My Honest Ha Giang Loop Review: Is It Worth It?

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🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Vietnam: Baolau & 12Go Asia

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My Ha Giang Loop Review At A Glance

Here are the most important things to know about the Ha Giang Loop before deciding whether it’s right for you:

Quick Fact	Ha Giang Loop Details
Location	Ha Giang Province in far northern Vietnam, approximately 300 kilometers from Hanoi
Starting point	Ha Giang City
Approximate distance	Around 350 kilometers, although the exact distance depends on your route and detours
Time needed	Usually 3 or 4 days
Recommended length	4 days if you have enough time
Ways to complete it	Self-driving, riding with an Easy Rider or traveling by private car
Common stops	Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac and Du Gia, depending on the route
Best known for	Mountain passes, winding roads, small villages, the Nho Que River and endless viewpoints
Road difficulty	Steep and winding roads that should only be self-driven by experienced, legally licensed motorcyclists
Physical difficulty	Not particularly difficult as a passenger, but the long days on the motorbike can become tiring
Crowds	Quiet on the roads, but busy at popular viewpoints and swimming spots
Is it worth it?	Absolutely. I’d rate the overall experience 10/10 and would happily do it again

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What Is The Ha Giang Loop?

The Ha Giang Loop is a multi-day road trip through Ha Giang Province in the far north of Vietnam, 300 kilometers from Hanoi.

Needing to travel from Hanoi Airport to Ha Giang? Read my full guide.

Most routes begin and end in Ha Giang City, traveling through mountain passes, valleys and small towns such as Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, and Meo Vac.

Despite the name, there isn’t one exact route that everyone follows. Your itinerary will depend on how many days you have, the company you travel with, and weather or road conditions.

Most travelers spend three or four days completing the Ha Giang Loop. Three days will cover many of the main highlights, but the pace is faster. Four days gives you more time for additional viewpoints, swimming spots, hikes and smaller roads without needing to rush quite as much.

The most popular way to travel is by motorbike. You can drive yourself if you’re licensed, ride on the back with an Easy Rider or complete the route by private car.

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My 4-Day Ha Giang Loop Itinerary

Below is the exact four-day Ha Giang Loop itinerary I followed on the 4-day premium Highlands tour with Road Kings.

I did it with an Easy Rider, traveling from Ha Giang City to Du Gia, Meo Vac, and Dong Van before returning to Ha Giang.

Most days started between 8:00 am and 9:00 am, with us generally arriving at our accommodation around 5:00 pm. We always seemed to be one of the last groups, though this is because we took our time and weren’t rushing.

It was lovely having some of the swimming spots all to ourselves.

Keep in mind that there isn’t one set Ha Giang Loop itinerary. The route, overnight stops and attractions vary between tour companies. Therefore, this is an example of what you could experience rather than an exact schedule.

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Day One: Ha Giang To Du Gia

Our first morning on the Ha Giang Loop began with light rain, so the Easy Riders helped everyone into helmets and wet-weather gear before we left.

Unfortunately, the largest rain pants didn’t fit me, and the disposable pair I was given ripped as soon as I climbed onto the bike. Not exactly the glamorous beginning!

Thankfully, the rain cleared within the first hour. I was already comfortable being on the back of a motorbike, but this was my partner’s first time ever riding one. He was understandably nervous beforehand, though within minutes felt completely comfortable with his driver.

Once we left Ha Giang City, the mountain views quickly began appearing around us. We stopped around five times for coffee and viewpoints, usually for 15 minutes at each. This gave us plenty of time to get to know our group and become slightly obsessed with the game Da Cau.

Lunch was served in a busy little town, with shared plates of noodles, tofu, spring rolls, French fries and several meat dishes. There were enough vegetarian options for me, so I was happy enough.

The roads became much bumpier as we passed through smaller villages on the way to Du Gia.

Our final activity was Du Gia Waterfall, and you could tell we had arrived before even seeing the water thanks to the huge number of motorbikes parked outside.

Honestly, the waterfall was far too crowded for me. The main jumping area had been separated from the general swimming space, leaving everyone else packed into a relatively small section.

That evening, we stayed in small yellow cabins overlooking the green countryside around Du Gia.

Our private room was simple but comfortable, with a double bed, air conditioning, mosquito net and bathroom. Dinner was probably my favorite meal of the entire tour, even if the cheesy French fries were questionable.

Being so close to nature also meant plenty of insects, including a cockroach finding its way into my toiletry bags.

