Introduction

Welcome, fellow adventurers, to the captivating world of the Ha Giang Loop in Northern Vietnam! If you’re reading this, chances are you’re already familiar with this awe-inspiring road trip that winds its way through breathtaking landscapes, charming local villages and grants you unforgettable experiences at every turn. 

The Ha Giang Loop, known among adventurers for its unique and challenging route, is a spectacular trip covering approximately 350km through Vietnam’s northernmost province, Ha Giang. It typically takes 3-5 days to complete, depending on your pace and the number of detours you take to explore the hidden treasures off the beaten path. Over 3 days, we got to ride around this Loop, see incredible views and meet amazing people.

In this blog, I’ll share all the details of our trip: the tour company we used, the places we stopped at, the people we met and the fun we had along the way. From dipping in cool pools to singing karaoke with new friends, our journey had it all! I hope you enjoy this detailed unveiling of our journey and that it inspires you to explore new places too. Ready to hit the road? Let’s go!

How To Get To Ha Giang

When travelling to Ha Giang, you are likely to start from the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi. I highly recommend booking a sleeper bus through the hostel that you choose, this means that they organise the pickup from your hotel in Hanoi and they drop you off at the right hostel when you arrive in Ha Giang.

The journey from Hanoi to Ha Giang takes around 6-7 hours so it’s worth buying tickets for the slightly more expensive but comfortable cabin bus. We paid 400,000 Dong per person for the cabin bus (~£13). The bus will stop along the way for a lunch break (if you take a daytime bus). If you take an overnight bus, your bus might have a toilet on board or the driver will stop and turn the lights on to let everyone know it’s a toilet stop.

Bong Hostel – Choosing The Right Tour For You

Before planning to do the Ha Giang Loop, I had seen so many TikToks and Instagram videos of people doing the Loop with Jasmine Hostel. Although there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing this hostel, I had seen so many people doing it with them that I wanted to choose a different hostel with a bit less of a party vibe!

I came across Bong Hostel on Google and messaged them via Whatsapp to enquire about prices, dates and whether we should choose self-riding or easy-riding. They were so helpful and responded to my questions quickly. At the time, my partner, Brett, and I were travelling with our friends Matt and Chan, so we all agreed that Bong Hostel looked like a good option.

Bong Hostel organised the bus for us from Hanoi – Ha Giang, we got dropped off right outside the hostel and got shown to our room quickly.

Bong Hostel Accommodation

This was actually the first time I had ever stayed in a hostel, so I had nothing to compare it to, but we were shown to our dorm and each had our own bunk bed with a privacy curtain, pillow, duvet, towel, and charging port. The bed was super comfy and the room had great air conditioning so we had a great sleep that night! In the morning, you can order breakfast for free in the common area before you start the tour.

The hostel also has storage lockers where you can keep your large backpacks and suitcases while you do the Loop. Bear in mind that you must bring your own padlock to secure the locker.

Bong Hostel Tour

Duration: 3 Days, 2 Nights

Group size: 9 people

Drivers: 5 (4 easy riders, 1 spotter)

There were 9 people in our group in total, Brett, Matt, Chan and I all had easy riders and the other 5 people were self-riding. I loved the fact that the groups are small because you get to know everyone really well and make great friends throughout the trip. Our easy riders were lovely too, mine was called Thuong and he was especially attentive and offered to take pictures whenever we stopped at a viewpoint. I had complete trust in our easy riders, Thuong was an experienced driver and I felt totally safe on his bike!

Ha Giang Loop Day 1

We embarked on our Ha Giang Loop adventure from Bong Hostel at around 10 am, filled with anticipation and excitement! After just an hour of riding, we stopped at a cafe with a breathtaking viewpoint to grab a drink. This was our first real glimpse of the wonders that lay ahead of us!

Continuing our journey, we rode through picturesque villages and towns, becoming immersed in the mountainous landscapes and feeling the wind on our faces.

We stopped at another viewpoint (you might start to see a common theme here), and the boys couldn’t resist climbing up onto a big rock for a better view!

At some of the pit stops where there were cafes, we were generously offered iced tea which was so refreshing and needed on our exhilarating adventure!

At 4:30 pm, as we neared the town we were staying in the first night, our drivers asked if we wanted to go swimming at a local hotel pool and of course, we said yes! It was super hot all day so it was the perfect opportunity to cool off and unwind after being on the bikes all day.

Ha Giang Loop Night 1

On the first night, we arrived at Milk Milk Hostel at around 6pm. The vibes were great and there were lots of people from other tour groups already there. We ate dinner in our respective groups and there was happy water (rice wine) for everyone! Our drivers were really good at making sure everyone had enough happy water throughout the night, haha!

After the delicious dinner of noodles, rice, vegetables, fries, spring rolls and so much more, it was time for karaoke! The music was turned off at around 10:30 pm and people started heading up to bed at around 11:00 pm -11:30 pm.

