Ha Giang Loop is a dream come true for adventurous travelers yearning for the open road. Pack your bags, charge your batteries, and get ready for the adventure.
The best time to visit Ha Giang Viet Nam
If you go from November to March, it can be cold, and from June to August, it is hot and rainy.
We went in the first half of October but missed the golden rice fields in September.
If you want to come in the buckwheat flower season, it is best to come in October or November.
That’s why you have to be prepared for all conditions (rain, sun, fog, cold…).
This photo was taken in a very hurry on the Du Gia – Meo Vac route when the fog had just cleared for a few minutes. Sorry, we don’t have previous photos, but you can’t see what’s in front of you.
What to bring to Ha Giang Vietnam?
Baggage to Ha Giang Loop also depends on the month of your arrival, but you will need a waterproof/windproof jacket, raincoat, hoodie, pants, shorts, swimsuit, and an extra pair of shoes.
We only have these (plus five shirts each), but we wish we had at least one more hoodie and pants. If it rains, you will get wet pretty quickly, so it would be nice if you could change your clothes. However, we survived.
Tip: Wear shoes you won’t regret.
Matej was washing my white Converse shoes when I stepped into the deep mud. 😀
Drop your soul in the cafe in the sky.
The day before it was sunny and hot. 😀
Guideline to rent a bike in Ha Giang
Having a bike in good condition is essential. There are many bends, hills, damaged roads (at certain points), and more for you to conquer. For your safety, you want to hire a reliable company. The last thing you want is for your bike to break down on the road.
Traveling is inherently difficult, so you want to have as few problems as possible.
If you don’t plan to go to Ha Giang alone, check out these tours that can get you there:
Rents a motorbike in Ha Giang
We did a lot of research before our trip and found Motorbikes and Tours to be the most reliable company for the Ha Giang route.
Not only do they provide great service, but they are also committed to keeping Ha Giang as fresh as possible. Choosing them means choosing people who care about the environment in which they do business. With many areas densely populated and ravaged by quick money schemes, this is a breath of fresh air.
They were also recommended by other travelers and we turned to them for advice. The main reasons people love them are the brand-new bikes and great service, and we can confirm that.
Therefore, we highly recommend QT Motorbikes as a preferred company. They operate in Cao Bang and Ha Giang, and we have rented them to both places without complaint. They can also help you choose the right bike, encourage you to test drive the bike before renting, and help you plan your route. It means a lot to take a motorbike trip like this.
Which bike to choose to travel to Ha Giang?
One of the most important decisions is choosing the right bike for your ride.
Ha Giang’s roads are mostly well maintained, unlike before it became a popular tourist spot about 10 years ago.
That doesn’t mean you can ride any bike, though. Many sharp turns, bends and mountain passes are waiting for you on the Loop.
All of this is fine until you add dew (humidity) in the morning/evening or it rains on one of the rainy days, you never know how much.
Under these conditions, it becomes more dangerous than usual. The most important action, or rather inaction, is knowing when to brake or not to brake, because you can just as easily brake hard and slip off the road. We almost missed a few times and we are so grateful for the bikes (manual) we have.
Dirt Bikes – Skilled Racers
We chose a Honda XR 150CC. It was very comfortable for both of us, even with a large bag. It excels on rough roads and off-road. So we can choose a slightly different route for some parts of the loop.
advantage
- great for off-road
- comfortable
- strong
- big tires
shortcoming
- Big
- Harder to drive due to gear shifting and clutch use
- no storage space under the seat
You can shift gears to make climbing hills easier, but it also holds gears when you stop. This is very useful when you have to stop halfway up the mountain.
Owning a semi-automatic bike also means you don’t have to use the brakes as often as you would on a fully automatic bike. This helps in wet conditions so you don’t have to brake hard and skid. Plus you won’t get to the point where the brakes overheat and fail (this happened to us in Bali and it’s scary when you’re halfway down the slope).
It is not recommended to ride an automatic transmission car in Ha Giang because it is unsafe and dangerous.
How is the traffic in Ha Giang?
The roads are mostly in good condition, even if some are badly damaged. Things are always changing, so it’s best to do some research before you travel. Advise us on the roads to take based on the current conditions and the bikes we have, so no need to worry. Overall, not bad at all.
