Short on time? Here’s what you can do!
The Ha Giang Loop is 350-400km long and quite literally is a loop. For this reason, the most popular tour options are 3-Day and 4-Day tours, averaging 100-125km per day. But is it possible to complete the loop in less time (2 days) if you are on a tight timeline? The answer is yes!
TLDR: If you only have 2 days to complete the loop -> bus in from your arrival destination overnight -> start your 2 day tour in the morning -> complete the loop in 2 days and bus out directly after the tour. Is it an exhausting schedule? – Yes!
Is it still worth doing? Absolutely!
2 Days on the Ha Giang Loop – what does it look like?
Although there are a number of companies offering Ha Giang Loop tours, the most popular options are by far the 3-Day and 4-Day tours, meaning that it might be slightly harder to find an operator for a 2-Day tour. Slightly being the key word because if you move beyond the 4-5 main companies that are only running the generic options, you will find lots of small local companies that are offering 2 day tours.
Maximizing your time
If your itinerary to Vietnam does not allow for the full 3 or 4 day tours, the next best option is to take an overnight sleeper bus from your starting destination to Ha Giang City. These buses are typically included in the tour prices and the company that you book with can organize your pick up and drop off. You will generally arrive in Ha Giang between 12am-4am (depending on how far away you’re coming from) and usually are provided with a free room the night before your tour. Try to catch some sleep before leaving on the tour the next morning.
2 Day Tour
The 2-Day tour will start quite early in the morning in order to maximize the amount that you are able to see in 2 days. Breakfast is normally served around 7:30-8am before you meet your Easy Rider and head off! A typical schedule will start with a visit to the Lung Tam weaving village which is H’mong village (ethnic minority) where they will teach you how to make their traditional clothing. You will then make several stops before lunch to admire the majestic mountain passes and vast valleys. Lunch is served family style in a traditional Vietnamese restaurant. After lunch, your tour group will make their way through Can Ty Pass, Tham Ma Pass and the Sang Tung Stone Desert making stops and taking photos along the way.
The location of your overnight homestay may differ depending on the company that you choose to go with, however it’s typically around Dong Van which is 150km from Ha Giang City. You will arrive before dark and get time to wind down and relax before enjoying dinner.
On the 2nd day you will make your way back to Ha Giang City, stopping in Ma Pa Leng Pass (a famous mountain pass in Vietnam), Nho Que River, and Meo Vac. You will stop for lunch before completing the final section of the loop through Lung Ho Village. The second day is typically just as long as the first, about 160-170km with your arrival time in Ha Giang around 5pm. Depending on your next destination, the company will book and arrange the bus for you. You will have time to rest and gather your things before getting on the bus to your next destination. It will be an absolute whirlwind of a tour!
Is it worth it?
Ha Giang has increasingly become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Vietnam, and for good reason. The experience is unlike anything you will find around the world. Riding through the mountains on the back of a motorbike and getting to experence rural Vietnam, ethnic minority villages will provide you with memories to last a lifetime.If you are only in Vietnam for a short time, the 2-Day tours offer the chance to experience this, even if it’s a whirlwind, action packed adventure.