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Day Two: Du Gia To Meo Vac

Day Two was easily the hardest day of the Ha Giang Loop for me. The roads between Du Gia and Meo Vac were incredibly winding, the weather was ridiculously hot, and there were longer stretches between stops.

Unfortunately, that combination left me feeling pretty motion sick and extremely grateful whenever we finally pulled over.

The views, however, were some of my favorites from the entire loop. At one point, we stopped above an enormous valley where the clouds seemed to continue forever. It genuinely felt like we were standing at the edge of the earth.

Our first major activity was Hang Tham Lin Swim Cave. Reaching it involved a roughly 10-minute journey upstream on a small bamboo raft. From there, we carefully made our way across rocks and bamboo platforms before reaching the swimming area.

The cave was much larger and deeper than expected, with plenty of space to swim without feeling crowded. There was a surprisingly strong current within the cave, so we couldn’t swim too deep.

Later that afternoon, we headed down into the valley for a boat ride along the Nho Que River. The steep road was one of the only times I felt genuinely nervous on the motorbike.

The boat ride lasted around an hour, with seats along both sides and a small platform at the front for photos. Traveling between the enormous cliffs gave me serious Sumidero Canyon vibes and really showed just how massive the landscape around us was.

By the time we reached Meo Vac, everyone was exhausted and ready to check in. Our accommodation was more like a guesthouse than a homestay, but the room was clean and comfortable with a double bed and air con.

Meo Vac ended up being our favorite town on the Ha Giang Loop. In the evening, we saw children playing ball games, groups playing badminton and older residents exercising outside.

We finished the night in a very modern private karaoke room, which was easily one of the most fun evenings of the tour.

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Day Three: Meo Vac To Dong Van

Day Three involved the least amount of time on the motorbike, although it also felt like the least structured.

We made several random stops throughout the day, and both my partner and I agreed that parts of it felt slightly like filler compared with the previous two days.

The main morning activity was the Skywalk hike. The first few minutes were the steepest, and the heat made the climb much harder than it would otherwise have been.

At the top, you could walk onto the famous rock ledge overlooking the mountains and Nho Que River. It looked much scarier in photos than it actually felt, although the small space became crowded whenever multiple groups arrived together.

We later stopped at a cafe overlooking the border with China, where binoculars were available to look across. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to the Lung Cu Flag Tower, which was disappointing after seeing it included in our itinerary.

The biggest surprise of the day was Ta Lung Cave. There were no lights inside, the ground was incredibly slippery, and several sections of the wooden walkway were broken or completely missing.

We explored for around an hour, passing huge Buddha statues and heading deep enough into the cave to turn off our lights and experience complete darkness. It was easily the least touristy attraction we visited on the Ha Giang Loop, with our group being the only people inside.

That evening, we checked into our nicest room of the loop in Dong Van, with a huge window overlooking the fields below. Dinner was a delicious hotpot, which was a welcome change.

Later, we explored the night market and finished our final evening together with more karaoke.

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Day Four: Dong Van To Ha Giang

Our final day was the longest, covering more than 140 kilometers from Dong Van all the way back to Ha Giang City. After already spending three days on the motorbike, my legs, knees, and bum were definitely feeling it.

Road markers showed how many kilometers remained throughout the day, creating a slightly painful countdown toward the finish line.

One of our first stops was a Hmong silversmith village, where local families produced and sold handmade jewelry. It felt slightly more tourist-focused than some of our other stops, but the silver rings and other pieces were beautifully made and surprisingly affordable.

We also stopped at Tham Ma Pass, known for its famous winding road view. It was impressive, although the viewpoint was extremely busy with motorbikes and tour groups all trying to take the same photo.

Thankfully, the long journey was broken up with regular coffee and viewpoint stops. By that stage, our group had become incredibly close with each other and our Easy Riders, so everyone was sad it was nearly over.

We were the first group to arrive back at the Ha Giang office, which meant we could shower before it became crowded with everyone else returning. After dinner, we collected our luggage, said goodbye to our drivers and split off in different directions on overnight buses around Vietnam.

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What Is Riding With An Easy Rider Really Like?

Riding with an Easy Rider was pretty chill, you just have to trust them to keep you safe. Everyone in our group had their own motorbike and driver, so you quickly became comfortable with each other and settled into a rhythm.

