrobo\" >\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-overlay\"><\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-content\">\n\n\t\t<a data-image-id=\"4114\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"jtg-4113\" data-caption=\"\" aria-label=\"Open image in lightbox\" class=\"tile-inner modula-item-link\"><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pic wp-image-4114\"  data-valign=\"middle\" data-halign=\"center\" alt=\"mercado de domingo de du gia\" data-full=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/du-gia-mercado.webp\" title=\"du-gia-mercado\" crop=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/du-gia-mercado-300x169.webp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/du-gia-mercado-300x169.webp\" data-caption=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/du-gia-mercado.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/du-gia-mercado-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/du-gia-mercado-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n\t\t<div class=\"figc no-description\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"figc-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><div class=\"modula-item effect-pufrobo\" >\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-overlay\"><\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-content\">\n\n\t\t<a data-image-id=\"4115\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"jtg-4113\" data-caption=\"\" aria-label=\"Open image in lightbox\" class=\"tile-inner modula-item-link\"><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pic wp-image-4115\"  data-valign=\"middle\" data-halign=\"center\" alt=\"mujer en mercado de domingo de du gia\" data-full=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/mercado-domingo-du-gia.webp\" title=\"mercado-domingo-du-gia\" crop=\"\" width=\"226\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/mercado-domingo-du-gia-226x300.webp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/mercado-domingo-du-gia-226x300.webp\" data-caption=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/mercado-domingo-du-gia.webp 771w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/mercado-domingo-du-gia-226x300.webp 226w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/mercado-domingo-du-gia-768x1020.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px\" \/>\n\t\t<div class=\"figc no-description\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"figc-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><div class=\"modula-item effect-pufrobo\" >\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-overlay\"><\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-content\">\n\n\t\t<a data-image-id=\"4116\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"jtg-4113\" data-caption=\"\" aria-label=\"Open image in lightbox\" class=\"tile-inner modula-item-link\"><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pic wp-image-4116\"  data-valign=\"middle\" data-halign=\"center\" alt=\"mujeres etnicas en du gia, vietnam\" data-full=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/etnias-mercado-du-gia.webp\" title=\"etnias-mercado-du-gia\" crop=\"\" width=\"226\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/etnias-mercado-du-gia-226x300.webp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/etnias-mercado-du-gia-226x300.webp\" data-caption=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/etnias-mercado-du-gia.webp 771w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/etnias-mercado-du-gia-226x300.webp 226w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/etnias-mercado-du-gia-768x1020.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px\" \/>\n\t\t<div class=\"figc no-description\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"figc-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><div class=\"modula-item effect-pufrobo\" >\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-overlay\"><\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"modula-item-content\">\n\n\t\t<a data-image-id=\"4117\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" rel=\"jtg-4113\" data-caption=\"\" aria-label=\"Open image in lightbox\" class=\"tile-inner modula-item-link\"><\/a><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"pic wp-image-4117\"  data-valign=\"middle\" data-halign=\"center\" alt=\"mercado domingo en du gia, vietnam\" data-full=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/mercado-du-gia.jpg\" title=\"mercado-du-gia\" crop=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"226\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/mercado-du-gia-300x226.webp\" data-src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/mercado-du-gia-300x226.webp\" data-caption=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/mercado-du-gia.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/mercado-du-gia-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/mercado-du-gia-768x578.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\n\t\t<div class=\"figc no-description\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"figc-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\n\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n\t{\n\t\t\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n\t\t\"@type\"   : \"ImageGallery\",\n\t\t\"id\"      : \"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#modula-gallery-4113\",\n\t\t\"url\"     : \"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/\"\n\t}\n\n\t<\/script>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your stay in Du Gia lands on a Sunday, get up early and wander through the local market the village streets turn into \u2014 without a doubt one of the most authentic experiences around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>This is the longest riding day<\/strong> of the route. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s technically possible to follow the DT176 and return to Ha Giang along the southern side, but the poor state of the road makes it a very unappealing option best avoided \u2014 you&#8217;ll end up taking longer and souring the experience.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The best option is to keep the route circular, riding back to Lang Khac and taking the turn-off toward Nam Luong.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This road begins along a gorgeous valley from which, after a short stop at a viewpoint, a climb takes you up to the top of the pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once up there, simply follow the lower road until you reach <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/pQvWe8QJBFVN1oTp9\">this spot<\/a>, where you can stop for lunch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From there, take the road that runs parallel to the river. After a mountain pass and a jaw-dropping descent, you&#8217;ll reach a pretty roadside waterfall known as A Boong Waterfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final stretch first crosses rice paddies and then hugs the river through a beautiful canyon nicknamed Little Ma Pi Leng, before rejoining the main road back to Ha Giang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-dia-4-1024x768.webp\" alt=\"day 4 of the Ha Giang Loop\" class=\"wp-image-1625\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-dia-4-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-dia-4-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-dia-4-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-dia-4.jpg 1067w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Scenery on day four of the loop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Loop map, day 4<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Map of the Ha Giang route for day four<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/1\/embed?mid=1zXyqAgNZGnR5JbSiAWIVD7U1hWqTi01B&#038;ehbc=2E312F\" width=\"100%\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_ha_giang_loop_in_3_days_and_2_nights\"><\/span>The Ha Giang Loop in 3 days and 2 nights<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While <strong>the ideal route takes 4 days<\/strong>, you can shorten it if you&#8217;re tight on time. Keep in mind, though, that this is a route you&#8217;ll savor at every moment \u2014 the less you rush, the better the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That said, doing the <strong>Ha Giang Loop<\/strong> in <strong>three days<\/strong> is entirely feasible, and a good fit for anyone who can&#8217;t (or doesn&#8217;t want to) spend four full days in Ha Giang. It does mean <strong>somewhat longer days<\/strong> on the bike and fewer stops than the classic four-day route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Day 1: Ha Giang &#8211; Dong Van<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first day is the longest in kilometers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The usual plan is to leave <strong>Ha Giang<\/strong> early to cover as much ground as possible and <strong>sleep in Dong Van<\/strong>. Over the day you&#8217;ll see most of the scenery from days 1 and 2 of the classic loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Day 2: Dong Van &#8211; Du Gia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day two, on this version as well, tends to be <strong>the most spectacular of the loop<\/strong>. It&#8217;s practically identical to the 4-day version, except you start a few kilometers earlier, from Dong Van, continue toward <strong>Meo Vac,<\/strong> and then link up with back roads bound for <strong>Du Gia<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Day 3: Du Gia &#8211; Ha Giang<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day three is <strong>identical to the four-day route<\/strong>, returning from Du Gia to Ha Giang. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s a more relaxed day, with less time pressure \u2014 one to enjoy the scenery before closing the loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-dia-3-1024x364.webp\" alt=\"roads of the Ha Giang Loop by motorbike\" class=\"wp-image-2049\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-dia-3-1024x364.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-dia-3-300x107.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-dia-3-768x273.webp 768w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-dia-3.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The roads on the Ha Giang Loop are spectacular, but dangerous if you overdo the speed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the_ha_giang_loop_in_2_days_and_1_night\"><\/span>The Ha Giang Loop in 2 days and 1 night<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re <strong>really short on time<\/strong> but don&#8217;t want to miss at least a piece of the <strong>Ha Giang Loop<\/strong>, there&#8217;s the option of a <strong>2-day, 1-night tour<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the shortest possible format: essentially you <strong>leave from Ha Giang<\/strong>, reach <strong>Dong Van<\/strong> on day one and <strong>ride back to Ha Giang on day two<\/strong>, largely retracing the same road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s not an option <strong>we recommend<\/strong>, since <strong>it leaves out a good share of the best stretches<\/strong> of the classic <strong>4-day<\/strong> route and forces you to cover <strong>a lot of daily kilometers<\/strong> on the bike, which can get tiring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, if you have no other choice and want <strong>a first taste of the landscapes<\/strong> of this part of the country, it can be worth considering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"extension_to_ban_gioc_waterfall_8-day_loop\"><\/span>Extension to Ban Gioc waterfall (8-day loop)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For anyone left wanting more, we&#8217;ll soon have a new article ready covering the extension of this route: the stretch running <strong>from Meo Vac into the neighboring province of Cao Bang, past the Ban Gioc waterfall<\/strong> that separates China from Vietnam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ll need at least 6 days of travel for this one, but we promise you&#8217;ll love it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ban-gioc-waterfall-vietnam-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"Ban Gioc waterfall in Vietnam\" class=\"wp-image-1629\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ban-gioc-waterfall-vietnam-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ban-gioc-waterfall-vietnam-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ban-gioc-waterfall-vietnam-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ban-gioc-waterfall-vietnam-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ban-gioc-waterfall-vietnam.jpg 1778w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ban Gioc waterfall in Cao Bang province<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"riding_the_ha_giang_loop_independently_or_on_a_tour\"><\/span>Riding the Ha Giang Loop independently or on a tour?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most common questions travelers ask themselves when planning this route through Ha Giang is how to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The answer depends heavily on your personal situation, and it boils down to two options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Ha Giang Loop on your own <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To ride the Ha Giang Loop independently, <strong>you must carry a valid International Driving Permit.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I ride in Vietnam with my International Driving Permit?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re planning to ride the motorbike yourself, check this carefully, because <strong>not every International Driving Permit is valid in Vietnam<\/strong> \u2014 it depends on which convention yours was issued under.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plenty of travelers (ourselves included) rode for years with non-valid IDPs without any trouble, but <strong>with Ha Giang&#8217;s growing popularity<\/strong> among visitors to Vietnam, <strong>since early 2023<\/strong> there have been <strong>frequent police checkpoints<\/strong> along the whole route, where foreign tourists riding on their own are routinely stopped so police can <strong>check<\/strong> whether they hold a valid international license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Vietnam only recognizes International Driving Permits issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention<\/strong>. This catches a lot of people out: the IDPs issued in countries like the <strong>United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada or Spain<\/strong> follow the <strong>1949 Geneva Convention<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Vietnam never signed that convention<\/strong>, so it&#8217;s under no obligation to accept an IDP issued under it. As simple (and as annoying) as that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Whatever your nationality<\/strong>, make sure you check the following before riding a motorbike in Ha Giang:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your International Driving Permit <strong>was issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It carries the <strong>category A stamp (motorcycle)<\/strong>, which requires holding a motorcycle license in your home country. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You also carry <strong>your national driving license<\/strong> with you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>An IDP marked only with category B (car) is not valid<\/strong> for riding motorcycles in Vietnam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re stopped without a valid permit, the fine is 3,000,000 VND (~US$115). The &#8220;good&#8221; news, in principle, is that you only pay it once <strong>and it covers you for the rest of the loop, as long as you don&#8217;t leave Ha Giang province.<\/strong> Bear in mind, though, that you usually get no receipt or written guarantee of this \u2014 just the word of the officer who stopped you.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you don&#8217;t pay, they&#8217;ll impound the motorbike, and the owner (usually the rental company) will have to settle the fine. Naturally, they&#8217;ll then charge it back to you. You also won&#8217;t be able to continue the trip until the matter is resolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Fair warning:<\/strong> don&#8217;t assume you&#8217;ll slip through \u2014 on our latest loop (2025) we were stopped 6 times in total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"456\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-ma-pi-len-pass-2-1024x456.webp\" alt=\"views from the motorbike on the Ha Giang Loop\" class=\"wp-image-2041\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-ma-pi-len-pass-2-1024x456.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-ma-pi-len-pass-2-300x134.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-ma-pi-len-pass-2-768x342.webp 768w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-ma-pi-len-pass-2.