The Ha Giang Loop is a must-do item on your Vietnam Itinerary
The Ha Giang Loop has exploded in popularity during recent years, and rightfully so! This one-of-a-kind experience is unlike anything else in the world! So how long does it take to complete the loop and what do you need to know?
TLDR: The most popular options are the 3-Day/2 Night and 4-Day/3 Night tours. However, if you have a time crunch, there are 2 day tours also offered. If you have an extended period of time in Vietnam and want to get the most of your trip, consider doing a 5 or 7 day Cao Bang/Ha Giang combined loop tour.
What is the Ha Giang Loop?
The Ha Giang Loop is quite literally a 350-400km loop in the Northern part of Vietnam. It encompasses the province of Ha Giang, which showcases vast mountain passes and lush valleys. It offers a dramatic landscape that travellers flock to see. Not only did this region become popular for it’s viewpoints, but it also became popular due to the unique way of travelling through this region – on the back of a motorbike driven by a local driver.
Of course, this is not the only way that you can see this region. Ha Giang now offers many options such as renting a motorbike and doing it on your own, self-driving as part of a tour, riding on the back of a local’s bike as part of a tour, jeep tours and SUV tours.
How many days do you need to do the Ha Giang Loop?
By far, the most popular way to experience this region is by selecting an Easy Rider (local driver) tour. The two most popular tours are the 3-Day/2 Night tour and the 4-Day/3 Night tour. Often, the tour company that you book with will also offer a free night stay in Ha Giang City the night before your tour and round-trip bus transfer from Hanoi.
The distance from Hanoi to Ha Giang is typically 6-7 hours during the day and 5-6 hours if you take an overnight bus (less traffic). By taking the overnight bus, it allows you to maximize the day before your tour in Hanoi, or whichever destination you are coming from. However, the downside is that you are arriving around 2-3am in Ha Giang City and leaving for your tour that same day around 8:30am.
If you choose to take a day bus, then you will need to factor in an extra day prior to the beginning of your tour.
If your itinerary does not allow 3-4 days to spare, there are other options!
Although less popular, there are also companies that offer a 2-Day tour. This tour option is less popular simply because covering 160kms per day on a motorbike can be exhausting and the days are long. However, if you’re committed to 2 action packed days, then it’s a great option for people with limited time. If you are considering this option, take a look at: Is It Possible to Complete the Ha Giang Loop in 2 Days
If you’ve got time to spare in your itinerary…
Popularized by social media, the Ha Giang Loop is known by name throughout the South East Asian travel community. Lesser known is it’s sister loop – the Cao Bang Loop.
Cao Bang is the province located next to Ha Giang and offers equally stunning and yet entirely different scenery. While Ha Giang is characterized by vast mountain passes, Cao Bang is characterized by endless rice terraces and limestone karsts. It can be equated to an ‘on land Ha Long Bay’ with the stunning black limestone cliffs. Additionally, it is home to Asia’s largest waterfall, Ban Gioc Waterfall.
Because Cao Bang is lesser known, it is harder to explore than the endless tour offers of Ha Giang. Cao Bang can be quite difficult to get to from locations other than Hanoi, as there are not many direct buses. Once you arrive, there are also very limited tour options and motorbike rental shops that allow you to explore the beautiful sights. Instead, tacking the Cao Bang Loop onto the end of your Ha Giang Loop offers the chance to see both.
The combined Cao Bang and Ha Giang Loop tours are offered by several companies in Ha Giang. They tend to range from 5-7 days in order to see both provinces. Recently, there have also been companies offering Cao Bang tours directly out of Ha Giang, meaning you get on the bike and head straight to Cao Bang, skipping the Ha Giang Loop. Choosing this option means you can complete the Cao Bang Loop in less time (typically 3 days) however you are stuck on the bike for significantly more time with less stops. We wouldn’t recommend going with this option unless you’ve already completed the Ha Giang Loop and have no desire to do it again (many people do the Ha Giang Loop twice to catch it in different seasons).
In summary, there are several options to fit your travel timeline! Choosing the best one depends on what you would like to prioritize during your travels!