I’d been on plenty of motorbikes before, but as I said this was my partner’s first time. Although he was nervous, he felt comfortable within the first few minutes. Our drivers were experienced, never rushed, and regularly checked in that we were okay.

Most days lasted from around 8:00 or 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, but you aren’t sitting on the motorbike that entire time. We regularly stopped for viewpoints, coffee, lunch and activities, and were often one of the final groups on the road because we took our time.

That said, spending four days as a passenger definitely becomes uncomfortable. My bum was seriously sore, my knees became stiff, and the bar behind my seat kept digging into me until I asked for a cushion (some bikes already had one, but mine didn’t).

One of the best things about having an Easy Rider was being able to concentrate on the scenery, take photos and film little videos. I never needed to worry about navigating, the motorbike, or watching the road ahead.

Plus, let’s be honest, driving a motorbike is mentally exhausting, and I was already tired from just being a passenger. If I had driven myself, I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the stops or towns as much.

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Is The Ha Giang Loop Safe With An Easy Rider?

I felt safe with my Easy Rider throughout the entire Ha Giang Loop. He never rode faster than I was comfortable with, and there weren’t any incidents that made me question his ability.

I was definitely lucky with who I was paired with.

We were provided with helmets and also had the option of wearing knee and elbow pads, although I decided not to use them. Before leaving, make sure your helmet fits properly and speak up if you ever feel uncomfortable with your driver’s speed.

However, I wouldn’t describe the Ha Giang Loop as completely safe. The route includes steep mountain passes, sharp bends, constant potholes and plenty of other motorbikes, buses and trucks.

Also, shortly before I completed the loop, a 19-year-old British traveler was critically injured while riding as a passenger with a local driver. Their motorbike collided with another bike before crashing into an oncoming truck, and she later died from her injuries.

If safety is a priority for you, I’d definitely recommend Road Kings. They have a set number of drivers and never go over this. A lot of companies will just keep on taking bookings, and if they run out of their own drivers, they reach out to random locals with their own bikes to help out.

This is why I’d choose an established company with experienced drivers rather than simply booking the cheapest tour available.

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How Physically Difficult Is The Ha Giang Loop?

The Ha Giang Loop is physically tiring rather than especially difficult. Despite stops, we still spent hours sitting on the motorbike.

By each afternoon, my knees were super stiff, and my bum was numb. The final 140-kilometer ride back to Ha Giang was definitely the hardest.

The weather added a challenge. Day Two was ridiculously hot, and combining that heat with a helmet and winding roads left me overheated, motion sick, and if I’m being honest, ready to have a good cry.

You don’t need to be extremely fit to complete the Ha Giang Loop as an Easy Rider passenger. However, you should be comfortable repeatedly getting on and off a motorbike, walking across uneven ground, and remaining seated for long periods.

By the end of four days, I was sore and exhausted. It was always manageable, but it was the awkward ‘I don’t want to distract my driver, but I really need to stretch my leg’.

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Doing The Ha Giang Loop As A Plus-Size Traveler

Yes, you can complete the Ha Giang Loop as a plus-size traveler. My size never stopped me from joining any activities, and I never felt uncomfortable with my Easy Rider.

However, there were a few practical problems worth knowing.

The first appeared before we had even left Ha Giang. It was raining, but the largest waterproof pants available didn’t fit me. I was given a disposable pair instead, which immediately ripped when I climbed onto the motorbike.

Comfort was the other issue. The metal bar behind my seat was digging into me. Combined with an already numb bum, this made the longer riding sections much less enjoyable. On the second day I asked for a cushion to place between me and the bar.

Don’t feel embarrassed about asking for adjustments that make you comfortable.

I had read in advance you can contact your tour company and they will pair you up with a driver with a larger bike. Though I wanted to see what would happen if I just turned up, as no doubt this would happen quite often.

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What To Expect On A Ha Giang Loop Tour

Although every Ha Giang Loop tour follows a slightly different itinerary, the overall experience is generally similar.

Expect long days on the motorbike broken up by viewpoints, coffee stops, lunches and activities before checking into accommodation in a small town each evening.

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What Were The Accommodation And Food Like?

Accommodation along the Ha Giang Loop is generally simple, although it was more comfortable than I expected. I chose the premium tour with private rooms, so we had our own space each night rather than sleeping in a shared dorm.

The rooms usually had a double bed, private bathroom, and air conditioning. Some also provided mosquito nets, which were definitely appreciated. Just remember that these are basic properties surrounded by nature, so insects are part of the experience.