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Taking in Ma Pi Leng Pass<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to rent a motorbike in Ha Giang<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The most common thing is to rent your motorbike wherever you spend the night \u2014 that is, at your own accommodation<\/strong>. That&#8217;s why most places to stay in the area try their hardest to convince you to sleep at theirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Some offer the first night free on the condition that you rent the motorbike through them<\/strong> for the full length of the loop. Either way, the decision is yours \u2014 but before handing over any money, make sure the bikes are in good condition and that they provide safety gear, support and insurance in case of any incident or accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prices usually hover around 180,000\u2013220,000 VND (~US$7\u20138.50) per day for the most basic motorbikes (Honda Blade 110 and similar). On top of that, it&#8217;s well worth adding comprehensive insurance so you&#8217;re not paying for damage out of pocket if there&#8217;s an accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What type of motorbike to choose<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep in mind that <strong>the bikes used for the Ha Giang Loop are semi-automatic or manual<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>We strongly advise against riding the route on fully automatic scooters<\/strong> because of the steep gradients on some stretches and the real danger of the bike running away from you downhill, leaving you unable to brake \u2014 or having a very bad time trying.<\/p>\n<cite>Viajar por Vietnam<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re not familiar with this type of motorcycle, try to arrive in Ha Giang a day early and practice before diving into the route. We promise that once you get the hang of it, you won&#8217;t want anything else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1067\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/valle-vistas-ha-giang-loop-dia-2-edited.jpg\" alt=\"views on day 2 of the Ha Giang Loop\" class=\"wp-image-1638\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/valle-vistas-ha-giang-loop-dia-2-edited.jpg 1067w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/valle-vistas-ha-giang-loop-dia-2-edited-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/valle-vistas-ha-giang-loop-dia-2-edited-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/valle-vistas-ha-giang-loop-dia-2-edited-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1067px) 100vw, 1067px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Views over one of the many villages along the route<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Ha Giang Loop on a tour or with an Easy Rider<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether <strong>you don&#8217;t hold an IDP that&#8217;s valid in Vietnam<\/strong> (1968 Vienna Convention) or you simply can&#8217;t picture yourself riding a motorbike on the country&#8217;s roads, we have good news: you don&#8217;t need to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In fact, <strong>most travelers doing the loop these days don&#8217;t ride themselves<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The solution? Join a tour, or hire a Vietnamese driver to take you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These two options differ in a few ways, which we break down below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ha Giang motorbike tours<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The most common way to do the Ha Giang Loop<\/strong> is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/hanoi-l205\/easy-rider-ha-giang-loop-4-days-3-nights-motorbike-tour-t455317\/?partner_id=RY2YHEV&amp;utm_medium=travel_agent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">on a tour<\/a>. Doing the route this way, the company you book with will assign you (if you&#8217;re not riding) a local driver who takes you along the entire journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These drivers, very common across Vietnam, are known as <strong>Easy Riders<\/strong> \u2014 generally professionals who make their living taking tourists by motorbike around different parts of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you do ride, you can still join a tour<\/strong> \u2014 an excellent way to meet people and share the road with travelers from all over the world. And if you ride your own bike, the tour price is slightly lower than going with a driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These tours normally <strong>include everything you need for the full route (accommodation, transport, meals, insurance, driver, entry tickets and fuel)<\/strong> \u2014 all you have to choose is the length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Besides the driver, they also include <strong>an English-speaking guide<\/strong> who handles the explanations and the logistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-tour-en-moto-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"motorbike tour in Ha Giang\" class=\"wp-image-2039\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-tour-en-moto-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-tour-en-moto-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-tour-en-moto-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-loop-tour-en-moto.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Motorbike tour through Ha Giang. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The advantages of joining a tour are many \u2014 among them, not having to plan anything or book accommodation in advance. You simply sit back and soak up the spectacular landscapes of Ha Giang province.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pros<\/strong> of doing the Ha Giang Loop on a tour<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You don&#8217;t handle any planning \u2014 just relax and let yourself be driven.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Going as a group, you meet people and mix with travelers from around the world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Cons<\/strong> of doing the Ha Giang Loop on a tour<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It costs slightly more than going independently or hiring just a driver.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tours run on fixed schedules and routes, which you won&#8217;t be able to change.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To book a Ha Giang tour, you can go through any agency in Hanoi, travel to Ha Giang and arrange it with your accommodation, or reserve it online in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Here are the tours we usually recommend<\/strong>, all with a local Easy Rider driver included and bookable online:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/hanoi-l205\/tour-de-lujo-en-moto-de-4-dias-por-ha-giang-loop-con-easy-rider-t805224\/?partner_id=RY2YHEV&amp;utm_medium=travel_agent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">4-day \/ 3-night tour<\/a> \u2014 the full classic circuit, our top recommendation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/hanoi-l205\/tour-de-lujo-en-moto-de-3-dias-por-el-bucle-de-ha-giang-con-easy-rider-t758011\/?partner_id=RY2YHEV&amp;utm_medium=travel_agent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">3-day \/ 2-night tour<\/a> \u2014 a comfortable version if you&#8217;re shorter on time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/hanoi-l205\/easy-rider-ha-giang-tour-en-moto-3-dias-2-noches-t453231\/?partner_id=RY2YHEV&amp;utm_medium=travel_agent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">2-day \/ 1-night tour<\/a> \u2014 only if you&#8217;re really pressed for time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just below you&#8217;ll find a comparison table so you can see the price and duration differences at a glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which Ha Giang tour to choose: comparison table<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;ve decided to do the loop with an Easy Rider, here are the three tours we recommend most often, with duration, price and the profile each one suits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Tour<\/th><th>Duration<\/th><th>Approx. price<\/th><th>Best for<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/hanoi-l205\/easy-rider-ha-giang-tour-en-moto-3-dias-2-noches-t453231\/?partner_id=RY2YHEV&amp;utm_medium=travel_agent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Easy Rider 2 days<\/a><\/td><td>2 days \/ 1 night<\/td><td><strong>4,420,000 VND (~US$170)<\/strong><\/td><td>Tight schedule, first taste of the loop<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/hanoi-l205\/tour-de-lujo-en-moto-de-3-dias-por-el-bucle-de-ha-giang-con-easy-rider-t758011\/?partner_id=RY2YHEV&amp;utm_medium=travel_agent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Easy Rider 3 days<\/a><\/td><td>3 days \/ 2 nights<\/td><td><strong>6,300,000 VND (~US$240)<\/strong><\/td><td>Practical travelers, faster pace<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/hanoi-l205\/tour-de-lujo-en-moto-de-4-dias-por-ha-giang-loop-con-easy-rider-t805224\/?partner_id=RY2YHEV&amp;utm_medium=travel_agent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Easy Rider 4 days<\/a><\/td><td>4 days \/ 3 nights<\/td><td><strong>7,300,000 VND (~US$280)<\/strong><\/td><td>The complete, unhurried experience<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you have to pick one, the 4-day tour is our recommendation.<\/strong> The price difference over the 3-day version buys you an unhurried extra day in Du Gia, one of the best parts of the loop. <strong>In our book, it&#8217;s worth every dollar.