How many days should I spend in Ha Giang?

4-5 days is ideal for the complete loop with stops for photography, village visits, and not rushing the mountain passes. 3 days is possible but rushed. Add a day if coming from Hanoi.

What is the best time to visit Ha Giang?

September to November offers clear skies and golden rice terraces. March to May brings spring blooms and terraces being planted. January-February has buckwheat flowers but cold and fog. Avoid June-August monsoon.

Is Ha Giang safe for tourists?

The roads are the main hazard - mountain passes are steep, narrow, and sometimes in poor condition. Don't overestimate your riding skills. Book an easy rider driver if uncertain. Weather changes fast at altitude.

Where should I stay in Ha Giang?

Ha Giang town is the start/end point with proper hotels. Along the loop, Tam Son, Yen Minh, Dong Van, and Meo Vac have guesthouses. Homestays in villages offer cultural experiences but basic facilities.

Mountain

North Vietnam

Ha Giang

Epic motorbike loop through Vietnam's most dramatic mountain scenery. Challenging but unforgettable adventure.

3-5 days for loop

$25-40 per day

Motorbike, adventure

Where to Stay

Overview

Ha Giang is Vietnam at its most spectacular and least touched by mass tourism. The Ha Giang Loop - a 350km route through the country's northernmost mountains - has become a bucket-list road trip for adventurous travelers. Think vertiginous passes, ethnic minority villages, and scenery that makes you stop every five minutes.

This isn't easy travel. The roads are challenging, the infrastructure basic, and the cultural gap with local Hmong, Tay, and Lo Lo communities significant. But for those willing to make the effort, Ha Giang rewards with experiences and landscapes found nowhere else in Vietnam.

Top Things to Do

1Drive or ride the famous Ma Pi Leng Pass, Vietnam's most dramatic mountain road

2Watch sunrise from the Quan Ba Heaven Gate over the twin mountains below

3Explore Dong Van ancient town with its stone houses and Sunday market

4Visit Lung Cu Flag Tower at Vietnam's northernmost point

5Stay in a traditional Hmong homestay and learn about local traditions

6Photograph the Nho Que River canyon, a turquoise ribbon 800 meters below

Getting There & Around

By Air: Ha Giang has no airport. The nearest is Hanoi (280km, 6-7 hours by road). Night buses from Hanoi arrive early morning, ready for loop departure.

By Train: No train to Ha Giang. Take the train to Lao Cai (Sapa line) for a different northern approach, then bus across to Ha Giang.

Getting Around: Motorbike is essential for the loop - rent in Ha Giang town (200,000-300,000 VND/day) or book an easy rider (driver) if you're not confident on mountain roads. The loop typically takes 3-4 days.