About Ha Giang Loop Tours
Ha Giang Loop is a 3-day, 350km circular route in northern Vietnam, on the border with China.
It takes you through beautiful scenery, surrounded by huge mountains, glorious rivers, and stunning rice terraces.
While the Ha Giang Loop started as a motorbike adventure heaven for bikers, it has become much more accessible in the past few years with many Ha Giang Loop tours.
So, it’s now easy to find guided self-drive tours, and if you’re not confident driving, small-group easy rider tours are a great option. For families or those who don’t want to sit on the back of a bike, you can do the loop by car.
In general, the best Ha Giang Loop motorbike tours include the following:
- Motorbike rental and repairs (if needed)
- All costs included for gas/petrol
- Accommodation for all days
- English-speaking Tour Guide
- Water and food, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Safety equipment and gear (protective pads for knees and elbows)
- Rain poncho and luggage cover
- First aid
Something that tours don’t include, but you shouldn’t forget, is travel insurance. The roads go through a mountainous landscape and are often steep, as well as slippery. So accidents can happen.
We’ve partnered up with Genki, which offers special coverage for motorbike accidents, even if you don’t have a license or don’t wear a helmet.
Ha Giang Loop Tour Itinerary
Tours around the Ha Giang Loop often follow a similar itinerary, but some drive the loop clockwise, while others do it anti-clockwise.
However, the standard Ha Giang Loop itinerary generally follows the road QL4C from Ha Giang through Tam Son, Yen Minh to Dong Van, and Meo Vac. Then, it turns on the DT182 and DT176 towards Du Gia (Lang Cac) and heads back north on DT176 to reach DT181 for the return trip to Ha Giang.
Attractions visited:
- Heaven Gate
- Quan Ba
- Dong Van Town
- Ma Pi Leng Pass
- Tu San Canyon – Meo Vac
Some tours also include Lung Cu Flagpole, Lung Tam Village, and Du Gia Village in Lang Cac.
For the things to do while on the Ha Giang Loop, read our ultimate guide, which details all the must-visit spots around the province and other first-hand travel tips.
Best Ha Giang Loop Tours
There is a wide selection of Ha Giang Loop tours, and we’ve gathered the best ones by comparing our personal experience and research with other travelers’ experiences of the top-rated ones.
The different Ha Giang Loop Tour categories:
- Easy Rider Tour
- Self-Drive Motorbike Tour
- Car Tour
Easy Rider (ride as a passenger)
One of the safest and most reliable ways to do the Ha Giang Loop is with an easy rider.
Easy Rider is when you hop on the back of the motorbike of a skilled local driver who will also be your guide for the Ha Giang Loop. They are also the source of information to learn more about the local culture, customs, and the different ethnic minorities that live in the Ha Giang province.
These are the guys and girls you can trust 100% to comfortably and safely take you around the glorious mountains and roads of the Ha Giang Loop.
Recommended Easy Rider Tours:
2 days Easy Rider Tour
The shortest Ha Giang Loop tour is the 2-day Easy Rider one, which still visits most spots in just two full days and only one night.
The 2-day tour covers all the main spots and the most beautiful parts of the Ha Giang Loop. While it does miss out on our favorite part, the Du Gia village and waterfall, it’s still a really great option if you’re short on time and don’t want to miss the Ha Giang Loop.
It still gives you a really good insight into the mountainous landscape, which is full of rice fields, interesting ethnic minorities, and delicious food.
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3 days Easy Rider Tour
The most common Ha Giang Loop easy rider tour is the 3-day one, which in addition to all the main spots, also visits the stunning Lung Cac area and the Du Gia village. And getting to this part of the province gives you some of the best views.
Much like the 2-day tour, this 3-day easy rider tour gives you a great insight into the local culture, and even more so with a visit to the Lung Tam Village, where you can see first-hand how traditional minority clothing is made.
Planning an active trip?
Don't risk it without travel insurance
We never travel outside our home countries before getting travel insurance. And sure, we don’t count on anything happening. But it can when you least expect it! 🤕
For example, Arijana twisted her ankle just because she took a wrong step when going down completely normal stairs. 🤦♀️
In those situations (and hopefully nothing worse), travel insurance comes in handy so you don’t have to pay the medical costs.
Plus, since it costs about 3 USD/EUR per day, it’s not a crazy expense, and definitely not something to ignore. 😷
4 days Easy Rider Tour
The absolute best easy rider tour for Ha Giang Loop is the 4-day one, which gives you everything you could hope for from the best motorbike adventure in Southeast Asia.
