View of the rice terraces in the Ha Giang Loop

Ha Giang Loop: 10 Critical Points to Consider Before Visiting

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When planning our trip to Vietnam and searching for the highlights, the region of Sapa kept on popping up as a must-see. However, due to the negative impact of over-tourism there, we decided to seek a more off-the-beaten-path alternative that provides a similar experience. The Ha Giang loop presented an excellent option and this region had been slowly gaining popularity only in recent years.

Located 300km north of Hanoi, the Ha Giang Loop brings you through the remote and mountainous countryside of Vietnam, passing through the local tribal villages, canyons, rivers, and rice terraces. In the end, we spent 6 days visiting this beautiful region and have gathered a lot of crucial information that may help you decide if the Ha Giang Loop is suitable for you. 

Below, we will highlight your options for ways to do the tour, our review of the Ha Giang Loop tour, and the 10 critical points to consider before considering visiting this region.

Let’s jump right in! 

panoramic view of the Ha Giang loop valley with the river

Ways to do the Ha Giang loop

There are many options when deciding to do the Ha Giang Loop. These include the number of days to spend, the mode of transportation, going with a tour vs. on your own, and which cities/regions to visit. Your choice will significantly impact your experience, so choosing carefully is important.

We ended up doing a 6-day, 5-night Ha Giang loop tour, going with a tour agency that arranged the transport and hotels, and going by car with a driver and tour guide.

  • Number of days: 3-6 days
  • Starting and ending point: Ha Giang City
  • Distance driven starting from Ha Giang: 350km (3 day option) – 1000km (5-6 day option)
  • Distance from Hanoi to starting point in Ha Giang: 300km (6 hours)
  • Mode of transportation: Car vs. Jeep Vs. Easyrider Vs. Self-drive on motorbike
  • Guided: Can do guided or self-drive
  • Regions: Usually from Ha Giang to Dong Van, but can go all the way to Ban Gioc Waterfall
Map of Ha Giang loop

Duration of trip: 3-6 days

The Ha Giang loop ranges from 3-6 days. Most travelers will take the 3-4 day option. Please keep in mind that the city of Ha Giang where the tour normally starts is located about 300km from Hanoi, which can take around 7 hours by bus to reach. Therefore, make sure to consider the time to reach Ha Giang and the time to return to Hanoi in the number of days for your tour. 6 hours of long winding roads can be tiring.   

🚌 Check out this affordable and comfortable sleeper bus from Hanoi to Ha Giang for only around 10$!

Mode of transportation: Car vs. Jeep vs. Easyrider Vs. self drive on a motorbike

One of the biggest decisions you need to make is deciding your mode of transportation. Your first option is to go by car with a driver. This can be a regular car or an open-top jeep. Your second option is by easyrider, which is riding on one motorbike with the motorbike driver. This is perfect for those who want the motorbike road trip experience but are not comfortable driving one on your own. 

Finally, some people choose to rent a motorbike themselves and self-drive. 

We decided to go by car with a driver, which significantly helped alleviate the negative consequences of several critical points discussed further down.

Options of going by car, jeep, or motorbike in Ha Giang loop
Open-air jeep, regular car, or motorbike
Ha Giang Tour options:

3-day Easyrider 🛵(with Vietnamese guide)

4-day Easyrider 🛵(English guide)

6-day Easyrider 🛵 (English guide)

🚗 Car tour of Ha Giang Loop

Which Regions you will visit

Most tours start from Ha Giang and will head towards Dong Van near the border of China. Here you will see the famous Dong Van Plateau, Ma Pi Leng Pass, and the Skypath trail.

If your tour is 3 days, then you will likely go to Dong Van, then Meo Vac, then back to Ha Giang. There are other beautiful regions such as Cao Bang and the Ban Gioc Waterfalls which are further east, but require a longer stay. 

It is important to consider which regions you want to visit and make sure not to cram too many in your itinerary as the driving can be long and arduous.  


Our impression of the Ha Giang loop

We spent 6 days and 5 nights touring around the Ha Giang loop, going from Ha Giang all the way to Cao Bang and had the opportunity to see beautiful limestone mountains, rice fields, and interact with the local tribes. Despite this, we did not have the best experience in the Ha Giang loop.

Ryan standing by the mist of the mountains of Ha Giang

We have seen many many highly positive reviews online about the Ha Giang Loop so we don’t want our blog to dissuade you from going. However, we find it important to highlight both the pros and cons so you can be fully aware of what to expect. 

Below, we share 10 critical points to consider before choosing to do the Ha Giang loop

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10 Critical points to consider before doing the Ha Giang loop

1) A lot of driving

The first thing we were surprised with was the excessive amount of driving on this tour. Most tour agencies seem to only mention the amount of kilometres driven each day but not the actual time it takes to drive it. This can be misleading since the driving speed on their mountainous roads will need to be significantly lower, usually around 25-40km/hour. So a 100km drive, which would normally take 1 hour back home, can take around 4 hours in the Ha Giang loop. 