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All the tours <strong>include accommodation, meals, fuel, a local Easy Rider driver, an English-speaking guide and entry to the stops along the route<\/strong>. You just have to show up and enjoy the scenery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hiring a private driver (Easy Rider)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If group travel isn&#8217;t really your thing and you&#8217;d rather do this route at your own pace \u2014 without riding \u2014 there&#8217;s the option of <strong>hiring an Easy Rider to take you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Prices<\/strong> will depend on your bargaining skills, but they hover around 550,000\u2013700,000 VND (~US$21\u201327) per day. Bear in mind this usually doesn&#8217;t include the driver&#8217;s accommodation or meals, which you&#8217;ll pay separately. Fuel usually isn&#8217;t included either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our advice is to ask around in several places to find the best prices and inclusions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While this option is a bit cheaper, it naturally requires spending some time planning the route&#8217;s logistics, booking accommodation and sorting out the other details of the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The upside, beyond the slightly lower price, is that you set your own pace and shape the route your way, since the driver is exclusively yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>To hire one,<\/strong> arrange it directly with your accommodation in Ha Giang (recommended) or with one of the many agencies in Hanoi beforehand. Remember to make it clear you don&#8217;t want a tour \u2014 just a driver to take you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pros<\/strong> of doing the Ha Giang Loop with an Easy Rider<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Price is the main advantage \u2014 slightly cheaper than a tour.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>More freedom: the driver is all yours and you choose where to go.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cons<\/strong> of doing the Ha Giang Loop with an Easy Rider<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The price usually doesn&#8217;t cover the driver&#8217;s accommodation and meals (which you&#8217;ll arrange separately) or fuel, though all of this is negotiable with your provider.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As with the independent loop, you&#8217;ll need to plan the route and book the trip&#8217;s accommodation yourself.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"before_you_start_the_loop_the_essentials\"><\/span>Before you start the loop: the essentials<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before you get on the bike, <strong>here are seven things worth having squared away<\/strong> so the loop doesn&#8217;t catch you off guard. The things we wish we&#8217;d known the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Ha Giang border permit: mandatory since 2026 (properly explained)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Updated July 2026.<\/strong> Ha Giang&#8217;s famous <em>border permit<\/em> is no longer that piece of paper hardly anyone asked for: new regulations arrived in late 2025, and since spring 2026 the checks have been for real. Here&#8217;s what&#8217;s actually going on \u2014 no noise, because there&#8217;s a lot of confusion floating around online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What it is and where it comes from.<\/strong> The loop runs right along the border with China, and Vietnam requires foreigners to carry a <strong>border area permit<\/strong> to travel through it. It&#8217;s not something the agencies made up: it&#8217;s set out in <strong>Decree 299\/2025\/N\u0110-CP<\/strong> (in force since November 17, 2025), which requires carrying this permit \u2014 along with your passport \u2014 in the border districts of <strong>Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van and Meo Vac<\/strong>. In practical terms: <strong>the entire classic loop<\/strong>, including Ma Pi Leng, the Nho Que River and the Lung Cu Flag Tower, even if you&#8217;re only passing through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How much it costs.<\/strong> The official fee is <strong>US$10 per person (\u2248 260,000 VND)<\/strong>, set by Circular 28\/2026 of the Ministry of Finance, in force since April 1, 2026. If your hostel or agency charges a little extra for handling it, that&#8217;s normal; if they ask for much more, now you know why this section exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How to get it.<\/strong> The permit is issued by the provincial police, and there are two ways: have <strong>your hostel, homestay or motorbike rental shop<\/strong> in Ha Giang arrange it (the usual route \u2014 it&#8217;s done the same day), or get it yourself at the <strong>immigration office in Ha Giang city<\/strong> with your passport, visa and accommodation details. One detail that explains why you shouldn&#8217;t leave it to the last second: the law requires notifying the Border Guard <strong>24 hours in advance<\/strong> whenever an organization brings foreigners into the zone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What if I&#8217;m on a tour?<\/strong> Most include it and handle it for you \u2014 but not all. <strong>Get written confirmation<\/strong> before you book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The checkpoints are real<\/strong> \u2014 above all at the Bac Sum pass and in Yen Minh \u2014 and reported fines for riding without your paperwork in order range from <strong>2 to 6 million VND (~US$75\u2013230)<\/strong>. For ten dollars, that&#8217;s not a lottery worth playing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Don&#8217;t confuse it with the International Driving Permit<\/strong> (covered just above): they&#8217;re two different documents, and if you ride yourself you need both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Official sources: <a href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/decreto-299-2025-nd-cp-zona-fronteriza-vietnam.pdf\">Decree 299\/2025\/N\u0110-CP (PDF)<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/circular-28-2026-tt-btc-tasas-permiso-fronterizo-vietnam.pdf\">Circular 28\/2026\/TT-BTC (PDF)<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Travel insurance (non-negotiable)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ha Giang Loop is <strong>one of the most rewarding motorbike routes in Southeast Asia \u2014 and also one of the riskiest<\/strong>: narrow roads, cliffs, local traffic and long stretches far from a decent hospital. Accidents happen \u2014 especially among tourists who decide to ride on their own \u2014 and while most aren&#8217;t serious, some are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>And here&#8217;s the key detail:<\/strong> if you ride without a 1968 Vienna Convention permit, your travel insurance <strong>won&#8217;t cover you<\/strong> in an accident, since you&#8217;d be riding illegally in the country. If you come off the bike, every bill is yours \u2014 keep that in mind before deciding to ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We never leave home without it: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/heymondo.es\/?utm_medium=Afiliado&amp;utm_source=AVENTURATEAVIAJAR&amp;utm_campaign=PRINCIPAL&amp;cod_descuento=AVENTURATEAVIAJAR&amp;ag_campaign=VIAJARPORVIETNAM&amp;agencia=7b8661798dc1dcb30588ad3dc792cc38ef05\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Heymondo travel insurance with a 5% discount<\/a><\/strong>, with medical coverage, 24\/7 assistance and protection for the unexpected. For what it costs, it&#8217;s not worth gambling without it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Staying connected: eSIM and apps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some stretches of the loop have <strong>patchy or no signal<\/strong>, especially between Meo Vac and Du Gia. Even so, it pays to arrive connected for Maps, Grab and messaging your accommodation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What has worked best for us is the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/holafly.sjv.io\/c\/2895494\/2006335\/24764?u=https%3A%2F%2Fesim.holafly.com%2Fesim-vietnam%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Holafly eSIM with unlimited data (5% discount)<\/a><\/strong>: you install it before leaving home, land in Vietnam with data from the airport, and forget about hunting for a physical SIM. For more detail, here&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/vietnam-esim\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">our full guide to eSIMs in Vietnam<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>About ride-hailing apps in Ha Giang city<\/strong>: these days <strong>both Grab and Xanh SM work<\/strong>. A few years back Grab was