Ha Giang Loop Tour From Hanoi

Ha Giang is without a doubt one of the best destinations in Vietnam, and the Ha Giang Loop - a circular route that takes travelers through the rugged landscapes and winding mountain passes, passing through towns like Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac and coming back to the initial point - has become a legendary route among travel enthusiasts. Today, let us show you how you can explore this amazing loop departing from Hanoi as well as give you some helpful tips for your adventure.

How far is Ha Giang from Hanoi?

Ha Giang is a province in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam, about 300km from Hanoi. Therefore, it will take you about 7 to 8 hours to travel by motorbike or bus.

Ha Giang's terrain is characterized by rolling hills and mountains and winding mountain passes. The East of Ha Giang province borders Cao Bang province, the West borders Yen Bai and Lao Cai provinces, the South borders Tuyen Quang, and the North borders China.

It is not too far to get from Hanoi to Ha Giang, but due to its characteristic winding mountain passes, steep slopes and abysses, we advice to travel with experienced drivers.

What to pack for the Ha Giang Loop?

To know what to pack for the Ha Giang Loop, you first need to know which month you are traveling to Ha Giang. Read about the best time to travel to Ha Giang here. 

But whatever month you're going, you always need: 

- Jackets and warm clothes, whether it's winter or summer because it's much colder in the mountains than in the city. Plus, it can rain so make sure to bring raincoats. You're gonna need an extra pair of comfortable shoes, especially if you decide to go trekking, either way the shoes are gonna get dirty so bring the old ones you have at the bottom of the shelf. 

- DRUGS. Okay not that kind of drugs but some Benadryl or Dramamine to beat motion sickness. You might think you don't need them but even people who usually don't get nauseous get motion sickness the first time they travel to Ha Giang (that was certainly the case for me). So bring them just in case, thank me later. You might also want to bring some Aspirin (Paracetamol) for when you have a headache and some bug repellent.

- Your Ha Giang Loop permit (foreigners are required to have Restricted/Border Area Permit to visit certain parts of Ha Giang), your driver's license and IDP ready. For more info on getting a license and IDP in Vietnam, read this.

- If you travel by bike then you might need spare gas and some repairing gears in case your bike breaks down in the middle of the road.

- A phone with mobile data and a sim card, because sometimes you get no reception up there, make sure to download offline maps and google translate (most locals don't speak English) and have some contact details saved on your phone like your hotel or a local in case of emergency.

How to get to Ha Giang from Hanoi?

Okay, now that you've packed all your essentials, let's get you to Ha Giang. 

By bus

To do the Ha Giang Loop, you need to take a bus from Hanoi, we recommend getting on a comfortable sleeper bus and take the night ride. Bus prices ranges from 250.000 - 550.000 VND, depending on the quality of the vehicle. Visiters from the Central or the South of Vietnam need to get to Hanoi first and then take a bus to Ha Giang, from there, you can either rent a motorbike, or a private car. Here are a few bus companies to and from Ha Giang you can choose from:

1. Bang Phan: 250.000 - 550.000 VND
   - From Hanoi - Ha Giang: 09:30 AM - 22:00 PM
   - From Ha Giang: 07:00 AM - 21:00 PM
    
2. Ngoc Cuong Limousine: 250.000 - 300.000 VND
   - From Hanoi: 07:00 AM - 21:00 PM
   - From Ha Giang: 07:00 AM - 21:00 PM
    
3. Dang Quang: 250.000 VND
   - From Hanoi (Gia Lam): 15:40 PM - 21:00 PM
   - From Ha Giang: 15:40 PM - 21:00 PM
    
4. Quang Tuyen: 250.000 VND
   - From Hanoi (Yen Nghia): 16:00 PM - 20:00 PM
   - From Ha Giang: 16:30 PM - 20:00 PM

By motorbike

For those who like to conquer Ha Giang completely by motorbike, you can start from Hanoi, the ride should take 8-10 hours. It can be exhausting spending almost half a day on a bike, and you will need to drive more when you get to Ha Giang. But it can be quite a catch if you're up for it, since you're gonna be saving more money, and you could always go at your own pace and take rests on the way. 

Here are 2 routes you could take:

- Via National Route 2 or QL2 (approximately 7 hours): Hanoi - QL2A - QL2B - QL2C - Tuyen Quang - An Hoa Bridge - Phuong Thien - Ha Giang.

- Via National Route 32 or QL32 (approximately 8 hours): Hanoi - Thang Long Avenue - QL21 - QL32 - QL32C - QL2 - QL2C - Tuyen Quang - An Hoa Bridge - Phuong Thien - Ha Giang.

By car

You can also get to Ha Giang by car, it's also a great choice because it wouldn't take as long as traveling by bike, plus you get to travel at your own pace, suitable for families or groups of friends. To get to Ha Giang, you can also take one of the routes above, but keep in mind on first one (via National Route 2) there is a tollbooth.

