Overview:
Embark on an exhilarating motorcycle adventure in Ha Giang, Vietnam’s mystical hinterland! With jaw-dropping landscapes including limestone peaks and ancient rivers, this hidden gem is a must-see for intrepid adventurers. The ultimate way to experience Ha Giang is with an easy rider tour to get a real insight into this marvellous part of Vietnam! Cruise through picturesque mountains, inhale floral scents and feel the refreshing breeze on your skin. Surrounded by vibrant ethnic minority communities, your skilled drivers ensure an unforgettable journey. Skip the bike rental hassle; this top-notch easy rider service guarantees quality rides, making your Ha Giang exploration a thrilling, worry-free escapade!
Itinerary – 4 Days | 3 Nights
Day 1
- 6:00 AM – Enjoy breakfast including iced coffee or tea at the Friends Travel Vietnam Office. From here you will journey via taxi to the nearby bus station.
- 6:30 AM – Bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang departs. The bus is a limousine bus with comfortable seats. The journey to Ha Giang takes around 7 hours.
- 2:00 PM – Arrival in Ha Giang where you will be taken for lunch and then dropped off at your homestay in Thon Tha Village, Ha Giang. The afternoon is free time for you to explore the village. Dinner will be provided in the evening.
Day 2
Route: Ha Giang – Heaven’s Gate – Quan Ba Pass – Yen Minh – Vuong Palace – Dong Van
- Day two involves 155km of riding and walking for around an hour. You’ll meet people from the Hmong ethnic minority group who live here. Throughout the journey, you’ll encounter beautiful mountain vistas and there will be plenty of opportunities to stop and take photos!
- Enjoy the view from Heaven’s Gate which is 1500m high! Here you can take in the sights of the incredible twin mountains in Quan Ba. A restaurant lunch will be served in Yen Minh.
- After lunch, hop back on the bikes and make a stop around 15km west of Dong Van. This will allow you to visit the Vuong Palace which was built for the Hmong King by his people.
- Around 5.00 PM, you will arrive in Dong Van where you will have dinner before spending the night in a local hotel, Xuan Thu Guest House. This hotel features a shared lounge and bar so you can enjoy a beer after your long day! The remaining time is yours to spend and although Dong Van is a quiet village, it is a great place to explore, especially in the old quarter.
Day 3
Route: Dong Van – Chinese Border – Flag Tower – Ma Pi Leng Pass – Meo Vac
- Breakfast is served before you visit the Chinese border and the flag tower. From here, ride through Dong Van Geopark until you arrive at the Ma Pi Leng Pass which gives way to stunning views. It is commonly touted as the best in the country and has earned the nickname ‘King’ of Vietnam’s passes. At the top, the happiness road begins. Named so because of the happiness felt when the road connecting Ha Giang to the rest of Vietnam was completed by teams of local volunteers in the 1960s!
- As you arrive at Meo Vac you will see some of Vietnam’s most beautiful landscapes – views you’ll remember for a lifetime!
- At around 5.00 PM, you will be shown to your guesthouse where dinner will be served.
Day 4
Route: Meo Vac – Lung Phin – Mau Due – Du Gia – Ha Giang
- Your day will begin at around 7.00 AM from the Meo Vac guesthouse.
- Lunch will be provided between Dong Van and Ha Giang where you will eat in a local restaurant. During the journey, you will get the opportunity to visit a rice terrace in Mau Due and get some time to go trekking in this remote, under-visited location!
- You will arrive back in Ha Giang at around 3.30 PM before collecting your stuff, ready for the return bus journey to Hanoi.
- The limousine bus to Hanoi departs at 4.00 PM and will pick you up from the Mr Hung Ha Giang homestay.
- The bus is scheduled to get to Hanoi at around 10.00 PM. The drop-off point will be the My Dinh Bus Station where you will be transferred by car to the Old Quarter.
Accommodation
Private accommodation with private bathrooms
Food
Local Vietnamese food is provided in restaurants and at accommodation along the route. Special dietary requirements can be catered for, but due to challenges presented by language barriers and cultural differences, misunderstandings occasionally occur. Always check with your tour guide that the meal is suitable for you before eating!
Guide
Local Vietnamese and English-speaking guides.
What’s Included
Includes:
- Transport to and from Hanoi
- Experienced English-speaking guide
- Entrance fees
- Meals
- Two bottles of water per day
- Accommodation
Does Not Include:
- Drinks
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Tips for your guide (if you feel it’s warranted)
- VAT
- Cost of any activities not mentioned in the itinerary
FAQs
- What should I pack for the trip?
- Comfortable clothes for riding – aim for long sleeves and trousers if possible (they will protect you from the sun)
- Passport
- Suncream
- Sunglasses
- Warm clothes for riding in cooler months (November-March)
- Camera/phone
- Mosquito repellent
- Cash
- Toiletries
- Personal medication
- What is the best time of year to do this trip? You can experience the Ha Giang Loop at any time of year. The most popular times are Spring (March-May) and Autumn (September-November). Winter (December-February) can be very cold over the passes. Summer (June-August) has the potential to be very wet. Ha Giang’s famous buckwheat flowers appear in September and slowly change colour from white, to pink to red throughout November and December.
- What do I do with my luggage when on the tour? While on this private easy rider tour, you can strap your backpack to the back of the motorcycle. If you have a lot of luggage or a suitcase not suitable for the bikes, you can send them on to the final destination for an additional fee.
Further Information
Riding Preference
This tour is only available as an easy rider.
Easy rider tours involve you riding pillion (on the back of the bike), while an experienced local rider (aka an easy rider) is in control of the bike. This allows you to experience the scenery without needing to focus on the road!
Liability and Insurance
Friends Travel Vietnam is not responsible for any personal injury or loss/damage to personal belongings or bags if they are not with you in the tour. Travel insurance is NOT included in the trip; we strongly recommend that you have your own travel insurance against illness, injury, loss/damage to personal belongings. Read more about motorbike insurance in Southeast Asia here.
Hi, I’m Nikki. I started this website in 2008 after my first solo backpacking trip to Asia. A trip that changed my life. My vision was to create a travel diary for everyone – a place for all travellers to share their experiences. After living in Southeast Asia for over 10 years, I saw the opportunity to provide backpackers with the kind of experiences that I’d treasured myself in the region.
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