Ha Giang Travel Guide

Ha Giang is Vietnam's northernmost province that is known for its beautiful passes, majestic mountains and spectacular terraced fields. You may have heard of Hoang Su Phi and its picturesque terraced rice fields; the Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of the most beautiful mountain passes in Vietnam which offers spectacular views of the Nho Que River and surrounding mountains; or the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, known for its unique geological features, limestone formations, diverse ecosystems and several ethnic minority communities. Those are just a few among all the things that this beautiful province offers. This article is a brief Ha Giang travel guide just to get you started, including how to and around in Ha Giang and about motorbike rentals. So stick around and find out!

How to get to Ha Giang

There are different ways to get to Ha Giang: by motorbike, by bus or by car. There are no trains to Ha Giang, however. As Ha Giang is one of the northern provinces, we recommend departing from Hanoi as there are the most buses available. For those in the Central or Southern provinces, take a flight to Hanoi first and then leave for Ha Giang. For a detailed guide on how to get to Ha Giang, read here.

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How to get to Ha Giang

Option 1: Bus + Motorbike (or Car)

This is the fastest and most common way you can get to Ha Giang. From Hanoi, take a bus to Ha Giang. There are daily buses from Hanoi to Ha Giang, suitable for individuals or small groups, which cost around 200.000 VND/person. Once you’re there, you could rent a motorbike and explore! You could do the Ha Giang Loop and explore its districts: Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van and Meo Vac, or make your way to the west and explore Hoang Su Phi, a must see destination in Ha Giang.

Option 2: Private car / motorbike from Hanoi.

For those who want to save money, this is an ideal way to get to Ha Giang. It is about 300 km from Hanoi to Ha Giang, and there aren’t many attractions on the way. But if you don’t mind riding, this could be a cool road trip opportunity.

Motorbike travel guide

You can conquer Ha Giang completely by motorbike, starting from Hanoi. The ride should take 8-10 hours, (including stops along the way for food and rest) which can be exhausting spending almost half a day on a bike, and you will need to drive more once 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.

From Hanoi, follow this route: Hanoi - Son Tay - Trung Ha - Co Tiet - Phong Chau Bridge - Phu Tho Town - Doan Hung - Tuyen Quang - to Ha Giang.

Private car travel guide

Traveling by car is also a good idea because it's safer and faster than by motorbike. You also get more space for all your luggage. You can take the same route as above, or follow this one: Ha Noi - Thang Long Bridge - Vinh Phuc - Viet Tri - Phu Tho - Tuyen Quang - Ha Giang.

Whichever route you’re choosing, we recommend letting an experienced driver take the wheel as the road to Ha Giang can be challenging or even dangerous.

Getting around in Ha Giang and its surrounding area

Ha Giang - Dong Van ~ 150km ~ 5 to 6 hours

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Dong Van Ancient Town

Dong Van is one of the most visit-worthy districts of Ha Giang with a bunch of attractions. There is the Lung Cu flag pole at the top of Dragon Mountain, where a 54 square meter national flag lies atop, representing the 54 ethnic groups of Vietnam. There is also a lavish mansion situated on a turtle-shaped hill that belonged to the H'Mong King Vuong Chinh Duc and his family - the Vuong Family Mansion. And who can forget about Dong Van Ancient Town, home to multiple ethnic groups and a collection of centuries old houses with yin-yang tiled roofs.

Dong Van is situated about 150 km from Ha Giang city center, which is a 5 to 6 hour drive. There are local buses which can pick you up and drop you off at the hotel. Here are some bus companies to check-out:

Cau Me: 0984 520 371
A Sinh: 0984 520 371
Trung Yen: 0979 682 261

You can also rent a motorbike and explore Quan Ba and Yen Minh on the way to Dong Van as well!