unreliable there and only Xanh SM was used, but today both run fine. Handy for getting around the city before and after the loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Offline maps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Download the region&#8217;s map <strong>before leaving <\/strong>Hanoi. Google Maps in offline mode or Maps.me (our pick) both work well \u2014 either has the loop area mapped in good detail. It saves you real headaches when the signal drops right after Ma Pi Leng Pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Don&#8217;t ride at night<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>We mean it<\/strong>: the loop <strong>has no street lighting<\/strong>, the cliffs are dangerous, animals (cows, goats, dogs) cross without warning, and many Vietnamese vehicles run modified headlights so bright they blind you head-on. Plan every stage <strong>to reach your accommodation before 6:30 pm<\/strong>. No excuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Clothing and footwear<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the higher areas like Quan Ba (1,500 m) or Ma Pi Leng <strong>it can be chilly all year round<\/strong>, even in summer. Pack a <strong>windbreaker<\/strong> or something warm depending on the season. In winter (December\u2013January), go straight for thermal layers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the viewpoints and trails like the Sky Path or Lung Khuy Cave, <strong>closed shoes<\/strong> \u2014 no flip-flops. Some viewpoints and paths are rocky and slippery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The loop runs on cash, not cards.<\/strong> Hardly any homestay, village restaurant, toll booth or gas station along the way takes card. Withdraw what you&#8217;ll need <strong>before leaving Ha Giang city<\/strong> (it has fee-free TPBank ATMs). The loop&#8217;s main towns have ATMs too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more on money in Vietnam, here&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/where-to-exchange-money-in-vietnam\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">our guide on where to exchange money<\/a>.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_to_pack_for_the_ha_giang_loop\"><\/span>What to pack for the Ha Giang Loop<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Normally, <strong>your big travel backpack stays at your accommodation<\/strong> in Ha Giang.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ideal setup for the loop is a small backpack on the bike with just enough for the 4 days on the road.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The rental comes with straps to tie your luggage down,<\/strong> so you won&#8217;t be carrying it on your back the whole time \u2014 your bag rides strapped to the rear of the motorbike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember: <strong>the less you carry, the better<\/strong>. You&#8217;ll spend most of your time riding, so you won&#8217;t need much.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The hostels along the route usually provide towels, body wash and shampoo<\/strong>, so you can skip packing those. Don&#8217;t forget a <strong>rain jacket<\/strong> in case a passing downpour catches you out \u2014 very common in these parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rain jacket<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Swimsuit and flip-flops<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clean t-shirts and pants just for the evenings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>T-shirts and pants for the day.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Charger <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Warm layers (depending on season)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sunglasses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Toiletries (travel size)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Knee pads, elbow pads and helmet (provided with the motorbike rental)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A photo of your passport on your phone<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>International Driving Permit (category A stamp)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"best_time_of_year_for_the_ha_giang_loop\"><\/span>Best time of year for the Ha Giang Loop<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Without a doubt, <a href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/ha-giang\/mejor-epoca-para-visitar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the best time to ride the loop<\/a> is <strong>from March to early June<\/strong>, coinciding with the dry season in this part of the country. For the bigger climate picture across the whole country, here&#8217;s our guide to the <a href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/best-time-to-visit-vietnam\/\" type=\"page\" id=\"4539\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best time to visit Vietnam.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We recommend <strong>avoiding the coldest winter months (December and January)<\/strong>, when temperatures can drop below freezing \u2014 not something you&#8217;ll enjoy on a motorbike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>In the rainy season (July and August), as in much of Vietnam, heavy rains can bring flooding,<\/strong> swollen rivers and landslides \u2014 though you can still catch good days during these months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In November, the buckwheat bloom paints the whole area and makes for another ideal (if cooler) window to experience Ha Giang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"247\" src=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-en-moto-1024x247.webp\" alt=\"riding the Ha Giang Loop by motorbike\" class=\"wp-image-1641\" srcset=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-en-moto-1024x247.webp 1024w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-en-moto-300x73.webp 300w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-en-moto-768x186.webp 768w, https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-en-moto.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The loop&#8217;s landscapes will leave you spellbound at every bend<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"final_thoughts_on_the_route_and_the_experience\"><\/span>Final thoughts on the route and the experience<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Ha Giang Loop is one of those experiences you have to live at least once<\/strong> \u2014 or, if you&#8217;re like us, several times (our fourth is coming up soon).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The landscapes along the way, the sense of freedom you get on the bike, the remoteness of it all and, above all, the deeply local, ethnic character of the region make it <strong>the ideal alternative to places already saturated by tourism, like Sapa.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not everyone will have the nerve to do it \u2014 and maybe that&#8217;s exactly what still keeps it away from mass tourism, preserving it as <strong>a place for a genuine adventure in Vietnam<\/strong> where you can connect with local people in a far more natural way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you haven&#8217;t lived it yet, dare to discover one of Southeast Asia&#8217;s best-kept corners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"ha_giang_loop_faqs\"><\/span>Ha Giang Loop FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1770623398199\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is the Ha Giang Loop dangerous?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The Ha Giang Loop is a mind-blowing experience, but \u2014 like any motorbike route \u2014 it carries some danger and risk. <br><br>The roads are narrow, traffic gets heavy at certain points, and on top of that there&#8217;s the Vietnamese driving style, which takes a while to understand.<br><br>If you&#8217;ve never ridden a motorbike and want to do the loop, we strongly recommend hiring a driver or joining a tour.<br><br>Accidents among tourists do happen, and while most aren&#8217;t serious, it&#8217;s easy to lose control of the bike and fall at some point. The worst accidents tend to involve experienced riders who get overconfident and won&#8217;t accept that the route&#8217;s average speed is 30-40 km\/h.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1770623467762\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can you do the Ha Giang Loop independently?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, but keep in mind that Vietnam only recognizes International Driving Permits issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. If yours isn&#8217;t from that convention, with a category A (motorcycle) stamp, you&#8217;ll be fined.<br><br>If you don&#8217;t pay the fine, they&#8217;ll impound the motorbike and you won&#8217;t be able to continue.