Overall, we felt like we spent 80% of the time driving and 20% of the time visiting and doing activities. As mentioned above, the tour starts by taking a 6-hour transportation from Hanoi to reach Ha Giang. This also means that the tour ends with a 6-hour return journey. Most days on the tour you will be driving between 2.5 to 4.5 hours but since it is on very winding and mountainous roads, it may take even longer. 

winding mountain road in Ha Giang loop

When we were initially planning the trip, we saw there would be several stops along the way to break up the journey so felt it wouldn’t be too bad. However, most of these stops are simply a quick viewpoint that you may spend 5 minutes at before continuing the journey.

We love doing road trips and normally do not mind long drives. However, the enjoyment of the drive was marred by the two next points discussed below.

2) The weather can be extreme

As with any destination, your experience will be influenced by the month that you visit and the weather. We did the Ha Giang loop at the end of February, which is considered springtime, and experienced all sorts of extreme weather

Due to the region being at high altitude and in the mountains, the weather can change dramatically even within one day. 

On our first 2-3 days, we experienced frigid temperatures of around 5-8 degrees Celcius, cloudy, rain, and mist. This obscured our views of the landscape when driving and also prevented us from doing some of the hikes. 

Obscured views of HA Giang due to the mist
This view was already when the clouds cleared up a bit, for the rest of the hike we saw nothing but clouds

Then the next 2 days, we experienced scorching 35 degrees Celcius heat, but continued mist partially covering the scenery.

Fortunately, we were going by car so were sheltered from the rain and direct blazing sunlight. When we saw the easyriders on their motorbikes, all covered in plastic bags to shelter from the rain and wind, they definitely did not look the happiest.

Although maybe we were unlucky with the weather, we wanted to point out that the mountainous climate can swing dramatically. If you go by easyrider, you will be completely exposed to all those elements. However, going by motorbike must be a blast when the weather is pleasant. 

When the sun came up in the Ha Giang loop and it was hot outside
The views were improving but still misty, then all of a sudden the temperature rose to 35 degrees C

If you are lucky and have warm and clear weather (as seems to be the case in many of the positive review blogs/vlogs we saw online), then your experience will most likely be more positive than ours. 

3) Difficult road conditions

On the Ha Giang loop, you will be driving through some of the most incredible high mountain roads, winding between villages and valleys, perched on the edges of cliffs. However, given the mountainous terrain, the road conditions can often be challenging.

For most of the way starting from Ha Giang City, the roads will be constantly winding. To give you an idea, you will be doing some sort of 90-degree or 180-degree turn every 5 seconds or so. If you have motion sickness, make sure to bring some medication with you.

mountainous roads of the Ha Giang loop, bordering the cliff
Look at these crazy winding roads with sheer cliffs

The road is also fairly narrow at points, and you are sharing this road with large buses and construction trucks. For most of the way, you will be bordered by the cliff edge, dropping over 1000 feet below. This provides you with an incredible vantage point of the mountains and valleys, but at the same time can be quite a nerve-wracking experience. There are also almost no safety railings, and the cliff edge is only blocked by intermittent short concrete blocks.

Concrete blocks as the railing on the road of Ha Giang loop
Do you see the small concrete block? this is the ‘safety railing’

There is also a good amount of road construction going on so at certain points, the road can be very bumpy and covered in gravel. This can be dangerous, especially for those on motorbikes. Fortunately, we went by car with a professional driver so were protected from many of these factors. 

Despite this, we felt the driving experience was certainly not relaxing.

4) Food Quality

When we went to do the Ha Giang loop, we had already spent over 3 weeks touring Vietnam from Ho Chi Minh City all the way up to Hanoi. We were eating mostly street food and stall foods and loved everything we ate. 

However, when we arrived at Ha Giang Loop, not only was the food significantly less tasty, but we were also concerned about the hygiene of the food. In the end, both of us got food poisoning and fell very ill. 

One of the meals we had in Ha Giang loop
food stalls in Ha Giang loop market

Our guide explained that in the far North, due to the poverty in the region, they do not have the same practices of hygiene as let’s say Hanoi or Saigon.

You will also undoubtedly be invited during dinner to drink their “happy water” which is homemade alcohol. Since it is produced at home, there are no regulations on if it is properly made. Each “happy water” we drank had significantly different tastes and at times had an odd soil taste. 

Of course, your experience will vary depending on the quality of accommodation and which homestays you reside at. However, as a general overview of the region, the food quality is lower and less hygienic than in the big cities.