In addition to all the spots covered in the two and 3-day loop, this one also visits spots like Lung Khuy Cave, Lung Cu Flag Tower, and, if time and weather permits, a boat ride on the Nho Que River through the Tu San Canyon.
The 4-day all-inclusive option is the best Ha Giang Loop tour that covers it all.
Self-Drive Tour with a guide
The most straightforward way of self-driving the Ha Giang Loop is to rent a motorbike from one of the reputable motorbike rental shops in Ha Giang City which are known for bikes in good condition.
But a great alternative is to book a self-drive tour, which includes bike rental and a local guide around the Ha Giang Loop. This way, you can enjoy the freedom of riding the loop by yourself but on an organized trip. The tour also includes accommodation costs, safety equipment, gas, entrance fees, and food.
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Dirtbike Tour
The Ha Giang Loop dirtbike tour is a really good choice for adventurous travelers looking for a more adrenaline-pumping experience.
The best bike for the Ha Giang Loop is a fully manual dirt bike, which is the best option for a comfortable ride, even on the most rugged roads. And on a tour, you can also hit some offroad paths, usually not part of the standard loop.
While the dirtbike tour is the most expensive option for riding the Ha Giang Loop, it’s also the most exciting. It’s perfect for those who enjoy muddy adventures and conquering rough roads.
Much like the easy rider tours, the dirtbike tour also offers a choice of a 2-day, 3-day, or 4-day road trip and includes all the costs, including accommodation, food, and all gear.
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Car Tour (driver & guide)
The Ha Giang Loop car tour is the safest and most comfortable option for seeing this stunning mountainous landscape.
While cars are not the “classical” mode of transport for the Ha Giang Loop, we recommend them for those who are not comfortable riding a motorbike themselves or as passengers. Plus, the Ha Giang Loop car tour is also the best way to do the loop as a family with children.
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and wrote more than 30 detailed travel guides to help you plan your trip! ❤️
Ha Giang Loop Tour from Hanoi
Most of the Ha Giang Loop tours we recommend will either include transport from Hanoi in the package or can arrange it for you for a good price.
However, if you plan on getting to Ha Giang by yourself, check the sleeper buses/minivans from Hanoi or the bus from Sapa.
Ha Giang Loop – Cao Bang – Ban Gioc Waterfall
In addition to the standard 3 to 5-day tours looping around Ha Giang, you can now find those connecting Ha Giang province to other nearby areas, like Cao Bang and the stunning Ban Gioc Waterfall, as well as Angel Eye Mountain and the surrounding area.
These tours last five to six days, as it’s quite a ride from Ha Giang to Ban Gioc Waterfall. It’s a self-drive tour, but you can do it as an easy rider tour for an additional fee.
Ha Giang Loop Tours FAQ
The easy rider Ha Giang Loop tour costs about 130 USD for the 2-day and 270 USD for the 4-day trip.
Ha Giang Loop Tours generally include bike/car rental, accommodation, meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), water, a local guide, safety equipment, and first aid.
Absolutely, self-drive tours in Ha Giang Loop exist and are a great option for those who want to drive independently but also want a local guide with them.
The 4-day Ha Giang Loop tour is better than the 3-day tour, as it visits more places and is more relaxed. But even so, the 3-day tour covers all the main highlights and is a great option if you’re short on time.
The 2-day Ha Giang Loop tour is worth it if you’re short on time and don’t want to miss out on Ha Giang Loop on your Vietnam trip. Otherwise, a three or 4-day one is a better choice.
Yes, absolutely, the easy rider tours in Ha Giang are worth it if you’re not comfortable driving yourself but still want to ride the loop. That way, you get the best of both worlds.
Yes, you can do the Ha Giang Loop Tour from Sa Pa, but 99% of tours start in Ha Giang or Hanoi, so it’s hard to find a reliable one. Rather get a bus to Ha Giang first.
Yes, going on a car tour on the Ha Giang Loop is a great idea for groups or families that would prefer a more comfortable and safer experience.
Conclusion
With so many Ha Giang Loop tours available, choosing the best one can be overwhelming. We hope we helped you pick the right one for your Ha Giang trip.
Have a great time on your motorbike adventure in the beautiful north of Vietnam! We’re sure you will love it. We certainly did.
Looking for more travel guides and Vietnam travel inspiration?
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Trang An Boat Ride – Van Long Nature Reserve