Dong Van - Meo Vac (Ma Pi Leng Pass) ~ 22km

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Ma Pi Leng Pass

For some reason, there are no buses between Dong Van and Meo Vac. Most people rent a motorbike and have one of the most exciting driving experiences on the Ma Pi Leng pass. If you don’t know how to ride a motorbike, we wouldn’t recommend learning on these roads either. But don't worry, you can still choose one of these two options:

Xe Om (Motorcycle taxi): 200.000VND - 300.000VND per person.
Taxi: 600.000VND to 800.000VND.

The route from Dong Van to Meo Vac will be one of the most scenic rides you’ve ever seen. While driving, you might have to take multiple stops along the way just to take in everything in front of you. Below, there is the emerald green Nho Que River that runs along the Ma Pi Leng Pass, where you can also take a 30 minute boat ride for 100.000 VND. Above, there is the “Ledge of Death” (or Mom da Tu Than) which lies precariously in the middle of the mountainside, an insta-worthy spot which also offers a great view of the sunset.

Meo Vac - Bao Lac ~ 72km

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Bao Lac Night Market

Bao Lac is a commune in Cao Bang and a popular detour when visiting Ha Giang for it’s only 72 km from Meo Vac. Unfortunately, there are no buses between these two towns either, so the only way to get around is to take a xe om or a taxi.

Quan Thanh De Temple is one of the most famous historical and spiritual landmarks in Bao Lac. It is one of the largest and oldest temples in the region, built during the early period of the Nguyen dynasty. You should also stop by Bao Lac Night Market, which takes place every evening from around 6 pm to 10 pm, where tourists can find everything from clothing, shoes, household items to local food and agricultural products. This place is also an ideal destination to enjoy local cuisine, such as banh cuon (Cao Bang style), sticky rice, che and many other local dishes.

Bao Lac - Cao Bang ~ 121km ~ 4 hours

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Ban Gioc Waterfall

From Bao Lac, you can take the local bus to Cao Bang, or rent a car with a driver for comfort. There are so many things to see around Bao Lac commune and in Cao Bang province.

Located approximately 40 km northwest of the city center of Bao Lac, Mount Phja Da is a must-visit destination for trekking enthusiasts with pristine, majestic, and unique landscapes. Mount Phja Da has an elevation of over 1,500m above sea level, surrounded by hills and dense forests to the east. There is also Ban Gioc Waterfall, about 100 km from the center of Cao Bang, accessible by bus or motorcycle. Ban Gioc Waterfall has been listed as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Southeast Asia and is also among the top 4 largest waterfalls in the world. In addition, Thang Hen Lake is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Cao Bang. The lake is made up of a system of 36 natural lakes situated at an altitude of nearly 1700m and connected through underground cave systems.

Ha Giang Permit

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Ha Giang Loop Permit

Ha Giang Loop Permit is a pass that lets you enter certain districts of Ha Giang (Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac), since Ha Giang borders with China. So by law, tourists are required to have the Restricted/Border Area Permit, or the Ha Giang Loop Permit in order to access these parts of this mountainous region. The Ha Giang Loop Permit is a necessary procedure that helps the local authorities keep track of tourists and support the community and its infrastructure. Although tourists, both local and foreign, need the Ha Giang Entry Permit, those who only wish to enter some districts and the Ha Giang city center might not need to obtain the permit. The procedure to get the Ha Giang Loop Permit is fairly simple, straightforward and doesn't take that long.

Check out how to get your Ha Giang Loop permit to explore Northern Vietnam.

Motorbike Rental

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Ha Giang motorbike rental

There are many motorbike rental services in Ha Giang to choose from. Rental prices can range based on the model of the bike:

Beginner Rider: from 150.000VND

Intermediate Rider: from 300.000VND

Experienced Rider: from 480.000VND

With a team of qualified professionals with a wide range of experience in motorbike tours in Ha Giang and in Vietnam, we offer unique, culturally immersive and authentic motorbike tours in Ha Giang and in Vietnam to discover the beautiful landscapes, to meet friendly local people and to immerse in the locale daily life.