<br><br>The IDPs issued in countries such as the US, the UK, Australia, Canada or Spain follow the <strong>1949 Geneva Convention<\/strong> \u2014 not accepted by Vietnam.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1770623498363\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What&#8217;s the fine for riding in Ha Giang without a valid license?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">If you&#8217;re stopped without a valid permit, the fine is 3,000,000 VND (~US$115).<br><br>The &#8220;good&#8221; news, in principle, is that you only pay it once <strong>and it covers you for the rest of the loop, as long as you don&#8217;t leave Ha Giang province.<\/strong> Bear in mind, though, that you usually get no receipt or written guarantee of this \u2014 just the word of the officer who stopped you.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1770623623805\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">I don&#8217;t ride a motorbike. Can I still do the Ha Giang Loop?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Absolutely. You can easily do it by booking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/hanoi-l205\/easy-rider-ha-giang-loop-4-days-3-nights-motorbike-tour-t455317\/?partner_id=RY2YHEV&amp;utm_medium=travel_agent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">a tour<\/a> or an Easy Rider to take you.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1770623656207\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How many days do you need for the Ha Giang Loop?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The ideal length is 4 days and 3 nights. If you have less time, you can also do it in 3 or 2 days.<br><br>And if you&#8217;re the unhurried kind, extend your loop a few more days through the neighboring province of Cao Bang to the Ban Gioc waterfall.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1770623823744\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can I do the Ha Giang Loop by car?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes, you can do the loop by car \u2014 there are car tours for those who&#8217;d rather not ride.<br><br>Keep in mind, though, that this is a scenic route and much of its magic lies in the freedom and the feeling of traveling by motorbike. The state of some roads can also make certain stretches tiring inside a car.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1778216456122\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">How much does the Ha Giang Loop cost in total?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Independently, budget <strong>around US$160-220 per person<\/strong> (4 days) covering motorbike rental, fuel, accommodation, meals and entry tickets. Add the bus from Hanoi (300,000 VND \u2248 US$12) and the night before in Ha Giang city. <br>With an Easy Rider, <strong>US$170-280 depending on the tour<\/strong> (2\/3\/4 days, all inclusive) \u2014 sometimes the bus and the first night&#8217;s accommodation are included too.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1770712345678\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Do I need a permit for the Ha Giang Loop in 2026?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. Since 2026 the <strong>border area permit<\/strong> (official fee: US$10, Decree 299\/2025 and Circular 28\/2026) is required of all foreigners in the loop&#8217;s districts; your hostel or agency in Ha Giang can arrange it the same day with your passport and visa.<br><br>And if you ride yourself, you also need an <strong>International Driving Permit issued under the Vienna Convention<\/strong>. They&#8217;re two different documents.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2714\ufe0f Information reviewed and last updated on May 8, 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The province of Ha Giang, right up against the border with southern China, is always a fascinating experience; it&#8217;s one of the most beautiful corners of Vietnam, and one you shouldn&#8217;t leave out of your Vietnam itinerary. Practically 100% of the travelers who make it up here come for one reason: the Ha Giang Loop, &#8230; <a title=\"The Ha Giang Loop: Vietnam&#8217;s best motorbike route (2026 guide)\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about The Ha Giang Loop: Vietnam&#8217;s best motorbike route (2026 guide)\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5057,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5047","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Ha Giang Loop: Vietnam&#039;s best motorbike route (2026 guide) - Viajar por Vietnam<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Complete Ha Giang Loop guide: day-by-day itinerary, the new 2026 border permit explained, costs, tours and where to stay.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Ha Giang Loop: Vietnam&#039;s best motorbike route (2026 guide) - Viajar por Vietnam\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Complete Ha Giang Loop guide: day-by-day itinerary, the new 2026 border permit explained, costs, tours and where to stay.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Viajar por Vietnam\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Viajar-por-Vietnam-100445581672930\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-15T19:13:26+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-vietnam-loop.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1067\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"44 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Diego\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3e0137cb7221c7948312a53ba2cf1c3d\"},\"headline\":\"The Ha Giang Loop: Vietnam&#8217;s best motorbike route (2026 guide)\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-01-14T09:55:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-15T19:13:26+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":8523,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/ha-giang-vietnam-loop.webp\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"ItemPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/\",\"name\":\"The Ha Giang Loop: Vietnam's best motorbike route (2026 guide) - Viajar por Vietnam\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/ha-giang-vietnam-loop.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-01-14T09:55:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-15T19:13:26+00:00\",\"description\":\"Complete Ha Giang Loop guide: day-by-day itinerary, the new 2026 border permit explained, costs, tours and where to stay.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"mainEntity\":[{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623398199\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623467762\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623498363\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623623805\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623656207\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623823744\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1778216456122\"},{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770712345678\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/ha-giang-vietnam-loop.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/ha-giang-vietnam-loop.webp\",\"width\":1067,\"height\":800,\"caption\":\"Vistas del paisaje en el Ha Giang Loop\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The Ha Giang Loop: Vietnam&#8217;s best motorbike route (2026 guide)\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"Viajar por Vietnam\",\"description\":\"Vietnam travel blog for independent travelers\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Viajar por Vietnam\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/viajar-por-vietnam-logotipo-nuevo.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/viajar-por-vietnam-logotipo-nuevo.webp\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":1024,\"caption\":\"Viajar por Vietnam\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/Viajar-por-Vietnam-100445581672930\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/viajar_por_vietnam\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCY71StkTA6x6M7kfR6frTdg\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3e0137cb7221c7948312a53ba2cf1c3d\",\"name\":\"Diego\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/20a3bb2a40df721a1ff0c24d07befac44007144dd0f5c6e3b2ca98500b81e579?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/20a3bb2a40df721a1ff0c24d07befac44007144dd0f5c6e3b2ca98500b81e579?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/20a3bb2a40df721a1ff0c24d07befac44007144dd0f5c6e3b2ca98500b81e579?