Ha Giang town
First-timersThe start of the loop, with hostels, bike rental and tour companies.
Ha Giang town guide
Things To Do In Ha Giang
The start of the Ha Giang Loop, a three- or four-day ride through the limestone mountains of Vietnam's far north, over the Ma Pi Leng Pass and along the Chinese border.
42
Hostels in the city
9.2
Average, from 1,855 reviews
~350 km
The loop
3–4 days
To ride it
Geopark
Dong Van Karst Plateau
The loop
Ha Giang is a small town in Vietnam's far north and the starting point of the Ha Giang Loop, a road trip of about 350 kilometres through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Southeast Asia, much of it in the Dong Van Karst Plateau, a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Most travellers ride the loop over three or four days, either on their own bike or on the back of a local rider's, stopping in villages of Hmong and other minority peoples.
It is the highlight of many trips to Vietnam.
Where to stay
Ha Giang town is where the loop starts and ends, with the hostels, bike rentals and easy-rider companies. On the loop itself, travellers stay in homestays in Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac and Du Gia.
Dong Van
On the loopAn old town of stone houses near the border, the usual second night.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 5 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Ha Giang
The Ha Giang Loop is a road trip of about 350 kilometres through some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Southeast Asia, usually done in three or four days. The route climbs from Ha Giang town through Quan Ba, where Heaven's Gate looks over the Twin Mountains, to Yen Minh, then on to Dong Van, an old town of stone houses near the Chinese border.
The highlight is the Ma Pi Leng Pass between Dong Van and Meo Vac, a road cut into the cliff high above the emerald Nho Que River; a boat trip on the river through the gorge below is worth adding. Lung Cu flag tower marks the northernmost point of Vietnam.
The Dong Van Karst Plateau is a UNESCO Global Geopark of grey limestone peaks, where Hmong, Lo Lo and Dao communities farm corn in pockets of soil between the rocks. Sunday markets in Dong Van, Meo Vac and other towns are where villages come to trade.
Most travellers ride with an easy rider, a local driver who takes you on the back of their motorbike, which is safer and lets you look at the view; others ride themselves. Many tours add a detour to Du Gia, a quiet valley with a waterfall.
Free things
Free things to do in Ha Giang
The road itself is free, and almost every viewpoint on the loop, from Heaven's Gate to the Ma Pi Leng lookout, costs nothing.
Sunday markets are free to walk around, and Dong Van's old quarter is free to explore. Some sights charge small fees, including the Lung Cu flag tower and the Nho Que river boats.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Ha Giang
Food on the loop is simple and filling: rice, pork, greens and eggs at homestays, where dinner is often a shared meal with the family and plenty of corn wine, a strong local spirit.
Try thang co, the Hmong stew, at a Sunday market, and banh cuon, steamed rice rolls, for breakfast in Ha Giang town. Buckwheat cakes are a plateau speciality.
A meal is €2 to €5.
Nightlife
Going out in Ha Giang
Nightlife on the loop is the homestay dinner, which in the backpacker homestays often turns into a long evening of corn-wine toasts, karaoke and dancing with the other riders.
Ha Giang town has a few bars at the hostels before and after the loop.
A beer is €1 to €2.
Getting around
Getting around Ha Giang
Sleeper buses and limousine vans run from Hanoi to Ha Giang town in about six hours, many overnight; there is no railway. Buses also run from Sapa.
The loop is done by motorbike. Easy-rider tours include the driver, the bike, homestays and most meals. To ride yourself, rent a semi-automatic or manual bike in Ha Giang town; the roads are steep, winding and shared with trucks.
Foreigners need a permit for some border areas on the loop; tour companies and most bike-rental shops arrange it.
Costs
What Ha Giang costs
Ha Giang is cheap, and the loop is good value. Dorms in town start around €5. A three- or four-day easy-rider tour, including the driver, homestays and most meals, typically costs around €120 to €200; self-riding with a rented bike is cheaper.
Homestays are €5 to €10 a night, and meals €2 to €5. Fuel, river boats, the flag tower and drinks are the extras.
The currency is the Vietnamese dong (VND); prices here are euro equivalents, at roughly 30,000 VND to the euro. There are ATMs in Ha Giang town and a few larger towns on the loop; carry enough cash.
Safety
Staying safe in Ha Giang
The loop's danger is the road. Accidents involving foreign riders are common: steep descents, blind corners, gravel, rain and trucks. If you have not ridden a manual or semi-automatic motorbike on mountain roads before, ride with an easy rider.
Check your travel insurance: most policies do not cover motorbike accidents if you ride without a valid licence for that class of bike, and Vietnam requires a local or recognised international licence.
Wear a proper helmet, avoid riding after dark or after corn wine, and allow extra time in rain.
Emergency: 113 police, 115 ambulance, 114 fire.
Day trips from Ha Giang
The loop's highlights, from the northernmost point to a hidden valley.
The loop
About 350 km through the limestone mountains of the Dong Van plateau.
Lung Cu
The flag tower at the northernmost point of Vietnam.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Buckwheat flowers colour the hills in autumn.
October and November
Buckwheat flowers
Dong Van plateau
Pink and white flowers.
Weekly
Sunday markets
Dong Van and Meo Vac
Minority markets.
Hostels
Where to stay in Ha Giang
The top-rated places to stay in Ha Giang right now, live from Hostelworld.
Bong Backpackers & Bikes
Dorms from €3 a night
See dates and book
Hong Hao Hostel and Motorbikes
Dorms from €5 a night
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Ha Giang Safari Hostel & Tour
Dorms from €3 a night
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Ha Giang Hostel
Dorms from €9 a night
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Ha Giang City Hostel
Dorms from €4 a night
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When to go
September to November, when buckwheat flowers bloom in October and November. March to May is also good.
Jan
Cool, drizzle
Feb
Tet
Mar
Spring
Apr
Excellent
May
Hot
Jun
Hot, wet
Jul
Wet
Aug
Wet
Sep
Clearing
Oct
Excellent
Nov
Excellent
Dec
Cool
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs in Ha Giang town. The plateau is colder.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in dong locally; these are euro equivalents. Excludes the loop.
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- Beds—
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Ha Giang travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Should I ride myself or take an easy rider?
If you have not ridden a manual or semi-automatic bike on steep mountain roads, take an easy rider. It is safer, and you can look at the views.
How long does the loop take?
Three or four days is usual, covering about 350 km. Two days is rushed; five lets you add Du Gia and slow down.
Do I need a permit?
Foreigners need one for some border areas. Tour companies and most bike-rental shops arrange it; carry your passport.
How do I get to Ha Giang?
By sleeper bus or limousine van from Hanoi, about six hours, often overnight. There is no railway.
Is my insurance valid?
Check carefully: most policies exclude motorbike accidents without a valid licence for the bike. Riding pillion with an easy rider is usually covered.
When is the best time to go?
September to November is clearest, with buckwheat flowers in October and November. March to May is good too; summer brings rain and landslides.
How much does it cost?
An easy-rider tour of three or four days typically costs €120 to €200, including homestays and most meals. Riding yourself is cheaper.
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