Overview:
Tick off not one, but two, of Vietnam’s absolute best adventures from your bucket list – Halong Bay and the Ha Giang Loop – on this adventure of a lifetime! Begin in Hanoi before heading to Halong Bay and setting sail on the legendary Halong Hideaway cruise. Immerse yourself in excursions like scenic hikes, exhilarating bike rides and rich cultural experiences, all topped off with unparalleled nightly parties with fellow travellers. Then, gear up for an epic motorcycle journey around the breathtaking Ha Giang Loop! This extraordinary ride spans hundreds of kilometres of Southeast Asia’s most spectacular landscapes, making it a must-do for every traveller. Don’t miss out on this incredible journey – book now for an experience you won’t forget!
Itinerary
Day 1 – Hanoi to Halong Bay
- Meet your guide and new travel buddies at 07:30 either Central Backpackers or Buffalo Hostel in Hanoi.
- Jump on the bus from Hanoi and head towards Halong Bay, where you’ll be picked up by a boat and taken to the Halong Hideaway cruise ship.
- You’ll enjoy lunch on the ship before checking into your room.
- Cruise towards a secluded beach where you can enjoy swimming, playing games or relaxing with a cold beer!
- Head back to the boat for a dip in one of the onboard jacuzzis before having dinner around 19:00. Then, the party begins with a cracking happy hour offer!
Day 2 – Halong Bay
- Breakfast is served between 07:30 and 08:30!
- After breakfast, you’ll head to Cat Ba National Park for a day of trekking, cycling and exploring. You’ll pass through local villages, hike along epic jungle trails and experience amazing vistas.
- After all that exercise, you’ll need to refuel! Lunch is served at a restaurant in the shadow of some of Cat Ba’s most impressive mountains!
- Head back to the Halong Hideaway cruise ship and relax in the onboard jacuzzis before dinner and another night of partying! You’ll have a new group of arrivals to meet and mingle with for the evening too.
Day 3 – Halong Bay to Hanoi to Ha Giang
- Breakfast is served between 07:30 and 08:30
- After breakfast, you’ll have a few hours to relax on the cruise or you can opt to go kayaking!
- Settle in for an early lunch at 10:30 before leaving the Halong Hideaway cruise ship behind and journeying to Hanoi.
- Arrive in Hanoi at around 16:30. You have a few hours to get out and spend some time in Vietnam’s buzzing capital – make sure you find somewhere for dinner!
- Meet at Buffalo Hostel or Central Backpackers at 19:30 and depart to Ha Giang City via sleeper bus.
Day 4 – Ha Giang Loop Tour: Approx. 120 km of riding
When booking this tour, you’ll need to decide whether you want to ride a motorbike around the Ha Giang Loop yourself, or whether you’d prefer to be a passenger on a bike ridden by an experienced local rider – this is known as an ‘easy rider’. See below for more information.
- Arrive in Ha Giang around 03:00 and settle into your accommodation for a few more hours sleep!
- Wake up and enjoy a tasty breakfast with your travel buddies. Now the road trip begins!
- Whether you’ve opted for the easy rider or self-drive option, it’s time to jump aboard your trusty steed and head out north on the ‘Road of Happiness.’ When you see it, you’ll understand why!
- Climb the epic Quan Ba mountain pass and through the Dong Van Geopark to reach Heaven’s Gate and the Fairy Hills.
- Stop for lunch in the small town of Tam Son before venturing deeper into the Ha Giang mountains in search of your homestay in the beautiful village of Du Gia.
- Dinner will be served at the homestay with your local hosts.
Day 5 – Ha Giang Loop Tour: Approx. 110-150 km of riding
- Get up for breakfast with your hosts before heading north through some of the world’s most astounding mountain passes!
- Stop for lunch in the town of Meo Vac. Then take a boat trip along the Nho Que river which passes through the Tu San Abyss Alley and towards the Ma Pi Leng pass.
- Get back to the bikes and head up and over the majestic Ma Pi Leng Pass. This is one of the bucket list spots on the Ha Giang Loop – all will become clear when you see it!
- After marvelling at the epic views from the Ma Pi Leng Pass, head down to Dong Van, the most northerly town in Vietnam! Here you’ll stay in either a hotel or homestay and enjoy local cuisine, and potentially hot pot for dinner.
Day 6 – Ha Giang Loop Tour: Approx. 150 km of riding and return to Hanoi
- Get up and enjoy breakfast before beginning the journey south.
- Stop off in Sa Phin, home of the one-hundred-year-old palace of Vuong Ching Duc – King of the H’mong people.