5) Beautiful but repetitive views

The views during the Ha Giang loop are truly quite stunning. Never before have we seen such dramatic mountains and valleys covered in rice fields, with the local villages perched right on the steep cliffs. The drive along those roads is quite adrenaline-inducing and provides totally unobstructed views of the stunning landscape (unless you are unlucky like us during our first 2-3 days and have clouds and mist obstructing the views). 

However, despite the beauty of the landscape, we felt like the views ended up feeling repetitive. Due to the up-and-down winding nature of the roads, it may take a long time to ascend/descend the mountain before crossing over to a different view. However, even when you cross over to the other side, we feel like the views become repetitive. Don’t get me wrong, it is beautiful, but don’t expect to see a largely variable landscape.

This is unlike other trips we have done, for example, the Salkantay Trek in Peru, where within 4 days we got to see green mountains, glaciers, turquoise lakes, snow-capped mountains, and ancient ruins. 

In fact, our favourite spot on the entire Ha Giang loop is at a secret organic farm that is not included in any Ha Giang road trip itinerary. We stumbled upon it after getting food poisoning and had to find an alternative place to stay since we were not going to make the 4-hour drive to Bang Gioc Waterfall.

sunset at Kolia Organic farm
The secret tea farm that you must go see. Read on below for more details

Check out below for this secret location!

6) Difficulty of communication

Given the remote nature of the villages in the north, you are unlikely to encounter anyone who speaks English. Even when we stayed at larger hotels, they barely spoke any English. This is to be expected in this type of remote region but it is just as a heads-up in case you choose to do the self-driving option.

Note that internet/data is also very weak in the region so it may be difficult to use Google Translate.

We had a guide who was able to translate for us which significantly facilitated the process. 

This also really helped enhance our experience as we were able to learn so much from both the guide as well as conversing with the local families.

7) The importance of having a guide

Although we normally love the adventure of going on our own without any tour group or guides, we were very glad to have a guide for the Ha Giang loop. With the guide, we were able to constantly learn about the culture, traditions and customs, as well as the deep history of Vietnam not explained in history books. We were also able to communicate with the local villagers at the homestays and those working in the fields. 

He explained to us the different roles of the husband and wife, who controls the money, and their expectations of the responsibility of their children. It was fascinating to learn all about this information which otherwise would’ve been impossible to come by.

Having a guide made the experience a lot more relaxing.

Also of note, since we got food poisoning on the 4th day, if we had not had a guide and driver, I really don’t know what we would’ve done. I was definitely not in the condition to drive a motorbike and wouldn’t have known where to go. 

8) Altitude sickness

During the Ha Giang Loop, you will be going over several mountain passes with an altitude of around 1500-1600m. Although altitude sickness normally occurs when above 2500m, the combination of winding roads, motion sickness, extreme weather, and less hygienic food may still have an impact on you.

high mountain views during sunset over rice fields

As a reference, we have done several high-altitude hikes including hiking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, the Salkantay Trek in Peru, and Acatenango volcano in Guatemala. We certainly felt some effects from the altitude in the Ha Giang tour.

So if you are sensitive to any of the previously mentioned points, then you need to be careful.

9) Number of activities

On the Ha Giang loop, the included activities are some short hikes, quick viewpoints, walking through local villages, a small cave, and a short boat ride on the river. We were however surprised by how little time the activities take.

The hikes are usually fairly short, ranging from 10 minutes to the longest one we did was 2 hours. The viewpoints are also very quick stops lasting maybe 5 minutes since you can’t walk around the viewpoints. 

local village in Ha Giang

The local villages are small so walking through them doesn’t take very long. The locals are usually all busy with their farming and agriculture so the villages tend to be pretty quiet.

Finally, the boat ride on the Nho Que River was beautiful but only lasted 30 minutes and was very touristic. 

Essentially, the biggest experience of doing the Ha Giang loop is driving the winding mountainous roads, and enjoying the stunning views along the way (if you are so lucky with the weather).

10) This is not a relaxing trip

Finally, if you are aiming for a relaxing road trip, this is not it. Sapa would be a better bet as you can stay mostly in one region to experience the views and rice fields, and the level of accommodation there is excellent.

The accommodations during the Ha Giang loop were very basic, even at the hotels. Heating is rarely provided so if the weather is cold or humid, it can be uncomfortable. In certain regions, there is also a government radio blasting across the farmlands at all hours so it can disturb your rest. 

Also on the road, there are a lot of large buses and trucks and they have the habit of honking very loud to notify oncoming traffic of their presence. The honking on those construction trucks is like 100x louder than that on a normal car so it can be quite shocking. 

All this combined can make for a not-so-relaxing experience.