Lunches and dinners were served family-style at small restaurants along the way. The vegetarian dishes typically included tofu, noodles, spring rolls, and French fries, so I always had enough to eat. However, the meals were pretty repetitive.

The highlight was definitely the hotpot we had in Dong Van. It was a very welcome change from the usual shared plates.

Bathrooms were available at restaurants, cafes, and viewpoints on the loop, however, their cleanliness and facilities varied considerably. Some were perfectly fine, while others were extremely basic, so keep tissues and hand sanitizer handy.

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Is The Ha Giang Loop Too Touristy?

Yes, the Ha Giang Loop is pretty touristy, so don’t expect to have this whole place to yourself. Though I do feel Road Kings were good at avoiding most of the crowds where they could.

At times, there were big groups of motorbikes traveling together, viewpoints became crowded when several groups arrived at once. Du Gia Waterfall was easily the busiest stop. There were motorbikes parked everywhere, and the main small swimming area was packed.

However, the entire loop didn’t feel overcrowded. Groups naturally spread out between stops, especially as our group took their time. Some smaller towns and villages also felt much more relaxed.

Ta Lung Cave was the complete opposite of the main viewpoints and swimming spots. Our group was the only one inside, and it felt like we had found somewhere most Ha Giang Loop tours simply skipped.

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My Honest Thoughts On The Ha Giang Loop

After four days traveling around the Ha Giang Loop, the positives easily outweighed the negatives. However, that doesn’t mean every part was perfect.

From the people and incredible scenery to the crowds and the genuine pain of sitting in the same position, here’s what I genuinely liked and didn’t like about the Ha Giang Loop.

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What I Liked About The Ha Giang Loop

Here’s some of my favorite things about the Ha Giang Loop:

• The incredible views: The mountain, valley and river views were easily some of the best I’ve experienced in Vietnam. Even after four days, I never became bored of looking around.
• The people: There were only eight travelers in our group, and we all became incredibly close over the four days, with the drivers as well. Shared dinners, karaoke, and playing Da Cau with everyone made the tour feel much more social than I expected.
• Visiting the smaller towns: Meo Vac was our favorite town, and I loved watching local families playing games, exercising, and spending time together in the evening.
• Exploring the caves: Hang Tham Lin Swim Cave was much larger than expected, while Ta Lung Cave felt like a proper adventure.
• The variety of activities: The loop wasn’t simply four days of sitting on a motorbike. Swimming, hiking, taking a river cruise and ending our evenings with karaoke kept every day interesting.

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What I Didn’t Like About The Ha Giang Loop

Next we have the things I wasn’t too keen on:

• The crowds: The Ha Giang Loop was busier in certain sections. Du Gia Waterfall and some viewpoints were especially packed, making some stops feel far less remote than they appear online.
• The repetitive lunches: I always had enough vegetarian food, but eating similar combinations of tofu, noodles, spring rolls and French fries every afternoon became pretty boring.
• The long and uncomfortable riding days: Even with regular stops, spending hours on the motorbike left me with stiff knees, a numb bum and a metal bar digging into me.
• The slightly aimless third day: Although Ta Lung Cave was a highlight, parts of Day Three felt unstructured. Several stops seemed more like filler compared with the better-planned first two days.
• Missing the Lung Cu Flag Tower: I was disappointed that our itinerary didn’t visit the famous flag tower, especially after seeing it promoted. If I returned, this is one place I’d want to add.

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🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Vietnam: Baolau & 12Go Asia

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FAQs About My Ha Giang Loop Review

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Wrap Up: Is The Ha Giang Loop Worth It?

The Ha Giang Loop wasn’t perfect. Some spots were packed, the lunches repetitive, and my numb bum left me counting down every kilometer. Nevertheless, none of those things outweighed the incredible views, small towns, caves, activities and people.

Would I recommend the Ha Giang Loop? Absolutely.

If you enjoy social group tours, dramatic scenery and don’t mind a little discomfort, it’s easily one of the best experiences you can have in Vietnam.

I’d happily do the Ha Giang Loop again and would still definitely choose the same four-day route with an Easy Rider. I’d simply bring my own rain pants and request that cushion much earlier!

If Ha Giang is one stop on a longer trip, my 3 week Vietnam itinerary will help you plan the rest of your route.

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Any Questions? Let Me Know In The Comments!

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. So, if you click on it and purchase something, I get a small percentage at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and your support is much appreciated.

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