The accommodation at Milk Milk Hostel was quite comfortable, single beds were laid out on the floor, and room sizes varied between 4-12 people. Some of the rooms had air conditioning and others just had fans.

Ha Giang Loop Day 2

On the morning of Day 2, we ate a hearty breakfast of eggs, bread, fruit and coffee and set off on the road at around 9 am.

Some of us were feeling a little bit jaded from the night before after too many ‘happy waters’ and beers! We set out earlier on Day 2, and an hour later, we were navigating the winding corners of this road leading up to an awesome viewing platform. Here we had the absolute pleasure of meeting some lovely local children, one of whom was playing the bamboo flute beautifully!

The kids began an impromptu arm wrestling competition with the guys from our group and it was so funny to watch! 

After lunch, we went to a local village to see how people live there, what they eat and where they keep their livestock. They were selling all sorts of oils, nuts, roots and handmade items. It was a very interesting experience!

We also got to stop off at the Vietnam – China border which was short and sweet but a cool thing to do! I can now say that I’ve seen China!

A highlight of day 2 was climbing up the Lũng Cú Peak to the 30-metre-tall monument that sits atop the mountain – 1,400 metres above sea level. The monument was built to mark the northernmost point in Vietnam.

Day 2 ended spectacularly with a short 1km hike up a narrow paved path to a climbable peak that looked a bit sketchy, so the guys set off climbing and the girls stayed on the path having a little photoshoot!

Ha Giang Loop Night 2

I can’t for the life of me remember the name of the hostel that we stayed at on the second night! We got there around 5pm and it was just our group this time. We had a lovely big dinner again, the beers and happy water were flowing and we got the chance to connect more in our small group. Dinner was followed by more karaoke before we said goodnight and headed to our bunks.

Ha Giang Loop Day 3

As we wrapped up our 3-day motorcycle tour of the Ha Giang Loop, we were each filled with a mix of feelings. There was a sense of accomplishment and adventure as we had shared this momentous journey together. And there was also a sense of sadness as we bid farewell to our newfound friends and the magical landscapes that had been our home for the past few days. I’m not ashamed to admit that I shed a few tears on the back of the motorbike while I was taking in the scenery for the last time and thinking “I’m never going to forget this!”

The final day involved a lot of driving as we headed back to Ha Giang town and Bong Hostel. We stopped at many viewpoints to savour the vistas and made a last-minute stop at a roadside waterfall. We eagerly hopped off the bikes and into the cool water for a refreshing swim.

At 5:30 pm we returned to Bong Hostel and got ready for our sleeper bus journey to Hanoi which departed at 8:30 pm.

There is something undeniably special about shared journeys. The people we meet, the friendships forged, the collective memories made – all of these add an extra layer of magic to the Ha Giang Loop.

So, here’s to the roads less travelled, to the friends we meet along the way, and to the unforgettable adventures that await us. As they say, it’s not just about the destination, it’s about the journey. And what a journey the Ha Giang Loop was! 

Honest Review of Bong Hostel Ha Giang Loop Tour

I was highly impressed with our entire experience with Bong Hostel. The communication we had before arriving there was very clear and helpful. The hostel itself is clean, well-run and the staff have good English so communication is not an issue. The easy riders made our trip so fun and memorable and we all felt so safe with them. I loved the fact that we had one party evening and one more relaxing evening, it was the perfect mix. I highly recommend considering Bong Hostel as your tour group of choice when doing the Ha Giang Loop! I’m certain that you won’t regret it!

Cost of the Trip: £359 for 2 people. This included the bus transfers to and from Hanoi, a one-night stay in Bong Hostel, 3 days and 2 nights Ha Giang Loop tour with easy-riders and all food and happy water.

The Road Conditions

For the first 2 days, the roads were in good condition with minimal potholes and bumps. However, on the third and final day, about 30km of road was unpaved gravel/dirt. It was tricky to navigate and the drivers had to be extra cautious as some of the road was on the side of a cliff with a steep drop on the other side. It’s safe to say my heart was racing in these parts! But luckily, our group was totally fine and they handled the bad road conditions really well.

What To Pack For The Loop

I had seen so many different recommendations of what to pack for the Loop before I did it and I didn’t know until the day before when I saw the weather forecast what I should actually pack!

I did the Loop at the end of May (2023) and it was super hot. This is what I recommend taking with you:

• Small backpack
• Underwear (duh!)
• Shorts x 3
• T-shirt x 2
• Tank top x 1
• Pajamas
• Towel
• Swimsuit
• Universal Adaptor + Phone Charger
• Power Bank (optional)
• Lightweight raincoat (optional)
• Soap + Shampoo
• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Hairbrush
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Money
• Small first aid kit
• Plastic bag for wet/dirty clothes

Of course, if you are going at a different time of year, the weather could be much cooler or warmer, so make sure to check the weather before you go and try and pack as lightly as possible!