By private car

Other than taking the bus or going by motorbike, if you have the opportunity, we highly recommend booking a private car via a local travel agency, for it's less dangerous and will save you a lot of time and effort. You don't have to look up the directions nor worry about whether you're going the right way, or worry about booking a ticket online for a cheap price before it sells out, because they got that and everything else covered for you.

If you are interested, check out one of my favorite local agencies that I've had the opportunity to travel with: Vietnam Original Travel. They are a local travel agency that specializes in private and customized tours in Vietnam and in Southest Asia, with almost 20 years of extensive experience in tourism. One of their bestselling tours is Northern of Vietnam, including tours in Ha Giang and other mountainous regions.

How to get around Ha Giang

Once you got to Ha Giang, you need to figure out how to get around the city. In my opinion, the most fun way to explore Ha Giang is on 2 wheels. There are a bunch of shops where you could rent a bike in Ha Giang, even knee/elbow pads, raincoats and bungee cords are up for rental. Eventhough the roads are steep and zigzag-y, you won't get the same experience driving a car. Even if you're not an experienced driver, you could opt for a Xe Om (Easy Rider) to get you around, which would cost round 200.000 - 300.000 VND/ride.

However, if you prefer traveling safe, you could go with a local travel agency. I know I keep raving about them but there are other benefits of booking a travel agency: 
- They are aware if cool spots off the beaten track
- You get the best deals, angencies can negotiate the most favorable prices on their behalf
- You have a custom trip: as experts, they can plan a unique trip that tailor to your interest and can give you assistant at any moment during your travel

There's always the choice of taking a bus, but then again, there are a few places up there that don't have buses, like between the towns of Dong Van and Meo Vac.

Ha Giang Northern Loop

Day 1: Ha Giang - Yen Minh

After breakfast, depart for Yen Minh Town via Quan Ba Pass.

About 40km from Ha Giang city, Quan Ba Pass or Quan Ba Heaven Gate is a famous check-point ressembling a doorway to Heaven, where you get a full view of the Twin Mountains, the valley and small villages down below. In addition to the Heaven Gate, you can also visit Co Tien Twin Mountain - two symmetrical hills adjacent to each other - which is not far away.
Continue your visit and head toward Yen Minh Town. Stop by Yen Minh pine Forest, located right next to Highway 4C, about 100 km from Ha Giang city. The pine forest is like a miniature Da Lat that attracts many tourists for its beautiful pine trees and lush green grass. Here you have the choice to camp within the forest. 

Night at a homestay or a hotel in Yen Minh town.

Day 2: Yen Minh - Dong Van

After breakfast, head to Dong Van via Tham Ma Pass, one of the most challenging zigzag passes in Vietnam, but totally enchanting and breathtakingly beautiful.

On the way, stop by Pao's House, an attractive destination where the award winning Vietnamese movie "The Story of Pao" was filmed, and then Dong Van Stone Plateau, renowned for its stunning karst landscape, characterized by limestone formations that have been eroded over millions of years, resulting in dramatic peaks, caves, sinkholes, and terraced fields. Next, visit the H'mong King's Palace, notoriously known as the "Opium Palace", is a century old mansion that survived 2 major wars - the French war and American war - and now recognized as the symbol of past glory for the H'Mong.

In the afternoon, visit Dong Van Ancient Town, where you can see historical remnants and ethnic groups with their ancient customs. Night in a homestay or a hotel in Dong Van.

Day 3: Dong Van - Meo Vac (via Ma Pi Leng Pass)

I hope you had a good night sleep, now get ready for the ride of your life: the Ma Pi Leng Pass. 

Ma Pi Leng Pass, a mountain pass located in Ha Giang province, connecting the towns of Dong Van and Meo Vac, is 20 km long and at the altitude of 1,500 m (4,900 ft). This spectacular mountain pass, whose name means "bridge of a horse's nose" in the Hmong language, is one of Four Great Passes in Northwest Vietnam, along with O Quy Ho Pass, Pha Din Pass and Khau Pha Pass.

Ma Pi Leng is a famous destination for travel enthousiasts, especially fans of adventure, for its breath-taking scenery, rugged cliffs and bends almost everywhere along the roads, making it one of the most impressive passes in Vietnam. 

Along the way, you'll want to take multiple stops just because everything is so beautiful. Check out our article for a detailed Ma Pi Leng guide.

Arrive at Meo Vac, check in at a homestay or hotel and night in Meo Vac.

Day 4: Meo Vac - Ha Giang

There aren't many places to visit on the way back to Ha Giang, but if you're looking to add a detour to the loop, you can visit the Nho Que River and have a boat ride on the cerulean water. Then, headback to Ha Giang following the Gam River and catch a bus to Hanoi.

We hope this article helped you have a general idea on how to do the Ha Giang Loop from Hanoi. Feel free to change any visits along the way to suit your interest. You can also check out our detailed 3D2N tour to Ha Giang here.