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How To Get To Ha Giang
The Ha Giang Loop is often considered one of the most scenice and adventurous motorbike routes in the country that offers breathtaking views of terraced rice fields, karst limestone formations, deep valleys, and picturesque villages. It's a haven for nature lovers and photographers. To have an adventure of your life, pay Ha Giang a visit, let us help you with all the information you might need about how to get to and around Ha Giang, as well as some extra travel tips so that you could have a spectacular adventure.
How to get to Ha Giang?
From Hanoi (~300 km)
By motorbike / car
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.
Traveling by car is also a good idea (if you have one) because it's safer and faster than by motorbike. You also get more space for all your luggage. You can take one of the same routes as above, (keep in mind on first one (via National Route 2) there is a tollbooth) but we recommend letting an experienced driver take the wheel as the route to Ha Giang can be challenging or even dangerous.
By bus / mini van
Taking a bus or a mini van to Ha Giang is a prefered choice by many. There are daily buses from Hanoi to Ha Giang, suitable for individuals or small groups, which costs around 200.000 VND/person. There is also the choice of hiring a mini van, which is better for a larger group because it's hard to get everyone on the same bus. Mini vans cost a bit more than buses or sleeper buses, about 300.000 - 350.000 VND/person.
Here are a few bus and van companies to and from Ha Giang you can choose from:
- 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
- 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
- Dang Quang: 250.000 VND
- From Hanoi (Gia Lam): 15:40 PM - 21:00 PM
- From Ha Giang: 15:40 PM - 21:00 PM
- 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 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.
From Sapa (~235 km)
By motorbike / car
The West of Ha Giang borders Lao Cai, so it's very common to travel to Ha Giang from Sapa. If you do decide to travel by bike, the landscape along the way will be stunning but be careful because there are many dangerous passes, even landslides and extreme weather conditions during rain season.
Start from Lao Cai, follow the route to Bao Yen via QL70, to Viet Quang via QL79, then to Ha Giang via QL2.
By bus / mini van
From Sapa, you can either take a bus or a mini van straight to Ha Giang or from Sapa to Lao Cai then Lao Cai to Ha Giang. A ride from Sapa to Ha Giang takes from 6-7 hours, a one way ticket costs from 290.000 VND/person for buses and from 368.000 VND ($15 USD) for a mini van. Here are some bus and mini van companies for you to check out:
- Sapa Ethnic Travel Van (15 pax): 308.000 VND
- Cua Ong Limousine VIP: 402.500 VND
- Quang Nghi: 290.000 VND
- Phuc An (sleeper bus): 300.000 VND
How to get around Ha Giang?
Renting a bike / getting an easy-rider
This is the most affordable and exciting way to explore Ha Giang.
Here are a few motorbike rental shops in Ha Giang:
- Hong Hao:
- Address: 10 Pham Hong Thai, Minh Khai, Ha Giang
- Phone: 0165 398 2928
- Hang Thuong
- Address: 15b Pham Hong Thai, Minh Khai, Ha Giang
- Phone: 0836 399 888
- MOTOGO:
- Address: Cau Me, Phuong Thien, Ha Giang
- Phone: 0338 023 344
- Giang Son:
- Address: Cau Me, Phuong Thien, Ha Giang
- Phone: 098 847 08 63
Helmets, bungees cords, waterproof plastic bags and 24-hour support are already included. Elbow and knee pads are also available for rent. If you do decide to ride a motorbike, make sure to have your license, IDP and the Ha Giang Loop Permit ready. Read all about how to get them here.
You could even get around with the help of an easy-rider. This is a great choice if you're not an experienced driver but still want to explore Ha Giang the fun way. You can help support the locals while learning more about the culture, and they can help you have an authentic experience, a win-win situation. Their prices ranges from 500.000 VND - 700.000 VND for a whole day, and about 200.000 VND for a single ride.
Renting a car / private car
You can also rent a 7-seat car with driver in Ha Giang and explore this land according to your own schedule. You could even get a private car via a local travel agency. With a travel agency you won't be paying just for the vehicle, you will also be accompanied on every step of the way and have a unique trip made just for you.
- 4 seater Vios/Civic/Altis: 4.000.000 VND
- 7 seater Innova: 4.400.000 VND
- 7 seater Fortuner: 4.500.000 VND
- 16 seater 5.000.000 VND
- 29 seater 5.500.000 VND
- 45 seater 6.000.000 VND
The price can change depending on the time and date (VAT not included).
Taking a bus
There is also the choice of taking a bus, but they only have trips to and from Ha Giang City to its neighboring districts and towns, so if you want to do a whole loop, we wouldn't recommend this choice.
- Ha Giang - Quan Ba
- Cuong Thuy: 0915 407 522
- Thang Phuong: 0915 185 434
- Tan Yen: 0912 369 134
- Ha Giang - Meo Vac
- Hoang Tai: 0912 394 082
- Cau Me: 037 211 6226
- Ngoc Khanh: 0987 382 992
- Quang Nghi: 0946 744 733
- Ha Giang - Yen Minh:
- Ngoc Cuong: 0904 256 279
- Hoang Tuyen: 0912 120 566
- Ha Giang - Dong Van:
- Cau Me: 0984 520 371
- A Sinh: 0984 520 371
- Trung Yen: 0979 682 261
Travel tips and final thoughts
Before you decide to book a ride on sleeper bus to this amazing destination, here are a few final tips to make sure your trip goes well:
- Bring warm clothes because it is a lot cooler up there than in Hanoi or large cities, and comfortable clothes and a spare pair of shoes just in case you decide to go hiking.
- Bring anti motion sickness medicine, even if you dont usually get nauseous, some Aspirin (Paracetamol) for when you have a headache and some bug repellent.
- Get 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.
- If you want to travel by motorbike, it is best to go during day time to avoid accidents, because there might be fog at night and parts of the road hidden from view.
Now that you have a general idea on how to get to and around Ha Giang, let's pick up your backpacks and go for an adventure of a life time.