I’m not an experienced racer
Don’t worry if you’re not an experienced racer, as car hire companies can help keep your ride comfortable and share tips and tricks for a more leisurely ride. Take your time before starting the loop.
In addition, many organized tours can take you to Ha Giang, you can choose to drive, drive your motorbike or ride on the back of a bicycle with a skilled driver/guide.
How long does the Ha Giang Loop take?
Most people go around Ha Giang in 3-5 days. From our personal experience, it’s best to be flexible and not plan rigidly. There are a lot of things that you can’t do anything about, such as the weather, road conditions, or you simply love a place so much that you want to extend your stay – this is the most likely thing
We planned to do the loop for 5 days but ended up extending it for another three days because the rain was too heavy and we didn’t want to drive in that condition. We still drive in the rain because rain is inevitable, but we try to avoid the downpours.
To see everything correctly and without haste, we recommend at least 4 or 5 days.
Where should you stay on Ha Giang Ring Road?
There’s a lot of accommodation on this route right now, so you won’t have any problems.
Should I book accommodation in advance or on the spot?
We find accommodation directly on the website. This option has both good and bad sides. The bad thing is that you can stay without some good accommodations because they will be full, and that will give you more flexibility. We’ve all been there and still prefer to do it in person. If you want to reduce stress, make a reservation.
How much does accommodation on Ha Giang Loop Road cost?
Prices vary, but Ha Giang Loop is around 200,000 VND (8.6 USD) a night.
where do we live
We have stayed and can recommend these:
- Ha Giang: QT. Hotel
- Du Gia: Du Gia Homestay
- Meo Vac: Mai’s House Restaurant and Inn
- Anmyung: Cheonan Motel
Du Gia Homestay
Du Gia Homestay is the loveliest accommodation on Ring Road. We stayed in a private room on a small pond with the most beautiful morning view. Everything was super clean, including the shared bathroom.
Mai’s House Restaurant and Hostel
We have stayed at three different accommodations in Meo Vac, we just love the one mentioned above, First of all, we went to Meo Vac Cultural Village. It’s a fake village with homestays, it’s really like a hotel/hotel built like a traditional house you can find in Ha Giang and other places in Vietnam.
The first night we stayed in a private room which was a bit pricey but ok. That room was booked for a second night, so we were moved to another room on the first floor of another house nearby.
It was very cold that day, the house was a semi-open wooden house, and there was no way to heat the room. On top of that, the bathroom is located outside the house and the owner is not the nicest person. It seemed like she was laughing at us all the time, so we decided not to stay there and find another place.
That’s when we found Mai’s House, which has a real fireplace and warm blanket. Since driving in the rain the day before had hit us hard, we spent the whole day trying to warm up in bed, and there was nothing we could do. I’m so glad we found this place, otherwise, we would get sick. So there are a few things to keep in mind. This is the most challenging day for us.
Ong Vang Meo Vac Hote
Another place we booked was Ong Vang Meo Vac Hotel, which looked nice on Booking but was pretty bad. We left there without even sleeping because there was a lot of mold and thousands of bugs in every house, and we were all cold.
Food on the Ha Giang Loop
It’s easy to find local restaurants along the way, and all hotels and homestays will cook dinner for you if you ask. It can be a bit difficult if you are vegan/vegetarian, but you just need to inform the host family in advance, and at local restaurants you can also ask them to cook some vegan dishes /vegan for you. Tofu with tomato sauce, water spinach, and some boiled vegetables are some of the most popular vegetarian dishes in more rural areas, so be sure to order these. Eating these every day can be a bit monotonous, but you’ll survive because it’s delicious!
We ate and can recommend these:
- Ha Giang: Bong Restaurant
- Du Gia: Du Gia Homestay, Nguyen Quoc Restaurant & Coffe Restaurant
- Meo Vac: Mai’s House Restaurant & Hotel, Thanh Phuong Restaurant
- Yan Ming: Pho Restaurant
Vegetarian or vegan?
You must read this! You will be surprised.
Vietnamese Vegetarian and Vegetarian Guide
It’s hard to decide which month is the best to do the Ha Giang Loop, but not just because of the weather. Each month also offers something different in the region.
Please feel free to contact Annie’s team for more information and make a plan for your trip for free
- Email: info@annie.vn
- Whatsapp: +84969043106