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Diego\"},\"description\":\"Viajar es una constante en mi vida, con especial debilidad por Asia. A lo largo de los a\u00f1os he recorrido buena parte del continente asi\u00e1tico y tambi\u00e9n extensas zonas de Am\u00e9rica. Llegu\u00e9 a Vietnam por primera vez en 2019 despu\u00e9s de pasar el dengue en Camboya. No era el mejor contexto para enamorarse de un pa\u00eds y como era de esperar, Vietnam no me dijo gran cosa. Estuve tres d\u00edas y me fui convencido de que aquello no ten\u00eda mucho que ofrecerme. Unos meses despu\u00e9s decid\u00ed volver para darle una segunda oportunidad al pa\u00eds, por pura intuici\u00f3n. Result\u00f3 ser una de las mejores decisiones de viaje que he tomado, lo cual demuestra que a veces conviene desconfiar de las primeras impresiones. Desde entonces he vuelto cada a\u00f1o, hasta convertir Vietnam actualmente en uno de mis lugares principales de residencia, donde paso buena parte del a\u00f1o instalado en Ho Chi Minh City, y desde donde aprovecho para seguir recorriendo el pa\u00eds por dentro, con m\u00e1s calma y bastante menos fiebre. Adem\u00e1s de viajar por mi cuenta, mi pasion por llevar mis viajes a otros, me llevo a crear Aventurate a Viajar, una agencia de viajes en grupo desde donde coordino y dise\u00f1o viajes en grupo por Vietnam y otros muchos pa\u00edses.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/quienes-somos\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/rekuenk\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623398199\",\"position\":1,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623398199\",\"name\":\"Is the Ha Giang Loop dangerous?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Ha Giang Loop is a mind-blowing experience, but \u2014 like any motorbike route \u2014 it carries some danger and risk. <br><br>The roads are narrow, traffic gets heavy at certain points, and on top of that there's the Vietnamese driving style, which takes a while to understand.<br><br>If you've never ridden a motorbike and want to do the loop, we strongly recommend hiring a driver or joining a tour.<br><br>Accidents among tourists do happen, and while most aren't serious, it's easy to lose control of the bike and fall at some point. The worst accidents tend to involve experienced riders who get overconfident and won't accept that the route's average speed is 30-40 km\\\/h.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623467762\",\"position\":2,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623467762\",\"name\":\"Can you do the Ha Giang Loop independently?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, but keep in mind that Vietnam only recognizes International Driving Permits issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. If yours isn't from that convention, with a category A (motorcycle) stamp, you'll be fined.<br><br>If you don't pay the fine, they'll impound the motorbike and you won't be able to continue.<br><br>The IDPs issued in countries such as the US, the UK, Australia, Canada or Spain follow the <strong>1949 Geneva Convention<\\\/strong> \u2014 not accepted by Vietnam.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623498363\",\"position\":3,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623498363\",\"name\":\"What's the fine for riding in Ha Giang without a valid license?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"If you're stopped without a valid permit, the fine is 3,000,000 VND (~US$115).<br><br>The \\\"good\\\" news, in principle, is that you only pay it once <strong>and it covers you for the rest of the loop, as long as you don't leave Ha Giang province.<\\\/strong> Bear in mind, though, that you usually get no receipt or written guarantee of this \u2014 just the word of the officer who stopped you.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623623805\",\"position\":4,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623623805\",\"name\":\"I don't ride a motorbike. Can I still do the Ha Giang Loop?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Absolutely. You can easily do it by booking <a href=\\\"https:\\\/\\\/www.getyourguide.com\\\/hanoi-l205\\\/easy-rider-ha-giang-loop-4-days-3-nights-motorbike-tour-t455317\\\/?partner_id=RY2YHEV&amp;utm_medium=travel_agent\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\" rel=\\\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\\\">a tour<\\\/a> or an Easy Rider to take you.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623656207\",\"position\":5,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623656207\",\"name\":\"How many days do you need for the Ha Giang Loop?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The ideal length is 4 days and 3 nights. If you have less time, you can also do it in 3 or 2 days.<br><br>And if you're the unhurried kind, extend your loop a few more days through the neighboring province of Cao Bang to the Ban Gioc waterfall.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623823744\",\"position\":6,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770623823744\",\"name\":\"Can I do the Ha Giang Loop by car?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, you can do the loop by car \u2014 there are car tours for those who'd rather not ride.<br><br>Keep in mind, though, that this is a scenic route and much of its magic lies in the freedom and the feeling of traveling by motorbike. The state of some roads can also make certain stretches tiring inside a car.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1778216456122\",\"position\":7,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1778216456122\",\"name\":\"How much does the Ha Giang Loop cost in total?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Independently, budget <strong>around US$160-220 per person<\\\/strong> (4 days) covering motorbike rental, fuel, accommodation, meals and entry tickets. Add the bus from Hanoi (300,000 VND \u2248 US$12) and the night before in Ha Giang city. <br>With an Easy Rider, <strong>US$170-280 depending on the tour<\\\/strong> (2\\\/3\\\/4 days, all inclusive) \u2014 sometimes the bus and the first night's accommodation are included too.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770712345678\",\"position\":8,\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/viajarvietnam.com\\\/en\\\/ha-giang\\\/#faq-question-1770712345678\",\"name\":\"Do I need a permit for the Ha Giang Loop in 2026?\",\"answerCount\":1,\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes. Since 2026 the <strong>border area permit<\\\/strong> (official fee: US$10, Decree 299\\\/2025 and Circular 28\\\/2026) is required of all foreigners in the loop's districts; your hostel or agency in Ha Giang can arrange it the same day with your passport and visa.<br><br>And if you ride yourself, you also need an <strong>International Driving Permit issued under the Vienna Convention<\\\/strong>. They're two different documents.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Ha Giang Loop: Vietnam's best motorbike route (2026 guide) - Viajar por Vietnam","description":"Complete Ha Giang Loop guide: day-by-day itinerary, the new 2026 border permit explained, costs, tours and where to stay.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Ha Giang Loop: Vietnam's best motorbike route (2026 guide) - Viajar por Vietnam","og_description":"Complete Ha Giang Loop guide: day-by-day itinerary, the new 2026 border permit explained, costs, tours and where to stay.","og_url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/","og_site_name":"Viajar por Vietnam","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Viajar-por-Vietnam-100445581672930","article_modified_time":"2026-07-15T19:13:26+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1067,"height":800,"url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-vietnam-loop.webp","type":"image\/webp"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"44 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/"},"author":{"name":"Diego","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/3e0137cb7221c7948312a53ba2cf1c3d"},"headline":"The Ha Giang Loop: Vietnam&#8217;s best motorbike route (2026 guide)","datePublished":"2021-01-14T09:55:11+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-15T19:13:26+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/"},"wordCount":8523,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-vietnam-loop.webp","inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":["WebPage","ItemPage","FAQPage"],"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/","url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/","name":"The Ha Giang Loop: Vietnam's best motorbike route (2026 guide) - Viajar por Vietnam","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-vietnam-loop.webp","datePublished":"2021-01-14T09:55:11+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-15T19:13:26+00:00","description":"Complete Ha Giang Loop guide: day-by-day itinerary, the new 2026 border permit explained, costs, tours and where to stay.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#breadcrumb"},"mainEntity":[{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623398199"},{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623467762"},{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623498363"},{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623623805"},{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623656207"},{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623823744"},{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1778216456122"},{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770712345678"}],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-vietnam-loop.