Our favourite spot on the Ha Giang loop

As mentioned above, this secret location is not part of any pre-made Ha Giang itinerary and we had stumbled upon it only because we got food poisoning and changed our itinerary.

At this location, we stayed at a beautiful tea farm with rolling hills, discovered a hidden bamboo forest, were able to rent an Ao Dai to do a photoshoot, and enjoyed naturally grown tea with the owner. This favourite spot is called Kolia Organic Farm and is located not too far from Cao Bang. 

Bamboo forest near Kolia farm
Bamboo forest near Kolia Organic farm

Here we were able to fully relax. After renting the Ao Dai, we did a photo shoot in a nearby bamboo forest and roamed in their tea fields. They have a perfect viewpoint and designated platforms where you can enjoy one of the most incredible sunsets.

We then had dinner and then enjoyed one of the best massages we’ve had in Vietnam.

sunset at Kolia farm

The next morning, we enjoyed tea with the owner of the organic farm and had the privilege of learning her story. It was moving to hear about her journey and how she had started Kolia Farms to help provide better opportunities to the local villagers around. Her mission of care was so touching and we could feel this intention behind the amenities of the whole site.

having tea with the owner of Kolia farm and our guide and driver
Enjoying her local tea with the owner of Kolia farms, our amazing guide and driver.

It is mostly locals that visit this spot but when I asked her, she said she would be very happy to welcome international visitors as well. We are glad to share this with you not only to help support her generous mission but also because we are sure you will love it as much as we did!

If ever you are unable to book at Kolia Organic Farm (since they do not seem to have much of a presence on the booking platforms), here are a few other great options in the region:


Is Ha Giang loop dangerous?

Overall, we would say that doing the Ha Giang loop, if done by self-driving on a motorbike, can be dangerous. This is due to the winding roads, sheer cliffs, frequent large construction trucks, and potential hazardous weather. If you go by car or motorbike with a skilled driver, like we did, then we felt the road trip was quite safe.

In terms of petty crime, we would consider Ha Giang very safe. According to our guide, the villages are very small so everyone knows each other. For this reason, there is almost no crime. 

villages in Ha Giang loop

This post is part of our series about Vietnam. If you want to learn more about Vietnam, planning your trip, and some of the best experiences there, check out the guides below:

Sapa Vs. Ha Giang Loop

So you might be wondering whether Sapa or Ha Giang is more worth visiting. We believe this boils down to what type of trip you are seeking.

Overall, we would say Ha Giang is perfect for those seeking a more authentic side of Vietnam that has not been too transformed by tourism, with a lower level of comfort but a high level of adventure. As previously mentioned, the views are quite stunning and dramatic, but you will need to contend with the challenging winding roads and basic accommodations.


On the other hand, visiting Sapa is more for those seeking the beautiful views of the rice terraces while possibly staying in higher-quality accommodations where you can relax. Given that tourism in Sapa has been developed far longer than in Ha Giang loop, the available amenities are far superior.

For those who don’t want to do too much driving, it is also possible to forgo the long road trip and simply visit the many villages and rice terraces nearby Sapa. You do however still need to take a long 6-7 hour transportation from Hanoi to get there.

I mean, check out just how luxurious the Sapa hotels can be:

Or for a tour of Sapa, Check out this awesome 3 day tour of Sapa where you can choose between staying at a 3-star or 5-star accommodation.


Using WISE card in Vietnam

When taking cash out of an ATM while abroad, you will most likely be charged both a foreign exchange fee and a foreign transaction fee by that country’s ATM. With my Canadian card, this can easily be 3-4$ + 2.75% + a markup on the exchange rate charged by my bank, and then another 3-5$ charged by the foreign ATM.

Wise card

This can be really costly. For this reason, we recommend using WISE card which has only minimal fees and just about no foreign currency exchange markup. This helps me save at least 5-7$ every time I take out money from an ATM. If you want to see our full review of the card showing exactly how WISE can help you save, check out our WISE Travel card breakdown post.


Summary: Ha Giang Loop 10 Critical points to consider before visiting

Although the 6 days we spent on the Ha Giang loop did not end up being our favourite part of Vietnam, we will still forever cherish our experience there and everything we learned about the culture and people. Having personally gone through this route and its challenges, we hope this guide and these 10 essential points will help you decide whether the Ha Giang loop is worth visiting for you. We do not want this blog to dissuade you from going, but rather to help you pick the best experiences for your next adventure. If you want to get a better idea of all the amazing things you can do in Vietnam, check out this guide on how to plan the ultimate 10 day Vietnam Itinerary. We also highlighted the best things to do in Hoi An since it was one of our favourite places.

viewpoint at Kolia Farm
Viewpoint at Kolia Organic Farm

If you do decide to do the Ha giang loop, make sure to visit Kolia Organic Farm. You’ll thank us later 🙂


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