- Ride to Yen Minh via the ‘Highland of Stone’ for lunch.
- After lunch, proceed over another fantastic mountain pass, covered in pine forest and offering glimpses of rice terraces below. Follow the route along the Song La river before going back up and over the Quan Ba pass and back to Ha Giang City.
- Your return journey to Hanoi by bus leaves Ha Giang at 17:00. You’ll arrive back in Hanoi around 23:30 and settle into either Central Backpackers or Buffalo hostel for your final night of the tour.
- Breakfast will be served the following morning at 09:30. Then you’re free to explore Hanoi or get onward transport to your next destination!
Accommodation
Accommodation throughout this tour is shared. Room sizes range from just a few beds to everyone in a single room depending on where you stay each night…
Halong Bay Tour: Mostly, the rooms on the boat are small dorm rooms shared between 3-4 people. This means if you are a solo traveller or a couple, you will be paired with other travellers on the boat to share a room. We will always try to match you with someone of the same gender. If you are a group of 3-4 friends, you can, of course, request to be in the same room together. If you are a couple wanting a double room or a solo traveller wanting a single room, you can request a private room for two people or a private room for one person (by yourself). See examples of the rooms below:
Ha Giang Loop Tour: During the Ha Giang Loop Tour, the accommodation will be in local ethnic minority home stays. You will share a room with your fellow riders.
Food
All meals are provided on this tour – with the exception of breakfast on day one and dinner on days three and six.
Vegetarians, vegans and those who don’t eat seafood can be catered for. For more restrictive dietary requirements, you may need to bring some of your own food. Please let us know about any dietary requirements using the ‘additional information’ box at the time of booking.
Guide
English-speaking guides will accompany you for the duration of this tour. If you choose the easy rider option, you’ll be paired with a local motorcyclist who knows the roads like the back of their hand!
What’s Included
Includes:
- Accommodation on the 5-star Halong Hideaway cruise, homestays and hotels in Ha Giang and your final night in Hanoi
- Meals throughout the tour
- English-speaking guide
- All transport – motorbikes (and fuel), buses, boats
- Activities – kayaking, swimming, cycling, trekking, games
- Entrance fees
Does Not Include:
- Gratuities and tips
- Alcohol
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
FAQs
- What should I pack for the trip? For this six-day adventure in Northern Vietnam, you should bring swimming gear, suncream, your phone/camera and enough clothing for the six days – including warm clothing if your tour takes place in the colder months between November and March.
- Can I leave my luggage somewhere while I do the tour? Yes! You can leave your main bags at Central Backpackers in Hanoi.
- What is the best time of year to do this trip? This tour can be done at any time of year but for the nicest weather in Halong Bay and the best riding conditions in Ha Giang, Spring (March-May) and Autumn (September-November) are best.
- I’m a vegetarian/vegan and/or I have an allergy or a specific diet, can I be catered for on this trip? Vegetarian, vegan and non-seafood diets can be catered for on this trip. If you have more restrictive dietary requirements, you may need to bring your own food. Please let us know of any dietary requirements at the time of booking using the ‘additional information’ box.
Riding Preference
For the Ha Giang Loop leg of this tour, you’ll need to decide whether to ride the motorbike yourself or opt for an easy rider.
Easy Rider: This involves riding pillion (on the back of the bike) with an experienced local rider in control. This option gives you a chance to marvel at the scenery and enjoy the freedom of a bike without needing to take responsibility for the machine itself.
Self-Riding: This involves taking full control of your motorcycle for the duration of the Ha Giang Loop. Riding yourself requires a good level of motorcycle ability and confidence. The roads can be very steep and winding. In bad weather, the area around Ha Giang can experience flooding. If you’re not confident riding a motorcycle in these conditions, an easy rider tour is a better option.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included with this tour. You will need to arrange your own insurance for backpacking. Part of this tour involves either riding a motorcycle or being a passenger on one, so you need to make sure your travel insurance covers motorcycle use and if any exclusions apply.
Payment:
You must pay a deposit online now by debit or credit card to reserve your place on this tour. The remaining amount should be paid the day before you depart on the tour, in cash (or by credit or debit card) at either hostel:
- Hanoi Buffalo Hostel: 44 Hang Giầy Street, Hang Buom Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi.
- Central Backpackers Hostel: 16 Thanh Hà St, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi.
Note: It is better to pay in cash to avoid the 3% bank fee to pay by debit or credit card. There is an ATM right outside Central Backpackers Hostel – or bring cash with you ready to pay.
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