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/ha-giang-vietnam-loop.webp","width":1067,"height":800,"caption":"Vistas del paisaje en el Ha Giang Loop"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Ha Giang Loop: Vietnam&#8217;s best motorbike route (2026 guide)"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/","name":"Viajar por Vietnam","description":"Vietnam travel blog for independent travelers","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/#organization","name":"Viajar por Vietnam","url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/viajar-por-vietnam-logotipo-nuevo.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/viajar-por-vietnam-logotipo-nuevo.webp","width":1024,"height":1024,"caption":"Viajar por Vietnam"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Viajar-por-Vietnam-100445581672930","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/viajar_por_vietnam","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCY71StkTA6x6M7kfR6frTdg"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/3e0137cb7221c7948312a53ba2cf1c3d","name":"Diego","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/20a3bb2a40df721a1ff0c24d07befac44007144dd0f5c6e3b2ca98500b81e579?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/20a3bb2a40df721a1ff0c24d07befac44007144dd0f5c6e3b2ca98500b81e579?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/20a3bb2a40df721a1ff0c24d07befac44007144dd0f5c6e3b2ca98500b81e579?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Diego"},"description":"Viajar es una constante en mi vida, con especial debilidad por Asia. A lo largo de los a\u00f1os he recorrido buena parte del continente asi\u00e1tico y tambi\u00e9n extensas zonas de Am\u00e9rica. Llegu\u00e9 a Vietnam por primera vez en 2019 despu\u00e9s de pasar el dengue en Camboya. No era el mejor contexto para enamorarse de un pa\u00eds y como era de esperar, Vietnam no me dijo gran cosa. Estuve tres d\u00edas y me fui convencido de que aquello no ten\u00eda mucho que ofrecerme. Unos meses despu\u00e9s decid\u00ed volver para darle una segunda oportunidad al pa\u00eds, por pura intuici\u00f3n. Result\u00f3 ser una de las mejores decisiones de viaje que he tomado, lo cual demuestra que a veces conviene desconfiar de las primeras impresiones. Desde entonces he vuelto cada a\u00f1o, hasta convertir Vietnam actualmente en uno de mis lugares principales de residencia, donde paso buena parte del a\u00f1o instalado en Ho Chi Minh City, y desde donde aprovecho para seguir recorriendo el pa\u00eds por dentro, con m\u00e1s calma y bastante menos fiebre. Adem\u00e1s de viajar por mi cuenta, mi pasion por llevar mis viajes a otros, me llevo a crear Aventurate a Viajar, una agencia de viajes en grupo desde donde coordino y dise\u00f1o viajes en grupo por Vietnam y otros muchos pa\u00edses.","sameAs":["https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/quienes-somos\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/rekuenk"],"url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623398199","position":1,"url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623398199","name":"Is the Ha Giang Loop dangerous?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Ha Giang Loop is a mind-blowing experience, but \u2014 like any motorbike route \u2014 it carries some danger and risk. <br><br>The roads are narrow, traffic gets heavy at certain points, and on top of that there's the Vietnamese driving style, which takes a while to understand.<br><br>If you've never ridden a motorbike and want to do the loop, we strongly recommend hiring a driver or joining a tour.<br><br>Accidents among tourists do happen, and while most aren't serious, it's easy to lose control of the bike and fall at some point. The worst accidents tend to involve experienced riders who get overconfident and won't accept that the route's average speed is 30-40 km\/h.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623467762","position":2,"url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623467762","name":"Can you do the Ha Giang Loop independently?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, but keep in mind that Vietnam only recognizes International Driving Permits issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. If yours isn't from that convention, with a category A (motorcycle) stamp, you'll be fined.<br><br>If you don't pay the fine, they'll impound the motorbike and you won't be able to continue.<br><br>The IDPs issued in countries such as the US, the UK, Australia, Canada or Spain follow the <strong>1949 Geneva Convention<\/strong> \u2014 not accepted by Vietnam.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623498363","position":3,"url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623498363","name":"What's the fine for riding in Ha Giang without a valid license?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"If you're stopped without a valid permit, the fine is 3,000,000 VND (~US$115).<br><br>The \"good\" news, in principle, is that you only pay it once <strong>and it covers you for the rest of the loop, as long as you don't leave Ha Giang province.<\/strong> Bear in mind, though, that you usually get no receipt or written guarantee of this \u2014 just the word of the officer who stopped you.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623623805","position":4,"url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623623805","name":"I don't ride a motorbike. Can I still do the Ha Giang Loop?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Absolutely. You can easily do it by booking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getyourguide.com\/hanoi-l205\/easy-rider-ha-giang-loop-4-days-3-nights-motorbike-tour-t455317\/?partner_id=RY2YHEV&amp;utm_medium=travel_agent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">a tour<\/a> or an Easy Rider to take you.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623656207","position":5,"url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623656207","name":"How many days do you need for the Ha Giang Loop?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The ideal length is 4 days and 3 nights. If you have less time, you can also do it in 3 or 2 days.<br><br>And if you're the unhurried kind, extend your loop a few more days through the neighboring province of Cao Bang to the Ban Gioc waterfall.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623823744","position":6,"url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770623823744","name":"Can I do the Ha Giang Loop by car?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, you can do the loop by car \u2014 there are car tours for those who'd rather not ride.<br><br>Keep in mind, though, that this is a scenic route and much of its magic lies in the freedom and the feeling of traveling by motorbike. The state of some roads can also make certain stretches tiring inside a car.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1778216456122","position":7,"url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1778216456122","name":"How much does the Ha Giang Loop cost in total?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Independently, budget <strong>around US$160-220 per person<\/strong> (4 days) covering motorbike rental, fuel, accommodation, meals and entry tickets. Add the bus from Hanoi (300,000 VND \u2248 US$12) and the night before in Ha Giang city. <br>With an Easy Rider, <strong>US$170-280 depending on the tour<\/strong> (2\/3\/4 days, all inclusive) \u2014 sometimes the bus and the first night's accommodation are included too.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770712345678","position":8,"url":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/ha-giang\/#faq-question-1770712345678","name":"Do I need a permit for the Ha Giang Loop in 2026?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Since 2026 the <strong>border area permit<\/strong> (official fee: US$10, Decree 299\/2025 and Circular 28\/2026) is required of all foreigners in the loop's districts; your hostel or agency in Ha Giang can arrange it the same day with your passport and visa.<br><br>And if you ride yourself, you also need an <strong>International Driving Permit issued under the Vienna Convention<\/strong>. They're two different documents.","inLanguage":"en-US"},"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5047","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5047"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5047\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5439,"href":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5047\/revisions\/5439"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/viajarvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5047"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}