My Top Tips

1. Passports: You don’t need to take your passport with you on the loop. I recommend locking it safely away in the big rucksack that you leave at the hostel. All you need is a picture of your passport on your phone.

2. Bring a padlock so you can secure your belongings in the storage locker.

3. Bring a swimming costume and a towel, even if swimming isn’t included in your tour.

4. Apply suncream! Cover up when you’re riding. We saw people who were very sunburnt on the first day and it would be uncomfortable to sit on the bike like that afterward.

5. Police checks: If you don’t have an International Driving License and you want to self-ride, some hostels (like Bong Hostel) will still let you ride. They allow you to do this but they cannot guarantee that you won’t be stopped, fined and potentially have the bike confiscated.

When we went, we had a spotter who drove ahead and checked for police stops. We only encountered 1 police stop and those of us on easy-riders passed through first. We then got off the bikes to allow our riders to circle back and pick up those who were self-riding without an IDP so they could be brought through the police check without any issues. 

6. Only self-ride if you feel confident: The motorbikes you get to ride are semi-automatic and not everyone in our group had ridden one of these before. They take some getting used to, as you have to change gears using your foot. Bong Hostel offers a lesson in the morning before you set off on the first day.

7. Don’t feel bad about getting an easy rider! Getting easy riders was one of the best choices we made! We were all free to enjoy the scenery and be present in the moment rather than focusing on the road. There is no shame in easy riding and it was actually really fun! Brett also thought it was more comfortable than driving yourself.

FAQs

1. How long does it take to complete the Ha Giang Loop?

Most travellers choose to take between 3-4 days to complete the Loop. If you are going without a tour group, you have more freedom to choose your speed, sightseeing preferences and how much time you spend at each stop.

2. Is it safe to travel the Ha Giang Loop? 

While the Loop is considered safe for travel, it is imperative to take precautions. If you are travelling with a tour group, such as Bong Hostel, the drivers and spotters will take great care of you. They are so attentive, kind and funny and I felt safe the entire time I was on the back of my easy rider’s motorbike. 

If you are travelling the Loop without a tour, take extra care. The roads are steep and winding, and can be dangerous for inexperienced riders. Always wear a helmet, avoid driving at night, and check the weather conditions before setting off.

3. Do I need a Vietnamese driver’s license to ride a motorbike on the loop? 

Technically, yes. However, this law is not strictly enforced. Nonetheless, it’s important to remember that not having a proper license can affect your insurance validity in case of an accident.

4. Can I self-ride without an International Driving Permit (IDP)? 

Yes, you can. However, this depends on which tour group you choose to go with. I know certain companies don’t allow people to self-ride without an IDP. Bong Hostel allows people to do this, but if you do get stopped by police, there is nothing that the easy-riders can do.

5. What happens if I get stopped by police during the Loop?

If you are self-riding without an IDP, you will likely get fined if you are stopped by police.

6. Can I do the Loop if I’ve never ridden a motorbike before?

It is highly recommended that you have prior experience of riding a motorbike before self-riding the Ha Giang Loop. If you’re an inexperienced rider or just want to experience the journey without concentrating on driving, I recommend getting an Easy Rider (an employee of the tour group who drives the motorbike) or taking a few lessons before attempting the Loop.

7. What kind of clothing should I pack?

Pack clothing suitable for various weather conditions. It really depends on the time of year that you go and what the weather forecast is for your trip. I suggest using my packing list and adjusting it to suit you. I also recommend you take rain gear, as sudden showers can occur.

8. Is there any internet connection on the Loop? 

Internet and mobile connectivity can be spotty or non-existent in many parts of the Loop. If you are completing the Loop without a tour group, I suggest downloading maps and information for offline use before starting your journey. For offline maps, I like to use Maps.me.

9. Where can I rent a motorbike for the Ha Giang Loop?

There are several motorbike rental services available in Ha Giang town. Always check the condition of the bike before renting.

Conclusion

Reflecting on our adventure around the Ha Giang Loop, I am filled with immense gratitude. From the picturesque landscapes, and the unexpected encounters with locals, to the thrilling ride itself, I will treasure every memory from this incredible trip!

Ultimately, the Ha Giang Loop is not just about the ride or the spectacular views; it’s about challenging yourself, immersing in a different culture, and making connections along the way. It’s about living in the moment and appreciating the simple joy of discovery.

I really hope that our journey has inspired you and provided some useful insights on tackling the Ha Giang Loop. But remember, every journey is as unique as the person undertaking it. Your experiences might be different from ours, and that’s the beauty of travel – it’s personal, and it’s transformative.

So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your Ha Giang Loop Adventure today!

If you enjoyed this blog, be sure to check out my other in-depth travel guides here!

If you have any questions about the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam, you can contact me via email: tianitravels@gmail.com or via social media. I’ll be happy to help you out!