Guide to the Ha Giang Loop: Itinerary & Everything you need to know
If you plan on going to Vietnam, the Ha Giang loop is an absolute must. No exaggeration, the loop was the most unforgettable traveling experience I have ever had. Full of culture, partying, and unbelievable views at every turn, the Ha Giang Loop is the epitome of backpacking greatness. This travel guide will take you through all the knowledge you need to be prepared for the loop. Let's get started!
What is the Loop?
The Ha Giang Loop is a multi-day scooter-riding experience through the mountains and valleys of the Vietnamese province of Ha Giang. You ride during the day and sleep at local villages overnight. Over the years, it has gained extreme popularity amongst tourists and has grown into the most well-known thing to do as a traveler in Vietnam.
How to do the Loop
The loop begins in the city of Ha Giang. It is best to stay at a hostel or homestay the night before you depart so that you can have a plan in place and be able to leave in the morning. It is not doable to bring all your belongings on the loop with you unless you plan on biking alone. Any accommodation in Ha Giang City will allow you to keep the majority of your belongings locked up with them for however long you plan on being on the road.
Depending on your level of confidence on a scooter, you may decide that you will want to ride scooter on your own. In that case, your accommodation should have bikes that you can rent. However, this is not recommended because the loop if for expert drivers only. Long days of driving, tight corners, steep cliffs, potentially rainy weather, and many roads under construction are a recipe for disaster. In addition, automatic bikes are not used on the loop due to their lack of safety on tight turns and steep hills, so semi-auto or manual bikes are the only options to rent. Regardless, the huge benefit that comes with renting your own scooter is having complete freedom on the loop, such as stopping whenever you want and doing what you want.
The safer option is to go with an easy rider, or a tour group, where you are on the back of a local's bike. These are much safer because the drivers are experts who are constantly riding on the roads of the loop. Another plus is that they you don't need to worry about navigation or planning, you have the opportunity to meet people in your group, and you get to hangout with the local Vietnamese people who are operating your scooters. The only downside to going with a tour group, aside from spending extra money, is your lack of freedom: you go at their pace, stop when they want, and have little control over planning.
Itinerary
It is most common for travelers to do 3 nights and 4 days. Some travelers do 1 or 2 nights, but you should stay as long as you can. The fewer nights you do, the more time you will have to drive each day which can be a lot on your body (butt, back, legs, heart).
I personally recommend doing 3 nights and 4 days. Here is the best itinerary for 4 days:
Day 1: Ha Giang City to Yen Minh
Day 2: Yen Minh to Meo Vac
Day 3: Meo Vac to Du Gia
Day 4: Du Gia to Ha Giang City
Accommodation
One of the best aspects of the loop is staying in the local villages overnight. In each village, there are many different homestays to choose from. If you are traveling with a tour group, they will have already chosen homestays for each night. If you are not with a group, just do your research, pick a place, and you can show up the night of and book a room or dorm. Showing up and booking will be much cheaper than booking online. A hallmark of Vietnamese homestays are the family dinners: buffet style with everyone eating together. All the homestays have this amazing feature and it gives you the opportunity to meet new people every night. They love to provide free happy water (homemade alcohol) which goes perfect with karaoke (another common Vietnamese activity). The nights are really fun and the people are awesome.
Things to Know: Weather & Police
Depending on your luck, you could experience some wet weather. Northern Vietnam is known for having a very bipolar climate, where one moment, the skies are clear and its extremely hot and 2 minutes later, it's pouring rain. It is safe to assume that you're going to experience rain at some point or another while on the loop so you better be prepared for the rain and the mud. Bring a rain jacket and appropriate shoes. Additionally, many hostels in Ha Giang City have ponchos and big plastic wrap you can put over your bag so that you and your belongings can remain dry. Make sure to grab some of these before departing. It is definitely worth the small investment
Another thing to know is that police are looking to target white travelers who are riding alone, specifically in Ha Giang City. When they spot someone who looks like a foreigner, they attempt to pull them over. It is a big problem. Technically you need a biking license to legally operate a scooter and this is how they get money out of you. If a police officer is on their feet and on the side of the road attempting to wave you down to pullover, just wave hello back and keep driving. Trust me - these guys do not care and will not chase you down. They just want easy cash, so if they are on their feet and you do not pull over, they will not bother to exert the energy needed to get in their vehicle and chase you down. If the police are in a vehicle behind you and are telling you to pull over, that is when you pull over. Pay whatever fine they put on you (typically 1,000,000 Dong or about $33) because if you refuse, they will take you to the police station where the situation will turn a lot worse.
What to bring
You should pack light to make sitting and balancing on the scooter easier. You should bring a bag big enough to fit: a pair of clothes for each day, a rain jacket, a bathing suit, your toiletry items, more than enough cash (there are no ATMs and credit cards are not accepted anywhere), sunscreen, and bug spray.
Goodluck!
Now that you have read this article, you should be much better prepared to embark on the Ha Giang Loop. If you have anymore questions, don't hesitate to comment below. Best of luck and stay safe!